1
高檢子:履行審行真行五世孫:重竇威侄:軌琮抗侄孫:靜誕侄:璡從孫:德玄
Gao Jian — sons Lüxing, Shenxing, and Zhenxing; fifth-generation descendant Chong; Dou Wei's nephews Gui, Cong, and Kang; grandnephews Jing and Dan; nephew Jin; great-grandnephew Dexuan.
2
高儉，字士廉，以字顯，齊清河王岳之孫，父勵樂安王，入隋為洮州刺史。 士廉敏惠有度量，狀貌若畫，觀書一見輒誦，敏於占對。 隋司隸大夫薛道衡、起居舍人崔祖浚皆宿臣顯重，與為忘年友，繇是有名。 自以齊宗室，不欲廣交，屏居終南山下。 吏部侍郎高孝基勸之仕，仁壽中，舉文才甲科，補治禮郎。 斛斯政奔高麗，坐與善，貶為硃鳶主簿，以母老不可居瘴癘地，乃留妻鮮于奉養而行。 會世大亂，京師阻絕，交趾太守丘和署司法書佐。 時欽州俚帥寧長真以兵侵交趾，和懼，欲出迎，士廉曰：「長真兵雖多，縣軍遠客，勢不得久，城中勝兵尚可戰，奈何受制於人？」 和因命為行軍司馬，逆擊破之。
Gao Jian, whose courtesy name Shilian was the name by which he was known, was a grandson of Prince Yue of Qinghe under the Northern Qi. His father Li held the title Prince of Le'an and, after the Sui unification, became prefect of Tao. Shilian was quick-witted and broad-minded, with features so fine they seemed painted. He could recite a text after a single reading and was exceptionally sharp in conversation. He became friends across the generations with two eminent Sui veterans — Xue Daoheng, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and Cui Zujun, Attendant Gentleman of the Household — and through them won a name for himself. As a scion of the Qi royal house, he avoided broad social ties and withdrew to live quietly at the foot of Mount Zhongnan. Gao Xiaoji, vice minister of personnel, persuaded him to take office. During the Renshou reign he passed the literary examination in the highest class and was appointed a gentleman for managing rites. After Husizheng defected to Goguryeo, Shilian was punished for their association and demoted to registrar at Zhuyuan in Annam. His mother was too old to endure the southern climes, so he left his wife Xianyu to tend her and set out alone. When the empire collapsed into chaos and the capital was unreachable, Qiu He, administrator of Jiaozhi, appointed him judicial secretary. When Ning Changzhen, a Li chieftain from Qin, marched on Jiaozhi, Qiu He panicked and prepared to surrender. Shilian objected: "Changzhen may have numbers, but his men are far from home and cannot sustain a siege. We still have able troops in the city — why let ourselves be dictated to?" Qiu He then named him campaigning marshal, and Shilian led a counterattack that routed the enemy.
3
高祖遣使徇嶺南，武德五年與和來降，於是秦王領雍州牧，薦士廉為治中，親重之。 隱太子與王隙已熾，乃與長孫無忌密計計定，是日率吏卒釋囚授甲，趨芳林門助戰。 王為皇太子，授右庶子。 進侍中，封義興郡公。 坐匿王珪奏不時上，左授安州都督。
After Gaozu sent agents to bring Lingnan into submission, Shilian surrendered with Qiu He in Wude 5. The Prince of Qin, then governor of Yong, recommended him as administrator and held him in high personal regard. As the feud between the Hidden Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin reached its breaking point, Shilian and Zhangsun Wuji laid their plans in secret. On the day of the coup he led clerks and troops, freed prisoners, armed them, and hurried to Fanglin Gate to fight. After the prince became crown prince, Shilian was made right vice tutor. He was promoted to palace attendant and enfeoffed as Duke of Yixing. He was demoted to military governor of An for having withheld Wang Gui's memorial and failed to submit it promptly.
4
進益州大都督府長史。 蜀人畏鬼而惡疾，雖父母病皆委去，望舍投餌哺之，昆弟不相假財。 士廉為設條教，辯告督勵，風俗翕然為變。 又引諸生講授經藝，學校復興。 秦時李冰導汶江水灌田，瀕水者頃千金，民相侵冒。 士廉附故渠廝引旁出，以廣溉道，人以富饒。
He was then promoted to chief administrator of the Yizhou area command. The people of Shu feared spirits and shunned the sick. Even parents were abandoned in illness, with food tossed in from outside the house; brothers would not lend one another money. Shilian issued regulations, explained the law, and urged compliance until local customs changed almost overnight. He also invited scholars to teach the classics, and the schools were revived. Since Qin times Li Bing had diverted the Min to irrigate the plain; waterfront plots were worth fortunes, and neighbors constantly encroached on one another's land. Shilian extended the old canal with branch channels to widen irrigation, and the people grew prosperous.
5
入為吏部尚書，進封許國公。 雅負裁鑒，又詳氏譜，所署州，人地無不當者。 高祖崩，攝司空，營山陵； 加特進，遷尚書右僕射。 士廉三世居此官，世榮其貴。
Recalled to the capital as minister of personnel, he was advanced to Duke of Xu. Renowned for his eye in appointments and deeply versed in genealogies, he never mismatched a man to his post or region. When Gaozu died, Shilian served as acting minister of works and supervised construction of the imperial tomb. He received the extraordinary rank of Special Advance and was made right vice director of the Department of State Affairs. Three generations of his family had held that office, and their eminence was the envy of the age.
6
太宗幸洛陽，太子監國，命攝少師。 手詔曰：「端拱三川，不憂關中者，以屬卿也。」 久之，請致仕，聽解僕射，加開府儀同三司、同中書門下三品，知政事。 帝伐高麗，皇太子監國駐定州，又攝太傅，同掌機務。 太子令曰：「寡人資公訓道，而比聽政，據桉對公，情所未安，所司宜別設桉奉太傅。」 士廉固辭。
When Taizong went to Luoyang and the crown prince governed at the capital, Shilian was appointed acting junior tutor. The emperor wrote in his own hand: "That I can remain at ease in the east and not fret over Guanzhong is because I leave it in your hands." In time he asked to retire. He was released from the vice directorship but given Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with the Golden Bag, made co-equal with the three departments at third rank, and kept in charge of state affairs. When the emperor marched against Goguryeo, the crown prince governed from Dingzhou; Shilian again served as acting grand tutor and shared control of state affairs. The crown prince ordered: "I depend on your guidance, yet in court I sit at my desk facing you, which I find awkward. The staff should provide a separate desk for the grand tutor." Shilian firmly declined.
7
士廉進止詳華，凡有獻納，搢紳皆屬以目。 奏議未嘗不焚稿，家人無見者。 士廉少識太宗非常人，以所出女歸之，是為文德皇后。 及遺令墓不得它藏，惟置衣一襲與平生所好書示先王典訓可用終始者。
Shilian's bearing at court was dignified and polished; whenever he spoke, the officials all looked to him. He always burned his draft memorials; not even his family ever saw them. Early on Shilian saw that the future Taizong was no ordinary man and gave him his daughter in marriage — the future Empress Wende. His will directed that nothing else be buried with him — only a single suit of clothes and the books he had cherished, those ancient teachings of use from first to last.
8
初，太宗嘗以山東士人尚閥閱，後雖衰，子孫猶負世望，嫁娶必多取貲，故人謂之賣昏。 由是詔士廉與韋挺、岑文本、令狐德棻責天下譜諜，參考史傳，檢正真偽，進忠賢，退悖惡，先宗室，後外戚，退新門，進舊望，右膏粱，左寒畯，合二百九十三姓，千六百五十一家，為九等，號曰《氏族志》，而崔幹仍居第一。 帝曰：「我于崔、盧、李、鄭無嫌，顧其世衰，不復冠冕，猶恃舊地以取貲，不肖子偃然自高，販鬻松檟，不解人間何為貴之？ 齊據河北，梁、陳在江南，雖有人物，偏方下國，無可貴者，故以崔、盧、王、謝為重。 今謀士勞臣以忠孝學藝從我定天下者，何容納貨舊門，向聲背實，買昏為榮耶？ 太上有立德，其次有立功，其次有立言，其次有爵為公、卿、大夫，世世不絕，此謂之門戶。 今皆反是，豈不惑邪？ 朕以今日冠冕為等級高下。」 遂以崔幹為第三姓，班其書天下。
Taizong had long noted that eastern gentry families prized pedigree. Though their power had waned, their descendants still traded on old prestige and demanded lavish bride-prices — what people called "selling a marriage." He therefore charged Shilian, Wei Ting, Cen Wenti, and Linghu Defen to compile the empire's genealogies, cross-check them against history, promote the worthy and demote the corrupt, rank the imperial clan before affinal kin, favor old houses over parvenus, and place the wellborn above the humble. The result listed 293 surnames in 1,651 households across nine grades, published as Records of Clans — yet Cui Gan still headed the list. The emperor said: "I have nothing against the Cui, Lu, Li, and Zheng families, but their day is past. They no longer produce ministers, yet still milk their old prestige for money. Their worthless sons strut as if noble and peddle funeral timber for profit — why does anyone still honor them? Qi held the north, Liang and Chen the south — talented men they had, but as marginal states they counted for little. That is why the Cui, Lu, Wang, and Xie were once so prized. The counselors and warriors who followed me in loyalty, learning, and merit to win the empire — how can they pay bride-price to decayed old clans, chase empty reputation over real worth, and treat a bought marriage as an honor? First comes establishing virtue, then merit, then literary legacy, then hereditary rank as duke, minister, or grandee — that is what makes a true house. Today everything is reversed — is that not madness? I will rank families by the offices they hold today." He demoted the Cui to third rank and had the register published empire-wide.
9
高宗時，許敬宗以不敘武后世，又李義府恥其家無名，更以孔志約、楊仁卿、史玄道、呂才等十二人刊定之，裁廣類例，合二百三十五姓，二千二百八十七家，帝自敘所以然。 以四後姓、酅公、介公及三公、太子三師、開府儀同三司、尚書僕射為第一姓，文武二品及知政事三品為第二姓，各以品位高下敘之，凡九等，取身及昆弟子孫，余屬不入，改為《姓氏錄》。 當時軍功入五品者，皆升譜限，搢紳恥焉，目為「勳格」。 義府奏悉索《氏族志》燒之。 又詔後魏隴西李寶，太原王瓊，滎陽鄭溫，范陽盧子遷、盧澤、盧輔，清河崔宗伯、崔元孫，前燕博陵崔懿，晉趙郡李楷，凡七姓十家，不得自為昏； 三品以上納幣不得過三百匹，四品五品二百，六品七品百，悉為歸裝，夫氏禁受陪門財。 先是，後魏太和中，定四海望族，以寶等為冠。 其後矜尚門地，故《氏族志》一切降之。 王妃、主婿皆取當世勳貴名臣家，未嘗尚山東舊族。 後房玄齡、魏徵、李勣復與昏，故望不減，然每姓第其房望，雖一姓中，高下縣隔。 李義府為子求昏不得，始奏禁焉。 其後天下衰宗落譜，昭穆所不齒者，皆稱「禁昏家」，益自貴，凡男女皆潛相聘娶，天子不能禁，世以為敝雲。 士廉六子，履行、審行、真行有名。
Under Gaozong, Xu Jingzong — who had omitted Empress Wu's line — and Li Yifu, ashamed of his obscure birth, commissioned Kong Zhiyue, Yang Renqing, Shi Xuandao, Lü Cai, and eight others to revise the register. They expanded the categories to 235 surnames in 2,287 households; the emperor himself explained the new principles. First rank went to the four empresses' clans, the dukes of Xi and Jie, the three dukes, the crown prince's tutors, grand masters of splendid happiness, and vice directors. Second rank covered second-rank officials and third-rank councilors, all ordered by current office. Nine grades listed only the man, his brothers, sons, and grandsons — no collateral kin. The work was retitled Record of Surnames. Anyone who reached fifth rank through military service was elevated in the register. The gentry were mortified and dubbed it the "merit list." Li Yifu petitioned to have every copy of Records of Clans confiscated and burned. An edict also barred intermarriage among the seven great surnames in ten houses: the Li of Longxi, Wang of Taiyuan, Zheng of Xingyang, three branches of the Lu of Fanyang, two branches of the Cui of Qinghe, the Cui of Boling, and the Li of Zhao. Bride-price was capped at 300 bolts for third rank and above, 200 for fourth and fifth, 100 for sixth and seventh — all to form the bride's trousseau. The groom's family was forbidden to accept supplementary marriage payments. Earlier, in the Northern Wei's Taihe era, the empire's great clans had been ranked with the Li of Longxi and their peers at the top. Later, as pedigree pride revived, Records of Clans had demoted them all. Imperial sons-in-law were drawn from contemporary meritocratic and ministerial families, never from the old eastern aristocracy. When Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and Li Ji married into those clans, their prestige revived. Yet within each surname branches were ranked, and even cousins could stand worlds apart in status. When Li Yifu failed to secure a marriage for his son into those houses, he petitioned for the ban. Declining branches struck from the registers began calling themselves "forbidden-marriage houses" and grew prouder still. Couples arranged secret betrothals the throne could not stop — a custom the age regarded as a corruption. Shilian had six sons; Lüxing, Shenxing, and Zhenxing were the best known.
10
子履行
Son — Lüxing
11
履行居母喪毀甚，太宗諭使強食。 尚東陽公主，襲爵。 繇戶部尚書為益州大都督府長史，政有名。 坐長孫無忌，左授洪州都督，改永州刺史。
During his mother's mourning Lüxing grieved so severely that Taizong ordered him to eat by force. He married Princess Dongyang and inherited his father's title. After serving as minister of revenue he became chief administrator of Yizhou, where his governance earned a fine reputation. Caught up in Zhangsun Wuji's fall, he was demoted to military governor of Hongzhou and later made prefect of Yongzhou.
12
子真行
Son — Zhenxing
13
真行至左衛將軍。 其子岐連章懷太子事，詔令自誡切，真行以佩刀刺殺之，斷首棄道上，高宗鄙其為，貶睦州刺史。
Zhenxing rose to general of the left guard. His son Qi was implicated in Crown Prince Zhanghuai's conspiracy; the court ordered Zhenxing to discipline him harshly. Instead Zhenxing stabbed him with his dagger, cut off his head, and threw it in the street. Gaozong was disgusted and demoted him to prefect of Muzhou.
14
子審行
Son — Shenxing
15
審行自戶部侍郎貶渝州刺史。
Shenxing was demoted from vice minister of revenue to prefect of Yuzhou.
16
五世孫重
Fifth-generation descendant — Chong
17
士廉五世孫重，字文明，以明經中第，李巽表鹽鐵轉運巡官，善職，凡十年，進累司門郎中。
Chong, Shilian's fifth-generation descendant, courtesy name Wenming, passed the classics examination. Li Xun recommended him as salt-and-iron transport inspector; he served capably for ten years and rose to director of the department of passes.
18
敬宗慎置侍講學士，重以簡厚惇正，與崔郾偕選，再擢國子祭酒。 文宗好《左氏春秋》，命分列國各為書，成四十篇。 與鄭覃刊定《九經》于石。 出為鄂嶽觀察使，以美政被褒。 久之，拜太子賓客，分司東都。 卒，贈太子少保。
Jingzong carefully chose lecturing scholars; Chong, noted for his plain integrity, was selected with Cui Yan and twice promoted to chancellor of the directorate of education. Wenzong loved the Zuo Commentary and ordered each state to be treated as a separate volume — forty chapters in all. With Zheng Tan he carved the corrected Nine Classics in stone. Posted as observation commissioner of E and Yue, he was commended for excellent governance. In time he was made guest of the crown prince with detached duty at the eastern capital. He died and was posthumously made junior tutor of the crown prince.
19
贊曰：古者受姓受氏以旌有功，是時人皆土著，故名宗望姓，舉郡國自表，而譜系興焉，所以推敘昭穆，使百代不得相亂也。 遭晉播遷，胡醜亂華，百宗蕩析，士去墳墓，子孫猶挾系錄，以示所承，而閥閥顯者，至賣昏求財，汨喪廉恥。 唐初流弊仍甚，天子屢抑不為衰。 至中葉，風教又薄，譜錄都廢，公靡常產之拘，士亡舊德之傳，言李悉出隴西，言劉悉出彭城，悠悠世詐，訖無考按，冠冕皁隸，混為一區，可太息哉！
The encomium says: In antiquity surnames and clan names honored merit. People were rooted to their native places, so clans took their names from ancestral seats and presented registers by commandery and kingdom. Genealogies arose to order senior and junior lines across the generations. After the Jin exodus and barbarian invasions shattered the clans, scholars fled their ancestral graves, yet descendants still clung to genealogies to prove their lineage. Great houses sold marriages for profit and abandoned all shame. Early Tang saw the same abuses; emperors repeatedly tried to curb them, yet they persisted. By mid-Tang morals had thinned again and genealogies were abandoned. Great families lost their fixed estates; scholars lost their ancestral traditions. Every Li claimed Longxi, every Liu Pengcheng. Fraud ran unchecked for generations until nobles and commoners were indistinguishable — a cause for deep lament.
20
竇威，字文蔚，岐州平陸人。 父熾，在周為上柱國，入隋為太傅，太穆皇后，其從兄弟女也。
Dou Wei, courtesy name Wenwei, was from Pinglu in Qi Prefecture. His father Chi was a Zhou upper pillar of state and became Sui grand tutor. Empress Taimu was his father's cousin's daughter.
21
威沈邃有器局，貫覽群言，家世貴，子弟皆喜武力，獨威尚文，諸兄詆為書癡。 內史令李德林舉秀異，授秘書郎，當遷不肯調者十年，故其學益博。 而諸兄以軍功位通顯矣，薄威職閑冗，更謂曰：「昔仲尼積學成聖，猶棲遲不偶，汝尚何求耶？」 威笑不答。 蜀王秀辟為記室，威以秀多不法，謝疾去。 秀廢，府屬皆得罪，威獨免。 大業中，累遷內史舍人，數諫忤旨，轉考功郎中，後坐事免。
Wei was deep-minded and magnanimous, widely read in the classics. His family was aristocratic and his brothers favored martial pursuits, but Wei devoted himself to learning — they called him a bookworm. Li Delin, director of the palace secretariat, recommended him as outstanding talent and appointed him secretary. He refused promotion for ten years to keep studying, and his learning grew ever deeper. His brothers had risen through military merit and scorned his quiet post. They told him: "Even Confucius, for all his learning, struggled without success — what are you still chasing?" Wei only smiled and said nothing. Prince Xiu of Shu appointed him recorder, but Wei, finding the prince lawless, pleaded illness and resigned. When Xiu was deposed, every member of his staff was punished — Wei alone escaped. Under Daye he rose to palace secretariat attendant but offended the emperor with repeated remonstrances and was transferred to director of evaluations, then dismissed for an offense.
22
後寢疾，帝臨問，及卒，哭之慟。 贈同州刺史，追封延安郡公，諡曰靖。 威性儉素，家不樹產，比喪，無餘貲，遺令薄葬。 詔皇太子、百官臨送。
When he fell ill the emperor visited his bedside; at his death the emperor wept bitterly. He was posthumously made prefect of Tong, ennobled as Duke of Yan'an, with the posthumous name Tranquil. Wei lived simply and left no family wealth. At his death there was nothing left; his will called for a plain burial. The crown prince and the entire court were ordered to attend his funeral.
23
侄軌
Nephew — Gui
24
兄子軌，字士則。 父恭，仕周為雍州牧、酂國公。 軌性剛果有威，大業中，為資陽郡東曹掾，去官歸。 高祖起兵，軌募眾千餘人迎謁長春宮。 帝大悅，賜良馬十匹，使略地渭南，下永豐倉，收兵五千，從平京師。 封贊皇縣公，為大丞相諮議參軍。
His brother's son Gui, courtesy name Shize. His father Gong served Zhou as governor of Yong and duke of Zan. Gui was bold and formidable. Under Daye he served as eastern bureau clerk of Ziyang, then resigned and went home. When Gaozu rebelled, Gui raised over a thousand men and went to Changchun Palace to join him. The emperor was delighted, gave him ten fine horses, and sent him to seize the Wei south bank, capture Yongfeng Granary, raise five thousand troops, and help take the capital. He was enfeoffed as duke of Zanhuang and made consulting officer to the grand chancellor.
25
稽胡賊五萬掠宜春，詔軌討之。 次黃欽山，遇賊乘高叢射，眾為卻。 軌斬部將十四人，更拔其次代之，身擁數百騎殿，令曰：「聞鼓不進者斬。」 既鼓，士爭赴賊，賊射不勝，大破之，斬首千級，獲男女二萬。 擢太子詹事。 赤排羌與薛舉叛將鐘俱仇寇漢中，拜秦州總管，討賊連戰有功，餘黨悉降。 復酂國舊封，遷益州道行台左僕射。 党項引吐谷渾寇松州，詔軌與扶州刺史蔣善合援之。 善合先期至，敗之鉗川。 軌進軍臨洮，擊左封，走其眾。 度羌必為患，始屯田松州。 詔率所部兵從秦王討王世充。 明年，還蜀。
Fifty thousand Ji-hu bandits raided Yichun; the court ordered Gui to campaign against them. At Huangqin Mountain they ran into bandits firing from the heights through dense brush, and the army fell back. Gui executed fourteen commanders, promoted their seconds to replace them, took personal command of several hundred horsemen in the rear, and proclaimed: "Any man who hears the drum and does not advance will be executed. At the drumbeat the men rushed the enemy; their volleys could not stop the charge. Gui crushed them, took a thousand heads, and captured twenty thousand people. He was promoted to grand master of ceremonies for the crown prince. When the Chipai Qiang and Xue Ju's turncoat general Zhong Juqiu raided Hanzhong, Gui was made military governor of Qin. He fought a series of victorious engagements and the remnants all submitted. His old ducal title of Zan was restored, and he was made left vice director of the Yizhou circuit executive. Tangut allies brought Tuyuhun raiders against Songzhou; the court ordered Gui and Fuzhou prefect Jiang Shanhe to the rescue. Shanhe got there first and routed them at Qianchuan. Gui marched on Lintao, attacked Zuofeng, and put the enemy to flight. Convinced the Qiang would remain a threat, he started frontier farming around Songzhou. He was ordered to lead his troops with the Prince of Qin against Wang Shichong. The following year he returned to Shu.
26
軌既貴，益嚴酷，然能自勤苦，每出師臨敵，身未嘗解甲，其下有不用命即誅，至小過亦鞭棰流血，人見者皆重足股忄栗，由是蜀盜悉平。 初，以其甥為腹心，嘗夜出，呼不時至，斬之。 又戒家奴毋出外，忽遣奴取漿公廚，既而悔焉，曰：「要當借汝頭以明法。」 命斬奴，奴稱冤，監刑者疑不時決，軌並斬之。 後入朝，賜坐禦樓，容不肅，又坐對詔，帝怒曰：「公入蜀，車騎、驃騎從者二十人，公斬誅略盡，我隴種車騎，尚不足給公。」 因系詔獄。 俄釋之，還鎮益州。
Once elevated, Gui grew even more brutal, yet he drove himself as hard as any man under him: on campaign he never took off his armor; disobedience meant death, and minor infractions brought flogging until the blood ran. Everyone who encountered him walked on tiptoe, trembling on their feet — and by that means banditry in Shu was extinguished. Early on he relied on a nephew as his right hand. One night he went out and summoned him; when the man failed to arrive promptly, Gui had him beheaded. He also forbade his household slaves to leave the compound. Once he impulsively sent a slave to fetch gruel from the public kitchen, then regretted it and said, "I shall have to take your head to uphold the law. He ordered the slave executed. The slave protested his innocence, and the overseer hesitated — so Gui had them both killed. Later, summoned to court, he was granted a seat in the imperial tower but sat without proper decorum; when again seated to receive an imperial message, the emperor in anger said, "When you went to Shu you all but wiped out the twenty mounted guards I gave you — my own Longzhong cavalry escort would scarcely be enough for you. He was thereupon thrown into the edict prison. Before long he was freed and sent back to command Yizhou.
27
軌與行台尚書韋雲起、郭行方素不協，及隱太子誅，詔至，軌內詔懷中，雲起問詔安在，軌不肯示，因執殺之。 行方懼，奔京師，得免。 是歲，行台廢，授益州都督，加食邑戶六百。
Gui had long been estranged from executive directors Wei Yunqi and Guo Xingfang. When news came of the Hidden Crown Prince's death, the edict reached Gui — he hid it in his robe. Yunqi asked to see it; Gui refused and had him seized and killed. Xingfang fled to the capital in terror and escaped with his life. That year the circuit executive was dissolved; he was made military governor of Yizhou with six hundred added fief households.
28
侄琮
Nephew — Cong
29
軌弟琮，有武幹。 大業末，犯法亡命太原，依高祖。 與秦王有憾，不自安。 王方收天下豪英，降禮接之，與出入臥內，琮意乃釋。 大將軍府建，引為統軍。 從平西河，破霍邑。 授金紫光祿大夫，封扶風郡公。 從劉文靜擊屈突通於潼關，敗其將桑顯和，通遁去，琮以輕騎追獲于稠桑。 進兵下陝縣，拔太原倉。 遷左領軍大將軍，賜物五百段。 隋河陽都尉獨孤武潛謀歸款，命琮總萬騎，自柏崖迎之，逗留不進，武見殺，坐除名。 武德初，為右屯衛大將軍。 時將圖洛陽，詔琮留守陝，護饟道。 王世充將羅士信數以兵鈔絕，琮使人說降之。 東都平，檢校晉州總管。 從隱太子平劉黑闥，以功封譙國公，賜黃金五十斤。 卒，贈左衛大將軍，諡曰敬。 永徽五年，加贈特進。
Gui's younger brother Cong was a capable soldier. Near the end of Daye he fled to Taiyuan as an outlaw and placed himself under Gaozu's protection. He nursed a grudge against the Prince of Qin and felt uneasy. The prince was recruiting talent from across the realm and treating men with deference; he admitted Cong to his private quarters, and Cong's suspicions eased. When the grand general's headquarters was set up, Cong was made a commanding general. He helped pacify Xihe and stormed Huoyi. He received the rank of grand master of splendid happiness with the golden bag and was enfeoffed as duke of Fufeng. With Liu Wenjing he attacked Qu Tutong at Tong Pass, routed Sang Xianhe, and when Tutong fled Cong ran him down with light cavalry and captured him at Chousang. He advanced to take Shaan County and seize Taiyuan Granary. He was promoted to general of the left guards and awarded five hundred rolls of silk and goods. When Sui Heyang commander Dugu Wu plotted to defect, Cong was sent with ten thousand cavalry to meet him at Baiya — but he lingered, Wu was killed, and Cong was stripped of rank. Early in Wude he became grand general of the right palace guard. As the court planned the Luoyang campaign, Cong was ordered to hold Shaan and guard the supply lines. Wang Shichong's general Luo Shixin repeatedly raided the supply route; Cong sent envoys to win him over. After the eastern capital fell, he was made acting military governor of Jin. Serving with the Hidden Crown Prince against Liu Heita, he earned enfeoffment as duke of Qiao and fifty jin of gold. He died and was posthumously made grand general of the left guard, with the posthumous name Respectful. In Yonghui 5 he received the additional posthumous rank of Special Advance.
30
侄抗
Nephew — Kang
31
威從兄子抗，字道生。 父榮定，為隋洺州總管、陳國公，諡曰懿。 母，隋文帝姊安成公主也。 抗美容儀，性通率，涉見圖史。 以帝甥蚤貴，入太學，釋褐千牛備身、儀同三司。 侍父疾，束帶五旬不弛； 居喪，哀臒過常。 襲爵，累轉梁州刺史。 將之官，文帝幸其第，酣宴如家人禮。 母卒，數號絕。 詔宮人節哭。 歲餘，為岐州刺史，轉幽州總管，所至以寬惠聞。 漢王諒反，煬帝疑抗為應，遣李子雄馳往代之。 子雄因誣抗得諒書不奏，按鞫無狀，然坐是遂廢。
Wei's elder brother's son Kang, courtesy name Daosheng. His father Rongding served the Sui as military governor of Ming and duke of Chen, posthumously titled Majestic. His mother was Emperor Wen of Sui's elder sister, Princess Ancheng. Kang was handsome and open in temperament, well read in history and the classics. As the emperor's nephew he rose early: he studied at the Imperial Academy and upon entering office became a palace guard attendant with the rank of grand master of splendid happiness. While nursing his father he wore his official belt day and night for fifty days without loosening it; In mourning his grief left him wasted beyond ordinary measure. He inherited the title and rose through postings to prefect of Liang. As he prepared to take up his post, Emperor Wen visited his home and feasted with him as one of the family. At his mother's death he repeatedly fainted from wailing. The court ordered palace attendants to restrain his mourning. A year later he became prefect of Qi, then military governor of You — everywhere he served he was known for clemency. When Prince of Han Liang rebelled, Emperor Yang suspected Kang might join him and sent Li Zixiong at full speed to relieve him of command. Li Zixiong falsely claimed Kang had received a letter from Liang and concealed it. The inquiry found nothing — but Kang was dismissed nonetheless.
32
抗與高祖少相狎，及楊玄感反，抗謂高祖曰：「玄感為我先耳，李氏名在圖錄，天所啟也。」 高祖曰：「為禍始不祥，公無妄言。」 煬帝遣抗出靈武，逴護長城，聞高祖已定京師，喜曰：「此吾家婿，豁達有大度，真撥亂主也。」 因歸長安。 高祖見之喜，握手曰：「李氏果王，何如？」 因置酒為樂，授將作大匠兼納言，尋罷為左武候大將軍。
Kang and Gaozu had been close since youth. When Yang Xuangan rose in rebellion, Kang told Gaozu, "Xuangan goes before us — the Li are named in the prophecy rolls; Heaven itself has opened the way. Gaozu replied, "To start the trouble would be ill-omened — speak no more of this." Emperor Yang sent Kang to Lingwu to patrol the Great Wall. Learning Gaozu had taken the capital, Kang exclaimed with delight, "My kinsman by marriage is broad-minded and magnanimous — a true prince to restore order." He then returned to Chang'an. Gaozu greeted him with joy, clasped his hand, and said, "So the Li have taken the throne — what do you say to that? They drank in celebration. Kang was made director of imperial construction and grand counselor, then shortly transferred to grand general of the left martial guard.
33
帝聽朝，或引升禦坐，既退，入臥內，從容談笑，極平生歡，以兄呼之，宮中稱為舅，或留宿禁省，侍燕豫，然未嘗幹朝廷事。 後從秦王平薛舉，功第一； 又從征王世充。 東都平，冊勳於廟者九人，抗與從弟軌與焉。 賜女樂一部，珍幣不貲。 卒，贈司徒，諡曰密。 子衍、靜、誕，衍襲爵。
At court the emperor sometimes had Kang join him on the throne; after sessions he would take him into the private quarters for easy talk, calling him "brother" while the palace knew him as "uncle." Kang sometimes slept in the imperial offices and shared the emperor's leisure — yet never interfered in governance. Later he campaigned with the Prince of Qin against Xue Ju and ranked first in merit; and again fought Wang Shichong. When the eastern capital fell, nine men were honored in the ancestral temple — Kang and his cousin Gui among them. He received a company of court musicians and treasures beyond reckoning. He died and was posthumously made minister of education, posthumously titled Vigilant. His sons were Yan, Jing, and Dan; Yan inherited the title.
34
侄孫靜
Grandnephew — Jing
35
靜字元休，在隋佐親衛，以父得罪煬帝，久不之進。 高祖入京師，擢并州大總管府長史。 時突厥數為邊患，糧道不屬，靜表請屯田太原，以省饋運。 議者以流亡未復，不宜重困，於是召入與裴寂、蕭瑀、封倫廷議，寂等不能屈，帝從之，歲收粟十萬斛。 詔檢校并州大總管。 又請斷石嶺以為鄣塞，制突厥之入。 太宗即位，授司農卿，封信都縣男。 趙元楷為少卿，靜鄙其聚斂，因會官屬大言曰：「如煬帝奢侈，竭四海自奉，司農須公矣。 今天子躬節儉，屈一人安兆庶，惡用公哉？」 元楷大慚。 改夏州都督。 突厥攜貳，諸將出征者過靜，靜為陳虜中虛實，諸將由是大克獲。 又間其部落，郁射所部鬱孤尼等九俟斤皆內附。 帝嘉之，賜馬百匹、羊千口。 及禽頡利，詔處其眾河南。 靜上書曰：「夷狄窮則搏噬，飽則群聚，不可以刑法繩、仁義教也。 衣食仰給，不恃耕桑。 今損有為之民，資無知之虜，得之無益於治，失之不害於化。 況首丘未忘，則一旦變生，犯我王略矣。 不如因其破亡，假以賢王一號，妻之宗女，披其土地部落，使權弱勢分，易為羈制，則世為籓臣矣。」 帝雖不從，然嘉其忠，優詔答曰：「北方之務，悉以相委，以卿為甯朔大使，朕無北顧憂矣。」 再遷民部尚書。 卒，諡曰肅。 子逵，尚遂安公主，襲爵。
Jing, courtesy name Yuanxiu, served in the Sui imperial guard, but because his father had fallen from Emperor Yang's favor he languished without advancement. When Gaozu took the capital, Jing was made chief administrator of the Bingzhou grand area command. Turk raids disrupted the frontier and supply lines; Jing proposed farming colonies around Taiyuan to cut transport costs. Critics argued refugees were not yet resettled and the plan would overburden them. Jing was called to debate Pei Ji, Xiao Yu, and Feng Lun at court; none could refute him, and the emperor approved. That year the farms yielded a hundred thousand hu of grain. He was made acting grand area commander of Bingzhou. He also proposed fortifying Shiling Pass to block Turk raids. When Taizong succeeded, Jing became minister of revenue for agriculture and baron of Xindu. His vice minister Zhao Yuankai was notorious for squeezing revenue. At a staff meeting Jing declared, "Under an emperor as extravagant as Yang, draining the realm to feed his appetites, the ministry would need a man like you. But our emperor lives frugally and burdens himself so the people may rest — what use has he for you? Yuankai burned with shame. He was transferred to military governor of Xia. As the Turks turned restless, campaigning generals stopped to consult Jing on enemy conditions — and won great victories accordingly. He also split their tribes: nine tribal chiefs under Yujue, including Yugu'ni, submitted to the court. The emperor praised his work and awarded him a hundred horses and a thousand sheep. After Jiali Khan was captured, the court ordered his people settled south of the Yellow River. Jing wrote: "Barbarians fight when desperate and flock together when fed — neither law nor moral teaching can truly bind them. They live on what others provide and know nothing of farming or sericulture. To burden productive citizens to feed ignorant nomads gains us nothing in governance and loses us nothing in civilization if reversed. And if they still yearn for their homelands, rebellion may come at any hour and violate the realm. Better to exploit their defeat: give them a nominal princely title, marry them to an imperial clanswoman, break up their lands and tribes so their power scatters — then they can be bridled for generations as vassals. The emperor did not adopt the plan but praised Jing's loyalty and replied graciously: "I entrust all northern affairs to you. As Pacification Commissioner for the North, you leave me with no worry for that frontier." He was later promoted to minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He died and was posthumously titled Solemn. His son Kui married Princess Sui'an and inherited the title.
36
侄孫誕
Grandnephew — Dan
37
誕，隋末起家朝請郎。 義甯初，辟丞相府祭酒，封安豐郡公，尚襄陽公主。 從秦王征薛舉，為元帥府司馬。 累遷太常卿。 高祖諸子幼，未出宮者十余王，國司家事，皆誕主之。 出為梁州都督。 貞觀初，召授右領軍大將軍，進莘國公，為宗正卿。 太宗與語，昏謬失對。 乃下詔曰：「誕比衰耗，不能事，朕知而任之，是謂不明。 且為官擇人者治，為人擇官者亂。 其以光祿大夫罷就第。」 卒，贈工部尚書、荊州刺史，諡曰安。
Dan entered service at the end of the Sui as a gentleman consultant. Early in Yining he became libationer of the chancellor's office, was enfeoffed duke of Anfeng, and married Princess Xiangyang. Campaigning with the Prince of Qin against Xue Ju, he served as marshal's secretary. He rose through the ranks to minister of ceremonies. Gaozu's sons were still young, and for more than ten princes who had not yet left the palace, Dan oversaw both the state and household affairs of their principalities. He was appointed military governor of Liang. Early in Zhenguan he was recalled, made general of the right wing army, advanced to duke of Shen, and appointed director of the imperial clan. When Taizong conversed with him, Dan answered in a muddled and incoherent manner. The emperor then issued an edict: "Dan has lately grown feeble and can no longer serve. Knowing this, I still kept him in office — that was a failure of discernment on my part. Choosing the right people for office brings order; choosing offices for people brings chaos. He is to be dismissed with the rank of grand master of splendid happiness and retire to his home. He died and was posthumously made minister of public works and governor of Jing, posthumously titled An.
38
侄璡
Nephew — Jin
39
抗弟璡，字之推，性沈厚。 隋大業末，為扶風太守。 唐兵起，以郡歸，曆民部尚書。 從秦王平薛仁杲，賜錦袍。 尋鎮益州，時蜀盜賊多，皆討平之。 與皇甫無逸不協，數相訴毀，因請入朝，至半道，詔還之。 璡內憂恐。 會使者至，璡引宴臥內，厚餉遺。 無逸以聞，坐免官。 未幾，授秘書監，封鄧國公。 貞觀初，遷將作大匠，詔脩洛陽宮，鑿池起山，務極侈浮，費不勝算。 太宗怒，詔毀之，免其官。 以酆王納璡女為妃，復位。 卒，贈禮部尚書，諡曰安。 璡有巧思，工書。 武德中，與太常少卿祖孝孫受詔定雅樂，是正鐘律雲。
Jin, Kang's younger brother, courtesy name Zhitui, was deep and steady of temperament. At the end of the Sui Daye era he was administrator of Fufeng. When the Tang army rose, he surrendered his commandery and served successively as minister of revenue. Campaigning with the Prince of Qin, he helped pacify Xue Rengao and was rewarded with a brocade robe. He was soon posted to Yizhou, where rampant banditry in Shu was thoroughly suppressed. He fell out with Huangfu Wuyi and the two traded repeated accusations. Jin requested leave to attend court, but halfway there an edict sent him back. Jin was inwardly gripped with anxiety and fear. When an envoy arrived, Jin entertained him in his bedchamber and lavished gifts upon him. Wuyi reported the matter, and Jin was dismissed from office. Before long he was made director of the secretariat and enfeoffed duke of Deng. Early in Zhenguan he became chief artisan for palace construction. Ordered to renovate Luoyang Palace, he dug ponds, piled up artificial hills, and pursued extravagance without measure — costs beyond reckoning. Taizong's wrath brought an order to tear it all down and dismiss Jin from office. When the Prince of Feng took Jin's daughter as consort, Jin was restored to his post. He died and was posthumously made minister of rites, posthumously titled An. Jin possessed ingenious talent and excelled at calligraphy. During Wude he and Vice Minister of Ceremonies Zu Xiaosun were ordered to establish court music and correct the pitch pipes and tonal standards.
40
從孫德玄
Grandnephew — Dexuan
41
威從孫德玄，隋大業中，起家國學生。 祖照，尚周文帝義陽公主，封钜鹿郡公。 父彥，襲爵，終隋西平太守。 兄德明，師事陳留王孝逸，通知文史。 漢王諒反，遣將綦良攻黎州。 德明年十八，募士五千，號令嚴整，倍道擊賊，破之。 以功擢累齊王府屬。 坐事免。 高祖兵叩長安，而宗室孝基、神符、道宗及竇誕、趙慈景等並系獄，隋將衛文升、陰世師欲殺之，德明諫曰：「罪不在此，殺之無傷於彼，祗取怨焉，不如縱之。」 乃止。 長安平，謁高祖，終不自言，時稱長者。 拜考功郎中。 從秦王擊王世充。 封顯武男，曆常、愛二州刺史，卒。 德玄始為高祖丞相府千牛，曆太宗時不甚顯，高宗以舊臣，自殿中少監為御史大夫，歲中遷司元太常伯。 時帝又以源直心為奉常正卿，劉祥道為司刑太常伯，上官儀為西台侍極，郝處俊為太子左中護，凡十餘人，皆帝自擇，以示宰相李勣等，皆頓首謝。 麟德初，進檢校左相，勤職約己，天子嘗臨朝，咨其清素，加以賜賚。 居位數年，贊圖封禪事，與李勣皆為使。 帝次濮陽，問古謂帝丘，德玄不能對，許敬宗具道其然，帝稱善。 敬宗自矜於人，德玄知，不為忤，眾服其量。 禮成，進爵二級。 以弟德遠未及爵，願分封，詔可，故德玄封钜鹿男，德遠樂安男。 德玄迎時取合，未嘗有過，然無它補益。 卒，年六十九，贈光祿大夫，幽州都督，諡曰恭。
Dexuan, grandnephew of Wei, entered service during Sui Daye as a student of the Imperial Academy. His grandfather Zhao married Princess Yiyang of Northern Zhou and was enfeoffed duke of Julu. His father Yan inherited the title and ended his career as Sui administrator of Xiping. His elder brother Deming studied under Wang Xiaoyi of Chenliu and was accomplished in letters and history. When Prince Han Liang rebelled, he sent General Qi Liang against Lizhou. Deming, only eighteen, raised five thousand men, drilled them to strict discipline, and marching at forced pace routed the rebels. For this victory he rose through posts on the staff of the Prince of Qi's household. He was dismissed for an offense. When Gaozu's army reached Chang'an, the imperial clansmen Xiaoji, Shenfu, Daozong, Dou Dan, Zhao Cijing, and others languished in prison. The Sui generals Wei Wensheng and Yin Shishi wanted them executed. Deming urged: "The guilt does not lie with these men — killing them will not weaken the enemy, only breed hatred. Better to set them free." They desisted. When Chang'an fell, he paid his respects to Gaozu yet never once mentioned his own deeds — men of the time hailed him as a man of true dignity. He was made gentleman of the bureau of merit. He campaigned with the Prince of Qin against Wang Shichong. He was enfeoffed baron of Xianwu, served as prefect of Chang and Ai in turn, and died. Dexuan began as a thousand-bull officer in Gaozu's chancellor's office and remained relatively obscure through Taizong's reign. Honoring him as an old minister, Gaozong raised him from vice director of the palace department to censor-in-chief and within a year moved him to vice minister of revenue. The emperor also personally selected more than ten men — Yuan Zhixin as director of ceremonies, Liu Xiangdao as vice minister of justice, Shangguan Yi as attendant of the western secretariat, Hao Chujun as left protector of the heir apparent — and presented them to Chancellor Li Ji and his colleagues, who all bowed in gratitude. Early in Linde he was made acting left chancellor. Diligent in duty and austere in his habits, he was once questioned at audience about his integrity and plain living, and the emperor rewarded him accordingly. After several years in office he helped plan the feng and shan sacrifices; he and Li Ji both served as ritual envoys. Stopping at Puyang, the emperor asked whether the place had anciently been called Diqiu. Dexuan could not answer, but Xu Jingzong explained the matter in full, and the emperor approved. Jingzong habitually flaunted his knowledge before others. Dexuan understood this yet never took umbrage, and all admired his magnanimity. When the rites were completed, his noble rank rose two steps. Because his younger brother Deyuan had not yet received a title, Dexuan asked to split his enfeoffment. The emperor assented: Dexuan became baron of Julu, Deyuan baron of Le'an. Dexuan kept in step with the times and never gave offense, yet offered no further service of note. He died at sixty-nine and was posthumously made grand master of splendid happiness and military governor of You, posthumously titled Gong.
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贊曰：高、竇雖緣外戚姻家，然自以才猷結天子，廁跡名臣，垂榮無窮，時有遇合，故見諸事業。 古來賢豪，不遭與運，埋光鏟采，與草木俱腐者，可勝吒哉！ 竇宗自魏訖唐，支胄扶疏數百年，所馮厚矣。
The commentators say: Though the Gao and Dou families rose through marriage alliances with the throne, they won imperial favor by their own talent and design, took their places among the great ministers, and won lasting honor. Each found the moment when aptitude met opportunity — and so their deeds live in the record. Since antiquity, how many worthy and heroic men never met their season, buried their brilliance and hid their luster, and rotted away with the grass and trees — the count is beyond exclamation and lament! From Wei through Tang the Dou clan spread its branches for centuries — the foundation it rested upon ran deep indeed.