1
王建，字光圖，許州舞陽人也。 隆眉廣顙，狀貌偉然。 少無賴，以屠牛、盜驢、販私鹽為事，里人謂之「賊王八」。 後為忠武軍卒，稍遷隊將。
Wang Jian, whose courtesy name was Guangtu, came from Wuyang in Xuzhou. He had heavy brows and a broad forehead, and his bearing was imposing. As a young man he was a rascal who made his living slaughtering oxen, stealing donkeys, and smuggling salt; neighbors called him "Bandit Wang Eight." He later enlisted in the Zhongwu Army and gradually rose to company commander.
2
黃巢陷長安，僖宗在蜀，忠武軍將鹿晏弘以兵八千屬楊復光討賊，巢敗走，復光以其兵為八都，都將千人，建與晏弘皆為一都頭。 復光死，晏弘率八都西迎僖宗於蜀，所過剽略。 行至興元，逐節度使牛叢，自稱留後。 僖宗即以晏弘為節度使，晏弘以建等八都頭皆領屬州刺史。 已而晏弘擁眾東歸，陷陳、許，建與晉暉、韓建、張造、李師泰等各率一都，西奔於蜀。 僖宗得之大喜，號「隨駕五都」，以屬十軍觀軍容使田令孜，令孜以建等為養子。 僖宗還長安，使建與晉暉等將神策軍宿衛。
After Huang Chao seized Chang'an, Emperor Xizong took refuge in Shu. The Zhongwu general Lu Yanhong led eight thousand men under Yang Fuguang to fight the rebels. When Chao was routed and fled, Fuguang split his army into eight companies of a thousand men apiece; Jian and Yanhong each commanded one company. After Fuguang died, Yanhong led the eight companies west to join Xizong in Shu, looting every district they passed through. At Xingyuan he drove out the military commissioner Niu Cong and declared himself acting commissioner. Xizong promptly confirmed Yanhong as military commissioner, and Yanhong appointed Jian and the other seven company heads as prefects of subordinate districts. Soon Yanhong marched east with his forces and seized Chen and Xu. Jian, Jin Hui, Han Jian, Zhang Zao, and Li Shitai each led one company west into Shu. Xizong was delighted and dubbed them the "Five Companies of the Imperial Escort," placing them under the Shidian Army eunuch Tian Lingzi, who adopted Jian and his companions as sons. When Xizong returned to Chang'an, he put Jian and Jin Hui in command of the Shence Army on palace guard duty.
3
僖宗已至興元，令孜以謂天子播越，由己致之，懼且得罪，西川節度使陳敬瑄，令孜同母弟也，令孜因求為西川監軍，楊復恭代為軍容使。 復恭出建為壁州刺史，建乃招集亡命及溪洞夷落，有眾八千，以攻閬州，執其刺史楊行遷。 又攻利州，利州刺史王珙棄城走。 敬瑄患之，以問令孜，令孜曰：「王八吾兒也，以一介召之，可置麾下。」 乃使人招建。
Once Xizong had reached Xingyuan, Lingzi concluded that the emperor's exile was his doing and feared punishment. The Xichuan military commissioner Chen Jingxuan was his younger uterine brother, so Lingzi sought appointment as Xichuan army supervisor, with Yang Fugong succeeding him as army supervisor. Fugong posted Jian as prefect of Bi. Jian then rallied fugitives and hill tribes until he had eight thousand men, attacked Lang Prefecture, and captured its prefect Yang Xingqian. He also attacked Li Prefecture, whose prefect Wang Gong abandoned the city and fled. Jingxuan was alarmed and asked Lingzi, who said, "Wang Eight is my boy. Send one messenger to summon him and you can keep him at your side." He then sent men to summon Jian.
4
敬瑄不受代，昭宗即命昭度將彥朗等兵討之。 昭宗以建為招討牙內都指揮使。 久之，不克，建謂昭度曰：「公以數萬之眾，困兩川之人，而師久無功，奈何？ 且唐室多故，東方諸鎮，兵接都畿，公當歸相天子，靜中原以固根本，此蠻夷之國，不足以留公。」 昭度遲疑未決，建遣軍士擒昭度親吏於軍門，臠而食之，建入白曰：「軍士饑，須此為食爾！」 昭度大恐，即留符節與建而東。 昭度已去，建即以兵扼劍門，兩川由是阻絕。
When Jingxuan refused to step down, Emperor Zhaozong ordered Zhaodu to march against him with Yan Lang's forces. Zhaozong appointed Jian adjutant commander-in-chief of the punitive headquarters. After a long stalemate, Jian told Zhaodu, "You have brought tens of thousands to harry the people of the two Shu, yet the army has campaigned for ages without success—what now? The Tang house is in turmoil, and eastern prefectures have armies pressing the capital. You should return to serve the Son of Heaven, pacify the central plains, and secure the foundation—this barbarian country is no place to keep you." Zhaodu wavered. Jian had soldiers seize Zhaodu's personal clerk at the camp gate, carve him up, and eat him. Jian came in to report, "The men were starving—they needed this for food!" Zhaodu was terrified and at once left his credentials and tally with Jian and marched east. Once Zhaodu had gone, Jian seized Jianmen Pass with troops, and the two Shu were cut off from the east.
5
山行章屯廣都，建擊敗之，行章走眉州，以州降建。 建引兵攻成都，而資、簡、戎、茂、嘉、邛諸州皆殺刺史降建。 建攻成都甚急，田令孜登城呼建曰：「老夫與公相厚，何嫌而至此！」 建曰：「軍容父子之恩，心何可忘！ 然兵討不受代者，天子命也。」 令孜夜入建軍，以節度觀察牌印授建。 明日，敬瑄開門迎建。 建將入城，以張為都虞候，戒其軍士曰：「吾以張為虞候矣，汝等無犯其令，幸執而見我，我尚活汝，使其殺而後白，吾亦不能詰也。」 建入城，軍士剽略，殺百人而止。 後建遷敬瑄於雅州，使人殺之； 復以令孜為監軍，既而亦殺之。 大順二年十月，唐以建為檢校司徒、成都尹、劍南西川節度副大使知節度事、管內觀察處置雲南八國招撫等使。
Shan Xingzhang held Guangdu; Jian routed him, and Xingzhang fled to Meizhou and surrendered the prefecture. Jian marched on Chengdu, and the prefectures of Zi, Jian, Rong, Mao, Jia, and Qiong each killed their prefects and submitted to him. Jian pressed Chengdu hard. Tian Lingzi climbed the wall and called to him, "I was always close to you—what grievance brings you to this!" Jian replied, "Army Supervisor, the bond between father and son—how could I forget it in my heart! Yet an army sent against one who refuses transfer—that is the Son of Heaven's command." That night Lingzi entered Jian's camp and handed over the commissioner's tally and seal. The next day Jingxuan opened the gates and welcomed Jian in. Before entering the city, Jian appointed Zhang Yan camp commander and warned his troops, "Zhang is camp commander now—do not break his orders. If you are seized and brought to me, I may still spare you; if he kills you and then reports it, I cannot hold him to account either." Once Jian entered, the soldiers looted and killed a hundred people before he stopped them. Later Jian transferred Jingxuan to Yazhou and had him killed; he reappointed Lingzi as army supervisor, then killed him too. In the tenth month of Dashun year 2, Tang appointed Jian acting Minister of Works, prefect of Chengdu, deputy military commissioner of Jiannan West with full commission authority, circuit observer and administrator, and commissioner for pacifying the eight kingdoms of Yunnan.
6
東川顧彥朗卒，其弟彥暉立。 唐遣宦者宗道弼賜彥暉東川旌節，綿州刺史常厚執道弼以攻梓州，建遣李簡、王宗滌等討厚。 自彥朗死，建欲圖並東川而未有以發，及李簡等討厚，戒曰：「兵已破厚，彥暉必出犒師，即與俱來，無煩吾再舉也。」 簡等擊厚，敗之鐘陽，厚走還綿州，以唐旌節還道弼而出之。 彥暉已得節，辭疾不出犒軍。 乾寧二年，建遣王宗滌攻之。 十二月，宗滌敗彥暉於楸林，斬其將羅璋，遂圍梓州。 三年五月，昭宗遣宦者袁易簡詔建罷兵，建收兵還成都。 黔南節度使王肇以其地降於建。
Gu Yanlang of Dongchuan died, and his younger brother Yanhui took his place. Tang sent the eunuch Zong Daobi to invest Yanhui with the Dongchuan commission. Mianzhou prefect Chang Hou seized Daobi and used him to attack Zizhou, so Jian dispatched Li Jian, Wang Zongti, and others against Hou. Since Yanlang's death Jian had wanted to annex Dongchuan but lacked a pretext. When Li Jian marched against Hou, he instructed them, "Once you defeat Hou, Yanhui will surely come out to reward the army—bring him back with you, and I need not march again." Li Jian defeated Hou at Zhongyang; Hou fled to Mianzhou, returned the Tang commission to Daobi, and released him. Yanhui, now confirmed in office, pleaded illness and refused to come out and reward the army. In Qianning year 2, Jian sent Wang Zongti against him. In the twelfth month Zongti routed Yanhui at Qiulin, killed his general Luo Zhang, and besieged Zizhou. In the fifth month of year 3, Zhaozong sent the eunuch Yuan Yijian to order Jian to stand down, and Jian withdrew to Chengdu. Qiannan military commissioner Wang Zhao surrendered his territory to Jian.
7
四年，宗滌復攻東川，別遣王宗侃、宗阮等出峽，取渝、瀘州。 五月，建自將攻東川，昭宗遣諫議大夫李洵、判官韋莊宣諭兩川，詔建罷兵。 建不奉詔，乃責授建南州刺史，以郯王為鳳翔節度使，李茂貞代建為西川節度使。 茂貞拒命，乃復建官爵。 冬十月，建攻破梓州，彥暉自殺。 彥暉將顧彥瑤顧城已危，謂諸將吏曰：「事公當生死以之！」 指其所佩賓鐵劍曰：「事急而有叛者，當齒此劍！」 及城將破，彥瑤與彥暉召集將吏飲酒，遂與之俱死。 建以王宗滌為東川留後，唐即以宗滌為節度使，於是並有兩川之地。
In year 4, Zongti attacked Dongchuan again while Jian sent Wang Zongkan, Zong Ruan, and others through the gorges to seize Yu and Lu. In the fifth month Jian led the Dongchuan campaign in person. Zhaozong sent remonstrance officer Li Xun and aide Wei Zhuang to announce the imperial will in both Shu and order Jian to stand down. Jian ignored the edict. Tang then demoted him to prefect of Nanzhou, made the Prince of Tan military commissioner of Fengxiang, and appointed Li Maozhen to replace him in Xichuan. Maozhen refused the appointment, so Tang restored Jian's rank and titles. In the tenth month of winter Jian captured Zizhou, and Yanhui took his own life. Yanhui's general Gu Yanyao, seeing the city doomed, told his officers, "To serve our lord is to stand with him in life and death!" He pointed to the guest-iron sword at his belt. "If anyone turns traitor in this crisis, let him bite this blade!" As the city was about to fall, Yanyao and Yanhui gathered the officers for a final feast and died with them. Jian made Wang Zongti acting commissioner of Dongchuan, and Tang confirmed him as military commissioner. Jian now held both Shu circuits.
8
七年，梁滅唐，遣使者諭建，建拒而不納。 建因馳檄四方，會兵討梁，四方知其非誠實，皆不應。
In year 7, Liang overthrew Tang and sent envoys to Jian, but he refused to receive them. Jian then sent urgent proclamations across the realm to rally armies against Liang, but everyone saw he was not sincere and none answered.
9
是歲正月，巨人見青城山。 六月，鳳凰見萬歲縣，黃龍見嘉陽江，而諸州皆言甘露、白鹿、白雀、龜、龍之瑞。 秋九月己亥，建乃即皇帝位。 封其諸子為王，以王宗佶為中書令，韋莊為左散騎常侍判中書門下事，唐襲為樞密使，鄭騫為御史中丞，張格、王鍇皆為翰林學士，周博雅為成都尹。 蜀恃險而富，當唐之末，士人多欲依建以避亂。 建雖起盜賊，而為人多智詐，善待士，故其僭號，所用皆唐名臣世族； 莊，見素之孫； 格，浚之子也。 建謂左右曰：「吾為神策軍將時，宿衛禁中，見天子夜召學士，出入無間，恩禮親厚如寮友，非將相可比也。」 故建待格等恩禮尤異，其餘宋比等百餘人，並見信用。
That year, in the first month, a giant was seen on Mount Qingcheng. In the sixth month a phoenix appeared in Wansui County and a yellow dragon in the Jiayang River, and prefectures everywhere reported sweet dew, white deer, white sparrows, tortoises, and dragons as omens. On the jihai day of the ninth month of autumn, Jian took the imperial throne. He enfeoffed his sons as kings, appointed Wang Zongji director of the Secretariat, Wei Zhuang left regular cavalier attendant with concurrent Secretariat-Chancellery duty, Tang Xi commissioner of palace secrets, Zheng Qian censor-in-chief, Zhang Ge and Wang Kai as Hanlin academicians, and Zhou Boya prefect of Chengdu. Shu was rich and well protected by terrain; at the end of Tang many scholars sought refuge with Jian to escape the chaos. Though Jian had risen from banditry, he was clever and cunning by nature and treated scholars well, so when he took the imperial title he staffed his court with eminent Tang ministerial families; Zhuang was a grandson of Jian Su; Ge was a son of Jun. Jian told his attendants, "When I was a Shence general on palace guard duty, I saw the emperor summon Hanlin academicians at night. They came and went freely, treated with the intimacy of close colleagues—nothing like the standing of generals and ministers." For that reason he treated Ge and the others with exceptional favor, and more than a hundred others, including Song Bi, were all trusted and employed.
10
二年，頒《永昌曆》。 廣都嘉禾合穗。
In year 2 he promulgated the Yongchang calendar. At Guangdu the grain grew with joined ears.
11
三年八月，有龍五十見洵陽水中。 十月，麟見壁州。 十二月，大赦，改明年為永平元年。 岐王李茂貞自為梁所圍，而山南入於蜀，地狹勢孤，遂與建和，以其子娶建女，因求山南故地。 建怒，不與，以王宗侃為北路都統，宗佑、宗賀、唐襲為三面招討使以攻岐。 戰於青泥，宗侃敗績，退保西縣，為茂貞兵所圍。 建自將擊之，岐兵敗，解去，建至興元而還。 加尊號曰英武睿聖光孝皇帝。
In the eighth month of year 3, fifty dragons were seen in the waters of Xunyang. In the tenth month a qilin appeared in Bi Prefecture. In the twelfth month he proclaimed a general amnesty and renamed the coming year Yongping year 1. The Prince of Qi, Li Maozhen, was himself besieged by Liang. With Shannan now in Shu's hands, his territory was cramped and his position isolated, so he made peace with Jian, married his son to Jian's daughter, and asked for his former Shannan lands. Jian refused in anger and appointed Wang Zongkan overall commander of the northern route, with Zong You, Zong He, and Tang Xi as commissioners on three fronts to attack Qi. At Qingni, Zongkan was defeated, fell back to Xixian, and was surrounded by Maozhen's army. Jian led the relief force in person, routed the Qi army, and marched as far as Xingyuan before returning. He added the honorific title Emperor Yingwu Ruisheng Guangxiao.
12
二年，又加號曰英武睿聖神功文德光孝皇帝。 初，田令孜之為監軍也，盜唐傳國璽入於蜀而埋之，二月，尚食使歐陽柔治令孜故第，穿地而得之，以獻。 五月，梁遣光祿卿盧比來聘，推建為兄，其印文曰「大梁入蜀之印」。 宰相張格曰：「唐故事，奉使四夷，其印曰『大唐入某國之印』，今梁已兄事陛下，奈何卑我如夷狄？」 建怒，欲殺梁使者，格曰：「此梁有司之過爾，不可以絕兩國之歡。」 已而梁太祖崩，建遣將作監李纮吊之，遂刻其印文曰「大蜀入梁之印」。 劍州木連理。 六月，麟見文州。 十二月，黃龍見富義江。
In year 2 he added the further honorific Emperor Yingwu Ruisheng Shengong Wende Guangxiao. Earlier, when Tian Lingzi served as army supervisor, he had stolen Tang's dynastic seal, brought it to Shu, and buried it. In the second month the imperial provisioner Ouyang Rou was repairing Lingzi's old residence, unearthed the seal, and presented it. In the fifth month Liang sent palace attendant Lu Bi on a friendly mission, treating Jian as an elder brother. The mission seal read "Seal of Great Liang Entering Shu." Chief minister Zhang Ge said, "By Tang precedent, envoys to foreign states bore seals reading 'Seal of Great Tang Entering Such-and-Such State.' Liang already treats Your Majesty as an elder brother—why demean us like a barbarian power?" Jian was furious and wanted to kill the Liang envoy. Ge said, "This is only a blunder by Liang's officials—we must not break the goodwill between our states." Soon Liang's founding emperor died. Jian sent director of imperial construction Li Hong to offer condolences and had his mission seal inscribed "Seal of Great Shu Entering Liang." At Jian Prefecture trees grew with joined trunks. In the sixth month a qilin appeared in Wen Prefecture. In the twelfth month a yellow dragon appeared in the Fuyi River.
13
三年正月，麟見永泰。 五月，騶虞見壁山，有二鹿隨之。 秋七月，皇太子元膺殺太子少保唐襲。 元膺，建次子也，初名宗懿，後更名宗坦，建得銅牌子於什仿，有文二十餘字，建以為符讖，因取之以名諸子，故又更曰元膺。 元膺為人猳喙齲齒，多材藝，能射錢中孔，嘗自抱畫球擲馬上，馳而射之，無不中。 年十七，為皇太子，判六軍，創天武神機營，開永和府，置官屬。 建以元膺年少任重，以記事戒之，令「一切學朕所為，則可以保國」。 又命道士廣成先生杜光庭為之師。 唐襲，建之嬖也，元膺易之，屢謔於朝，建懼其交惡，乃罷襲樞密使，出為興元節度使。 已而襲罷歸，元膺廷疏其過失，建益不悅。 是月七夕，元膺召諸王大臣置酒，而集王宗翰、樞密使潘峭、翰林學士毛文錫不至，元膺怒曰：「集王不來，峭與文錫教之耳！」 明日，元膺白建峭及文錫離間語。 建怒，將罪之。 元膺出而襲入，建以問之，襲曰：「太子謀作亂，欲召諸將、諸王以兵錮之，然後舉事爾！」 建疑之，襲請召營兵入衛。 元膺初不為備，聞襲召兵，以為誅己，乃與伶人安悉香、軍將喻全殊率天武兵自衛，遣人擒峭及文錫而笞之，幽於其家； 召大將徐瑤、常謙率兵出拒襲，與襲戰神武門，襲中流矢，墜馬死。 建遣王宗賀以兵討之，元膺兵敗皆潰去，元膺匿躍龍池檻中。 明日，出而丐食，蜀人識之，以告，建遣宗翰招諭之，宗翰未至，為衛兵所殺。 建乃立其幼子鄭王宗衍為太子。 白龍見邛州江。
In the first month of year 3 a qilin appeared at Yongtai. In the fifth month a zouyu appeared at Bishan, followed by two deer. In the seventh month of autumn, Crown Prince Yuanying killed junior guardian of the heir Tang Xi. Yuanying was Jian's second son. He was first named Zongyi, then Zongtan. Jian found a bronze plaque at Shifang inscribed with more than twenty characters and took it as a prophecy, using it to name his sons; hence this son was renamed Yuanying. Yuanying had a protruding mouth and buck teeth but was skilled in many arts. He could shoot through the hole in a coin, and once tossed a painted ball onto a galloping horse and shot it without ever missing. At seventeen he was made crown prince, took charge of the Six Armies, founded the Tianwu Shenji camp, opened the Yonghe bureau, and appointed its staff. Because Yuanying was young yet bore heavy responsibility, Jian left him a written admonition: "Do everything as I have done, and you can preserve the state." He also appointed the Daoist master Guangcheng, Du Guangting, as his tutor. Tang Xi was Jian's favorite. Yuanying despised him and repeatedly mocked him at court. Fearing a breach between them, Jian removed Xi as commissioner of palace secrets and posted him as military commissioner of Xingyuan. Soon Xi was dismissed and returned to court, where Yuanying publicly denounced his faults. Jian grew still more displeased. That month, on the Qixi festival, Yuanying summoned the princes and senior ministers to a feast, but Prince Zonghan, commissioner of palace secrets Pan Qiao, and Hanlin academician Mao Wenxi did not attend. Yuanying said angrily, "The prince stayed away because Qiao and Wenxi put him up to it!" The next day Yuanying told Jian that Qiao and Wenxi had been sowing discord. Jian was furious and was about to punish them. Yuanying left, and Xi entered. When Jian questioned him, Xi said, "The crown prince is plotting rebellion. He means to summon the generals and princes, confine them with troops, and then strike!" Jian hesitated. Xi asked permission to bring camp troops in as guards. Yuanying had made no preparations, but when he heard that Xi was summoning troops he assumed he was marked for death. He joined the actor An Xixiang and the officer Yu Quanshu in leading Tianwu troops to defend himself, had Qiao and Wenxi seized and flogged, and confined them in their homes; He summoned the generals Xu Yao and Chang Qian to resist Xi. They fought at the Shenwu Gate; Xi was struck by an arrow, fell from his horse, and died. Jian sent Wang Zonghe to suppress him. Yuanying's army broke and fled, and Yuanying hid in the railing of the Leaping Dragon Pool. The next day he came out to beg for food. Shu people recognized him and reported it. Jian sent Zonghan to summon him, but before Zonghan arrived the palace guards killed him. Jian then made his youngest son, the Prince of Zheng Zongyan, crown prince. A white dragon appeared in the river at Qiong Prefecture.
14
四年，荊南高季昌侵蜀巫山，遣嘉王宗壽敗之於瞿唐。 八月，殺黔南節度使王宗訓。 冬，南蠻攻掠界上，建遣夔王宗範擊敗之於大渡河。 麟見昌州。
In year 4, Gao Jichang of Jingnan invaded Wushan in Shu. Jian sent Prince Zongshou, who defeated him at Qutang. In the eighth month he executed Qiannan military commissioner Wang Zongxun. That winter southern tribes raided the frontier. Jian sent Prince Zongfan, who defeated them on the Dadu River. A qilin appeared in Chang Prefecture.
15
五年，起壽昌殿於龍興宮，畫建像於壁； 又起扶天閣，畫諸功臣像。 十一月，大火，焚其宮室。 遣王宗儔等攻岐，取其秦、鳳、階、成四州，至大散關。 梁叛將劉知俊在岐，於是特以其族來。
In year 5 he built the Shouchang Hall in the Longxing Palace and painted Jian's portrait on its walls; he also built the Futian Pavilion and painted portraits of his meritorious officials. In the eleventh month a great fire burned his palaces. He sent Wang Zongchou and others against Qi, seized its four prefectures of Qin, Feng, Jie, and Cheng, and advanced to Dasanguan Pass. Liang's rebel general Liu Zhijun was in Qi and thereupon defected with his entire clan.
16
通正元年，遣王宗綰等率兵十二萬出大散關攻岐，取隴州。 八月，起文思殿，以清資五品正員官購群書以實之，以內樞密使毛文錫為文思殿大學士。 黃龍見大昌池。 十月，大赦。 改明年元曰天漢，國號漢。
In Tongzheng year 1 he sent Wang Zongwan and others with a hundred and twenty thousand troops through Dasanguan against Qi and captured Long Prefecture. In the eighth month he built the Wensi Hall, used fifth-rank regular officials to purchase books for it, and made inner commissioner of palace secrets Mao Wenxi its grand academician. A yellow dragon appeared in the Dachang Pool. In the tenth month he proclaimed a general amnesty. He renamed the coming year Tianhan and changed the state designation to Han.
17
天漢元年，殺劉知俊。 十二月，大赦，改明年元曰光天，復國號蜀。
In Tianhan year 1 he executed Liu Zhijun. In the twelfth month he proclaimed a general amnesty, renamed the coming year Guangtian, and restored the state designation to Shu.
18
衍字化源。 建十一子，曰衛王宗仁，簡王元膺，趙王宗紀，豳王宗輅，韓王宗智，莒王宗特，信王宗傑，魯王宗鼎，興王宗澤，薛王宗平。 而鄭王宗衍最幼，其母徐賢妃也，以母寵得立為皇太子，開崇賢府，置官屬，後更曰天策府。 衍為人方頤大口，垂手過膝，顧目見耳，頗知學問，能為浮艷之辭。 元膺死，建以豳王宗輅貌類己，而信王宗傑於諸子最材賢，欲於兩人擇立之。 而徐妃專寵，建老昏耄，妃與宦者唐文扆教相者上言衍相最貴，又諷宰相張格贊成之，衍由是得為太子。
Yan, whose courtesy name was Huayuan. Jian had eleven sons: the Princes of Wei Zongren, Jian Yuanying, Zhao Zongji, Bin Zonglu, Han Zongzhi, Ju Zongte, Xin Zongjie, Lu Zongding, Xing Zongze, and Xue Zongping. The Prince of Zheng, Zongyan, was the youngest. His mother was Consort Xu the Worthy. Favored through her influence, he was made crown prince, opened the Chongxian bureau and appointed its staff, later renamed the Tiance bureau. Yan had a square face and large mouth, hands that hung past his knees, and eyes so prominent that they could be seen from behind; he was fairly learned and could write florid verse. After Yuanying died, Jian thought Prince Zonglu of Bin resembled him in looks and Prince Zongjie of Xin was the most talented of his sons, and he meant to choose between them. But Consort Xu held exclusive favor, and the aging Jian was senile. She and the eunuch Tang Wenyi coached physiognomists to declare Yan's face the most exalted and urged chief minister Zhang Ge to endorse it, and Yan became crown prince.
19
建卒，衍立，謚建曰神武聖文孝德明惠皇帝，廟號高祖，陵曰永陵。 建正室周氏號昭聖皇后，後建數日而卒，衍因尊其母徐氏為皇太后，後妹淑妃為皇太妃。 太后、太妃以教令賣官，自刺史以下，每一官闕，必數人並爭，而入錢多者得之； 通都大邑起邸店，以奪民利。
When Jian died, Yan succeeded him, posthumously titling him Emperor Shenwu Shengwen Xiaode Minghui, with temple name Gaozu and tomb Yongling. Jian's principal consort, Lady Zhou, was titled Empress Zhaosheng and died a few days after him. Yan therefore honored his mother Lady Xu as empress dowager and his younger sister the Pure Consort as grand imperial consort. The empress dowager and grand imperial consort sold offices by edict. From prefect downward, every vacancy drew several bidders, and the highest payment won; and in major cities they opened government shops to seize profits from the people.
20
衍年少荒淫，委其政於宦者宋光嗣、光葆、景潤澄、王承休、歐陽晃、田魯儔等； 以韓昭、潘在迎、顧在珣、嚴旭等為狎客； 起宣華苑，有重光、太清、延昌、會真之殿，清和、迎仙之宮，降真、蓬萊、丹霞之亭，飛鸞之閣，瑞獸之門； 又作怡神亭，與諸狎客、婦人日夜酣飲其中。 嘗以九日宴宣華苑，嘉王宗壽以社稷為言，言發泣涕。 韓昭等曰：「嘉王酒悲爾！」 諸狎客共以慢言謔嘲之，坐上喧然。 衍不能省也。
Yan in his youth was dissolute and entrusted government to the eunuchs Song Guangsi, Guangbao, Jing Runcheng, Wang Chengxiu, Ouyang Huang, Tian Luchou, and others; he took Han Zhao, Pan Zaiying, Gu Zaixun, Yan Xu, and others as intimate companions; he built the Xuanhua Garden with halls named Chongguang, Taiqing, Yanchang, and Huizhen, palaces named Qinghe and Yingxian, pavilions named Jiangzhen, Penglai, and Danxia, the Feiluan Pavilion, and the Ruishou Gate; he also built the Yishen Pavilion, where he drank day and night with his companions and women. Once on the Double Ninth he feasted in the Xuanhua Garden. Prince Zongshou spoke of the fate of the realm and wept as he spoke. Han Zhao and the others said, "The prince is drunk and maudlin!" The companions all mocked him with disrespectful jests, and the hall erupted in laughter. Yan took no notice.
21
蜀人富而喜遨，當王氏晚年，俗競為小帽，僅覆其頂，俯首即墮，謂之「危腦帽」。 衍以為不祥，禁之。 而衍好戴大帽，每微服出遊民間，民間以大帽識之，因令國中皆戴大帽。 又好裹尖巾，其狀如錐。 而後宮皆戴金蓮花冠，衣道士服，酒酣免冠，其髻髽然，更施朱粉，號「醉妝」，國中之人皆效之。 嘗與太后、太妃遊青城山，宮人衣服，皆畫雲霞，飄然望之若仙。 衍自作《甘州曲》，述其仙狀，上下山谷，衍常自歌，而使宮人皆和之。 衍立之明年，改元乾德。
The people of Shu were wealthy and fond of outings. In the Wangs' later years the fashion was for tiny caps that barely covered the crown and fell off at a bow, called "perilous-brain caps." Yan took this as an ill omen and banned it. Yet Yan favored large caps. When he went out in disguise, people recognized him by his large cap, so he ordered everyone in the realm to wear large caps. He also favored pointed kerchiefs wrapped like cones. The palace women wore golden lotus crowns and Daoist robes. When drunk they removed their caps, bound their hair in topknots, applied rouge, and called the look "drunken makeup," which the whole realm imitated. Once he toured Mount Qingcheng with the empress dowager and grand imperial consort. The palace women's robes were painted with clouds and mist and seemed from afar like drifting immortals. Yan composed the "Ganzhou Tune" describing their immortal aspect. As they went up and down the valleys he would sing it himself while the palace women joined in. The year after Yan's accession he renamed the era Qiande.
22
乾德元年正月，祀天南郊，大赦，加尊號為聖德明孝皇帝。
In the first month of Qiande year 1 he sacrificed to Heaven at the southern suburb, proclaimed a general amnesty, and added the honorific Emperor Shengde Mingxiao.
23
二年冬，北巡，至於西縣，旌旗戈甲，連亙百餘里。 其還也，自閬州浮江而上，龍舟畫舸，昭耀江水，所在供億，人不堪命。 三年正月，還成都。
In the winter of year 2 he toured north as far as Xixian, with banners, flags, weapons, and armor stretching more than a hundred li. On his return he went upriver from Lang Prefecture in dragon boats and painted barges that dazzled the waters. Every district along the route was levied beyond endurance. In the first month of year 3 he returned to Chengdu.
24
五年，起上清宮，塑王子晉像，尊以為聖祖至道玉宸皇帝，又塑建及衍像，侍立於其左右； 又於正殿塑玄元皇帝及唐諸帝，備法駕而朝之。
In year 5 he built the Shangqing Palace, molded an image of Prince Zijin and honored him as the Holy Ancestor Emperor Yuchen of the Supreme Way, and molded images of Jian and Yan standing in attendance at his sides; in the main hall he also molded the Mysterious Origin Emperor and the Tang emperors, arrayed the imperial equipage, and performed court before them.
25
六年，以王承休為天雄節度使。 天雄軍，秦州也。 承休以宦者得幸，為宣徽使，承休妻嚴氏，有絕色，衍通之。 是時，唐莊宗滅梁，蜀人皆懼。 莊宗遣李嚴聘蜀，衍與俱朝上清，而蜀都士庶，簾帷珠翠，夾道不絕。 嚴見其人物富盛，而衍驕淫，歸乃獻策伐蜀。 明年，唐魏王繼岌、郭崇韜伐蜀。 是歲，衍改元曰咸康。 衍自立，歲常獵於子來山。 是歲，又幸彭州陽平化、漢州三學山。 以王承休妻嚴氏故，十月，幸秦州，群臣切諫，衍不聽。 行至梓潼，大風發屋拔木，太史曰：「此貪狼風也，當有敗軍殺將者。」 衍不省。 衍至綿谷而唐師入其境，衍懼，遽還。 唐師所至，州縣皆迎降。 衍留王宗弼守綿谷，遣王宗勛、宗儼、宗昱率兵以拒唐師。 宗勛等至三泉，望風退走。 衍詔宗弼誅宗勛等，宗弼反與宗勛等合謀，送款於唐師。 衍自綿谷還成都，百官及後宮迎謁七里亭，衍雜宮人作回鶻隊以入。 明日，禦文明殿，與其群臣相對涕泣。 而宗弼亦自綿谷馳歸，登太玄門，收成都尹韓昭、宦者宋光嗣、景潤澄、歐陽晃等殺之，函首送於繼岌。 衍即上表乞降，宗弼遷衍於天啟宮。 魏王繼岌至成都，衍君臣面縛輿櫬，出降於七里亭。
In year 6 he appointed Wang Chengxiu military commissioner of Tianxiong. The Tianxiong army was stationed at Qin Prefecture. Chengxiu had gained favor as a eunuch and become palace attendant. His wife Lady Yan was surpassingly beautiful, and Yan took her as a lover. At this time Tang's Emperor Zhuangzong overthrew Liang, and the people of Shu were alarmed. Zhuangzong sent Li Yan on a friendly mission to Shu. Yan accompanied him to court at Shangqing while the capital's gentry and commoners lined the road with curtains, pearls, and jade. Yan saw a realm rich in people and goods but ruled by an arrogant, dissolute Yan, and on returning he urged an attack on Shu. The next year Tang's Prince of Wei Jiji and Guo Chongtao invaded Shu. That year Yan renamed the era Xiankang. Since his accession Yan had hunted yearly at Mount Zilai. That year he also visited Yangpinghua in Peng Prefecture and Sanxue Mountain in Han Prefecture. For the sake of Wang Chengxiu's wife Lady Yan, in the tenth month he visited Qin Prefecture. His ministers urgently remonstrated, but Yan would not listen. At Zitong a great wind tore off roofs and uprooted trees. The grand astrologer said, "This is the Greedy Wolf wind—armies will be defeated and generals slain." Yan took no notice. When Yan reached Miangu and Tang troops entered Shu, he was alarmed and hurried back. Wherever Tang troops went, prefectures and counties welcomed them and submitted. Yan left Wang Zongbi to hold Miangu and sent Wang Zongxun, Zongyan, and Zongyu with troops to resist Tang. Zongxun and the others reached Sanquan and fled at the first sight of Tang forces. Yan ordered Zongbi to execute Zongxun and the others, but Zongbi instead conspired with them and submitted to Tang. Yan returned from Miangu to Chengdu. Officials and palace women welcomed him at Qili Pavilion, and he entered the city mixed with palace women arrayed as a Uighur company. The next day he held court at the Wenhua Hall and wept with his ministers face to face. Zongbi also galloped back from Miangu, mounted the Taixuan Gate, seized and killed Chengdu prefect Han Zhao and the eunuchs Song Guangsi, Jing Runcheng, and Ouyang Huang, boxed their heads, and sent them to Jiji. Yan at once submitted a memorial begging to surrender, and Zongbi moved him to the Tianqi Palace. When the Prince of Wei Jiji reached Chengdu, Yan and his court came out bound, carrying coffins, and surrendered at Qili Pavilion.
26
莊宗召衍入洛，賜衍詔曰：「固當列土而封，必不薄人於險，三辰在上，一言不欺！」 衍捧詔忻然就道，率其宗族及偽宰相王鍇、張格、瘐傳素、許寂、翰林學士李旻等，及諸將佐家族數千人以東。 同光四年四月，行至秦川驛，莊宗用伶人景進計，遣宦者向延嗣誅其族。 衍母徐氏臨刑呼曰：「吾兒以一國迎降，反以為戮，信義俱棄，吾知其禍不旋踵矣！」 衍妾劉氏，鬒發如雲而有色，行刑者將免之，劉氏曰：「家國喪亡，義不受辱！」 遂就死。
Zhuangzong summoned Yan to Luoyang and bestowed an edict: "Surely you shall be enfeoffed with territory; surely no man shall be wronged in peril—the three luminaries are above, and not one word shall deceive!" Yan received the edict gladly and set out east with his clan, the former chief ministers Wang Kai, Zhang Ge, Yu Chuansu, Xu Ji, Hanlin academician Li Min, and the families of his generals and aides—several thousand people in all. In the fourth month of Tongguang year 4, at Qinchuan Post Station, Zhuangzong followed the actor Jing Jin's advice and sent the eunuch Xiang Yansi to execute his entire clan. Yan's mother Lady Xu cried out at the execution, "My son surrendered a whole state and is repaid with slaughter—faith and righteousness both cast aside. I know disaster will follow without delay!" Yan's concubine Lady Liu, with hair black as clouds and great beauty, was about to be spared. She said, "State and house are lost—I will not accept disgrace!" She then went to her death.
27
宗弼，本姓魏，名弘夫，建錄為養子。 建攻顧彥暉，宗弼常以建語泄之彥暉者，彥暉敗，建待之如初。 建病且卒，宗弼守太師兼中書令、判六軍，輔政。 衍已降，宗弼以蜀珍寶奉魏王及郭崇韜，求為西川節度使，魏王曰：「此我家物也，何用獻為？」 居數日，為崇韜所殺。
Zongbi, born Wei Hongfu, was adopted by Jian. When Jian attacked Gu Yanhui, Zongbi had often leaked Jian's plans to Yanhui. After Yanhui's defeat, Jian treated him as before. When Jian fell ill near death, Zongbi served as grand preceptor and director of the Secretariat with charge of the Six Armies and assisted in government. After Yan surrendered, Zongbi presented Shu's treasures to the Prince of Wei and Guo Chongtao and asked to be made Xichuan military commissioner. The prince said, "These are my family's things—why present them?" A few days later Chongtao had him killed.
28
宗壽，許州民家子也。 建以同姓，錄之為子。 宗壽好學，工琴奕，為人恬退，喜道家之術，事建時為鎮江軍節度使。 衍既立，宗壽為太子太保奉朝請，以煉丹養氣自娛。 衍為淫亂，獨宗壽常切諫之，後為武信軍節度使。 唐師伐蜀，所在迎降，魏王嘗以書招之，獨宗壽不降。 聞衍已銜璧，大慟，從衍東遷，至岐陽，以賂賂守者，得入見衍，衍泣下沾襟，曰：「早從王言，豈有今日！」 衍死，宗壽走澠池，聞莊宗遇弒，亡入熊耳山。 天成二年，出詣京師，上書求衍宗族葬之。 明宗嘉其忠，以為保義軍行軍司馬，封衍順正公，許以諸侯禮葬之。 宗壽得王氏十八喪，葬之長安南三趙村。
Zongshou was the son of a common family in Xuzhou. Jian, sharing the surname Wang, adopted him as a son. Zongshou loved learning and was skilled at the zither and go. Retiring by nature, he favored Daoist practices and served Jian as military commissioner of the Zhenjiang army. After Yan succeeded, Zongshou became junior guardian of the heir with court attendance and amused himself refining elixirs and cultivating breath. Yan was dissolute, and only Zongshou often remonstrated sharply. He later became military commissioner of the Wuxin army. When Tang invaded Shu, districts everywhere welcomed and submitted. The Prince of Wei once wrote to recruit him, but Zongshou alone refused. Hearing that Yan had already surrendered with the jade disk, he grieved greatly and followed him east. At Qiyang he bribed the guards and gained an audience. Yan wept until his robe was soaked and said, "Had I followed your counsel earlier, how could this day have come!" After Yan's death Zongshou fled to Mianchi. Hearing that Zhuangzong had been assassinated, he hid in Mount Xiong'er. In Tiancheng year 2 he emerged and went to the capital, submitting a memorial asking permission to bury Yan's clan. Emperor Ming praised his loyalty, appointed him acting military secretary of the Baoyi army, enfeoffed him as Duke Shunzheng of Yan, and permitted burial with feudal honors. Zongshou recovered the eighteen coffins of the Wang house and buried them at Sanzhao Village south of Chang'an.
29
嗚呼，自秦、漢以來，學者多言祥瑞，雖有善辨之士，不能祛其惑也。 予讀《蜀書》，至於龜、龍、麟、鳳、騶虞之類世所謂王者之嘉瑞，莫不畢出於其國，異哉！ 然考王氏之所以興亡成敗者，可以知之矣。 或以為一王氏不足以當之，則視時天下治亂，可以知之矣。
Alas, since Qin and Han scholars have often spoken of auspicious omens, and even skilled debaters cannot dispel the delusion. When I read the Book of Shu, I find that tortoises, dragons, qilin, phoenixes, zouyu, and the other omens called the king's auspicious signs all appeared in that state without exception. How strange! Yet examine why the Wang house rose, fell, succeeded, and failed, and the answer becomes clear. If one Wang house alone seems insufficient proof, then look at whether the realm was governed or in turmoil at the time, and the answer becomes clear.
30
龍之為物也，以不見為神，以升雲行天為得志。 今偃然暴露其形，是不神也； 不上於天而下見於水中，是失職也。 然其一何多歟，可以為妖矣！ 鳳凰，鳥之遠人者也。 昔舜治天下，政成而民悅，命夔作樂，樂聲和，鳥獸聞之皆鼓舞。 當是之時，鳳凰適至，舜之史因並記以為美，後世因以鳳來為有道之應。 其後鳳凰數至，或出於庸君繆政之時，或出於危亡大亂之際，是果為瑞哉？ 麟，獸之遠人者也。 昔魯哀公出獵，得之而不識，蓋索而獲之，非其自出也。 故孔子書於《春秋》曰「西狩獲麟」者，譏之也。 「西狩」，非其遠也； 「獲麟」，惡其盡取也。 狩必書地，而哀公馳騁所涉地多，不可遍以名舉，故書「西」以包眾地，謂其舉國之西皆至也。 麟，人罕識之獸也，以見公之窮山竭澤而盡取，至於不識之獸，皆搜索而獲之，故曰「譏之也」。 聖人已沒，而異端之說興，乃以麟為王者之瑞，而附以符命、讖緯詭怪之言。 鳳嘗出於舜，以為瑞，猶有說也，及其後出於亂世，則可以知其非瑞矣。 若麟者，前有治世如堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武、周公之世，未嘗一出，其一出而當亂世，然則孰知其為瑞哉？ 龜，玄物也，汙泥川澤，不可勝數，其死而貴於卜官者，用適有宜爾。 而《戴氏禮》以其在宮沼為王者難致之瑞，《戴禮》雜出於諸家，其失亦以多矣。 騶虞，吾不知其何物也。 《詩》曰：「籲嗟乎騶虞！」 賈誼以謂騶者，文王之囿； 虞，虞官也。 當誼之時，其說如此，然則以之為獸者，其出於近世之說乎？
The dragon is divine because it is unseen, and fulfills its will by rising on clouds and traversing Heaven. Now it lies exposed for all to see—that is not divine; it does not ascend to Heaven but appears in the water below—that is a failure of its proper role. And how numerous they are—this can only be called an ill omen! The phoenix is a bird that keeps far from mankind. In antiquity Shun governed the realm. When his government was accomplished and the people were pleased, he ordered Kui to compose music. When the music was harmonious, birds and beasts hearing it danced with joy. At that time the phoenix happened to arrive, and Shun's scribes recorded it as a blessing. Later ages took the phoenix's coming as a sign of righteous rule. Afterward the phoenix appeared again and again, sometimes under mediocre rulers and perverse government, sometimes amid peril, ruin, and great chaos—was that truly an auspicious omen? The qilin is a beast that keeps far from mankind. In antiquity Duke Ai of Lu went hunting, captured one, and did not recognize it. He had sought it out—it did not come forth of its own accord. That is why Confucius wrote in the "Spring and Autumn Annals" that he "obtained a qilin on a western hunt"—he was satirizing the event. "Western hunt"—not because the hunt was far away; "obtained a qilin"—he detested that everything was taken. A hunt must record the place, but Duke Ai ranged over so much territory that not every place could be named, so Confucius wrote "west" to encompass them all, meaning the duke reached everywhere in the state's west. The qilin is a beast men rarely recognize. This shows the duke exhausted mountains and drained marshes in taking all, until even beasts he did not recognize were hunted down—hence Confucius was satirizing him. After the sage had passed away, heterodox teachings arose that made the qilin the king's auspicious omen and attached to it mandate texts, prophecies, and weird marvels. The phoenix once appeared under Shun and was taken as an omen—there is still something to be said for that. But when it later appeared in chaotic ages, one can see it was no omen. As for the qilin, in well-governed ages such as those of Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Wen, Wu, and the Duke of Zhou, it never appeared. Its one recorded appearance came in a chaotic age—who then could call it an omen? The tortoise is a dark creature found in countless muddy streams and marshes. That the dead are prized by divination officers is simply because use has its proper occasion. Yet the Dai Clan Rites treats its presence in the palace moat as an auspicious omen hard for kings to obtain. The Dai Rites was pieced together from many schools, and its errors are many. As for the zouyu, I do not know what creature it is. The Odes says, "Alas, the zouyu!" Jia Yi held that zou meant King Wen's park; and yu meant the park officer. In Jia Yi's time the explanation was thus. Then is treating it as a beast an idea from more recent times?
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夫破人之惑者，難與爭於篤信之時，待其有所疑焉，然後從而攻之可也。 麟、鳳、龜、龍，王者之瑞，而出於五代之際，又皆萃於蜀，此雖好為祥瑞之說者亦可疑也。 因其可疑者而攻之，庶幾惑者有以思焉。
Breaking another's delusion is hard to dispute while belief is firm. Wait until doubt arises, then press the attack—that may succeed. Qilin, phoenix, tortoise, and dragon—the king's auspicious omens—all appeared in the Five Dynasties era and moreover gathered in Shu. Even those fond of auspicious-omen theories must find this doubtful. Attack the belief through what is doubtful, and perhaps the deluded will have cause to reflect.
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〈（據《前蜀書》、《運歷圖》、《九國志》，皆云建以唐大順二年入成都為西川節度使，天復七年九月建號，明年正月改元武成，今以為定。 惟《舊五代史》云「龍紀元年入成都，天祐五年建號改元」者繆也。 至後唐同光三年蜀滅，則諸書皆同。 自大順二年至同光三年，凡三十五年。）〉
(According to the Book of Former Shu, the Chart of the Course of Fate, and the Record of the Nine States, Jian entered Chengdu in Tang's Dashun year 2 as Xichuan military commissioner, established his title in the ninth month of Tianfu year 7, and changed the era name to Wucheng in the first month of the following year. This chronology is now taken as fixed. Only the Old History of the Five Dynasties, which says he entered Chengdu in Longji year 1 and established his title and changed the era in Tianyou year 5, is in error. As for Shu's fall in Later Tang's Tongguang year 3, all books agree. From Dashun year 2 to Tongguang year 3, thirty-five years in all.)]〉