Zhu Youwen

Last updated

Zhu Youwen (Chinese :朱友文; died 912), né Kang Qin (康勤), courtesy name Deming (德明), formally the Prince of Bo (博王), was an imperial prince of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He was an adoptive son of the founding emperor Emperor Taizu (Zhu Quanzhong) and was considered a potential heir to the throne. However, in 912, his older brother (Emperor Taizu's biological son) Zhu Yougui assassinated Emperor Taizu and had him put to death.

Contents

Background

It is not known when Kang Qin was born, and it is also not know the exact circumstances under which he became an adoptive son of Zhu Quanzhong's. However, it is said that in his youth, he was handsome, studious, good at speaking, and good at writing poetry. He eventually became an adoptive son of Zhu Quanzhong's and changed his name to Zhu Youwen, [1] apparently before Zhu Quanzhong became the military governor ( jiedushi ) for four circuits (i.e., in addition to his main territory Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan, the circuits of Xuanyi (宣義, headquartered in modern Anyang, Henan), Tianping (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an, Shandong), and Huguo (護國, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shaanxi) in 901 [2] because, after Zhu Quanzhong became the military governor for the four circuits, he commissioned Zhu Youwen as the overseer for budget matters, as well as for salt and iron monopolies. [1] Among Zhu's sons, biological and adopted, Zhu Youwen was the second oldest, younger than Zhu Youyu (朱友裕) (who died before the establishment of Later Liang) but older than the rest. [3] During Zhu Quanzhong's campaigns to conquer the surrounding circuits, Zhu Youwen collected taxes and managed the finances to supply his army. [1] It was said that Zhu Quanzhong favored him over the next two oldest biological sons, Zhu Yougui and Zhu Youzhen. [3]

Service under Emperor Taizu

In 907, Zhu Quanzhong had the Tang dynasty's last emperor, Emperor Ai, yield the throne to him, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu. He created his sons imperial princes, and Zhu Youwen, who had become the deputy military governor of Xuanwu before he took the throne, was given the title of Prince of Bo. Emperor Taizu also made Zhu Youwen the mayor of Kaifeng (i.e., the old Xuanwu headquarters), as well as the director of Jianchang Hall (建昌院)—a conversion of the office overseeing financial matters for the four circuits into an imperial institution. [4] After Emperor Taizu formally made Luoyang his capital in 903, he also made Kaifeng the eastern capital and Zhu Youwen its defender. [5] It was said that, after this point, Zhu Youwen often spent time in drinking and was not as attentive to his responsibilities as before. [6]

In 911, after Emperor Taizu summoned Zhang Shensi (張慎思) the prefect of Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian, Henan) to Luoyang, the Cai Prefecture officer Liu Xingcong (劉行琮) mutinied and prepared to lead the soldiers to flee to Later Liang's rival Hongnong. Another officer, Wang Cunyan (王存儼), killed Zhang and claimed the title of prefect. Zhu Youwen, displeased that Wang was claiming such authority without first receiving imperial commission, sent an army to attack Wang, but when Emperor Taizu heard this, he pointed out that doing so would force Wang into fleeing to Hongnong, and therefore sent messengers to stop Zhu Youwen from attacking Wang. (Emperor Taizu later made Wang the prefect of Cai.) [5]

After a failed campaign against rival Jin in spring 912, Emperor Taizu fell ill and spent summer 912 at Wei Prefecture (魏州, in modern Handan, Hebei) to recuperate. While he was recuperating, Zhu Youwen went to Wei Prefecture to see him and suggested that he visit Daliang (i.e., Kaifeng). Emperor Taizu accepted the suggestion, and visited Daliang before returning to Luoyang. [3]

Death

Meanwhile, it was said that over the years, after the death of Emperor Taizu's wife Lady Zhang (Zhu Youzhen's mother), Emperor Taizu became increasingly licentious, such that when his sons were away to attend to military matters, he would summon their wives to the palace to attend to him and often had sexual relations with them. Zhu Youwen's wife Lady Wang was said to be particularly beautiful and favored by Emperor Taizu, such that this became a factor in his increasingly believing Zhu Youwen to be his appropriate heir. Zhu Yougui, who by this point was serving as the commander of the special Konghe (控鶴) corps that guarded the palace, was particularly jealous of the favors that Emperor Taizu showed Zhu Youwen. He also became disenchanted with his father after Emperor Taizu had him publicly battered on one occasion after he had committed some faults. [3]

In summer 912, after returning to Luoyang, Emperor Taizu had become gravely ill, and he sent Lady Wang to Daliang to summon Zhu Youwen, intending to entrust the empire to him. Zhu Yougui's wife Lady Zhang was also at the palace and became aware of this. She secretly stated to Zhu Yougui, "The Emperor has given the imperial seal to Lady Wang to take to the Eastern Capital. We will surely die soon!" Further, on July 17, [7] Emperor Taizu also had his chief of staff Jing Xiang issue an order making Zhu Yougui the prefect of Lai Prefecture and decreeing that he report there immediately. This further made Zhu Yougui believe that the next order would be to kill him — for, around that time, it was customary to first exile an official before executing him. [3]

On July 18, [7] Zhu Yougui secretly met with the imperial guard general Han Qing (韓勍), who was also fearful of Emperor Taizu's frequent executions of senior officials and generals, and therefore agreed to participate in a conspiracy with Zhu Yougui. That night, they took their troops into the palace and assassinated Emperor Taizu, but pretending that Emperor Taizu was still alive, Zhu Yougui sent an order in Emperor Taizu's name, delivered by the palace attendant Ding Zhaopu (丁昭溥) to Zhu Youzhen, who was then the commander of the imperial guards at Daliang, ordering Zhu Youzhen to kill Zhu Youwen. Zhu Youzhen subsequently carried out the order. Zhu Yougui then blamed the assassination on Zhu Youwen and took the throne. After Zhu Youzhen rose against Zhu Yougui in 913 and took the throne (after Zhu Yougui, believing the situation to be hopeless, committed suicide), he publicly rehabilitated Zhu Youwen and restored Zhu Youwen's titles. [3]

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 New History of the Five Dynasties , vol. 13.
  2. ↑ Zizhi Tongjian , vol. 262.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 268.
  4. ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 266.
  5. 1 2 Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 267.
  6. ↑ History of the Five Dynasties , vol. 12.
  7. 1 2 Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.

Related Research Articles

Gao Jixing, né Gao Jichang (高季昌), known for some time as Zhu Jichang (朱季昌), courtesy name Yisun (貽孫), also known by his posthumous name as the Prince Wuxin of Chu (楚武信王), was the founding prince of Jingnan during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhu Wen</span> Chinese warlord and Later Liang emperor from 907 to 912

Emperor Taizu of Liang (梁太祖), personal name Zhu Quanzhong (朱全忠), né Zhu Wen (朱溫), name later changed to Zhu Huang (朱晃), nickname Zhu San, was a Chinese military general, monarch, and politician. He was a Jiedushi and warlord who in 907 overthrew the Tang dynasty and established the Later Liang dynasty, ruling as its first emperor, ushering in the era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The last two Tang emperors, Emperor Zhaozong of Tang and Emperor Ai of Tang, who "ruled" as his puppets from 903 to 907, were both murdered by him.

Zhu Zhen, often referred to in traditional histories as Emperor Mo of Later Liang and sometimes by his princely title Prince of Jun (均王), né Zhu Youzhen (朱友貞), known as Zhu Huang (朱鍠) from 913 to 915, was the third and last emperor of China's Later Liang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, ruling from 913 to 923. He ordered his general Huangfu Lin (皇甫麟) to kill him in 923 when Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, the emperor of Later Liang's enemy Later Tang to the north, was on the cusp of capturing the Later Liang capital Daliang. His death marked the end of Later Liang, which was to be the longest among the Five Dynasties. Despite his ten-year reign being the longest of all the Five Dynasties emperors sources on his era are relatively scarce, as many Later Liang records were destroyed following the Later Tang conquest of the Later Liang.

Zhang Quanyi, né Zhang Juyan (張居言) or Zhang Yan (張言), known as Zhang Zongshi (張宗奭) during Later Liang, courtesy name Guowei (國維), formally Prince Zhongsu of Qi (齊忠肅王), was a late Tang Dynasty warlord who later was a senior official during the succeeding Later Liang and Later Tang. He was credited for rebuilding the city of Luoyang from utter destruction from the warfares in the late Tang period into a prosperous city.

Jing Xiang (敬翔), courtesy name Zizhen (子振), formally the Marquess of Pingyang (平陽侯), was the chief strategist of the late Chinese Tang Dynasty warlord Zhu Quanzhong, who assisted Zhu in his consolidation of central China, which Zhu eventually established as a new Later Liang to replace Tang. Jing served in prominent roles in Emperor Taizu's administration and later administrations of his sons Zhu Yougui and Zhu Zhen, although neither listened much to Jing. After Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin—the chief rival state to Later Liang—launched a surprise attack on the Later Liang capital Daliang in 923, Zhu Zhen, facing defeat and capture, committed suicide, ending Later Liang. Jing, hearing of the state's destruction, also committed suicide.

Li Zhen (李振), courtesy name Xingxu (興緒), was an important official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He was a trusted aide of Later Liang's founding emperor Emperor Taizu before the founding of the Later Liang state, and later served as the director of imperial governance during the reigns of Emperor Taizu's sons and successors Zhu Yougui and Zhu Zhen. After Later Liang was destroyed by its rival Later Tang, Later Tang's Emperor Zhuangzong put Li to death.

Zhu Youqian, né Zhu Jian (朱簡), known as Li Jilin (李繼麟) from 923 to 926, courtesy name Deguang (德光), formally the Prince of Xiping (西平王), was a Chinese military general, monarch, politician, and warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang dynasty and the first two dynasties of the subsequent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Later Liang and Later Tang, ruling Huguo Circuit during most of that time. Both he and his family were extremely honored by Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, but later, he was falsely accused of plotting a rebellion, and Emperor Zhuangzong put him and his entire family to death.

Liu Xun was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang. He was a key commander of Later Liang forces in its struggle with its archenemy Jin, but, after repeated defeats by the Jin prince Li Cunxu, Liu sought retirement, and was subsequently poisoned to death by the Later Liang emperor Zhu Zhen, who doubted his loyalty.

Yang Shihou (楊師厚), formally the Prince of Ye (鄴王), was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang, serving as the main obstacle to the expansion of Later Liang's archenemy Jin during latter parts of the reign of Emperor Taizu and the early parts of the reign of Emperor Taizu's son Zhu Zhen.

Xue Yiju, courtesy name Xiyong (熙用) or Shizhan (式瞻), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty and the subsequent Later Liang, serving as a chancellor during Later Liang.

Zhu Yougui, nickname Yaoxi (遙喜), often known by his princely title Prince of Ying (郢王), was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Later Liang dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He became emperor after assassinating his father, the founding emperor Emperor Taizu. Several months later, after facing a rebellion led by his brother Zhu Youzhen, the Prince of Jun and cousin Yuan Xiangxian, he committed suicide.

Empress Zhang was the wife and empress of Zhu Yougui, who reigned briefly as the emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Later Liang.

Du Xiao (杜曉), courtesy name Mingyuan (明遠), was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Later Liang, serving as a chancellor during Later Liang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wang Yanzhang</span> Chinese army general

Wang Yanzhang (王彥章), courtesy name Xianming (賢明) or Ziming (子明), nicknamed Wang Tieqiang, was a major general of the Chinese state Later Liang of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Toward the end of Later Liang's confrontation with its northern archenemy Later Tang, Wang was the only general who was able to achieve any measure of success against Later Tang forces, but then-reigning emperor Zhu Zhen, believing that he was difficult to control, replaced him with Duan Ning, whose overly ambitious counterattack plan allowed Later Tang's Emperor Zhuangzong to slip past him, defeat and capture Wang, and capture the Later Liang capital Daliang. After capture, Wang refused to submit to the Later Tang emperor and was executed.

Duan Ning, né Duan Mingyuan (段明遠), known as Li Shaoqin (李紹欽) during the reign of Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Liang and Later Tang states. He became an official under Later Liang's founder Zhu Wen based on his sister's being a concubine to Emperor Taizu, and later became a major general during the reign of Later Liang's last emperor Zhu Zhen. The failure in his ambitious plan to counterattack against Later Liang's northern rival Later Tang enabled Later Tang to defeat and conquer Later Liang, but despite such failure, he became a trusted general under Later Tang's founder Emperor Zhuangzong as well. After Emperor Zhuangzong's own fall and death, and succession by his adoptive brother Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang, Emperor Mingzong exiled Duan and later forced him to commit suicide.

Huo Yanwei (872-928), known as Li Shaozhen (李紹真) from 924 to 926, courtesy name Zizhong (子重), formally Duke Zhongwu of Jin (晉忠武公), was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Liang and Later Tang states.

Yuan Xiangxian (袁象先), known briefly as Li Shao'an (李紹安) during the reign of Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang, was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states Later Liang and Later Tang. He was a nephew of Later Liang's founding emperor Zhu Wen.

Zhao Yan (趙巖), né Zhao Lin (趙霖), was an official of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Liang state. As a son-in-law of its founding emperor Zhu Wen and as someone instrumental in the succession of its last emperor Zhu Zhen, he was influential during Zhu Zhen's reign and was traditionally blamed for corruption and misleading the emperor into making critical mistakes that caused Later Liang's fall at the hands of its rival Later Tang.

Dai Siyuan (戴思遠) was a Chinese military general and politician of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period Later Liang state, serving for several years as the supreme commander of the Later Liang forces against its archrival Jin. After Later Tang conquered Later Liang, Dai continued to serve Later Tang until his death.

Wang Yanqiu (869?/873?-930?/932?), courtesy name Yingzhi (瑩之), known early in his army career as Du Yanqiu (杜晏球), known from 923 to 926 as Li Shaoqian (李紹虔), was a general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period states Later Liang and Later Tang.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.