Empresses and consorts selections from Chen Shou's Records of the Three States with Pei Songzhi's commentary |
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Records of the Three States: The Book of Shu |
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 | Empresses and consorts |  |
Records of the Three States: The Book of Shu
Fascicle 34: Consorts and Sons of the Two Sovereigns
The Former Sovereign's Empress Gan was a native of Pei. When
the Former Sovereign controlled Yu province [OMITTED] and was living
in Xiao Pei [OMITTED], he accepted her as his concubine.[1] The Former
Sovereign was bereaved of a primary wife on several occasions,
and Empress Gan regularly took charge of affairs in the inner
apartments.[2] She accompanied the Former Sovereign to Jing
province and gave birth to the Latter Sovereign (Hou zhu [OMITTED]).
When Duke Cao's [Cao Cao's] troops caught up with the Former
Sovereign at Changban [OMITTED] in Dangyang [OMITTED], being pressed at
that point, he abandoned his empress and the Latter Sovereign.[3]
Thanks to the protection of Zhao Yun, they escaped harm.[4]
The empress died and was buried at Nanjun [OMITTED].[5] In Zhangwu
[OMITTED] 2 [221/222], he posthumously named her the Lady of
Imperial Regret (Huang Si furen [OMITTED])[6] and was going to
reinter her in Shu. Before her body could arrive, however, the
Former Sovereign died. Chancellor Zhuge Liang memorialized:
The Lady of Imperial Regret conducted herself by cultivating
benevolence, and she was pure and circumspect in her person.
When the late emperor formerly was in supreme command, she
became his consort and bore the Sacred Person [Liu Shan, the
Latter Sovereign]. Her life was not long. When the late emperor
was still alive, he was righteous and beneficent, and he was
concerned that the divine pall of the Lady of Imperial Regret
was adrift far away. He specially sent a commissioner to bring it
back. But it has transpired that the late emperor has died. Now
the divine pall of the Lady of Imperial Regret has arrived, and
the emperor's own coffin is en route. The park and tumulus
are complete, and the time for laying him to rest has been
determined. I have discussed the matter with Grand Master of
Ceremonies (taichang [OMITTED]) Lai Gong [OMITTED] and others.
The Record of Rites says, "Establishing affection by beginning
from one's parents is the way to teach the people filial piety.
teach the people obedience."[7] It is from this that not forgetting
one's parents is born. The intent of the Spring and Autumn
Annals is, "A mother is respected in accordance with her son's
rank."[8] In the past, Gaozu posthumously venerated his father's
Lady of Illustrious Spirit (Zhaoling furen [OMITTED]) with the
title of Empress of Illustrious Spirit (Zhaoling huanghou [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]),[9] and Emperor He the Filial [OMITTED] reburied his mother,
Honorable Lady Liang [OMITTED], and gave her the honorific Empress
of Respectful Recollection (Gonghuai huanghou [OMITTED]).[10]
Emperor Min the Filial [OMITTED] also buried his mother Lady Wang
[OMITTED] and gave her the honorific Empress of Spiritual Recollection
(Linghuai huanghou [OMITTED]).[11] Now, the Lady of Imperial
Regret should also have a title of respect to assuage "the
thoughts of the cold springs."[12] Thus, along with Gong and the
others, we have followed the method of bestowing posthumous
titles, and she ought to be called the Empress of Illustrious
Achievements (Zhaolie huanghou [OMITTED]).[13] The Classic of
Poetry says,[14] "While alive, they dwelled in separate chambers; /
In death they share a grave."[A] Therefore, the Empress of
Illustrious Achievements should be buried with the late emperor.
I request that the grand commandant inform the imperial
ancestors and announce it abroad. The preparations for the
rituals and ceremonies will be memorialized separately.
The emperor granted permission.
The Record of Rites says that in high antiquity there was no burial
together; from middle antiquity on, it existed at times.[15]
The Serene Empress [Wu] of the Former Sovereign (Xian zhu Mu
huanghou [OMITTED]) had her home of record in Chenliu [OMITTED].[16]
Her elder brother was Wu Yi [OMITTED].[17] They became orphans when
they were young. Yi's father had known Liu Yan for a long time,
so he gathered up his family and followed Yan into Shu. Yan was
extremely ambitious. He heard that a skillful physiognomist had
predicted that the empress would be greatly honored. At the time,
Yan had taken his son Mao with him, so he took the empress in
to be Mao's wife. Mao died, and the empress lived alone.
When the Former Sovereign had pacified Yi province and Lady
Sun returned to Wu,[B] his followers advised the Former Sovereign
to make Mao's wife his empress. The Former Sovereign suspected
forward to say, "If one speaks of the distance of the relationship,
is it not like the relationship of [Duke] Wen of Jin to Ziyu [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]?"[19] Thereupon, the Former Sovereign took her to be his wife
with the rank of lady.[C] In Jian'an 24 [219/220], he made her
queen of Hanzhong, and in summer, the fifth month of Zhangwu
1 [June 221], he ordered:
We have received the heavenly mandate, been raised to the
position of great respect, and reign over a myriad of states. Now
we take the queen to be empress and dispatch Chancellor Zhuge
Liang, commissioned with a verge, to bestow the seal and
ribbon. She will serve the ancestral temple and be mother over
the empire. Let the empress respect this!
In the fifth month of Jianxing 1 [May/June 223], the Latter
Sovereign acceded to the throne, and he respected her by making
her empress dowager and referring to her as the Palace of
Enduring Joy.[20] Wu Yi rose in office to be general of chariots and
cavalry, and he was appointed prefectural marquis.[21] In Yanxi 8
[245/246], the empress died and was buried with the Former
Sovereign at Hui Tumulus[22] (Huiling [OMITTED]).[D]
The Han-Jin Spring and Autumn says: When the Former Sovereign
entered Yi province, Wu sent someone to meet Lady Sun.[23] The
consort wanted to take the heir apparent back to Wu, but Zhuge Liang.
sent Zhao Yun to marshal troops to cut off the Yangtze and detain the
heir apparent. He succeeded in stopping them.
Xi Zuochi says: Marriage is the starting point of human relations and
the basis for kingly transformation. If it is the case that an ordinary
man should not lack propriety, is it not even more so with a ruler of
men? Duke Wen of Jin abandoned propriety and acted expediently in
order to save the situation. Thus Zifan [OMITTED] said, "If you want
something from someone, then you must first assent to his requests. If
one is planning to seize a person's state, then why should one be
concerned about that person's wife?"[24] This teaches us that one does
not act with impropriety without reason. Now, in this case the Former
Sovereign was not in a position in which he had no choice, but [Fa
Zheng] cites an earlier error by way of comparison. This is not
instructing his ruler in the Way of Yao and Shun. The Former
Sovereign was wrong in following his advice.
Sun Sheng's Genealogy of Shu (Shu shipu [OMITTED]) says: [Wu] Yi's
grandson Qiao [OMITTED] fell into Li Xiong's [OMITTED] hands for thirty years; he
did not submit to Li Xiong.[25]
The Latter Sovereign's Attentive and Lamented Empress (Hou zhu
Jing Ai huanghou [OMITTED]) was the eldest daughter of
General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Fei. In Zhangwu 1 [221/
222], she was brought in to be consort to the heir apparent.[26] In
Jianxing [OMITTED] 1 [223/224], she was established as empress. She
died in Jianxing 15 [237/238] and was buried at Nan Tumulus
[OMITTED] (Nanling).[27]
Empress Zhang [OMITTED] of the Latter Sovereign was the younger
sister of the Attentive and Lamented Empress. In Jianxing 15 [237/
238], she was brought into the palace as an honorable lady. In the
first month of spring in Yanxi [OMITTED] 1 [238/239], [the Latter
Sovereign] ordered:
We have inherited the great enterprise and undertake to reign
over the empire and make offerings at the suburban altars, the
ancestral temples, and the altars to Soil and Millet.[28] Now we
wish to make the honorable lady our empress and commission
Xiang Lang [OMITTED], acting chancellor and general of the left, to
carry a verge and bestow seal and ribbon on her.[29] Strive to
cultivate domestic duties and perform the sacrifices with
solemnity. Let the empress respect this![30]
In Xianxi 1 [264], when the Latter Sovereign was moved to
Luoyang[31] she accompanied him.[E]
The Han-Jin Spring and Autumn says: When Wei gave the palace
women of Shu to the Wei generals who had no wives, Brilliant
Companion Li declared, "I cannot suffer indignities two and three
times," and killed herself.[32]
Liu Yong, appellative Gongshou [OMITTED], was son of the Former
Sovereign and half brother of the Latter Sovereign. In the sixth
month of Zhangwu 1 [July 221], [the Former Sovereign, Liu Bei]
sent Minister over the Masses [Xu] Jing [OMITTED][33] to install Yong as
king of Lu, and the patent said:
Our younger son Yong has received the green regions.[34] We have
had bestowed on us the heavenly office and have inherited the
establish your state. You are appointed to a benefice in the
eastern regions, which is grandly endowed with Mounts Gui [OMITTED]
and Meng [OMITTED][35] and through the ages has supported us on the
marches. Ah! Respect our decree! In the state of Lu, all changes
to fit with the Way; the civilizing influence exists there. The
fondness of the people for virtue—for generations this worthiness
has continued. May the king retain his conscience and follow
propriety. Pacify your officers and people and [Heaven] will
accept your sacrifices and consider them good.[36] Let the king
respect this!
In Jianxing 8 [230/231], his appointment was changed, and he
was made king of Ganling [OMITTED].[37]
From the first, Yong had detested the eunuch Huang Hao.[38]
After Hao gained a position of trust, he slandered Yong to the
Latter Sovereign. The Latter Sovereign gradually distanced himself
from Yong to the extent that Yong could not gain an audience at
court for more than ten years. In Xianxi 1 [264/265], Yong was
moved to Luoyang, where he was made chief commandant of
chariots and was appointed district marquis.
Liu Li, appellative Fengxiao [OMITTED], was also the Latter Sovereign's
half brother, though of a different mother from Yong. In the sixth
month of Zhangwu 1 [July 221], the Former Sovereign sent
Minister over the Masses Xu Jing to install Li as king of Liang
[OMITTED].[39] The patent of appointment said:
To our small son Li: We have acceded to the Han order. We
reverently follow the heavenly mandate, and we observe and
cultivate the proper standards. We establish you in the East and
make you a bulwark for the Han. Now, the land of Liang is in
the territory of the imperial capital. The people are used to being
civilized and are easily led with propriety. Go with all your
mind, cherish and protect the people, and thereby make your
state long-lived. Let the king respect this!
In Jianxing 8 [230/231], the Latter Sovereign reappointed Li as
king of Anping.[40] In Yanxi 7 [244/245], Li died. Posthumously he
was called the Mourned King [OMITTED]. He was succeeded by his son
Yin [OMITTED], the Lamented King [OMITTED], who passed away in Yanxi 19
[256/257]. His son Cheng [OMITTED], the King of Youthful Demise [OMITTED],
died in Yanxi 20 [257/258].
In Jingyao [OMITTED] 4 [261/262], the Latter Sovereign issued an edict:
The king of Anping was commissioned by the first emperor.
Three generations running have died young, and the kingdom's
succession has come to an end. I am grieved! Let Ji [OMITTED], marquis
of Wuyi [OMITTED], succeed to the position of king.
Ji was Li's son. In Xianxi 1 [264/265], he was moved eastward
to Luoyang, where he was appointed commandant-in-chief of
chariots and appointed marquis of a district.
The Latter Sovereign's heir apparent Xuan had the appellative
Wenheng [OMITTED]. His mother was Honorable Lady Wang [OMITTED], who
originally was an attendant to the Attentive and Lamented Empress
Zhang. In the first month of Yanxi 1 [January 238], the Latter
Sovereign issued a patent of appointment that said:
Among the kings and emperors of the past; establishing a
successor to the throne as heir apparent to assist in the
administration of the state has been a regular practice throughout
history. Now we make Xuan our heir apparent to illuminate the
majesty of our ancestors. We commission Xiang Lang, acting
chancellor and general of the left, to carry a verge and bestow
the seal and ribbon. Let Xuan diligently cultivate an elegant
nature, be faithful to correct principles, inquire into ritual, be
respectful to his mentors, consider the goodness of the masses,
and nurture his virtue. How can he not devote himself to self-cultivation
in order to improve himself!
At the time, Xuan was fifteen years old. In the winter of
Jingyao 6 [263], Shu fell. In the first month of Xianxi 1 [February/
March 264], Zhong Hui[41] rebelled at Chengdu [OMITTED] and Xuan
was killed by the rebelling troops.[F]
Sun Sheng's Genealogy of Shu says: Xuan had six younger brothers:
Yao, Cong [OMITTED], Zan [OMITTED], Chen [OMITTED], Xun [OMITTED], and Qu [OMITTED]. When Shu fell,
Chen committed suicide, and the others were all relocated to the capital
environs [Luoyang]. During the Yongjia [OMITTED] upheavals, their
descendants were wiped out. Only Yong's grandson Xuan fled to Shu,
and Li Xiong spuriously appointed him Duke of Peaceful Joy (Anle
gong [OMITTED]) to perform sacrifices to Liu Shan's descendants. In
Yonghe [OMITTED] 3 [347/348], when the Jin attacked Li Shi [OMITTED], I,
Sheng, participated in the expedition and saw Xuan at Chengdu.[42]
The evaluation says: The Changes says, "Once there are husband
and wife, there are father and son."[43] As the beginning of human
relations and the epitome of the way of benevolence, there is
nothing that surpasses this. Therefore, this record has been made
as a means of ascertaining this principle's embodiment in one
state.
Xiao Pei or "Lesser Pei" was another name for Pei prefecture, administrative
seat of the kingdom of Pei, located at the modern city of Pei in the northern
part of modern Jiangsu. Liu Bei, the Former Sovereign (Xian zhu [OMITTED]), was
at this time (194-195) shepherd (mu [OMITTED]) of Yu province. The Shi yi ji [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] [Record of Collected Remnants] contains the following tale about Empress
Gan:
Empress Gan of the Former Sovereign was a native of Pei. She was
born of lowly origins in a small village. A physiognomist said of her,
ultimate palace (ji gong [OMITTED])." When the empress was grown, her
appearance was especially striking. When she reached eighteen, she
had a beautiful body and soft flesh, and she was seductive and
bewitching. The Former Sovereign summoned her within the silken
curtains. To anyone who gazed upon her from outside the window,
she was like drifted snow beneath the moon.
He'nan presented a jade figure that was three feet tall. The Former
Sovereign placed the jade figure in the empress's side apartments.
During the day he discussed military strategy and at night he
embraced the empress and amused himself with the jade figure. He
often exclaimed, "The nobility and virtue of jade is equal to that of
a gentleman (junzi [OMITTED]). How could it be made into the shape of
a person and one not amuse oneself with it?" The empress and the
jade figure were equally white and sleek, and people looking at them
nearly confused them. The favorites were not only envious of Empress
Gan but also of the jade figure. The empress often wanted to grind
it up and destroy it. She admonished the Former Sovereign, "In the
past, Zihan [OMITTED] did not consider jade precious, and the Spring and
Autumn Annuals praised him. Now, Wu and Wei have not yet been
exterminated; how can you continue to cherish a bewitching trifle?
Infatuation always gives rise to suspicion. Do not repeatedly fall into
it."
The Former Sovereign thereupon got rid of the jade figure. The
favorites all withdrew and remained distant from her. At the time
superior men spoke of Empress Gan as though she were a woman
of supernatural understanding.
chi and Its Relationship to the Genre Known as Chih-kuai hsiao-shuo,"
263-264)
The reference to Zihan comes from Zuo zhuan, Xian 15: "A man of Song
found a gem, and presented it to Zihan, who would not receive it. The man
said, `I showed it to a lapidary, who considered it to be valuable, and therefore
I ventured to offer it to you.' Zihan said, `What I consider valuable is not to
be covetous; what you consider valuable is your gem. If you give it to me,
we shall both lose what we consider to be valuable; we had better each keep
his own' " (Legge, The Chinese Classics, 5:470).
Being married to Liu Bei seems to have been a risky proposition. On two
occasions his wife of the moment was captured, once by Lü Bu and another
time by Cao Cao, and on this third occasion he was forced to abandon his
wife while fleeing Cao Cao's armies (Sgz, 9.277, 32.874, 875, 878, 38.969;
Hygz, 6.511-512, 515, 519). See also Chapter 4 above, in the section
"Marriage Patterns." Readers of this passage almost inevitably recall Xiang
Yu's [OMITTED] capture of Liu Bang's family. See Sj, 8.371; Watson, Records of the
Grand Historian: Han Dynasty, 1:68.
Dangyang was in the vicinity of the county by the same name in modern Hubei.
Changban has been identified as a site northeast of the modern county seat,
perhaps Mount Tianzhu [OMITTED]. See Su, San guo zhi jin zhu jin yi, 2:1861; Sgz
cidian, 230.
Zhao Yun originally served Gongsun Zan [OMITTED]. When Gongsun ordered
Liu Bei to help Tian Kai [OMITTED] stop Yuan Shao, Zhao Yun accompanied him
Liu Shan, Zhao became one of Liu Bei's generals and served him faithfully
until death (Sgz, 36.948-950).
Nanjun refers to the administrative seat of Nan commandery, also the seat
of Jing province. It was located on the Yangtze in the vicinity of modern
Jiangling [OMITTED], just south of where Liu abandoned Empress Gan. During his
struggles with Cao Cao and Sun Quan, Liu's activities were often centered in
this region.
Cf. Lj, 47.10b, which has mu [OMITTED] ("harmony") rather than the xiao [OMITTED] ("filial
piety") that appears here. Furthermore, the redaction in Shisan appears to have
an error here—jiao [OMITTED] ("teach") instead of the orthograpically similar jing [OMITTED]
("respect"). For another translation of the passage, see Legge, Lî Kî, 2:217.
The quotation is from the Gongyang Commentary under the year Yin 1. See
Chunqiu jingzhuan yinde, 1.
In fact it was not Emperor Gao who bestowed this title on his mother, but
Empress Lü. Emperor Gao posthumously gave her the title Lady of Illustrious
Spirit after he became emperor. Empress Lü added the title "empress" in the
seventh year of her reign (Hs, 1B.52, 3.99-100; Sgz jijie, 34.2a).
See HHs, 4.184. It is interesting that Zhuge Liang uses this example, for Lady
Liang had recently been stripped of the title empress, in 190, by Emperor Xian.
See Chapter 3, note 50.
Emperor Min refers to Emperor Xian (Liu Xie) of the Later Han. Min, which
means something like "beleaguered," was a posthumous title bestowed by Liu
Bei on Liu Xie after he was deposed by Cao Pi. Liu Bei adopted mourning
and treated the event as though the emperor had actually died (Sgz, 32.887;
Wang, Shi fa yanjiu, 53, 430-431). Following his death in 234, the Wei
bestowed on Liu Xie the title of Emperor Xian the Filial (HHs, 9.391), by
which title he was subsequently known. Zhuge Liang uses Min here in order
to deny the legitimacy of the Wei regime (Qian, San guo zhi bianyi, 2.2b). After
the title of Empress of Spiritual Recollection was bestowed, the empress was
reburied at Wenzhao Tumulus (Wenzhao ling [OMITTED]) with Emperor Ling
(HHs, 9.375, 10B.450).
"Cold springs" (han quan [OMITTED]) comes from the Classic of Poetry (Mao shi
32), a poem that is traditionally interpreted as having to do with the
appreciation due a mother. See Legge, The Chinese Classics, 4:42 (prole-gomena),
50-51.
See Lj, 6.4a. Ji Wuzi [OMITTED] of Lu [OMITTED] permitted a joint burial, but he pointed
out that it had not been the practice in high antiquity and this had not changed
since the Duke of Zhou.
Empress Wu's biography is also translated in Fang, The Chronicle of the Three
Kingdoms, 1:67. Chenliu occupied a portion of modern He'nan province.
Wu Yi, originally from Chenliu, went with Liu Yan to Shu, and he served as
leader of the gentlemen-of-the-household under Liu Zhang. He commanded
troops against Liu Bei at Fu [OMITTED] and surrendered to him. Once Liu Bei had
pacified Yi province, he made Wu Yi commissioner over the army (hu jun [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]) and general for punishing rebels (tao ni jiangjun [OMITTED]). Subsequently,
Shan until his death in 237/238 (Sgz, 45.1083-1084; Hygz, 6.536). Yi's name
was originally written [OMITTED] but seems to have been changed by Chen Shou to
avoid the taboo on Sima Yi's name (Hygz, 5.489n; Zztj, 69.2188; Fang, The
Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, 1:67-68).
Fa Zheng's home was in Fufeng [OMITTED], but at the beginning of the Jian'an period
he went to Shu to escape famine. He held several minor positions under Liu
Zhang, who sent him as an emissary to Liu Bei to persuade him to join in
attacking the religious rebel Zhang Lu in order to forestall Cao Cao's launching
a campaign into Yi province against Zhang. After Fa Zheng delivered the
message, he secretly advised Liu on how to displace Liu Zhang and take control
of Yi province. Subsequently, Fa became one of Liu Bei's supporters and
strategists in the struggle against Cao Cao. After Liu Bei became king of
Hanzhong [OMITTED], he made Fa Zheng his prefect of the masters of writing and
commissioner of the army.
The Palace of Enduring Joy (Changle gong [OMITTED]) was occupied by the
empresses dowager, who were commonly referred to by the name of the palace
as a means of respect.
Lady Sun was Sun Quan's younger sister, whom he gave in marriage to Liu
Bei when Liu was shepherd of Jing province, and who was apparently very
formidable (see also the discussion and note 3 in Chapter 4 above). She is said
to have been tough and to have had over a hundred female attendants who
went about armed. Every time Liu Bei saw her, "his heart turned cold." So
daunting was she that Fa Zheng advised Liu Bei to send her back, and Zhuge
Liang considered her capable of instigating an uprising in support of her
brother. When Sun Quan learned of Liu Bei's western campaign in 211, he
sent a boat to fetch her back. She tried to take Liu Shan with her but was
stopped by Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei (Yun biezhuan [OMITTED] [Alternative
Biography of Zhao Yun], quoted in Sgz, 36.949, commentary; Sgz, 37.960;
Hygz, 6.520, 525; Zztj, 66.2099, 2111; de Crespigny, To Establish Peace,
2:407, 431, 475; de Crespigny, Generals of the South, 294, 294-295n, 371).
Significantly, neither Chen Shou nor Chang Qu, author of Hygz, wrote a
biography for her.
This is a reference to an incident in the seventh century B.C. When the heir
apparent to the Jin throne, Ziyu, went to Qin as a hostage, the earl of Qin
gave him a wife named Ying [OMITTED]. Five years later, Ziyu fled to Jin, leaving the
wife behind. The following year, his father Duke Hui of Jin [OMITTED] died, and
Ziyu succeeded him as Duke Huai [OMITTED]. Chong'er, who was Ziyu's uncle (he
was a half brother of Duke Hui, his mother being a sister of Duke Hui's mother)
and a rival for the throne, fled to Qin. There the earl presented him with five
women, one of whom was this very Ying, who had been Ziyu's wife. Chong'er
was reluctant to accept her because he and Ziyu were of the same lineage.
One of his followers said to him, "You are going to attack his state. Why worry
about his former wife? If you accept her in order to cement relations with Qin,
then you can ask [Qin's help] in entering [Jin]. Would you insist on adhering
to a minor point of etiquette and forgetting a major shame?!" (Sj, 39.1660;
Spring and Autumn Period," 51-52n).
A non-Chinese of Cong [OMITTED] origins, Li Xiong was the ruler of a petty state,
Cheng Han [OMITTED], in what is now modern Sichuan. He declared himself
emperor in 304 and ruled for thirty years (Js, 121.3035-3040; Hygz, 9.661701;
Wang, Wei Jin Nanbeichao shi, 1:224-228).
The location of Nan Tumulus is unknown. Sgz, 33.897 gives the date of the
death of the Attentive and Lamented Empress Zhang as summer, the sixth
month (10 July-7 August) of Jianxing 15. For another rendering of her
biography, see Fang, The Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, 1:548.
These were sacrifices normally offered by the Han emperors. The sacrifices at
the suburban altars (jiao [OMITTED]) were performed seasonally. Originally offered
to the Five Di, following the reforms of 31 B.C., they were done in honor of
Heaven and Earth. The Later Han continued to offer the sacrifices based on
the reforms. After the breakup of the Han into the Three States, each of the
three instituted its own altars for conducting suburban sacrifices. Altars to Soil
and Millet could be established not only at the national level but also in
kingdoms and marquisates. It was not necessary to set up both types of altars,
and the altar to Soil appears to have been more common, especially outside
the capital. The term "altars to Soil and Millet" was sometimes synonymous
with the state (Xu, Xi Han huigao 10:81-86, 11:92-93; DHhy, 3:27, 4:33,
5:41; Sghy, 11.202-206, 209; Yang, Han Wei zhidu congkao, 394-395;
Loewe, Crisis and Conflict in Han China, 167, 170, 174-175, 179, 183).
Xiang Lang was a prefectural magistrate in Jing province under Liu Biao.
Following Liu Biao's death, Xiang became one of Liu Bei's supporters, and
after Liu gained control of Shu, Xiang was successively administrator of several
commanderies. After Liu Bei died, Xiang held several offices under the Latter
Sovereign until he had a falling out with Zhuge Liang, after which he was
dismissed for a time. Following the death of Zhuge Liang, he was made general
of the left and appointed marquis of Xianming commune (Xianming tinghou
[OMITTED]). He died in Yanxi 10 (247/248; see Sgz, 41.1010).
Sgz, 33.897 says, "In spring, the fifth month of Yanxi 1 (February 238), [the
Latter Sovereign] made Madam Zhang empress. He declared a general amnesty
and changed the reign title. He made his son Xuan [OMITTED] heir apparent and his
son Yao [OMITTED] king of Anding [OMITTED]." Cf. Fang, The Chronicle of the Three
Kingdoms, 1:571, 588.
Following the Wei conquest of Shu, Liu Shan, his sons, and many of his
supporters were moved to Luoyang, where they were given sinecures (Sgz,
33.901-902).
Xu Jing, a native of Ru'nan, held office under Dong Zhuo when the latter
took control of the government following the death of Emperor Ling. Xu was
involved in recommending a number of persons for office, and once they had
assumed their posts, they began to oppose Dong. Xu was forced to flee for
his life. Because of Xu's ability, Liu Zhang invited him to Shu and appointed
him administrator of Ba and Guanghan. After Liu Bei conquered Shu, he
appointed Xu to a series of offices culminating, after Liu assumed the imperial
title, in grand tutor (Sgz, 38.963-967).
Green was the color associated with the East, where Lu was located. At the
time, the region was under control of the Wei. By nominally appointing Liu
Yong to a benefice there, Liu Bei was asserting his legitimacy over all the empire.
Sun Quan also followed this practice (Js, 14.414; Zztj, 69.2189).
Mt. Gui and Mt. Meng were synonymous with the Lu state. Mt. Gui is in
northeastern Sishui [OMITTED] county and Mt. Meng is in southern Mengyin [OMITTED]
[OMITTED] county, both in Shandong province. Both are part of the Mengshan range.
This line is an allusion to the Classic of Poetry (Mao shi 300).
This, too, is an allusion to Mao shi 300. Our rendering of the sentence follows
Imataka, Inami, and Kominami, Sangoku shi, 2:351 n. 5.
Ganling straddled the border between present-day Shandong and Hebei, and
at the time was under the control of Wei.
Huang Hao was a eunuch who became a favorite of Liu Shan. His baleful
influence over Liu and the government from about 258 on is credited with
contributing to Shu's decline (Sgz, 33.899, 39.987, 44.1066; Wang, Wei Jin
Nanbeichao shi, 1:96).
This is another case of appointing a scion of the Liu house to a kingdom that
was under the control of the Wei. Liang was in modern eastern He'nan near
Shangqiu [OMITTED] city.
Anping was in eastern Hebei in the vicinity of modern Anping, Hengshui [OMITTED]
[OMITTED], and neighboring counties. It, too, was under Wei control.
On Zhong Hui, see Fascicle 5, note 140 above. Liu Xuan's biography is also
in Fang, The Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, 1:589.
Li Shi became ruler of the Cheng Han in 338, following the death of his father
Li Shou [OMITTED], who had emerged as ruler of the Cheng Han after the struggles
over the throne following the death of Li Xiong in 334. In 346/347, Huan
Wen [OMITTED] (312-373), then commander-in-chief and provincial inspector of
Jing province, took advantage of the internal political struggle and chaos in
Cheng Han and launched an expedition into Southwest China, destroying the
Cheng Han and forcing Li Shi to surrender (Js, 8.191, 98.2569, 121.30473048;
Wang, Wei Jin Nanbeichao shigang, 1:227-228). Sun says that Li
"spuriously appointed" Xuan because he did not consider Li to be the
legitimate ruler.
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