Fang Xiaoru

Fang Xiaoru
Fang Xiaoru
Born	1357; Ninghai, Zhejiang, Yuan dynasty
Died	25 July 1402; Nanjing, Ming dynasty
Cause of death	Disputed (according to one account, Fang was executed by waist severing during China's only instance of an extermination of the ten degrees of kinship)

Fang Xiaoru (Chinese: 方ほう孝たかし孺; pinyin: Fāng Xìaorú; 1357 – 25 July 1402), courtesy name Xizhi (希まれ直じき) or Xigu (希まれ古いにしえ), a native of Ninghai County, Zhejiang (present-day Ningbo, Zhejiang), was a Chinese official and Confucian scholar of the Ming dynasty. He was an orthodox Confucian scholar-bureaucrat, famous for his continuation of the Jinhua school of Zhu Xi and later for his loyalty to the former Jianwen Emperor (Zhu Yunwen), who died in the rebellion of the Prince of Yan (Jingnan rebellion).^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Life

During the Jingnan rebellion, Fang served as one of the Jianwen Emperor's closest advisors.

He was famed for his connection to Song Lian and the scholars of the Jinhua school as well as for his own talent and lucid composition.

After Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, usurped the throne to become the Yongle Emperor in 1402, Fang Xiaoru refused to serve the new Emperor and was put to death at the age of 46.

Death

There are several different accounts of Fang's death. The official History of Ming, compiled by Qing-era scholars, records that the Yongle Emperor summoned Fang Xiaoru, and demanded Fang write an inaugural address that would compare his usurpation of the throne with the regency of the Duke of Zhou during the reign of his nephew King Cheng of Zhou in ancient China. Fang asked, "Then where is King Cheng?" Zhu replied, "He was killed by his own fire." Fang continued to press the issue, asking Zhu, "Why not enthrone King Cheng's son?" Zhu answered, "The country requires a mature ruler." Fang again asked, "What about the Emperor's brother?" Zhu answered: "That is my family matter. The address must be written by you." Fang threw his pen on the ground and refused to write the address. He was executed by lingchi (磔はりつけ), and several of his family members lost their lives.^[5]

Another account, found in the 17th century text, Annals of Ming History, records a similar exchange, but adds that Fang was threatened with the extermination of nine kinships. Fang then responded: "I would be fine with ten!" Thus, along with his extended family, many of his students and peers were arrested and executed as the "10th kinship". Altogether, 873 people are said to have been executed.^[6]

The 19th century text, Comprehensive History of Ming, records an additional exchange: After the Emperor insisted on having Fang write an address, Fang picked up his pen and wrote on a paper the words "燕つばめ賊ぞく篡位" ("The Bandit of Yan usurped the throne."). The Emperor was furious and ordered his death.^[7]

The second and third account are generally considered by historians to be apocryphal; it is speculated that they were invented posthumously by Chinese literati of later generations who sympathized with Fang.^[8]

Legacy

People in Fujian (闽南人じん) regard Fang Xiaoru, along with Tie Xuan and Jing Qing (景けい清きよし), as the Sanfu Qiansui (三さん府ふ千せん岁; "three houses, a thousand years"), or Sanwang (三さん王おう; "three king"), deities in the Wang Ye worship (王おう爷神).

Gallery

Portrait of Fang Xiaoru by Ren Yourong (任にん有ゆう容よう) of the Qing dynasty
Tomb of Fang Xiaoru

References

^ Xinhuanet. ""骨こつ鲠之士し"方かた孝こう孺遭灭十族ぞく正せい气还是ぜ迂まが腐くさ? Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine" (in Chinese)
^ "方ほう孝たかし儒生じゅせい平ひらた Archived 2011-09-02 at the Wayback Machine." (in Chinese)
^ Xinhuanet. "方ほう孝たかし孺故裏うら溪けい上方かみがた". (in Chinese)
^ Zhang Tingyu, History of Ming, Volume 141.《明あかり史し》（卷まき一いち百ひゃく四よん十じゅう一いち）：“方ほう孝たかし孺，字じ希まれ直ちょく，一いち字じ希まれ古いにしえ，宁海人じん。父ちち克かつ勤つとむ，洪ひろし武中たけなか循吏，自じ有ゆう传。孝こう孺幼警敏，双眸そうぼう炯炯けいけい，读书日び盈みつる寸すん，乡人目め为“小しょう韩子。”长从宋そう濂学，濂门下知げじ名士めいし皆みな出で其下。先さき辈胡翰、苏伯衡亦自じ谓弗如。孝こう孺顾末まつ视文艺，恒つね以明王道おうどう、致太平ひら为己任にん。”
^ Zhang Tingyu, History of Ming, Volume 141.《明あかり史し》（卷まき一いち百ひゃく四よん十じゅう一いち）：“成なり祖そ降くだ榻，勞ろう曰：「先生せんせい毋自苦く，予よ欲ほっ法ほう周しゅう公こう輔成王おう耳みみ。」孝こう孺曰：「成なり王おう安在あんざい？」成なり祖そ曰：「彼かれ自じ焚死。」孝こう孺曰：「何なに不ふ立たて成なり王おう之子ゆきこ？」成なり祖そ曰：「國くに賴よりゆき長ちょう君くん。」孝こう孺曰：「何なに不ふ立たて成なり王おう之の弟おとうと？」成なり祖そ曰：「此朕家事かじ。」顧左右さゆう授筆劄，曰：「詔みことのり天下でんか，非ひ先生せんせい草くさ不可ふか」孝こう孺投筆ひつ於地，且哭且罵曰：「死し即死そくし耳みみ，詔みことのり不可ふか草くさ。」成なり祖そ怒いか，命いのち磔はりつけ諸しょ市し。孝こう孺慨然がいぜん就死，作さく絕命ぜつめい詞し曰：「天てん降くだ亂らん離はなれ兮孰知ち其由，奸臣かんしん得とく計けい兮謀國こく用よう猶なお。忠臣ちゅうしん發憤はっぷん兮血淚けつるい交流こうりゅう，以此殉君兮抑又また何なに求もとむ？鳴な呼よび哀あい哉兮庶不我わが尤ゆう！」時じ年ねん四よん十じゅう有ゆう六ろく。”
^ Gu Yingtai, Annals of Ming History, Volume 18. 《明あかり史し纪事本末ほんまつ》（卷まき十じゅう八はち）: “孝こう孺大批數字すうじ，擲筆於地，且哭且駡曰：「死し即死そくし耳みみ，詔みことのり不可ふか草くさ。」文ぶん皇すめらぎ大聲おおごえ曰：「汝なんじ安やす能のう遽死。即死そくし，獨どく不ふ顧九族ぞく乎？」孝こう孺曰：「便びん十じゅう族ぞく奈我何なに！」聲こえ愈いよいよ厲。文ぶん皇すめらぎ大だい怒いか，令れい以刀抉こじ其口兩りょう旁つくり至いたり兩りょう耳みみ，復ふく錮之獄ごく，大だい收おさむ其朋友ほうゆう門生もんせい。每まい收おさむ一人ひとり，輒示孝こう孺，孝こう孺不一顧いっこ，乃盡殺ころせ之これ，然しか後ご出で孝こう孺，磔はりつけ之の聚寶門外もんがい。孝こう孺慷慨こうがい就戮，為ため絕命ぜつめい詞し曰：「天てん降くだ亂らん離はなれ兮孰知ち其由，奸臣かんしん得とく計けい兮謀國こく用よう猶なお。忠臣ちゅうしん發憤はっぷん兮血淚けつるい交流こうりゅう，以此殉君兮抑又また何なに求もとめ。嗚呼ああ哀あい哉，庶不我わが尤ゆう！」時じ年ねん四よん十じゅう六ろく。復ふく詔みことのり收おさむ其妻鄭てい氏し，妻つま與あずか諸子しょし皆みな先さき經けい死し。悉燔削そぎ方かた氏し墓ぼ。初はつ，籍せき十じゅう族ぞく，每まい逮至，輒以示しめせ孝こう孺，孝こう孺執不ふ從したがえ，乃及母はは族ぞく林りん彥清等とう、妻つま族ぞく鄭てい原げん吉きち等とう。九族きゅうぞく既すんで戮，亦また皆みな不ふ從したがえ，乃及朋友ほうゆう門生もんせい廖鏞、林はやし嘉よしみ猷等為ため一族いちぞく，並なみ坐すわ，然しか後こう詔みことのり磔はりつけ於市，坐すわ死者ししゃ八はち百ひゃく七なな十じゅう三さん人にん，謫戍絕ぜっ徼死者しゃ不可ふか勝かち計けい。”
^ Xie Xia, Comprehensive History of Ming, Volume 13. 《明通あけどおり鑑かん》（卷まき十じゅう三さん）：“孝こう孺投筆ひつ，哭且詈曰：「死し即死そくし耳みみ，詔みことのり不可ふか草くさ。」上じょう曰：「獨どく不ふ畏かしこ九族きゅうぞく乎？」孝こう孺曰：「便びん十じゅう族ぞく，奈我何なに？」上じょう猶なお欲よく強きょう之の，孝こう孺乃索さく筆ひつ大書たいしょ「燕つばめ賊ぞく篡位」四よん字じ。上大かみおお怒いか，命いのち磔はりつけ諸しょ市し。”
^ 李り谷たに悦えつ, 2014. 方ほう孝たかし孺殉难事迹的叙事じょじ演えんじ化か与あずか “诛十族ぞく” 说考. 史学しがく月刊げっかん, (5), pp.37-47.

[1] Xinhuanet. ""骨こつ鲠之士し"方かた孝こう孺遭灭十族ぞく正せい气还是ぜ迂まが腐くさ? Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine" (in Chinese)

[2] "方ほう孝たかし儒生じゅせい平ひらた Archived 2011-09-02 at the Wayback Machine." (in Chinese)

[3] Xinhuanet. "方ほう孝たかし孺故裏うら溪けい上方かみがた". (in Chinese)

[4] Zhang Tingyu, History of Ming, Volume 141.《明あかり史し》（卷まき一いち百ひゃく四よん十じゅう一いち）：“方ほう孝たかし孺，字じ希まれ直ちょく，一いち字じ希まれ古いにしえ，宁海人じん。父ちち克かつ勤つとむ，洪ひろし武中たけなか循吏，自じ有ゆう传。孝こう孺幼警敏，双眸そうぼう炯炯けいけい，读书日び盈みつる寸すん，乡人目め为“小しょう韩子。”长从宋そう濂学，濂门下知げじ名士めいし皆みな出で其下。先さき辈胡翰、苏伯衡亦自じ谓弗如。孝こう孺顾末まつ视文艺，恒つね以明王道おうどう、致太平ひら为己任にん。”

[5] Zhang Tingyu, History of Ming, Volume 141.《明あかり史し》（卷まき一いち百ひゃく四よん十じゅう一いち）：“成なり祖そ降くだ榻，勞ろう曰：「先生せんせい毋自苦く，予よ欲ほっ法ほう周しゅう公こう輔成王おう耳みみ。」孝こう孺曰：「成なり王おう安在あんざい？」成なり祖そ曰：「彼かれ自じ焚死。」孝こう孺曰：「何なに不ふ立たて成なり王おう之子ゆきこ？」成なり祖そ曰：「國くに賴よりゆき長ちょう君くん。」孝こう孺曰：「何なに不ふ立たて成なり王おう之の弟おとうと？」成なり祖そ曰：「此朕家事かじ。」顧左右さゆう授筆劄，曰：「詔みことのり天下でんか，非ひ先生せんせい草くさ不可ふか」孝こう孺投筆ひつ於地，且哭且罵曰：「死し即死そくし耳みみ，詔みことのり不可ふか草くさ。」成なり祖そ怒いか，命いのち磔はりつけ諸しょ市し。孝こう孺慨然がいぜん就死，作さく絕命ぜつめい詞し曰：「天てん降くだ亂らん離はなれ兮孰知ち其由，奸臣かんしん得とく計けい兮謀國こく用よう猶なお。忠臣ちゅうしん發憤はっぷん兮血淚けつるい交流こうりゅう，以此殉君兮抑又また何なに求もとむ？鳴な呼よび哀あい哉兮庶不我わが尤ゆう！」時じ年ねん四よん十じゅう有ゆう六ろく。”

[6] Gu Yingtai, Annals of Ming History, Volume 18. 《明あかり史し纪事本末ほんまつ》（卷まき十じゅう八はち）: “孝こう孺大批數字すうじ，擲筆於地，且哭且駡曰：「死し即死そくし耳みみ，詔みことのり不可ふか草くさ。」文ぶん皇すめらぎ大聲おおごえ曰：「汝なんじ安やす能のう遽死。即死そくし，獨どく不ふ顧九族ぞく乎？」孝こう孺曰：「便びん十じゅう族ぞく奈我何なに！」聲こえ愈いよいよ厲。文ぶん皇すめらぎ大だい怒いか，令れい以刀抉こじ其口兩りょう旁つくり至いたり兩りょう耳みみ，復ふく錮之獄ごく，大だい收おさむ其朋友ほうゆう門生もんせい。每まい收おさむ一人ひとり，輒示孝こう孺，孝こう孺不一顧いっこ，乃盡殺ころせ之これ，然しか後ご出で孝こう孺，磔はりつけ之の聚寶門外もんがい。孝こう孺慷慨こうがい就戮，為ため絕命ぜつめい詞し曰：「天てん降くだ亂らん離はなれ兮孰知ち其由，奸臣かんしん得とく計けい兮謀國こく用よう猶なお。忠臣ちゅうしん發憤はっぷん兮血淚けつるい交流こうりゅう，以此殉君兮抑又また何なに求もとめ。嗚呼ああ哀あい哉，庶不我わが尤ゆう！」時じ年ねん四よん十じゅう六ろく。復ふく詔みことのり收おさむ其妻鄭てい氏し，妻つま與あずか諸子しょし皆みな先さき經けい死し。悉燔削そぎ方かた氏し墓ぼ。初はつ，籍せき十じゅう族ぞく，每まい逮至，輒以示しめせ孝こう孺，孝こう孺執不ふ從したがえ，乃及母はは族ぞく林りん彥清等とう、妻つま族ぞく鄭てい原げん吉きち等とう。九族きゅうぞく既すんで戮，亦また皆みな不ふ從したがえ，乃及朋友ほうゆう門生もんせい廖鏞、林はやし嘉よしみ猷等為ため一族いちぞく，並なみ坐すわ，然しか後こう詔みことのり磔はりつけ於市，坐すわ死者ししゃ八はち百ひゃく七なな十じゅう三さん人にん，謫戍絕ぜっ徼死者しゃ不可ふか勝かち計けい。”

[7] Xie Xia, Comprehensive History of Ming, Volume 13. 《明通あけどおり鑑かん》（卷まき十じゅう三さん）：“孝こう孺投筆ひつ，哭且詈曰：「死し即死そくし耳みみ，詔みことのり不可ふか草くさ。」上じょう曰：「獨どく不ふ畏かしこ九族きゅうぞく乎？」孝こう孺曰：「便びん十じゅう族ぞく，奈我何なに？」上じょう猶なお欲よく強きょう之の，孝こう孺乃索さく筆ひつ大書たいしょ「燕つばめ賊ぞく篡位」四よん字じ。上大かみおお怒いか，命いのち磔はりつけ諸しょ市し。”

[8] 李り谷たに悦えつ, 2014. 方ほう孝たかし孺殉难事迹的叙事じょじ演えんじ化か与あずか “诛十族ぞく” 说考. 史学しがく月刊げっかん, (5), pp.37-47.

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Fang Xiaoru

Born	1357 Ninghai, Zhejiang, Yuan dynasty
Died	25 July 1402 Nanjing, Ming dynasty
Cause of death	Disputed (according to one account, Fang was executed by waist severing during China's only instance of an extermination of the ten degrees of kinship)