Guo Wei

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Guo Wei (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Guo.
Emperor Taizu of Zhou
周太しゅうた祖そ
Emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty
Reign11 February 951 – 22 February 954
SuccessorChai Rong
Born10 September 904
Yaoshan County, Xingzhou (modern Longyao County, Hebei, China)
Died22 February 954(954-02-22) (aged 49)
Kaifeng
Burial
Song Mausoleum (嵩かさ陵りょう; in modern Xinzheng, Henan)
34°32′17.95″N 113°41′55.90″E / 34.5383194°N 113.6988611°E / 34.5383194; 113.6988611
SpouseSee § Family
IssueChai Rong (adoptive son)
others
Names
Surname: Guō (郭かく)
Given name: Wēi (威い)
Courtesy name: Wénzhòng (文ぶん仲なか)[1]
Era dates
Guǎngshùn (廣ひろ順じゅん), began on 13 February 951
Year 1: 9 February 951 – 29 January 952
Year 2: 30 January 952 – 17 January 953
Year 3: 18 January 953 – 5 February 954
Xiǎndé (顯あらわ德とく)
Year 1: 6 February 954 – 26 January 955
Regnal name
Emperor Shengming Wenwu Rende (聖ひじり明あきら文武ぶんぶ仁德にんとく皇帝こうてい) [2]
Posthumous name
Emperor Shèngshén Gōngsù Wénwǔ Xiào (聖きよし神かみ恭きょう肅文ぶん武たけ孝こう皇帝こうてい)
Temple name
Tàizǔ (太ふとし祖そ; "Grand Progenitor")
HouseGuo
DynastyLater Zhou
FatherGuo Jian (郭かく簡)
MotherLady Wang (王おう氏し)
Guo Wei
Chinese郭かく威い

Guo Wei (Chinese: 郭かく威たけし) (10 September 904[3] – 22 February 954[4]), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Zhou (周太しゅうた祖そ), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Later Zhou dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning from 951 until his death in 954.

Nicknamed "Sparrow Guo" (郭かく雀すずめ兒じ) after a sparrow-shaped tattoo on his neck,[5] he rose to a high position in the Later Han as an assistant military commissioner. He founded the Later Zhou in 951.

Early life[edit]

When Guo Wei was born in 904 in Yaoshan (堯山; in modern Longyao County, Hebei), the Tang dynasty had disintegrated into regions controlled by warlords fighting amongst one another. Guo was just a toddler when his family moved to Taiyuan (in modern Shanxi), as his father Guo Jian (郭かく簡) became the prefect (刺史しし) of Shunzhou (順じゅん州しゅう, modern Shunyi District, Beijing), serving the Taiyuan-based warlord Li Keyong. Shortly afterwards, Guo Jian was killed by warlord Liu Rengong's forces which conquered Shunzhou, and before Guo Wei's deciduous teeth fell out, his mother Lady Wang (王おう氏し) also died. Orphaned, the young boy was raised by a distant relative, Lady Han (韓かん氏し).[6][7]

Guo Wei grew up into a muscular young man interested more in warfare than agriculture.[8] He was also fond of drinking and gambling, and frequently participated in brawl; his wife Lady Chai often advised him not to indulge in these activities.[9] When he was around 17, to escape arrest, he went to live with an acquaintance Gentleman Chang (常つね氏し) in Huguan close to Luzhou (潞州, modern Changzhi, Shanxi), shortly before joining the army of Luzhou's interim regent (留とめ後ご) Li Jitao. Li Jitao was serving Jin, ruled by Li Keyong's son Li Cunxu, but actually plotting to defect to the Later Liang, Jin's archenemy. He was therefore more interested in recruiting brave and talented soldiers than enforcing the law, so when an inebriated Guo stabbed a menacing marketplace butcher to death following an argument, he let Guo walk free, eventually summoning Guo back to serve him.[10]

Career under Later Tang[edit]

In 923, Li Cunxu established the Later Tang and overthrew Later Liang. Li Jitao was killed a few months later and all of his former soldiers, including 19-year-old Guo Wei, were assigned to the cavalry rotations. As Guo was literate and good at mathematics, he soon became an officer. He delved into the available literature on military strategy as much as he could, particularly enjoying Spring and Autumn Annals for a Wider World (閫外春秋しゅんじゅう), recommended by a blood brother Li Qiong (李り瓊); Guo Wei also regarded Li Qiong as a teacher as he asked Li to explain to him parts of the Annals which he could not understand.[11][12]

In 927, the Later Tang emperor Li Siyuan personally led an army to suppress Zhu Shouyin's rebellion. Guo Wei, then under the leadership of general Shi Jingtang, was among the first soldiers scaling the defensive wall of Xun (in modern Henan). Shi saw Guo's literary talents and tasked him to manage military records. Guo proved very popular among generals and ministers.[13]

Career under Later Jin[edit]

Later Tang was replaced by the Later Jin in 936.

Career under Later Han[edit]

The Later Han was a Shatuo-led Chinese dynasty founded by Liu Zhiyuan, posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu of Later Han. Guo Wei was already familiar with life under the Shatuo people as he had lived under their rule since he was nineteen years old. He served as the Assistant Military Commissioner to Liu Zhiyuan. However, when the teenage Liu Chengyou assumed the Later Han throne in 948, court intrigue enabled Guo to usurp the throne in a coup and declare the establishment of the Later Zhou dynasty on New Year's Day in 951 (11 February in the modern calendar).[14]

Reign[edit]

He was the first Han Chinese Emperor in northern China since 923. His rule was stable, and he passed reforms that attempted to relieve pressures on China’s massive peasantry. His rule was vigorous and well-organized. However, he died from an illness three years into his reign in 954.

Ancestry[edit]

Family[edit]

Consort and issue(s):

  • Empress Shengmu, of the Chai clan (聖ひじり穆きよし皇后こうごう 柴しば氏し)
  • Pure Consort Yang, of the Yang clan (楊淑妃ひ 楊氏; 911 – 947)
  • Noble Consort Zhang, of the Zhang clan (張ちょう貴たか妃ひ 張ちょう氏し; b. 915, executed December 950)
  • Virtuous Consort Dong, of the Dong clan (董ただし德とく妃ひ 董ただし氏し;915－953)
  • Unknown
    • Unnamed Prince,[24] 1st son
    • Guo Qingge, Prince of Shan (剡王 郭かく青あお哥, executed on 24 December 950), 2nd son
    • Guo Yige (郭かく意い哥, executed on 24 December 950), 3rd son
    • Unnamed Princess, 1st daughter[24]
    • Unnamed Princess, 2nd daughter[24]
    • Princess Chang of Ju State (莒國長ちょう公主こうしゅ, executed in 950), 3rd daughter
    • Princess Shou'an (壽ことぶき安やすし公主こうしゅ), 4rd daughter
      • Married Zhang Yongde (張ちょう永ひさし德とく)
    • Princess Yongning (梁はり國長くにおさ公主こうしゅ), 5th daughter

References[edit]

  1. ^ (太ふとし祖そ聖きよし神かみ恭きょう肅文武たけ孝たかし皇帝こうてい, 姓せい郭かく氏し, 諱いみな威い, 字じ文ぶん仲なか...) Wudai Shi, ch. 110.
  2. ^ (群臣ぐんしん上じょう尊號そんごう曰聖明文あきふみ武仁たけひと德とく皇帝こうてい。) Xin Wudai Shi, vol.11
  3. ^ According to Guo Wei's biography in "Old Histories of the Five Dynasties", he was born on the 28th day of the 7th month of the 1st year of the Tianyou era of the reign of Emperor Ai of Tang. This corresponds to 10 Sep 904 on the Julian calendar. (后きさき以唐天祐てんゆう元年がんねん甲子きのえね歲とし七なな月がつ二に十じゅう八はち日にち，生なま帝みかど於堯山やま之の舊宅きゅうたく。) Wudai Shi, ch. 110.
  4. ^ According to Guo Wei's biography in "Old Histories of the Five Dynasties", he died between 9am and 11 am on the renchen day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Xiande era of his reign. This corresponds to 22 Feb 954 on the Julian calendar. ([顯あらわ德元とくもと年春としはる正月しょうがつ]壬みずのえ辰たつ.....是ぜ日び巳み時じ，帝みかど崩くずし於滋德いさお殿どの，聖壽せいじゅ五ご十じゅう一いち。) Wudai Shi, ch. 113.
  5. ^ (周太しゅうた祖そ少しょう賤，黥其頸上為ため飛ひ雀すずめ，世せい謂いい之の郭かく雀すずめ兒じ。) Wudai Shiji, ch. 70.
  6. ^ (居きょ無む何なに，皇考こうこう為ため燕つばめ軍ぐん所しょ陷おちい，殁於王事おうじ。帝みかど未み及齠齔，章しょう德とく太ふとし后きさき蚤のみ世よ，姨母楚すわえ國こく夫人ふじん韓かん氏し提携ていけい鞠きく养。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
  7. ^ (父ちち簡，事こと晉すすむ為ため順じゅん州しゅう刺史しし。劉りゅう仁ひとし恭きょう攻おさむ破やぶ順じゅん州しゅう，簡見殺ころせ，子こ威い少しょう孤こ，依よ潞州人じん常つね氏し。) Wudai Shiji, ch. 11. In Xin Wudai Shi, Lady Han was not mentioned.
  8. ^ (及長，形かたち神しん魁さきがけ壯たけし，趨向すうこう奇き崛，愛あい兵へい好こう勇いさむ，不ふ事こと田た產さん。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
  9. ^ (太ふとし祖そ微ほろ時じ，喜き飲いん博はく任にん俠，不ふ拘かかわ細ほそ行ゆき，后きさき常つね諫止之の。) Wudai Shiji, ch. 19.
  10. ^ (天祐てんゆう末まつ，潞州節度せつど使し李り嗣昭常山つねやま戰歿せんぼつ，子し繼つぎ韜自稱じしょう留とめ後ご，南みなみ結ゆい梁はり朝あさ，據よりどころ城じょう阻命，乃散金きん以募豪傑ごうけつ。帝みかど時じ年ねん十じゅう八はち，避吏壺つぼ關せき，依よ故人こじん常つね氏し，遂とげ往應募おうぼ。帝みかど負ふ氣き用よう剛つよし，好こう鬥多力りょく，繼つぎ韜奇之の，或ある逾法犯はん禁きん，亦また多た假借かしゃく焉。嘗游上じょう黨とう市し，有市ありいち屠ほふ壯健そうけん，眾所畏かしこ憚はばか，帝みかど以氣凌しのげ之これ，因いん醉よい命いのち屠ほふ割わり肉にく，小しょう不如意ふにょい，叱しか之これ。屠ほふ者もの怒いか，坦ひろし腹はら謂いい帝みかど曰：“爾しか敢刺我わが否ひ？”帝みかど即そく剚其腹はら，市し人じん執と之これ屬ぞく吏，繼つぎ韜惜而逸之の。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
  11. ^ (威い以通書しょ算さん補ほ為ため軍ぐん吏。好こう讀閫外がい春秋しゅんじゅう，略りゃく知ち兵法ひょうほう...) Xin Wudai Shi, vol.11
  12. ^ (即そく應募おうぼ，與あずか周しゅう祖そ等とう十じゅう人にん約やく為ため兄弟きょうだい。一いち日にち會かい飲いん，瓊熟視じゅくし周しゅう祖そ，知ち非常ひじょう人じん。因よし舉酒祝しゅく曰：“凡我十じゅう人にん，龍りゅう蛇へび混合こんごう，異い日にち富貴ふうき無な相あい忘，苟渝此言，神かみ降くだ之これ罰ばつ。”皆みな刺とげ臂ひじ出血しゅっけつ為ため誓ちかい。周しゅう祖そ與あずか瓊情好こう尤ゆう密みつ，嘗造瓊，見み其危坐讀書どくしょ，因いん問とい所しょ讀何書しょ，瓊曰：“此《閫外春秋しゅんじゅう》，所謂いわゆる以正守もり國こく，以奇用兵ようへい，較存亡そんぼう治亂ちらん，記き賢愚けんぐ成敗せいばい，皆みな在ざい此也。”周しゅう祖そ令れい讀之，謂いい瓊曰：“兄あに當とう教きょう我が。”自じ是ぜ周しゅう祖そ出入でいり常つね袖そで以自隨したがえ，遇ぐう暇ひま輒讀，每まい問とい難なん瓊，謂いい瓊為師し。) Song Shi, ch. 261.
  13. ^ (天成てんせい初はつ，明あきら宗そう幸みゆき浚郊。時とき朱しゅ守まもる殷いん嬰城拒こばめ命いのち，帝みかど從したがえ晉すすむ高祖こうそ一軍いちぐん率先そっせん登城とじょう。晉すすむ祖そ領りょう副ふく侍さむらい衛まもる，以帝長ちょう於書計けい，召置麾下きか，令れい掌てのひら軍籍ぐんせき，前後ぜんご將はた臣しん，無む不ふ倚愛。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
  14. ^ Mote, Frederick W. (1999). Imperial China, 900-1800. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. p. 95. ISBN 9780674445154.
  15. ^ (高祖こうそ諱いみな璟，廣こう順じゅん初はつ，追つい尊みこと為ため睿和皇帝こうてい，廟びょう號ごう信しん祖そ，陵りょう曰溫陵りょう；高祖こうそ妣張氏し，追つい諡おくりな睿恭皇后こうごう。曾祖そうそ諱いみな諶，漢かん贈おく太ふと保たもて，追つい尊みこと為ため明憲あきのり皇帝こうてい，廟びょう號ごう僖祖，陵りょう曰齊陵りょう；曾祖そうそ妣鄭國こく夫人ふじん申さる氏し，追つい諡おくりな明あかり孝こう皇后こうごう。祖そ諱いみな蘊，漢かん贈おく太ふと傅でん，追つい尊みこと為ため翼つばさ順じゅん皇帝こうてい，廟びょう號ごう義ぎ祖そ，陵りょう曰節陵りょう；祖そ妣陳國こく夫人ふじん韓かん氏し，追つい諡おくりな翼つばさ敬けい皇后こうごう。皇考こうこう諱いみな簡，漢かん贈おく太ふと師し，追つい尊みこと為ため章あきら肅皇帝こうてい，廟びょう號ごう慶けい祖そ，陵りょう曰欽陵りょう；皇すめらぎ妣燕國こく夫人ふじん王おう氏し，追つい謚為章あきら德とく皇后こうごう。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
  16. ^ Posthumously honored as Emperor Zhangsu (章あきら肅皇帝こうてい) with the temple name Qingzu (慶けい祖そ).
  17. ^ Posthumously honored as Empress Zhangde (章あきら德とく皇后こうごう).
  18. ^ Posthumously honored as Emperor Yishun (翼つばさ順じゅん皇帝こうてい) with the temple name Yizu (義よし祖そ).
  19. ^ Posthumously honored as Empress Yijing (翼つばさ敬けい皇后こうごう).
  20. ^ Posthumously honored as Emperor Mingxian (明憲あきのり皇帝こうてい) with the temple name Xizu (僖祖).
  21. ^ Posthumously honored as Empress Mingxiao (明あきら孝こう皇后こうごう).
  22. ^ Posthumously honored as Emperor Ruihe (睿和皇帝こうてい) with the temple name Xinzu (信しん祖そ).
  23. ^ Posthumously honored as Empress Ruigong (睿恭皇后こうごう).
  24. ^ a b c Most likely died young.

Sources[edit]

  • (in Chinese) Toqto'a; et al., eds. (1345). Song Shi (宋そう史し) [History of Song].
  • (in Chinese) Xue Juzheng; et al., eds. (974). Wudai Shi (五ご代だい史し) [History of the Five Dynasties].
  • (in Chinese) Ouyang Xiu (1073). Wudai Shiji (五ご代だい史記しき) [Historical Records of the Five Dynasties].
  • (in Chinese) Sima Guang (1086). Zizhi Tongjian (資し治ち通どおり鑑かん) [Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government].
  • Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900–1800). Harvard University Press. pp. 13–14.
Guo Wei
House of Guo (951–960)
Born: 904 Died: 954
Regnal titles
Preceded by
None (state founded)
 Emperor of Later Zhou
951–954 		Succeeded by
Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong)
Preceded by Emperor of China (Central)
951–954
Preceded by Emperor of China (Northwestern Hunan) (de jure)
951–954
Emperor of China (Southeastern Hunan) (de jure)
952–954
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