Chai Rong
Emperor Shizong of Zhou 周世宗 | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chai Zongxun | |||||||||||||||||
Born | 27 October 921 Xingzhou (modern Xingtai, Hebei, China) | ||||||||||||||||
Died | 27 July 959 Kaifeng | (aged 37)||||||||||||||||
Burial | Qing Mausoleum (慶陵; in modern Xinzheng, Henan) 34°33′44.52″N 113°41′47.88″E / 34.5623667°N 113.6966333°E | ||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
| ||||||||||||||||
Issue | Chai Zongxun others | ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
House | Chai (by birth) Guo (adoptive) | ||||||||||||||||
Dynasty | Later Zhou | ||||||||||||||||
Father | Chai Shouli (柴守禮) (biological) Guo Wei (adoptive) |
Chai Rong | |
---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | Chái Róng |
Wade–Giles | Ch'ai2 Jung2 |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Yale Romanization | Chaai4 Wing4 |
Jyutping | Caai4 Wing4 |
Chai Rong (Chinese: 柴榮) (27 October 921[2] – 27 July 959[3]), later known as Guo Rong (郭榮),[note 1] also known by his temple name as the Emperor Shizong of Zhou, was the second emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty of China, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He reigned from 954 until his death in 959. He succeeded his uncle-in-law Guo Wei (Emperor Taizu), whose surname he had adopted.
Emperor Shizong is considered a highly successful emperor of the Five Dynasties period. He centralized military power by his reforms, and proved his military prowess by a series of victories against
Early life
Chai Rong was born in Xingzhou (邢州; modern
Career under Later Han
After the establishment of the
In 950, the Later Han emperor Liu Chengyou unexpectedly killed the entire family of Guo Wei as a plot to liquidate the most powerful ministers in his nation. Guo Wei decided to rebel. As Guo Rong's wife Lady Liu (劉氏) and children including 3 young sons also remained in the capital Bianzhou (汴州; today's Kaifeng, Henan), they were all slaughtered as well.[6] Guo Wei asked Guo Rong to stay behind at the frontier as he led his main army southbound towards Bianzhou.
Career under Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou
In a few months, Liu Chengyou was killed, Later Han was terminated, as Guo Wei founded the Later Zhou. Guo Rong became the military governor of Zhenning Command (鎮寧軍) and went to Chanzhou (澶州; today's Qingfeng County, Henan).[1] At Chanzhou, he quickly eradicated militarized outlaws in the region and promoted literati to enforce laws more effectively,[7] winning the support of the people. He also initiated projects to tear down dilapidated street walls and build new public office buildings and residential housings.[2]
Emperor of Later Zhou
Guo Rong (posthumously known as Shizong of Later Zhou) became emperor in 954 upon his adoptive father's death. Like his father, he was considered an able ruler. He continued reforms introduced by his father. More importantly, he began putting pressure on the Northern Han and even the Liao dynasty, though nothing substantial came of it. More success was met in the south as some minor successes were made against the Southern Tang and Later Shu, paving the way to eventual unification by the Song dynasty.
Campaign against Liu Chong
One month after Chai Rong took the throne, Liu Chong, Emperor of Northern Han, colluded with Liao dynasty to launch an assault on Later Zhou. Against the advice of Minister Feng Dao, Chai Rong decided to lead the army to fight against the incursion. When Chai Rong engaged Liu Chong at Gao Ping (in modern Jincheng, Shanxi), two of Chai's general Fan Aineng, He Hui fled from battlefield along with their troops. At this critical moment, Chai Rong risked his life to break through the defense and crushed Liu's forces. After this campaign, Chai Rong consolidated his power.[9]
He suffered an early death at the age of 38 when he died from illness while out on the field in 959. He left behind him a six-year-old heir to succeed him. This led to the fall of the dynasty and the rise of the Song dynasty, which eventually succeeded in reunifying China.
Family
Parents
- Father: Chai Shouli (柴守禮) (biological)
Wives
- Empress Zhen, of the Liu clan (貞惠皇后 劉氏;?–951)
- Empreas Xuanyi, of the Fu clan (宣懿符皇后;931 – 29 August 956), daughter of Fu Yanqing (符彥卿)
- Empress Xiaofu, of the Fu clan (小符皇后;933-993, daughter of Fu Yanqing (符彥卿)
- Unknown:
- Chai Zongyi (柴宗誼; 10th century?- 24 December 950), first son
- Chai Cheng (柴誠; 10th century -24 December 950), second son
- Chai Xian, Prince of Han (韓王 柴諴; 10th century – 24 December 950), third son
- Chai Zongxun, Prince of Liang (梁王 柴宗訓; 14 September 953 - 6 April 1973), fourth son
- Chai Xirang (柴熙讓), fifth son
- Chai Xijing (柴熙謹), sixth son
- Chai Xihui (柴熙誨), seventh son
Notes
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, ch. 289 indicates that he was called Guo Rong at least since 950. However, his original name Chai Rong is far better known in posterity.
- ^ Guizhou (貴州; modern Guigang, Guangxi) was then under Southern Han's and not Later Han's direct control.
References
Citations
Sources
- ISBN 0-674-44515-5.
- (in Chinese) Song Shi(宋史) [History of Song].
- (in Chinese) Xue Juzheng; et al., eds. (974). Wudai Shi (五代史) [History of the Five Dynasties].
- (in Chinese) Wudai Shiji(五代史記) [Historical Records of the Five Dynasties].
- (in Chinese) Sima Guang (1086). Zizhi Tongjian (資治通鑑) [Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government].
- "Later Zhou". Retrieved 2006-10-08.
- "5 DYNASTIES & 10 STATES". Retrieved 2006-10-08.