Yao Silian (姚思廉; died 637 ), courtesy name Jianzhi (簡之), formally Baron Kang of Fengcheng (豐成康男), was a Chinese historian and politician during the Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty and was the lead author of the Book of Liang and Book of Chen , the official histories of the Liang dynasty and the Chen dynasty , which his father Yao Cha (姚察), a Chen official, had begun but did not finish.
48-541: The Book of Liang ( Liáng Shū ) was compiled under Yao Silian and completed in 635. Yao heavily relied on an original manuscript by his father Yao Cha , which has not independently survived, although Yao Cha's comments are quoted in several chapters. The Book of Liang is part of the Twenty-Four Histories canon of Chinese history . Although the Book of Liang was finally attributed to Yao Silian,
96-511: A military officer under Chen Boxin, the seventh son of Emperor Wen of Chen , and as a registrar (主簿) to Chen Zhuang (陳莊) the Prince of Kuaiji , the eighth son of Chen's last emperor Chen Shubao in the mid-to-late 580s. After Chen's destruction, Yao Silian served as a military advisor to Emperor Wen's son Yang Liang the Prince of Han. Due to Yao Cha's death, he resigned in 606 to observe
144-499: A mourning period; before his death, Yao Cha had also implored Yao Silian to finish his histories. After the mourning period, Yao Silian served as a secretary at the government of Hejian Commandery (河間, roughly modern Baoding , Hebei ). He requested permission from Emperor Wen's son and successor Emperor Yang to continue writing the histories of Liang and Chen that Yao Cha had started, and Emperor Yang agreed. Emperor Yang further ordered him and another official, Cui Zujun (崔祖濬), to lead
192-489: A number of people worked on it. Initially, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered Yao Cha 姚察 (533–606) to compile the Book of Liang but Yao Cha died without being able to complete it. Before dying Yao Cha requested that his son Yao Silian complete the work. Emperor Yang of Sui agreed to compilation of the text by Yao Silian. In the Tang, the compilation of the text was part of an initiative at the suggestion of Linghu Defen shortly after
240-490: A scholar at the mansion of Emperor Gaozu's son and leading general Li Shimin the Prince of Qin. Later, when Li Shimin was on a campaign against a rival agrarian rebel ruler, Xu Yuanlang the Prince of Lu, Li Shimin had some discussions with others about the events during the Sui dynasty, and he commented, "Yao Silian dared to stand up to swords to show his faithfulness, and this was difficult even in ancient days." At that time, Yao
288-549: A team of scholars in drafting regional maps and histories. He later served as a teacher of Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai. By 617, the Sui state was engulfed by agrarian rebellions, and Emperor Yang was in Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou , Jiangsu ), leaving Yang You nominally in charge of Chang'an, when the general Li Yuan the Duke of Tang started a rebellion and attacked Chang'an, claiming that his intent
336-564: Is not known when Yao Silian was born, other than that it was likely during the Chen dynasty . His father Yao Cha (533 - 606 ) was the minister of civil service affairs during Chen, and after Chen's destruction by rival Sui dynasty in February 589, Yao Cha moved his family from Wuxing (吳興, in modern Huzhou , Zhejiang ) to the Sui capital Daxing ( Chang'an ), successively serving as an advisor to Emperor Wen of Sui 's crown prince Yang Yong and
384-756: The Book of Liang corresponds to 400 metres. Wa was an ancient kingdom of Japan . Though little concrete information can be found today, its capital precinct, Yamatai , was most likely located either in Kyūshū or in the Kinki region. Various Rong of the Eastern Yi : Gaogouli ; Baiji ; Xinluo ; Wo ; Wenshen; Dahan; Fusang Various Rong to the West and North Henan ; Gaochang ; Hua ; Zhouguke; Hebatan; Humidan; Baiti; Qiuci ; Yutian ; Kepantuo; Mo; Bosi; Dangchang; Dengzhi; Wuxing; Rourou Yao Silian It
432-593: The lady-in-waiting Lady Wu grabbed Chen Shuling, allowing Chen Shubao to get up and escape. Meanwhile, Chen Shujian grabbed Chen Shuling and tied him to a pillar, but as Chen Shujian then sought Chen Shubao's permission to kill Chen Shuling, Chen Shuling slipped away and mobilized his personal troops to start a coup along with his cousin, Chen Bogu ( 陳伯固 ) the Prince of Xin'an (Emperor Wen's son). They were soon defeated, however, and both were killed in battle. Chen Shuling's sons were forced to commit suicide, and Chen Bogu's sons were reduced to commoner rank. Three days after
480-538: The upheaval of the Five Barbarians . He was taken to the Sui's capital Chang'an , where he was treated kindly by Emperor Wen of Sui and his son and successor, Emperor Yang of Sui until his death in December 604, during the reign of Emperor Yang. Chen Shubao was born in 553, when his father Chen Xu was serving as a mid-level official under Emperor Yuan of Liang at the capital of Jiangling . His mother
528-452: The Chen capital Jiankang. Only then did Chen Shubao realize the seriousness of the situation, but instead of resisting in earnest, he panicked, leaving Shi in effective control of the situation. Eventually, the general Xiao Mohe convinced Chen Shubao that he should be allowed to engage Heruo, despite opposition from the general Ren Zhong ( 任忠 ). Heruo defeated Xiao Mohe and captured him, and
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#1732772622134576-470: The Prince of Qi, at Xuanwu Gate . He then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to create him crown prince and then yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). Yao became an imperial scholar at the institute Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). Emperor Taizong had him continue the compilation of the histories of Liang and Chen, under supervision by the chancellor Wei Zheng . Yao, taking in also commentaries that had been written by Xie Gui (謝炅) and Gu Yewang (顧野王), completed
624-438: The Prince of Shixing, and Chen Shujian ( 陳叔堅 ) the Prince of Changsha, attended Emperor Xuan at the palace. The ambitious Chen Shuling had designed on the throne, and when Emperor Xuan died, while Chen Shubao was mourning over Emperor Xuan's casket, Chen Shuling pulled out a sharpened knife and stabbed Chen Shubao in the neck, who then collapsed. Empress Liu tried to stop Chen Shuling, but was also stabbed several times. However,
672-479: The Prince of Wuxing, instead creating Consort Zhang's son Chen Yuan crown prince. He also considered deposing Empress Shen and replacing her with Consort Zhang, but did not get a chance to do so before Sui launched a major attack in spring 588 as well. By winter 588, the Sui attack was in full operation, with three major prongs commanded by Emperor Wen's sons, Yang Guang (later Emperor Yang of Sui ) and Yang Jun , and Yang Su, and with Yang Guang in overall command of
720-583: The Sui generals, although Gao, blaming Consort Zhang for Chen's collapse, executed her. Some of the Chen generals continued to resist, but were quickly defeated, particularly because at the Sui forces' request, Chen Shubao wrote letters to the Chen generals ordering them to surrender. Chen was at its end. Soon, the Sui army escorted Chen Shubao and his household to the Sui capital Daxing (大興, near Chang'an). Emperor Wen treated Chen Shubao with kindness, and, not willing to subjugate Chen Shubao as an official under him, initially did not give him any official titles—but
768-779: The Western Wei capital of Chang'an . For reasons lost to history, Lady Liu and Chen Shubao were not taken to Chang'an, but left at Rang City ( 穰城 ; Ráng chéng , now in Nanyang , Henan province ). In 557, Chen Xu's uncle and Chen Chang's father Chen Baxian founded a new dynasty as Emperor Wu of Chen with his capital at Jiankang . He requested that Western Wei's successor state, Northern Zhou , return Chen Chang and Chen Xu to him, but Northern Zhou, while initially agreeing, did not do so during Emperor Wu's lifetime. In 559, Emperor Wu died, and Chen Xu's older brother Chen Qian, Prince of Linchuan, as Emperor Wu's only close male relative in
816-450: The coup attempt, Chen Shubao, still severely wounded, took the throne. He honored his mother Empress Liu as empress dowager . He made his wife Lady Shen empress and his oldest son Chen Yin (who, while not born of Empress Shen, was raised by her) crown prince. Initially, Chen Shubao was still recovering from his injuries, and Empress Dowager Liu governed as regent , assisted by Chen Shujian. (As Chen Shubao did not favor Empress Shen, she
864-474: The event commented, "It is said that kind people are also brave. This man is an example." Li Yuan soon declared Yang You emperor (as Emperor Gong), but after receiving news in 618 that Emperor Yang had been killed in a coup at Jiangdu led by the general Yuwen Huaji , had Yang You yield the throne to him, establishing the Tang dynasty as Emperor Gaozu. After the founding of the Tang dynasty, Yao Silian served as
912-444: The fact that the former emperors of Northern Qi , Liang, and Chen were not being sacrificed to, ordered that the former Northern Qi prince Gao Renying ( 高仁英 ), Chen Shubao and Xiao Cong be given regular supplies so that they could make periodic sacrifices to their ancestors. In December 604, a few months after Emperor Wen's death and succession by Yang Guang (as Emperor Yang), Chen Shubao died. Emperor Yang posthumously created him
960-451: The founding of the Tang dynasty to compile a number of histories for the previous dynasties. Then, Yao Silian was ordered to complete the Book of Chen by Emperor Gaozu of Tang , who ordered other scholars to work on the Book of Liang . When those scholars did not complete their task, Yao Silian was again ordered to work on the text. The Book of Liang was finally compiled by Yao Silian under
1008-406: The governor of Jiang Province (江州, roughly modern Jiujiang , Jiangxi ) to remove him from power. (He subsequently kept Chen Shujian at the capital by promoting him to the honorary post of Sikong ( 司空 ), but did not restore Chen Shujian to power.) Meanwhile, despite the fact that Chen Shubao was still supposed to be in mourning period for Emperor Xuan, he was spending much time in feasting. When
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#17327726221341056-465: The military command to civilian officials, further causing the generals to be disgruntled. In spring 585, Zhang Dabao ( 章大寶 ) the governor of Feng Province (豐州, roughly modern Fuzhou , Fujian ), accused of corruption and on the verge of being replaced by Li Yun ( 李暈 ), instead ambushed Li and killed him, starting a rebellion. Zhang was however soon defeated and killed. In fall 587, while Emperor Jing of Western Liang (Xiao Cong, Xiao Cha's grandson)
1104-462: The name of Emperor Wu's wife Grand Empress Dowager Zhang Yao'er that deposed Emperor Fei and he took the throne as Emperor Xuan in spring 569. Chen Shubao was made crown prince, and his mother, Princess Liu, was made empress. In fall 569, Chen Shubao married Shen Wuhua , the daughter of the official Shen Junli ( 沈君理 ), as his wife and crown princess. However, eventually he came to favor his concubine , Zhang Lihua . As crown prince, Chen Shubao
1152-1128: The official Mao Xi ( 毛喜 ) tried to persuade him to change his ways, Chen Shubao demoted Mao and sent him out of the capital. Around the new year 584, Chen Shujian, in fear, prayed to the spirits, hoping that he would be restored to grace. When this was discovered, Chen Shubao considered executing Chen Shujian, but after Chen Shujian reminded him how Chen Shujian was responsible for saving him from Chen Shuling, Chen Shubao spared him but removed him from his posts. In 584, Chen Shubao built three particularly luxurious pavilions within his palace—Linchun Pavilion ( 臨春閣 ), Jieqi Pavilion ( 結綺閣 ), and Wangxian Pavilion ( 望仙閣 ), residing himself at Linchun Pavilion, while having Consort Zhang reside at Jieqi Pavilion and Consorts Gong and Kong share Wangxian Pavilion. He often spent his days feasting with his concubines, headed by Consort Zhang, as well as those ladies in waiting and officials who had literary talent (including Jiang Zong, whom he made prime minister, Kong Fan, and Wang Cuo ( 王瑳) ), having those officials and ladies in waiting sing or write poetry to praise his concubines' beauty. Two of
1200-473: The operation, assisted by Gao Jiong . Reports from the upper Yangtze, however, were being suppressed by Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing ( 沈客卿 ) and never reached Chen Shubao, as Shi, not realizing the seriousness of the Sui threat, did not want anything to interfere with his own plans to become the governor of Xiang Province (湘州, roughly modern Changsha , Hunan ). Yang Su, who attacked from the upper Yangtze, therefore faced no serious opposition and soon controlled
1248-425: The particularly known songs, Yushu Houting Hua ( 玉樹後庭花 ) and Linchun Yue ( 臨春樂 ), were written to praise the beauties of Consorts Zhang and Kong. It was said that Chen Shubao lacked interest and understanding in important governmental matters, and that because he could not comprehend matters well, he would often hold Consort Zhang on his lap and have Consort Zhang, who was considered intelligent, read and rule on
1296-539: The petitions submitted to him. Meanwhile, Consort Kong and Kong Fan, who were not related, began to refer to each other as sister and brother, and used their relationship to further their power as well, so Consorts Zhang and Kong became exceedingly powerful. To finance Chen Shubao's construction projects, taxes were raised, and soldiers and the officials, who were previously immune to taxes, were also required to pay them, causing general discontent from those classes. Further, at Kong Fan's urging, Chen Shubao transferred much of
1344-459: The realm, took the throne as Emperor Wen of Chen . In 560, Northern Zhou began making overtures to return Chen Xu to Chen. In 562, Emperor Wen, who had remotely created Chen Xu the Prince of Ancheng, traded the city of Lushan (魯山, in modern Wuhan , Hubei ) to Northern Zhou in exchange for Chen Xu's return. Initially, Chen Shubao and his mother Princess Liu were not returned, but after further negotiations by Emperor Wen, were returned. Chen Shubao
1392-448: The request to his father Emperor Xuan, and Emperor Xuan, while he hesitated due to Kong's opposition, eventually agreed. Eventually, however, because Jiang and Chen Shubao overly feasted, including instances where Chen Shubao wore civilian clothing to sneak out of the palace to visit Jiang's mansion, Emperor Xuan removed Jiang from his post. In spring 582, Emperor Xuan grew ill, and Chen Shubao, along with his brothers Chen Shuling ( 陳叔陵 )
1440-419: The rest of Chen troops collapsed, allowing the Sui forces to enter the capital. In panic and abandoned by his officials, Chen Shubao hid in a well with Consorts Zhang and Kong, but was discovered and captured. When he was brought before He Ruoao, he was so fearful that he prostrated himself before Heruo—an act that brought words of contempt from Heruo. However, he and his household were generally treated well by
1488-480: The secretary general of the Palace Library , carrying the title of Duke of Beijiang. During Yao Cha's life, he had begun to write the histories of Chen and its predecessor Liang dynasty but was unable to complete it before his death. Yao Silian studied the Book of Han under his father when he was young. It was said that he had few desires other than to study. Prior to Chen's destruction, he served as
Book of Liang - Misplaced Pages Continue
1536-514: The supervision of Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng in the Tang, incorporating at least some of the work of his predecessors. It contains the history of the Liang dynasty , and various descriptions of countries to the east of China . One such passage is the description by the monk Hui Shen (慧深) of the country of Fusang , 20,000 li east of China. Note, the Chinese measure of distance ( li ) used in
1584-427: The surrender and made Xiao Yan and Xiao Huan provincial governors—acts that Emperor Wen (who, in response, abolished Western Liang and seized its remaining territory) considered provocation, making him continuing his preparation to attack Chen in earnest. In spring 588, Chen Shubao, believing Consorts Zhang's and Kong's accusations that Chen Yin resented him for not favoring Empress Shen, deposed Chen Yin and created him
1632-593: The tomb of Emperor Taizong's wife Empress Zhangsun , where Emperor Taizong himself would eventually be buried. His grandson Yao Shu would later serve as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong's daughter-in-law Wu Zetian . Chen Shubao Chen Shubao ( Chinese : 陳叔寶 ; pinyin : Chén Shúbǎo , 10 December 553 – 16 December 604), also known as Houzhu of Chen ( 陳後主 ; Chén Hòuzhǔ ; 'Last Ruler of Chen'), posthumous name Duke Yáng of Chángchéng ( 長城煬公 ; Chángchéng Yáng Gōng ), courtesy name Yuánxiù (元秀), childhood name Huángnú (黃奴),
1680-476: The upper Yangtze, not allowing any Chen forces which might have wanted to head downstream to aid the capital to be able to get through. In spring 589, the Sui general He Ruo Bi ( 賀若弼 ) crossed the Yangtze from Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou , Jiangsu ), and the Sui general Han Qinhu ( 韓擒虎 ) crossed the Yangtze at Caishi (采石, in modern Ma'anshan , Anhui ), without opposition from Chen forces and sandwiching
1728-496: The works in 636, and Emperor Taizong awarded him with silk and promoted him to be Tongzhi Sanqi Changshi (通直散騎常侍), a senior advisor at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng ). It was said that Yao was faithful and gave honest advice whenever needed. In 632, for example, there was an occasion when Emperor Taizong was about to visit the summer palace Jiucheng Palace (九成宮, in modern Baoji , Shaanxi ), when Yao argued against it, opining that visiting secondary palaces
1776-536: Was Chen Xu's second wife, Liu Jingyan , and he was Chen Xu's eldest son. In 554, the Western Wei attacked Jiangling and captured it, executing Emperor Yuan. Emperor Yuan's nephew Xiao Cha was made Emperor Xuan of Western Liang (萧詧) and given Jiangling as his capital, but a large segment of Jiangling's population and Emperor Yuan's officials, including Chen Xu and Chen Xu's cousin Chen Chang , were taken to
1824-655: Was at the Sui capital to meet with Sui's Emperor Wen, the Western Liang officials Xiao Yan (蕭巖, Emperor Jing's uncle) and Xiao Huan (蕭瓛, Emperor Jing's brother), in fear that the Sui general Cui Hongdu ( 崔弘度 ) was actually intending to attack the Western Liang capital Jiangling, surrendered to Chen Shubao's cousin Chen Huiji ( 陳慧紀 ) the Marquess of Yihuang with the people of Jiangling. Chen Shubao accepted
1872-450: Was designated as Chen Xu's successor . He held minor offices during Emperor Wen's reign. In 566, Emperor Wen died and was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Chen Bozong, as Emperor Fei . The high-level officials that Emperor Wen left in charge, including Chen Xu, eventually became locked in a power struggle, and in 567, Chen Xu killed Liu Shizhi ( 劉師之 ) and Dao Zhongju ( 到仲舉 ) and seized control. In winter 568, he had an edict issued in
1920-429: Was dismayed when Chen Shubao, not understanding the rationale, requested a title. Chen Shubao also engaged in heavy drinking, which Emperor Wen initially tried to curb, but later stopped doing so, reasoning that Chen Shubao needed to have something to do with his time. Emperor Wen sent members of the imperial Chen household out to the provinces, dividing them so that they could not coalesce. In 594, Emperor Wen, citing
1968-441: Was improper to attack a state that had just lost its emperor and withdrew his forces. He also sent ambassadors to mourn Emperor Xuan's death, and his letter to Chen Shubao referred to himself by his personal name—a sign of humility. However, Chen Shubao's return letter included the sentence, "May it be that when you govern your state, all things can be well, and that between heaven and earth, there will be peace and quiet." The sentence
Book of Liang - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-405: Was known for his love of literature and feasting. He thus wanted to command the official Jiang Zong ( 江總 ), who was talented in literature, serve as his chief of staff, and he requested that Kong Huan ( 孔奐 ), the minister of civil service, to make it so. Kong declined, citing that Jiang, while talented, lacked steadiness and would not be able to correct Chen Shubao. Chen Shubao then personally made
2064-483: Was not allowed to attend to him during his recovery period; rather, Consort Zhang did.) After Chen Shubao recovered—and while it is not clear how long it took him to recover, it seemed to be a period of months—Empress Dowager Liu returned imperial authorities to him and did not again govern. When Emperor Xuan died, Northern Zhou's successor state, Sui China, had been attacking Chen, but upon hearing about Emperor Xuan's death, Emperor Wen of Sui (Yang Jian) decided that it
2112-469: Was not with him, but was at Luoyang . Li Shimin sent a messenger to Luoyang to award Yao with silk, stating, "I have just remembered your faithfulness and righteousness and I am now awarding you for them." In 626, Li Shimin, then locked in an intense rivalry with his brother Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince, ambushed and killed Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji
2160-584: Was something that Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han did, not what rulers who were even better regarded—the legendary Emperor Yao , Emperor Shun , Yu the Great , and Tang of Shang did. Emperor Taizong, while citing that he was going to Jiucheng Palace to avoid an asthma attack, nevertheless awarded Yao with silk. In 635, he created Yao the Baron of Fengcheng. Yao died in 637 and was buried with honor, near
2208-686: Was the fifth and last emperor of the Chinese Chen dynasty , which was conquered by the Sui dynasty in 589. At the time of his ascension, Chen was already facing military pressure by Sui on multiple fronts, and, according to traditional historians, Chen Shubao was an incompetent ruler who was more interested in literature and women than in state affairs. In February 589, Sui forces captured Chen's capital, Jiankang (modern Nanjing, Jiangsu ), and captured him, ending Chen's rule and unifying China after nearly three centuries of division that had started with
2256-593: Was to make Yang You emperor. When Chang'an fell in winter 617, it was said that Yang You's staff all fled, except for Yao Silian, who stayed with Yang You, and as Li Yuan's soldiers entered Yang You's mansion, yelled out sternly, "The Duke of Tang started his uprising in order to secure the imperial clan. You cannot be impolite to the Prince." The soldiers backed off. Li Yuan was impressed with Yao's dedication to Yang You, and while he still had Yang You seized by his own subordinates, allowed Yao to accompany Yang You to Shunyang Pavilion (順陽閣) before leaving. People who witnessed
2304-616: Was viewed as arrogant and condescending by Emperor Wen and his key official Yang Su and made them displeased. Despite this, however, for the next few years, the states exchanged ambassadors often and generally had peaceful relations, although Sui's Emperor Wen was gradually building up military power on the Yangtze and planning for eventual attack against Chen. In spring 583, displeased that Chen Shujian was, in his view, becoming overly powerful, Chen Shubao, encouraged by his associates Kong Fan ( 孔範 ) and Shi Wenqing ( 施文慶 ), made Chen Shujian
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