Records of Shu 4: Biographies of the Consorts and Sons of the Two Rulers

Records of Shu 4: Biographies of the Consorts and Sons of the Two Rulers

Empresses

皇后

Empress Gan of the First Ruler

先主甘皇后

Empress Gan, consort of the First Ruler, was a native of Pei. When the First Ruler governed Yu Province and was living at Xiaopei, he took her as a concubine. Since the First Ruler had lost his principal wives several times, she regularly managed the affairs of the household. She followed the First Ruler to Jing Province and gave birth to the Latter Ruler. When Lord Cao's army arrived and overtook the First Ruler at Changban in Dangyang, he was in such desperate straits that he abandoned her and the Latter Ruler, and it was only through Zhao Yun's protection that they escaped disaster. She later died and was buried in Nan Commandery. In the second year of Zhangwu she was posthumously titled Lady Huangsi and her remains were to be moved to Shu for reburial, but before they arrived the First Ruler died.

先主甘皇后，沛人也。先主臨豫州，住小沛，納以為妾。先主數喪嫡室，常攝內事。隨先主於荊州，產後主。值曹公軍至，追及先主於當陽長阪，於時困偪，棄后及後主，賴趙雲保護，得免於難。後卒，葬於南郡。章武二年，追諡皇思夫人，遷葬於蜀，未至而先主殂隕。

The Chancellor Zhuge Liang submitted a memorial: “Lady Huangsi walked in virtue and cultivated benevolence, and was pure and careful in her conduct. When the late Emperor was formerly a senior general, she was matched with him as his consort and bore and raised His Sacred Majesty, but her allotted span was not long. While the late Emperor lived, he was steadfast in duty and bestowed his grace; mindful that Lady Huangsi's coffin lay drifting far away, he specially sent envoys to receive it with honor. Then the late Emperor passed away. Now Lady Huangsi's coffin has arrived, the late Emperor's catafalque is also on the road, the mausoleum is nearly finished, and the day of burial has been fixed.

丞相亮上言：皇思夫人履行脩仁，淑慎其身。大行皇帝昔在上將，嬪妃作合，載育聖躬，大命不融。大行皇帝存時，篤義垂恩，念皇思夫人神柩在遠飄颻，特遣使者奉迎。會大行皇帝崩，今皇思夫人神柩以到，又梓宮在道，園陵將成，安厝有期。

Your servant has at once deliberated with the Minister of Ceremonies, your servant Lai Gong, and others. The Record of Rites says, ‘To establish love, begin with one's parents; this teaches the people filial piety. To establish reverence, begin with one's elders; this teaches the people obedience.’ Not to forget one's parent is because it is from her that one was born. By the principle of the Spring and Autumn, a mother is ennobled through her son. In the past, Emperor Gao posthumously honored Lady Zhaoling, wife of the Grand Emperor, as Empress Zhaoling; Emperor Xiaohe reburied his mother the Honored Lady Liang and gave her the honorific title Empress Gonghuai; and Emperor Xiaomin likewise reburied his mother Lady Wang and gave her the honorific title Empress Linghuai.

臣輒與太常臣賴恭等議：《禮記》曰：『立愛自親始，教民孝也；立敬自長始，教民順也。』不忘其親，所由生也。春秋之義，母以子貴。昔高皇帝追尊太上昭靈夫人為昭靈皇后，孝和皇帝改葬其母梁貴人，尊號曰恭懷皇后，孝愍皇帝亦改葬其母王夫人，尊號曰靈懷皇后。

Now Lady Huangsi ought to receive an honorific title, to console the longing of the cold spring, a child's yearning for his mother; so I have at once examined the rules for posthumous names with Lai Gong and the others, and she should be called Empress Zhaolie. The Book of Songs says, ‘In life we dwell in separate rooms; in death we share one grave.’ Therefore Empress Zhaolie should be buried together with the late Emperor. Your servant requests that the Grand Commandant report this to the ancestral temple and proclaim it to all the realm; the rites and ceremonies will be set out in full in a separate memorial.”

今皇思夫人宜有尊號，以慰寒泉之思，輒與恭等案諡法，宜曰昭烈皇后。《詩》曰：『谷則異室，死則同穴。』¹故昭烈皇后宜與大行皇帝合葬，臣請太尉告宗廟，布露天下，具禮儀別奏。

The imperial decree said, “Approved.”

制曰可。

Empress Mu of the First Ruler

先主穆皇后

Empress Mu, consort of the First Ruler, was a native of Chenliu. Her elder brother Wu Yi was orphaned young; because Yi's father had long been on old terms with Liu Yan, the whole family followed Liu Yan into Shu. Liu Yan harbored ambitions of his own, and he heard that a skilled physiognomist had read her features and said she would become greatly honored. Liu Yan had his son Liu Mao with him at the time, and so he took her as a wife for Liu Mao. When Liu Mao died, she lived as a widow. After the First Ruler had settled Yi Province and Lady Sun had returned to Wu, his subordinates urged him to take her in marriage. The First Ruler hesitated because he was of the same clan as Liu Mao, but Fa Zheng came forward and said, “If we weigh the closeness of kinship, how does it compare with Duke Wen of Jin and Ziyu?”

先主穆皇后，陳留人也。兄吳壹，少孤，壹父素與劉焉有舊，是以舉家隨焉入蜀。焉有異志，而聞善相者相后當大貴。焉時將子瑁自隨，遂為瑁納后。瑁死，后寡居。先主既定益州，而孫夫人還吳，¹群下勸先主聘后，先主疑與瑁同族，法正進曰：「論其親疏，何與晉文之於子圉乎？」

She was then taken in as his Lady. In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an she was made Queen of the King of Hanzhong. In summer, the fifth month of the first year of Zhangwu, the patent read, “We have received the Mandate of Heaven, uphold the most exalted position, and preside over the myriad states. We now make you Empress, and send the Chancellor Zhuge Liang as envoy bearing the imperial tally to confer the seal and ribbon. Carry on the ancestral temple and be mother to the realm. Empress, be reverent in this!” In the fifth month of the first year of Jianxing, the Latter Ruler took the throne and honored her as Empress Dowager, with the title Changle Palace.

於是納后為夫人。 ¹建安二十四年，立為漢中王后。章武元年夏五月，策曰：「朕承天命，奉至尊，臨萬國。今以后為皇后，遣使持節丞相亮授璽綬，承宗廟，母天下，皇后其敬之哉！」建興元年五月，後主即位，尊后為皇太后，稱長樂宮。

Wu Yi rose to General of Chariots and Cavalry and was enfeoffed as a county marquis. In the eighth year of Yanxi the Empress Dowager died and was buried jointly at Huiling.

壹官至車騎將軍，封縣侯。延熙八年，后薨，合葬惠陵。 ¹

Empress Jing'ai of the Latter Ruler

後主敬哀皇后

Empress Jing'ai, consort of the Latter Ruler, was the eldest daughter of the General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Fei. In the first year of Zhangwu she was taken in as Consort of the Crown Prince. In the first year of Jianxing she was made Empress. She died in the fifteenth year and was buried at Nanling.

後主敬哀皇后，車騎將軍張飛長女也。章武元年，納為太子妃。建興元年，立為皇后。十五年薨，葬南陵。

Empress Zhang of the Latter Ruler

後主張皇后

Empress Zhang, consort of the Latter Ruler, was the younger sister of the former Empress Jing'ai. In the fifteenth year of Jianxing she entered the palace as an Honored Lady. In spring, the first month of the first year of Yanxi, the patent read, “We carry on the great enterprise, rule over the realm, and uphold the suburban altars, the ancestral temple, and the altars of soil and grain. We now make the Honored Lady Empress, and have the General of the Left Xiang Lang, acting as Chancellor, bear the imperial tally and confer the seal and ribbon. Be diligent in managing the household provisions and reverent and solemn in the sacrifices. Empress, be reverent in this!” In the first year of Xianxi she moved with the Latter Ruler to Luoyang.

後主張皇后，前后敬哀之妹也。建興十五年，入為貴人。延熙元年春正月，策曰：「朕統承大業，君臨天下，奉郊廟社稷。今以貴人為皇后，使行丞相事左將軍向朗持節授璽綬。勉脩中饋，恪肅禋祀，皇后其敬之哉！」咸熙元年，隨後主遷於洛陽。 ¹

Imperial Sons

皇子

Liu Yong, Son of the First Ruler

先主子 永

Liu Yong, courtesy name Gongshou, was a son of the First Ruler and a younger half-brother of the Latter Ruler by a concubine. In the sixth month of the first year of Zhangwu the Minister over the Masses Xu Jing was sent to install Liu Yong as King of Lu, with a patent that read, “Young Yong, receive this green earth. We carry on the order ordained by Heaven and continue the great enterprise; following and cultivating the ways of antiquity, We establish your state and enfeoff you in the eastern lands, to hold the whole of Mount Gui and Mount Meng and serve for generations as a bulwark of the throne. Ah, respect Our edict! That land of Lu, with a single change, arrives at the Way, and its customs and moral influence endure there still.

劉永字公壽，先主子，後主庶弟也。章武元年六月，使司徒靖立永為魯王，策曰：「小子永，受茲青土。朕承天序，繼統大業，遵脩稽古，建爾國家，封於東土，奄有龜蒙，世為籓輔。嗚呼，恭朕之詔！惟彼魯邦，一變適道，風化存焉。

Its people love virtue, and for generations this fine quality has been handed down. King, hold fast to your heart and follow the rites; bring peace to your officers and people, so that your sacrifices are received and found fitting. Take heed!” In the eighth year of Jianxing he was re-enfeoffed as King of Ganling. Earlier, Liu Yong had hated the eunuch Huang Hao. Once Huang Hao had won trust and wielded power, he slandered and schemed against Liu Yong before the Latter Ruler, and the Latter Ruler gradually grew distant from Liu Yong, until for more than ten years he was not allowed to attend court. In the first year of Xianxi Liu Yong moved east to Luoyang, where he was appointed Commandant of Imperial Carriages and enfeoffed as a district marquis.

人之好德，世茲懿美。王其秉心率禮，綏爾士民，是饗是宜，其戒之哉！」建興八年，改封為甘陵王。初，永憎宦人黃皓，皓既信任用事，譖構永於後主，後主稍疏外永，至不得朝見者十餘年。咸熙元年，永東遷洛陽，拜奉車都尉，封為鄉侯。

Liu Li, Son of the First Ruler

先主子 理

Liu Li, courtesy name Fengxiao, was also a younger half-brother of the Latter Ruler by a concubine, born of a different mother from Liu Yong. In the sixth month of the first year of Zhangwu the Minister over the Masses Xu Jing was sent to install Liu Li as King of Liang, with a patent that read, “Young Li, We carry on the succession of the Han, reverently follow the Mandate of Heaven, and observe and cultivate the statutes and ranks; We establish you in the east as a bulwark of the Han. That land of Liang is a state within the capital region, whose people are accustomed to moral teaching and easily guided by the rites. Go and give it your whole heart; cherish and protect the common people, and so make your state endure. King, be reverent in this!”

劉理字奉孝，亦後主庶弟也，與永異母。章武元年六月，使司徒靖立理為梁王，策曰：「小子理，朕統承漢序，祗順天命，遵脩典秩，建爾於東，為漢籓輔。惟彼梁土，畿甸之邦，民狎教化，易導以禮。往悉乃心，懷保黎庶，以永爾國，王其敬之哉！」

In the eighth year of Jianxing Liu Li was re-enfeoffed as King of Anping. He died in the seventh year of Yanxi and was given the posthumous name King Dao. His son Liu Yin, King Ai, succeeded him and died in the nineteenth year. His son Liu Cheng, King Shang, succeeded him and died in the twentieth year. In the fourth year of Jingyao an edict said, “The King of Anping was appointed by the late Emperor. Three generations have died young and the succession of the state has been cut off; We are grieved by this. Let the Marquis of Wuyi, Liu Ji, inherit the royal title.” Liu Ji was a son of Liu Li. In the first year of Xianxi he moved east to Luoyang, where he was appointed Commandant of Imperial Carriages and enfeoffed as a district marquis.

建興八年，改封理為安平王。延熙七年卒，諡曰悼王。子哀王胤嗣，十九年卒。子殤王承嗣，二十年卒。景耀四年詔曰：「安平王，先帝所命。三世早夭，國嗣頹絕，朕用傷悼。其以武邑侯輯襲王位。」輯，理子也，咸熙元年，東遷洛陽，拜奉車都尉，封鄉侯。

Liu Xuan, Crown Prince of the Latter Ruler

後主太子 璿

The Latter Ruler's Crown Prince, Liu Xuan, had the courtesy name Wenheng. His mother, the Honored Lady Wang, had originally been a serving woman of Empress Jing'ai, née Zhang. In the first month of the first year of Yanxi the patent read, “Since ancient times emperors and kings have continued the line by establishing an heir to be second to the rule of the state; this has been the constant way, past and present. We now make Xuan Crown Prince, to make manifest the majesty of Our ancestors, and command the General of the Left Xiang Lang, acting as Chancellor, to go as envoy bearing the imperial tally and confer the seal and ribbon. Strive to cultivate your fine nature, be reverent and careful in the Way and in righteousness, consult on the statutes and rites, respect your tutors and treat them as friends, weigh all that is good and choose from it, and so bring your virtue to completion. How can you not devote yourself to cultivation and spur yourself on?”

後主太子璿，字文衡。母王貴人，本敬哀張皇后侍人也。延熙元年正月策曰：「在昔帝王，繼體立嗣，副貳國統，古今常道。今以璿為皇太子，昭顯祖宗之威，命使行丞相事左將軍朗持節授印綬。其勉脩茂質，祗恪道義，諮詢典禮，敬友師傅，斟酌眾善，翼成爾德，可不務脩以自勗哉！」

He was then fifteen years old. In winter of the sixth year of Jingyao, Shu fell. In the first month of the first year of Xianxi, when Zhong Hui rose in revolt at Chengdu, Liu Xuan was killed by the rioting soldiers.

時年十五。景耀六年冬，蜀亡。咸熙元年正月，鍾會作亂於成都，璿為亂兵所害。 ¹

Appraisal

評

Appraisal: The Book of Changes says that only when there are husband and wife are there father and son. Of the beginnings of human relations and the fullness of affection and moral order, nothing ranks above this. Therefore I have recorded them here, so as to examine fully the constitution of a state.

評曰：《易》稱有夫婦然後有父子，夫人倫之始，恩紀之隆，莫尚於此矣。是故紀錄，以究一國之體焉。