Gao1 Zu3(great great grandfather) 高祖 Liu2 Bang1
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3) Duan4 She4(wade/go thorugh/experience/involve)fu4(duplicate/answer/recover)chen2(celestial bodies) 段涉复辰 318 4) Duan4 Pi3(be equal to/ be a match to )di1 段匹□ 318-321 5) Duan4 Mo4(tip/end/minor details/last stage)pei1 段末□ 318-325 6) Duan4 Ya2(tooth/ivory thing) 段牙 325 7) Duan4 Liao2(distant/far away) 段辽 326-338 [7] Chieftains, Dukes and Kings of Chouchi, Wuxing and Yinping (late 2nd century- mid 6th century (555?) ) A) First Phase of Chouchi (late 2nd century-371) (12) 1) Yang2(poplar) Teng2(jump up/soar) 杨腾 184-210 chief ofWhite Neck Di (白項氐) in SE Gansu.. 2) Yang2 Ju1(colt/foal) 杨驹 210-230 paid tribute to CaoWei. Was made a Prince. 3) Yang2 Qian1wan4(ten million) 杨千万 230-263 paid tribute to CaoWei. Was made a Prince. 4) Yang2 Fei1(fly)long2(dragon) 杨飞龙 263-296 Made center in Lueyang 5) Yang2 Mao4(luxuriant)sou1(search) 杨茂搜 296 - 317 Independent king until the 4th century. 6) Yang2 Nandi2(enemy/oppose/match/equal) 杨难敌 317-334 The Chouchi troops often plundered territories in the Central Plains to the east and abducted people there, but on the other side the troops of Eastern Jin and F. Zhao deprived the Chouchi empire of her inhabitants. In 322 Yang Nandi (楊難敵) suffered a defeat against F. Zhao and was degraded to Prince of Wudu (武都王) and Duke of Chouchi (仇池公). 7) Yang2 Yi4(firm/resolute) 杨毅 334-337 Yang Yi, aka Wei1(impressive)gong1(public) 威公 ---internal struggles 8) Yang2 Chu1(beginning/elementary/rudimentary) 杨初 337-355 ---internal struggles 9) Yang2 Guo2(country/go through/exceed/mistake/wrong/fault) 杨国(过) 355-356, style name Gai3(transform)zhi1(connect) (改之), 10) Yang2 Jun4(handsome) 杨俊 356-360 ---internal struggles 11) Yang2 Shi4(generation) 杨世 360-370 ---internal struggles 12) Yang2 Cuan4(usurp/seige) 杨篡370-371 In 371 Fu Jiàn, ruler of F. Qin attacked Chouchi, captured the ruler Yang Cuan (楊篡) and ended the period of F. Chouchi. B) Second Phase of Chouchi 385-473 (9) 1) Wu3Wang2 武王 Yang Ding4(calm/decide/fixed/subscribe to a newspaper/book seats or tickets/surely) 杨定 385-394 Yang Ding (楊定), a great-grandson of Yang Maosou and grandson of Fu Jiàn, resurrected the Chouchi kingdom in 385 with the capital at Licheng (歷城). 2) Hui4(favour/benefit/kindness) Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Wang2 惠文王 Yang2 Sheng4(flourishing/energetic/deeply) 杨盛 394-425 His younger brother Yang Sheng (楊盛) was able to conquer the region Liangzhou (梁州) at the upper course of the Han River, and declared himself governor for the Jin Dynasty. Efforts to occupy the territory of modern Sichuan failed, but Chouchi controlled a great part of the modern provinces Gansu (east) and Shaanxi (south). 3) Xiao4(filial/mourning) Zhao1(clear) Wang2孝昭王 Yang2 Xuan2(black/profound/unreliable/incredible) 杨玄 425-429 4) Yang2 Bao3(protect/maintain)zong1(ancestor/section/modelgreat master/county) 杨保宗 429 and 443 5) Yang2 Nan(difficult/unpleasant)dang4(proper/treat as/pawn/equal/serve as/manage) 杨难当 429-441 (Jianyi 建义 436-440) 6) Yang2 Bao3(protect/maintain/ensure)chi4(ablaze) 杨保炽 442-443 7) Yang2 Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)de2(virtue/heart/mind/culture/kindness/morals/favour) 杨文德 443-454 After 443 the lords of Chouchi were only puppet rulers controlled by the N. Wei. Historians talk of the five realms of Chouchi (Chouchi wuguo 仇池五國): F. and Later Chouchi (Qianchouchi 前仇池, Houchouchi 後仇池), Yinping 陰平, Wudu 武都, and Wuxing 武興. 8) Yang2 Yuan2(first/basic/component)he(join/mild/harmony/tie/draw) 杨元和 455-466 ---puppet 9) Yang2 Seng1(buddhist monk)si4(succeed/inherit/descendant) 杨僧嗣 466-473 ---puppet [8] Kings of Wuxing 473-506 and 534-555 1) Yang2 Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)du4(degree/limit/extent/mw occasion) 杨文度 473-477 2) Yang2 Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character)hong2(great/grand/magnificent/enlarge) 杨文弘 477-482 3) Yang2 Hou4qi3(people of talent/new arrivals) 杨后起 482-486 4) An1(peace/fix/bring/install) Wang 安王 Yang2 Ji2(gather/anthology)shi3(beginning/start) 杨集始 482-503 5) Yang2 Shao4(carry on)xian1(first/ancestor) 杨绍先 503-506, 534-535 6) Yang2 Zhi4hui4(wisdom) 杨智慧 535-545 7) Yang2 Pi4(open up/refute)xie2(evil/irregular) 杨辟邪 545-553 Note: Yang Zhi Hui and Yang Bi Xie could be the same person [9] Kings of Yinping 477- mid 6th century 1) Yang2 Guang3xiang1(fragrant/popular) 杨广香 477-483? 2) Yang2 Jiong3(bright/shining) 杨炯 483-495 3) Yang2 Chong2(high/lofty/worship)zu3(grandfather/ancestor/founder) 杨崇祖 495-before 502 4) Yang2 Meng4(1st month/eldest brother)sun1(grandson/2nd growth of plants) 杨孟孙 before 502-511 5) Yang2 Ding4(calm/decide/fixed/subscribe to a newspaper/book seats or tickets/surely) 杨定 511- ? [10] Chieftains of Tuoba Tribe 219-377 (as Kings of Dai 305?-377) As a well known fact, Tuoba Family was the ruling family of N. Wei Dynasty, founded by Tuoba Gui. Hence Table of N. Wei Dynasty will start with him, not as a continuation of this table. Note: All chieftains were revered as emperors in Weishu and Beishi which they never were. They were denoted here as 王(wang2) which was inherited by all successors of Tuoba Yi Lu. 1) Shen2 Yuan2(first/basic/component) Wang2 神元王 Tuo4(open up/develop)Ba2(stand out/raise/choose/surpass/capture) Li4 (power/make best effort) Wei1(minute/tiny) 拓拔力微 219-277 Note: His temple name was Shi3 Zu3|始祖 shi2 zu3. Another column was not created since only he was the only chieftain before Tuoba Gui revered with a temple name。 Was the first leader of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei people, from 219-277. 2) Zhang1 (chapter/regulations/seal/badge) Wang2 章王 Tuoba Xi1 (all/ to know/learn) Lu4 (deer) 拓拔悉鹿 277-286 His father was the Tuoba chieftain Tuoba Liwei, and he was the brother of Tuoba Shamohan, Tuoba Chuo, and Tuoba Luguan. In 286, he was succeeded by his younger Tuoba Chuo as chieftain of the Tuoba. 3) Ping2( flat; level; even; smooth; be on the same level; be on a par; equal; 4) Si1(think/consider) Wang2 思王 Tuoba Fu2( not) 拓拔弗 293-294 He was the son of Tuoba Sha1mo4 (desert/indifferent) han4(sweat) (拓跋沙漠汗) and the brother of Tuoba Yituo and Tuoba Yilu. In 293, he succeeded Tuoba Chuo as the chieftain of the Tuoba. His predecessor was his father's younger brother. Upon his death in 294, he was succeeded by Tuoba Luguan, another one of his uncles. 5) Zhao1(clear) Wang2 昭王 Tuoba Lu4(salary/emolument) Guan1(officer/public) 拓拔禄官 294-307 He is son of Tuoba Liwei, the brother of Tuoba Shamohan, Tuoba Xilu, Tuoba Chuo. In 294, Tuoba Luguan became chieftain of the Tuoba upon the death of his nephew Tuoba Fu. In 295, Tuoba Luguan divided the territory under Tuoba control into three areas: a vast tract of land extending west from White Mountain (northeast of Zhangjiakou), to Dai (Datong, Shanxi); an E. area from Shengle (south of Hohhot) and beyond; a central area, which included north Shanxi and the region to its north. Tuoba Luguan would remain in control of the E. area. His nephews Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Yituo were named chieftains of the W. area and central areas, respectively. 6) Mu4 (solemn) Wang2 穆王 Tuoba Yi1(interj<>) Tuo 拓拔猗 (_ - 拖 without 手) 295-305 was the chieftain of the central Tuoba territory from 295-305. He is the son of Tuoba Sha1mo4(desert)han4(sweat) (拓跋沙漠汗) and the brother of Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Fu. In 295, Tuoba Luguan the chieftain of the Tuoba (a branch of the Xianbei) divided the territory under Tuoba control into three areas: in a vast tract of land extending west from White Mountain (northeast of Zhangjiakou), to Dai (Datong, Shanxi); an area from Shengle (south of Hohhot) and beyond; a central area, which included north Shanxi and the region to its north. Tuoba Yituo would be named chieftain of the central area. As chieftain of the central Tuoba territory, Tuoba Yituo in 297 passes through Outer Mongolia and conquers 30 territories, gained the support of various ethnically Han people, in addition to his own Xianbei people. Tuoba Yituo is said to have rescued Sima Teng, governor of the Jin province of Bing, from the Xiongnu. In 304, Tuoba Yituo, along with Tuoba Yilu, joined forces with the Jin armies and defeated Han Zhao leader Liu Yuan. In 305, Tuoba Yituo died, and was succeeded by his son Tuoba Pugen as chieftain of the central Tuoba territory. 7) Mu4(solemn) Wang2 穆王 Tuoba Yi1(inter<>) Lu2(surname) 拓拔猗卢 295-316 (?-316) was the chieftain of the W. Tuoba territory from 295-307, supreme chieftain of the Tuoba from 307-316, Duke of Dai from 310-315, first prince of the Tuoba Dai from 315-316. He is the son of Tuoba Sha1mo4(desert)han4(sweat) (拓跋沙漠汗) and the brother of Tuoba Yituo and Tuoba Fu. In 295, Tuoba Luguan the chieftain of the Tuoba (a branch of the Xianbei) divided the territory under Tuoba control into three areas: in a vast tract of land extending west from White Mountain (northeast of Zhangjiakou), to Dai (Datong, Shanxi); an area from Shengle (south of Hohhot) and beyond; a central area, which included north Shanxi and the region to its north. Tuoba Yilu would be named chieftain of the W. area. As chieftain of the W. Tuoba territory, Tuoba Yilu defeated the Xiongnu and Wuhuan to the west, gained the support of various ethnically Han and Wuhuan people, in addition to his own Xianbei people. In 304, Tuoba Yilu, along with Tuoba Yituo, joined forces with the Jin armies and defeated Liu Yuan. In 305, Tuoba Yituo died, and in 307 Tuoba Luguan dies, as a result Tuoba Yilu becomes the supreme chieftain of the Tuoba clan. The name Dai itself originated when Tuoba Yilu was created the Duke of Dai (代公) and rewarded five commanderies by the W. Jin in 310 as a reward for helping Liu Kun1(jade) (刘琨), the Governor of Bingzhou (并州) (modern Shanxi province), to fight the Xiongnu Han state. This fief was LATER raised from a duchy to a principality by the W. Jin court in 315. In 312, Tuoba Yilu assisted Liu Kun in the recapturing of Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) from the Han general Liu Yao. When Tuoba Yilu designated his youngest son Tuoba Bi4(associate/compare/compete/gesticulate/copy/ratio/close together)yan2(prolong/send for) (拓跋比延) as his heir apparent instead of his eldest son Tuoba Liu4(six)xiu1 (fix/embellish/overhaul/write/construct/prune/tall and slender) (拓跋六修), this led to a dispute between him and his son Tuoba Liuxiu. He was succeeded by Tuoba Pugen in 316, after his own son Tuoba Liuxiu killed him a succession dispute. 8) Tuo4ba2 Pu3(universal) Gen1(root/cause/thoroughly) 拓拔普根 316 (?─316) was the chieftain of the central Tuoba territory from 305 to 316, and in 316 ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai as the supreme chieftain of the Tuoba clan. He was the son of Tuoba Yituo, and the brother of Tuoba Heru and Tuoba Gena. In 305, he succeeded his father Tuoba Yituo, as the chieftain of the central Tuoba territory, under his uncle Tuoba Yilu, then the Duke of Dai. In 316, Tuoba Yilu, then carrying the title the Prince of Dai, was killed by his son Tuoba Liu4xiu1(fix/embellish/overhaul/write/construct/prune/tall and slender) (拓跋六修), Tuoba Pugen hears of the news and attacked Tuoba Liuxiu with an armed force and killing him, and succeeded Tuoba Yilu as the Prince of Dai. In light of Tuoba Yilu's death, however, much of the ethnically Han and Wuhuan force that Tuoba Yilu commanded left Dai and gave their allegiance to the Jin official Liu Kun1(jade) (刘琨). Tuoba Pugen died several months LATER and was succeeded by his infant son, who did not have (and never got) a name. 9) You4 Ba2(stand out/raise/choose/surpass/capture) ?拓拔? 316 10) Ping2 ( flat; level; even; smooth; be on the same level; be on a par; equal; 11) Hui4(favour/benefit/kindness) Wang2 惠王 Tuoba He4(congratulate) Ru4 拓拔贺_ 321-325 (?-325) ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai 321 to 325. He was the son of Tuoba Yituo, and the brother of Tuoba Pugen and Tuoba Gena. In 321, when his cousin Tuoba Yulu was the Prince of Dai, Tuoba Heru launched a coup d'etat against his cousin, killing Tuoba Yulu and becoming the Prince of Dai himself. 12) Yang2(molten/smelt) Wang2 炀王 Tuoba He(Ge1)(knot) Na(that/in that case) 拓拔纥那 325-329 and 335-337 13) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just cause/intense) Wang2 烈王 Tuoba Yi4(slight corneal capacity/nebula) Huai2(Chinese scholar tree) 拓拔翳槐 329-335 and 337-338 (?-338) ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai 329-335 and 337-338. He was the son of Tuoba Yulu and the nephew of Tuoba Gena. When Tuoba Gena was in his first reign as the Prince of Dai, Tuoba Yihuai lived with his maternal uncle's father He4(congratulate)lan2(orchid) Ai3(friendly/amiable)tou2(haid/hair/style/top/end/chief/side/aspect/first/leading/previous/prior to) (贺兰蔼头) of the Helan tribe. 14) Zhao1(clear) Cheng2(achieve/become/large amounts/capable/one tenth/result/alright) Wang2 昭成王 Tuoba Shi2(assorted/variegated/ten) Yi4 (wing of a bird/airplane/assist a ruler/aid) Jian4(healthy/strngthen/be good at) 拓拔什翼健 338-377 (320-376) was the last prince of the Tuoba Dai and ruled from 338 to 376 when Dai was conquered by the F. Qin. He was the son of Tuoba Yu4(strongly fragrant/lush/gloomy/depressed)lu4(law/restrain) (拓跋郁律) and the younger brother of Tuoba Yi4(slight corneal capacity/nebula))huai2(chinese scholar tree) (拓跋翳槐), whom he succeeded in 338. In 340 he moved the capital to Shengle (盛乐) (near modern Holingol county (和林格尔) of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia). His grandson Tuoba Gui would go on to found the N. Wei Dynasty. Era name * Jianguo (建国 jian guo) 338-376 Personal information * Father o Tuoba Yulu (拓跋郁律) * Wife o Princess Murong, a princess of F. Yan * Children 1)o Tuoba Shi (拓跋□), the Heir Apparent (d. 371)[1] 2)o Tuoba Shijun (拓拔□君) 3)o Tuoba Han (拓拔翰) 4)o Tuoba Shoujiu (拓拔寿鸠) 5)o Tuoba Gegen (拓拔纥根) 6)o Tuoba Digan (拓拔地干) 7)o Tuoba Quduo (拓拔屈咄)
As a well known fact Tuoba family changed their family name to 元(yuan2) during the reign of Xiao Wen Di in 496 1) Dao4Wu3Di4 道武帝Tuoba Gui1(silicon) 拓拔硅, aka Tuoba Shegui (拓拔涉硅) 386-409 (371-409) Was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty N. Wei. He was the grandson of the last prince of Dai, Tuoba Shiyijian, and after the fall of the Dai state to F. Qin in 376 had been presumed to be the eventual successor to the Dai throne. After F. Qin fell into disarray in 383 following its defeat by Jin forces at the Battle of Fei River, Tuoba Gui took the opportunity to reestablish Dai in 386, but soon changing the state's name to Wei and declaring himself a prince. He was initially a vassal of Later Yan. However, after he defeated the Later Yan emperor Murong Bao in 397 and seized most of Later Yan's territory, he claimed imperial title in 398. Emperor Daowu was commonly regarded as a brilliant general, but cruel and arbitrary in his rule, particularly toward the end of his reign. In 409, as he considered killing his concubine Consort Helan, his son Tuoba Shao4 (拓拔绍) the Prince of Qinghe, by Consort Helan, killed him, but was soon defeated by the crown prince Tuoba Si, who then took the throne as Emperor Mingyuan. Birth and childhood According to official accounts, Tuoba Gui was born in 371, after his father Tuoba Shi (拓拔□), the son and heir apparent to Tuoba Shiyijian the Prince of Dai, had died earlier in the year from an injury suffered when protecting Tuoba Shiyijian from an assassination attempt by the general Baba Jin (拔拔斤). His mother was Tuoba Shi's wife Heiress Apparent Helan, the daughter of the powerful tribal chief and Dai vassal Helian Yegan (贺兰野干). Tuoba Shiyijian, while mourning his son's death, was very pleased by the grandson's birth, and he declared a general pardon in his state and named the child Tuoba Shegui. (Other than the reference to the naming at birth, however, the name "Shegui" was scantily mentioned in historical accounts of the rest of his life, and presumably was shortened to "Gui" for simplicity.) Around the new year 377, F. Qin launched a major attack against Dai. Tuoba Shiyijian temporarily fled his capital Yunzhong (云中, in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia), but returned to Yunzhong after F. Qin retreated. After he returned to Yunzhong, however, his nephew Tuoba Jin (拓拔斤) convinced his oldest surviving son Tuoba Shijun (拓拔□君) that Tuoba Shiyijian was considering naming one of the sons of his wife Princess Murong (a F. Yan princess) as heir and further considering killing him. Tuoba Shijun therefore ambushed his father and brothers and killed them. This led to a collapse of Dai forces, and F. Qin forces occupied Yunzhong without a fight. In the disturbance, Tuoba Gui's mother Lady Helan initially fled to her brother Helan Na (贺兰讷), who had taken over as tribal chief after Helan Yegan's death. Later, the F. Qin emperor Fu Ji_n considered taking Tuoba Gui to the F. Qin capital Chang'an, but Tuoba Shiyijian's secretary Yan Feng (燕凤) convinced Fu Ji_n to instead allow Tuoba Gui to remain in Dai lands to be groomed as the eventual Dai prince, arguing that this would be the best way to maintain the tribes' allegiance to F. Qin. Meanwhile, Fu Ji_n divided the Dai tribes into two groups, commanded by the Xiongnu chiefs Liu Kuren (刘库仁) and Liu Weichen (刘卫辰). Tuoba Gui, along with his mother, went to live with Liu Kuren, who honored the child as a prince. Adolescence Little is known about Tuoba Gui's life until 385, by which time F. Qin, which had come close to uniting all of China, had fallen into great disturbance in light of rebellions throughout the empire. In 384, Liu Kuren had attempted to aid Fu Ji_n's son Fu Pi, who was then under siege by Murong Chui, the founder of Later Yan, but was assassinated by Muyu Chang (慕舆常), the son of a Later Yan noble; he was succeeded by his brother Liu Toujuan (刘头眷). In 385, however, Liu Toujuan was assassinated by Liu Kuren's son Liu Xian (刘显), who took over as chief and viewed Tuoba Gui, now 14, as a threat. However, his subordinates Balie Liujuan (拔列六眷) and Qiumuling Chong (丘穆陵崇) found out, and at Balie's instruction Qiumuling escorted Tuoba Gui to his uncle Helan Na, who put Tuoba Gui under his protection. In 386, at the urging of previous Dai officials, Helan Na supported Tuoba Gui in reassuming the title of Prince of Dai. Alternative version However, an alternative version of Tuoba Gui's early life was presented in documents such as the Book of Jin and Book of Song -- the official histories of the rival Jin Dynasty (265-420) and LS Dynasty, which obviously had a motive to be biased, and yet presented interesting issues. Under this version, Tuoba Gui was not Tuoba Shiyijian's grandson, but his son─and was born significantly earlier than the official 371 date, of Tuoba Shiyijian's wife Princess Murong. When F. Qin attacked in 377, it was Tuoba Gui who restrained his father Tuoba Shiyijian and surrendered. Fu Ji_n, offended at this act of betrayal, exiled Tuoba Gui. When Murong Chui, his uncle, declared Later Yan in 384, Tuoba Gui joined him, and was later put in charge of his father's tribes through a military campaign waged by Later Yan. Then, later, in order to avoid having the people know Tuoba Gui's status as a traitor to his father, the official version of his personal history was manufactured. This version is not well attested but would solve a number of apparent contradictions in early N. Wei history. These difficulties apparent in the official version include: * How Tuoba Gui's father, Tuoba Shi, had a nearly identical name to the perpetrator of the patricide, Tuoba Shijun. If both names were manufactured by Tuoba Gui's later apologists, then the similarity in name could be explained as lack of creativity. * How Tuoba Han (拓拔翰), mentioned as Tuoba Shi's younger brother, was also referred to in some official sources as Tuoba Gui's younger brother; as Tuoba Yi (拓拔仪), Tuoba Han's son, played an important role early in N. Wei history as a key diplomat and general, he would be too old to be possibly Tuoba Gui's nephew if Tuoba Gui were born in 371. Obviously, if the official history, which stated that Tuoba Yi was Tuoba Gui's cousin, were correct, then there is no problem. * How Tuoba Gui appeared too willing to turn against his maternal uncles the Helans early in his reign. If he was actually the son of Princess Murong, then he would not be related to the Helans, and his campaigns against them seemed less problematic. (Of course, it would then render it problematic how he eventually attacked and seized most of Later Yan's history, as the Later Yan emperor Murong Bao would be his cousin.) * How Tuoba Gui could have a younger brother─as given and undisputed in official history─Tuoba Gu (拓拔觚) -- described as also being a son of his mother Lady Helan, if he himself were born after Tuoba Shi's death. (Two alternative explanations exist, however─it could be that Tuoba Gu was actually born of a concubine of Tuoba Shi but raised by Lady Helan, or it could be that Lady Helan remarried after Tuoba Shi's death, to another member of the Tuoba clan─possibly Tuoba Yi's father Tuoba Han─and therefore her younger son Tuoba Gu would also carry the Tuoba name. The latter possibility is attested in that another semi-contradictory version of the official history stated that Tuoba Gu was Tuoba Yi's younger brother. Another possible explanation─that Tuoba Gu was a twin younger brother─appears unlikely, as the official accounts of Tuoba Gui's birth did not suggest the possibility of twin birth.) * How Tuoba Gui's oldest son Tuoba Si, born in 392, was said to be a late-arriving son. According to the official chronology, Tuoba Gui would only be 21 at this point, and it might be difficult to comprehend his being characterized as having had a late fatherhood. On the other hand, during his life time, particularly among non-Han peoples, marriage and childbirth often happened during adolescence. * How Tuoba Gui appeared to begin to show signs of mental deterioration when he was still just in his late 30s, with signs of paranoia that appeared to be more characteristic of men of much older age. The official version attribute this to poisoning from powders given him by alchemists, which is not an unreasonable explanation, however, or it also could have been that the paranoia had nothing to do with mental deterioration. Whether Cui Hao, the prime minister of Tuoba Gui's grandson Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei, propagated this version, and whether that contributed to Emperor Taiwu's execution of not only himself but his entire clan, is not completely clear, but appeared likely. As Prince of Wei Establishment of rule For the first several years of his reign, Tuoba Gui had to endure constant gravitating of positions by tribal chiefs, and his position was not secure. As he gradually asserted his leadership, however, the tribal chiefs began to coalesce around him. In spring 386, Tuoba Gui set his capital at Shengle (盛乐, in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia), and was said to encourage agriculture to try to rest his people. In summer 386, he changed his title to Prince of Wei (and thus the state became known in history as N. Wei). In fall 386, with support of Western Yan and Liu Xian, Tuoba Gui's youngest uncle Tuoba Kuduo (拓拔窟咄) made a claim to the throne, and there were many chiefs under Tuoba Gui who secretly conspired with Tuoba Kuduo, causing Tuoba Gui to panic to flee to his maternal uncles' Helan tribe, while seeking assistance from Later Yan. Later Yan's emperor Murong Chui sent his son Murong Lin to assist, and together they defeated Tuoba Kuduo, who fled to and was executed by Liu Weichen. Around the new year 387, Murong Chui offered the titles of Western Chanyu and Prince of Shanggu to Tuoba Gui, but as the title of Prince of Shanggu was not as honored of one as Prince of Wei, Tuoba Gui refused them. Despite Later Yan's assistance of him and his status as a Later Yan vassal, Tuoba Gui began to secretly consider whether he could eventually conquer Later Yan. In 388, he sent his cousin Tuoba Yi the Duke of Jiuyuan to offer tributes to Murong Chui but also to observe the Later Yan court, to consider whether he would have eventual chance of attacking it. Murong Yi concluded that Murong Chui was growing old, and that his crown prince Murong Bao was incompetent─and that there were many potential claimants who would weaken Later Yan. This encouraged Tuoba Gui greatly in his eventual planning. In 391, Helan Na's brother Helan Rangan (贺兰染干) plotted to kill Helan Na, and the brothers engaged in wars against each other. Tuoba Gui took this opportunity to request Later Yan to jointly attacked the Helan tribe─notwithstanding Helan Na and Helan Rangan's status as his uncles. In summer 391, Murong Lin captured Helan Na and Helan Rangan, but allowed Helan Na to remain free and be in command of his tribe, while taking Helan Rangan as a prisoner. It was after this campaign that Murong Lin, seeing Tuoba Gui's abilities, suggested to Murong Chui that Tuoba Gui be detained. Murong Chui refused. In fall 391, an incident that would lead to the break of relations between Later Yan and N. Wei. That year, Tuoba Gui sent his brother Tuoba Gu to Later Yan to offer tribute, and Murong Chui's sons detained Tuoba Gu and ordered Tuoba Gui to offer horses to trade for Tuoba Gu's freedom. Tuoba Gui refused and broke off relations with Later Yan, instead entering into an alliance with Western Yan. Following hostility with Later Yan In 391, Tuoba Gui attacked Rouran -- which had been a Dai vassal but had never submitted to him─inflicting major damage on Rouran, but was unable to destroy it. Rouran would remain an annoyance, and often a menace, for the rest of N. Wei's history. In winter 391, Liu Wenchen sent his son Liu Zhilidi (刘直力□) to attack N. Wei, and Tuoba Gui, despite having a much smaller army than Liu Zhilidi, defeated him, and further crossed the Yellow River to attack Liu Wenchen's capital Yueba (悦拔, in modern Ordos, Inner Mongolia), capturing it, forcing Liu Wenchen and Liu Zhilidi to flee. The next day, Liu Wenchen was killed by his subordinates, and Liu Zhilidi was captured. Tuoba Gui annexed Liu Wenchen's territory and people into his own, and slaughtered Liu Wenchen's clan and associates─more than 5,000 people. Liu Wenchen's youngest son Liu Bobo, however, fled to the Xuegan (薛干) tribe, whose chief Tai Xifu (太悉伏) refused to turn him over despite N. Wei demands, and Liu Bobo would eventually marry the daughter of Later Qin's vassal Mo Yigan (没奕干) and became dependent on him. To punish Tai Xifu, Tuoba Gui attacked him in 393 and slaughtered much of his tribe, although Tai Xifu himself fled. In 394, Western Yan's emperor Murong Yong, under heavy attack by Murong Chui, sought aid from Tuoba Gui, but Tuoba Gui, while sending an army by his cousin Tuoba Qian (拓拔虔) the Duke of Chenliu and the general Yu Yue (庾岳) to distantly try to distract Later Yan, N. Wei forces never actually engaged Later Yan, and Murong Yong was captured and killed later that year when his capital Zhangzi (长子, in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) fell, and Western Yan was annexed into Later Yan. In 395, Tuoba Gui led raids against Later Yan's border regions. Later that year, Murong Chui commissioned an 80,000-men army led by Murong Bao, assisted by his brothers Murong Nong and Murong Lin, to try punish N. Wei. Tuoba Gui, hearing about Murong Bao's army, abandoned Shengle and retreated west across the Yellow River. Murong Bao's army quickly reached the river in fall 395 and prepared to cross the river. However, by this point, N. Wei scouts had cut off the line of communication between Murong Bao's army and the Later Yan capital Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding, Hebei), and N. Wei had the captured Later Yan messengers declare that Murong Chui had already died, causing great disturbance in the Later Yan army. The Later Yan and N. Wei forces stalemated across the Yellow River for 20 odd days, when Murong Lin's followers tried to start a coup and support Murong Lin as new leader, and while the coup failed, uncertainty fell on Later Yan forces. As winter came, Later Yan forces retreated and, not realizing that the Yellow River would freeze to allow N. Wei forces to cross easily, Murong Bao left no rearguard as he retreated. Tuoba Gui personally gave chase, catching Later Yan forces unprepared at the Battle of Canhe Slope, killing or capturing nearly the entire Later Yan army, and only Murong Bao and a number of officers escaped. Tuoba Gui, fearful of the Later Yan captives, slaughtered them at the suggestion of his brother-in-law Kepin Jian (可频建). In 396, concerned that N. Wei would then view Murong Bao lightly, Murong Chui personally led another expedition against N. Wei, initially successful and killing Tuoba Qian. Tuoba Gui became concerned and considered abandoning Shengle again. However, as the army reached Canhe Slope, the soldiers cried out loud for their fathers and brothers, and Murong Chui became angry and ill, forcing the Later Yan forces to retreat to Zhongshan. He soon died, and Murong Bao succeeded him as emperor. In fall 396, Tuoba Gui led his N. Wei troops and made a surprise attack on Bing Province (并州, modern central and N. Shanxi), defeating Murong Nong and forcing him to flee back to Zhongshan. Tuoba Gui then advanced east, ready to attack Zhongshan. Accepting Murong Lin's suggestion, Murong Bao prepared to defend Zhongshan, leaving the N. Wei forces free to roam over his territory, believing that N. Wei would retreat once its forces are worn out. However, this had the effect that all of the cities' garrisons in modern Hebei abandoned them, except for Zhongshan and two other important cities─Yecheng (in modern Handan, Hebei) and Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei). After making an initial attack against Zhongshan and failing, Tuoba Gui changed his tactic to establishing his rule over the other cities while leaving Zhongshan alone. In spring 397, Xindu fell. Meanwhile, however, Tuoba Gui had received news of a rebellion near his capital Shengle and offered peace─which Murong Bao rejected, and Murong Bao attacked N. Wei forces as Tuoba Gui prepared to retreat, but instead was defeated by Tuoba Gui at great loss. At this time, concerned about a coup attempt by Murong Lin, Murong Bao abandoned Zhongshan and fled to the old F. Yan capital Longcheng (龙城, in modern Jinzhou, Hebei). However, the remaining garrison at Zhongshan supported Murong Bao's nephew Murong Xiang (慕容详) the Duke of Kaifeng as their leader, and Tuoba Gui was unable to take Zhongshan immediately. Realizing that he had alienated the Later Yan people by having slaughtered the captives at Canhe Slope, Tuoba Gui changed his policy and tried to be gentle with the conquered Later Yan territory, and while time would be required, the territories began to abide by his rule. Murong Xiang, meanwhile, declared himself emperor, and put Tuoba Gu to death to try to show his resolve. In the fall, however, Murong Lin made a surprise attack on him, killing him and taking over Zhongshan. Murong Lin also claimed imperial title, but was unable to stand N. Wei military pressure, and Zhongshan fell to Tuoba Gui, who was largely gentle to Zhongshan's population despite their resistance─although he slaughtered the clans of those who advocated Tuoba Gu's death. It was around this time, however, that his army suffered a serious plague that might have killed as much as half of the army and livestock. When his generals tried to persuade him to suspend the campaign, Tuoba Gui gave a response that might be quite demonstrative of his personality: This is the will of Heaven, and I can do nothing about it. A state can be established anywhere on earth where there are people. It only depends on how I govern it, and I am not fearful that the people would die. Around the new year 398, with Tuoba Gui ready to attack Yecheng, Yecheng's defender Murong De abandoned it and fled south of the Yellow River, to Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang, Henan), where he declared an independent Southern Yan state. With resistance north of the Yellow River largely gone, Tuoba Gui left Tuoba Yi and Suhe Ba (素和跋) as viceroys over the F. Later Yan territory, and returned to Shengle. In order to enhance communications and control, Tuoba Gui constructed a highway between Wangdu (望都, in modern Baoding, Hebei) and Dai (代, in modern Zhangjiakou, Hebei), over the Taihang Mountains. He soon, however, recalled Tuoba Yi to be his prime minister and replaced him with his cousin Tuoba Zun (拓拔遵) the Duke of Lueyang. In summer 398, Tuoba Gui considered restoring the old name of the state, Dai, but at the suggestion of Cui Hong (崔宏), he kept the name Wei. He moved the capital from Shengle south to Pingcheng (平城, in modern Datong, Shanxi), to be in greater proximity with the conquered territories. He also issued edicts to standardize weights and measures throughout the state, and to establish standard ceremonies based on Chinese and Xianbei traditions. Around the new year 399, Tuoba Gui declared himself emperor. He also claimed descent from the mystical Yellow Emperor, to legitimize his reign over the Han. Early reign as emperor In 399, Emperor Daowu made a major attack on the Gaoche tribes near and in the Gobi Desert, inflicting great casualties and capturing many Gaoche tribesmen. In a display of cruelty and power, he had the captured Gaoche men to use their bodies as a wall on a hunt he carried out months later, to stop animals from escape. He also had the Gaoche slaves build a deer farm for him. Later that year, he reorganized his government, expanding from 36 bureaus to 360 bureaus, and he also established a university at Pingcheng and ordered that books be collected throughout the empire and be delivered to Pingcheng. In summer 399, the Southern Yan general Li Bian (李辩) surrendered the Southern Yan capital Huatai to N. Wei, forcing the Southern Yan emperor Murong De to instead attack Jin and take over its Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong) as his territory. Later in 399, because Emperor Daowu was angry that, on a letter to Jin's general Chi Hui (郗恢), the official Cui Cheng (崔逞) insufficiently deprecated the status of Emperor An of Jin (and also because he had been offended by a previous remark made by Cui in which he thought Cui compared him to an owl), he ordered Cui to commit suicide. This incident caused Emperor Daowu's reputation among the states to suffer, as for the next few years, some important Jin officials who lost out in Jin civil wars declined to flee to him for refuge because of the incident. In 400, Emperor Daowu considered creating an empress. Of his consorts, he most favored Consort Liu, the daughter of Liu Toujuan, who bore his oldest son Tuoba Si. However, according to Tuoba tribe customs, he was required to make the potential candidates try to forge golden statues, to try to discern divine favor. Consort Liu was unable to complete her statue, while Consort Murong, the youngest daughter of Murong Bao, whom he captured when he took Zhongshan in 397, was able to complete her statue, and so Emperor Daowu created her empress. Around this time, Emperor Daowu became increasingly superstitious and became trusting of astrologers and alchemists, seeking immortality. He also began to use strict laws against his subordinates, punishing them harshly if they carried out what he perceived to be disrespectful actions. In 401-402, Emperor Daowu made an attempt to attack Later Yan, by now limited to modern Liaoning, but was unable to make gains against Later Yan's emperor Murong Sheng. Around this time, Emperor Daowu also sought marriage and peace with Later Qin. However, Later Qin's emperor Yao Xing, hearing that he already had Empress Murong, refused, and because around this time Emperor Daowu constantly attacked several Later Qin vassals, the states' relations broke down. Emperor Daowu therefore began to prepare for a confrontation with Later Qin. Later in the year, Yao Xing did make a major attack against N. Wei. In fall 402, Yao Xing's forward commander Yao Ping (姚平) the Duke of Yiyang was surrounded by N. Wei's Emperor Daowu at Chaibi (柴壁, in modern Linfen, Shanxi), and despite counterattacks by both Yao Ping and Yao Xing, the N. Wei siege became increasingly tighter, and in winter 402, Yao Ping and his army were captured following a failed attempt to break out, ending Yao Xing's campaign against N. Wei. Late reign In the last few years of Emperor Daowu's reign, he became increasingly harsher in his treatment of his officials. For example, in 406, as he planned the expansion of Pingcheng with intent to make it into an impressive capital, he initially had his official Mo Ti (莫题), an accomplished civil engineer, plan the city's layout, but over a relatively minor issue where Mo was not very careful, ordered Mo to commit suicide─and then used Mo's layout anyway. He also made increasing visits to Chaishan Palace (豺山宫, in modern Shuozhou, Shanxi), often spending months there at a stretch. Other key officials that he killed during this period included his cousin Tuoba Zun the Prince of Changshan, Yu Yue, Monalou Ti (莫那娄题), and Tuoba Yi the Prince of Wei. In 407, N. Wei and Later Qin entered into a peace treaty, returning previously captured generals to each other. This would have a disastrous consequence on Later Qin, however, as Liu Bobo, then a Later Qin general, became angry because his father Liu Weichen had been killed by N. Wei, and therefore rebelled, establishing his own state Xia. However, he spent much more of his energy conducting guerilla warfare against Later Qin, gradually sapping Later Qin's strength, and did not actually conduct warfare against N. Wei. By 409, Emperor Daowu, who was said to be under the effect of poisonous substances given him by alchemists, was described to be so harsh and paranoid in his personality that he constantly feared rebellion, particularly because fortunetellers had been telling him that a rebellion would happen near him. He occasionally would not eat for days, or would not sleep overnight. He often mumbled about his past accomplishments or defeats, and he suspected all of his officials. Sometimes when officials made reports to him, he would suddenly think of their past faults and punish or even kill them. Occasionally, when others would behave even slightly inappropriately, he would be so angry that he would kill them personally and display their bodies outside the palace. The entire government came under a spell of terror. The only persons immune from this treatment were said to be the minister Cui Hong and his son Cui Hao, who were said to avoid the disaster by never offending or flattering the emperor─both of which could have brought disaster. In fall 409, Emperor Daowu resolved to create Tuoba Si crown prince. Because of the Tuoba traditional custom of executing the designated heir's mother, he ordered Tuoba Si's mother Consort Liu to commit suicide. He explained his reasons to Crown Prince Si, who, however, could not stop mourning for his mother, and Emperor Daowu became very angry, and he summoned the crown prince. Crown Prince Si, in fear, fled out of Pingcheng. At this time, however, Emperor Daowu would suffer death at another son's hand. When he was young, when he had visited Helan tribe, he saw his maternal aunt (Princess Dowager Helan's sister), who was very beautiful, and he asked to have her as a concubine. Princess Dowager Helan refused─but not under the rationale that it would be incest, but rather that the younger Lady Helan had already had a husband and was too beautiful─citing a saying that beautiful things were often poisonous. Without Princess Dowager Helan's knowledge, he assassinated the younger Lady Helan's husband and took her as a concubine, and in 394 she bore him a son, Tuoba Shao (拓拔绍), whom he later created the Prince of Qinghe. Tuoba Shao was said to be a reckless teenager, who often visited the streets in commoner disguises, and often robbed travelers and strip them naked for fun. When Emperor Daowu heard this, he punished Tuoba Shao by hanging him upside down in a well, only pulling him out as he neared death. In fall 409, Emperor Daowu had an argument with Consort Helan, and he imprisoned her and planned to execute her, but it was dusk at the time, and he hesitated. Consort Helan secretly sent a messenger to Tuoba Shao, asking him to save her. At night, Tuoba Shao, then 15, entered the palace and killed Emperor Daowu. The next day, however, the imperial guards arrested and killed Tuoba Shao and Consort Helan, and Tuoba Si took the throne as Emperor Mingyuan. Era names * Dengguo (登国 d_ng guo) 386-396 * Huangshi (皇始 huang sh_) 396-398 * Tianxing (天兴 ti_n x_ng) 398-404 * Tianci (天赐 ti_n ci) 404-409
* Father
o Tuoba Shi (拓拔□), the heir apparent and son of Tuoba Shiyijian (拓拔什翼犍), the Prince of Dai * Mother
o Heiress Apparent Helan (d. 396) * Wife
o Empress Murong, daughter of Murong Bao * Major Concubines o Consort Liu, daughter of Xiongnu chief Liu Toujuan (刘头眷), mother of Crown Prince Si (forced to commit suicide 409), posthumously honored as Empress Xuanmu o Consort Helan, mother of Prince Shao o Consort Wang, mother of Prince Xi o Consort Wang, mother of Princes Yao o Consort Duan, mother of Princes Lian and Li * Children o Tuoba Si (拓拔嗣) (b. 392), initially the Prince of Qi (created 403), later the Crown Prince (created 409), later Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei o Tuoba Shao (拓拔绍) (b. 394), the Prince of Qinghe (created 403, executed 409) o Tuoba Xi (拓拔熙) (b. 399), the Prince of Yangping (created 403, d. 421) o Tuoba Yao (拓拔曜) (b. 401), the Prince of Henan (created 403, d. 422) o Tuoba Xiu (拓拔修), the Prince of Hejian (created 407, d. 416) o Tuoba Chuwen (拓拔处文) (b. 394), the Prince of Changle (created 407, d. 416) o Tuoba Lian (拓拔连), the Prince of Guangping (created 407, d. 426) o Tuoba Li (拓拔黎), the Prince of Jingzhao (created 407, d. 428) o Tuoba Hun (拓拔浑), died early o Tuoba Cong (拓拔聪), died early o Princess Huayin o Princess Huoze |