Shou Liang Explained

Shou Liang
Native Name:壽良
Office:Grand Prolonger of Autumn
(大長秋)
Office1:Inspector of Liang Province
(梁州刺史)
Monarch1:Sima Yan
Office2:Administrator of Xingping
(始平太守)
Monarch2:Sima Yan
Office3:Registrar (主簿)
Monarch3:Cao Huan
Office4:Gentleman at the Yellow Gates
(黃門侍郎)
Monarch4:Liu Shan
Birth Date:Unknown
Birth Place:Chengdu, Sichuan
Death Date:Unknown
Death Place:Luoyang, Henan
Resting Place:Mount Mangdang, Henan
Occupation:Official, scholar
Blank1:Courtesy name
Data1:Wenshu (文淑)

Shou Liang (250s–280s), courtesy name Wenshu, was an official and scholar of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. After the fall of Shu in 263, he continued serving under the Cao Wei state, then the succeeding Jin dynasty in 266.

Life

Shou Liang was born in Chengdu, Shu Commandery (蜀郡), which is present-day Chengdu, Sichuan.[1] His father and grandfather served as Administrator of Qianwei (犍為太守). In his youth, Shou Liang was well known alongside Zhang Wei (張微) and Fei Ji (費緝) with both of them born in Wuyang, Qianwei Commandery (犍為郡), which is present-day Pengshan County, Sichuan.[2] Shou Liang specialized in the study of the Spring and Autumn Annals and had a complete understanding of Five Classics. Furthermore, he was a man of righteousness and integrity.[3] He served as a junior official, a Cavalier Attendant (散騎) then Gentleman at the Yellow Gates (黃門侍郎) in the State of Shu Han.[4]

After the Conquest of Shu by Wei, he was appointed as a county's Registrar (主簿) then as Official in Charge of Historical Records (上計吏). Although, he was nominated as xiaolian (civil service candidate), he refused the appointment. Thereafter, he was reallocated as Registrar (主簿) of the Yi province, as Attendant Clerk (治中) then as Bieja (別駕; important assistant to the governor of the province) where he was recognized for his talent and good behavior.[5]

Huang Fuyan (皇甫晏), the Inspector of Yi Province (益州刺史) recommended him to serve at the Three Departments as a Dazai (太宰; high ranking official). Following this, he was appointed as Prefect of Bacheng (霸城令) and Administrator of Xingping (始平太守) where his governance was highly praised.[6] He was reallocated as Inner Clerk (內史) of Fufeng (扶風) and Qin state (秦國).[7]

In 279, After the death of Wen Li. the Prefect of Wen County (溫縣令), Li Mi sent a memorial to the Emperor that said: "The officials and scholars of Liang and Yi provinces are fews, those with talent not yet blooming and others living to look after their personal comfort. Shou Liang should be given this opportunity to join the imperial court, he is the hope of the two provinces. And fitting to meet the expectation of this promotion while carrying on Wen Li's legacy."[8]

Therefore, Sima Yan employed as Gentleman at the Yellow Gates (黃門侍郎), simultaneously appointed as jishìzhong (給事中; "Serving within the Palace") and Inspector of Liang Province (梁州刺史).[9] Later, he was relocated to the imperial court to serve as Cavalier Gentleman-in-Attendance (散騎侍郎). He died while serving as Grand Prolonger of Autumn (大長秋; "Empress chamberlain"). He was buried in the Mangshan (芒山) Mountains in Luobei (洛北).[10]

Appraisal and anecdote

Chang Qu, who wrote Shou Liang's biography in the Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi), appraised Shou Liang as follows: "Loyal and sincere, clearly wise and devoted to honesty."[11] Shou Liang was among the descendants of former Shu officials recommended by Luo Xian to Sima Yan to be employed. At the time, each of them were renowned.[12]

According to the Jin Shu, Chen Shou collected and compiled the writings of Zhuge Liang during his early career under the Jin dynasty. The compiled text was called Shu Xiang Zhuge Liang Ji (蜀相諸葛亮集; Collection of the Shu Chancellor Zhuge Liang).[13] The Huayang Guozhi mentioned that later on, Zhang Hua proposed to Emperor Wu to have the text reorganized and composed as a 24-volumes. At the time, Shou Liang was also doing his own research on Zhuge Liang's works, with his outcome quite different from Chen Shou's original version. In the end, the text was rewritten, and became the Zhuge Liang Gushi (諸葛亮故事; Stories of Zhuge Liang).[14]

Zhang Wei

Zhang Wei (張微), whose courtesy name, was Jianxing (建興), was the son of Zhang Yi. He was earnest in his studies with good knowledge. He served as the Administrator (太守) of Guanghan (廣漢; around present-day Guanghan, Sichuan) during the Jin dynasty.[15]

Fei Ji

Fei Ji (費緝), whose courtesy name, was Wenping (文平), was known for his integrity and conscientiousness in his duties. He was recommended as a xiucai (秀才; person who passed the county level imperial exam). Then appointed as Prefect of Licheng (歷城令), Administrator of Fuling (涪陵太守) and transferred as Inner Clerk (內史) of Qiao State (譙国).[16]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. (壽良,字文淑,蜀郡成都人也。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  2. (父祖二世犍為太守。良少與犍為張「徵」〔微〕、費緝並知名,) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  3. (治《春秋三傳》,貫通《五經》,澡身貞素。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  4. (州從事,散騎、黃門侍郎。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  5. (大同〔後〕,郡主簿,上計「吏」〔史〕。察孝〔廉〕,不就。州辟主簿,治中、別駕,舉才行。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  6. (刺史皇甫晏貢之三司,遂辟太宰。除霸城令,始平太守,治政著稱。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  7. (從扶風轉秦國內史。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  8. (文立卒後,溫令李宓表武帝,言:「二州人士零頹,才彥淩遲,無復廁豫綱紀後進、慰寧遐外者,良公〔在〕朝「在」時,二州之望,宜見超「子」〔升〕,紹繼立後。」) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  9. (帝徵為黃門侍郎,兼二州都給事中,梁州刺史。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  10. (遷散騎常侍,按《陳壽傳》,當作散騎侍郎。大長秋,卒。葬洛北芒山。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  11. (大長秋壽良文淑:長秋忠肅,明允篤誠。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 01.
  12. ([泰始]四年三月,從帝宴于華林園,詔問蜀大臣子弟,後問先輩宜時叙用者,憲薦蜀郡常忌、杜軫、壽良、巴西陳壽、南郡高軌、南陽呂雅、許國、江夏費恭、琅邪諸葛京、汝南陳裕,即皆叙用,咸顯於世。) Xiangyang Ji annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 41.
  13. (撰《蜀相諸葛亮集》,奏之。) Jin Shu vol. 82.
  14. (華又表令次定《諸葛亮故事》,集為二十四篇。時壽良亦集,故頗不同。復入為著作。) Huayang Guozhi vol. 11. 08.
  15. (「徵」〔微〕字建興,張翼子也。篤志好學,官至廣漢太守。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.
  16. (緝字文平,清檢有治幹,舉秀才,歷城令,涪陵太守。遷譙內史。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 13.