Xie Cheng Explained

Xie Cheng
Native Name:謝承
Office:Administrator of Wuling Commandery (武陵郡太守)
Office1:Commandant of East Changsha (長沙東部都尉)
Office2:Gentleman for All Purposes (五官郎中)
Birth Date:182
Birth Place:Shaoxing, Zhejiang
Death Date:254
Father:Xie Jiong
Occupation:Official
Blank1:Courtesy name
Data1:Weiping (偉平)

Xie Cheng (182–254),[1] courtesy name Weiping, was an in-law to the warlord, then Emperor of Eastern Wu, Sun Quan. Xie served in Jing province after Sun Quan's conquests there and was a noted historian whose work is still used.[2] [3]

Life

Xie Cheng was from Shanyin County (山陰縣), Kuaiji Commandery, which is in present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang. It would take more than a decade after the death of his sister Lady Xie to be appointed at court, when he was made a Gentleman for All Purposes (五官郎中) around 210.[2] After the Sun-Liu territorial dispute in Jing was settled in 215, Xie Cheng was promoted to the positions of Commandant of East Changsha (長沙東部都尉) then after Lü Meng's 219 conquest of Jing, became the Administrator (太守) of Wuling Commandery (武陵郡). Xie Cheng was known for being very well-read and for his excellent memory, never forgetting what he learned.[4]

Historian

Xie Cheng became a historian; his works include a notable example of the trend in the era for regional histories with his "Kuaiji xianxian zhuan" (Biographies of the Former Worthies of Kuaiji).[5]

As part of Wu's claim to being successor of the Han and perhaps drawing on the material collected by his father, he also wrote over 100 volumes of the Hou Han Shu (後漢書), which documented the history of the Eastern Han dynasty, it survived intact till Tang times though only fragments survive. It is considered by Rafe de Crespigny as an important source on the Later Han.[6] [7] [8]

His works are used by Pei Songzhi as part of the annotations to the Sanguozhi, providing accounts of Humu Ban's fate at the hands of Wang Kuang,[9] an account of Wang Kuang,[10] Zhao Yu's life,[11] Wu Fu's failed assassination of Dong Zhuo,[12] a mini biography of Lu Kang[13] among other details, including accounts of fathers or male ancestors of famous officials like Lu Ji, Zhou Yu,[14] Zang Hong.[15] It is also used by Fan Ye's Hou Han Shu,[16] Sima Guang in the Zizhi Tongjian,[17] Han Bielenstein in Lo-yang[18] [19] and the Bureaucracy of Han Times,[20] regularly cited in Rafe De Crespigny's commentary on the Tongjian[21] and as a source by Richard B.Mather.[22]

However, not all his work is undisputed. De Crespigny raises questions about coverage of Wang Kuang's death[23] and account of Humu Ban.[24] His account of Cai Yong and Wang Yun's conversation before Cai Yong's death,[25] though accepted by Sima Guang and Michael Loewe,[26] was dismissed by Pei Songzhi as absurd and false[27] while De Crespigny noted it as strange.[28]

Family

Cheng's father, Xie Jiong (謝煚) (sometimes written as "Xie Ying" (謝嬰))[29] served as a Gentleman of Writing (尚書郎) and the Prefect (令) of Xu County (徐縣) in the Eastern Han dynasty.[30] Xie Jiong was known for his good moral conduct and brilliance since he was young.[31] The material he collected from the imperial archives when serving at the Secretariat in the Han capital may have been used by Cheng for his history on the Han. Cheng's uncle Xie Zhen (謝貞), was known for being very law-abiding, studious, and morally upright in conduct. He was nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate) and later served as the Chief (長) of Jianchang County (建昌縣). He died in office.[32] [33]

Xie Cheng's older sister Lady Xie became wife of Sun Quan, the future founding Emperor of Eastern Wu and was initially greatly favoured. But when he wished to have a new wife as her superior, she refused and she died young. Despite her death, her family would continue to serve the Sun regime.[34]

Cheng's eldest son Xie Chong (謝崇), served as General Who Spreads Might (揚威將軍) and his youngest son, Xie Xu (謝勗), served as the Administrator (太守) of Wu Commandery with both gaining renown.[35]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Tian . Xiaofei . 2016 . Remaking History: The Shu and Wu Perspectives in the Three Kingdoms Period . Journal of the American Oriental Society . 136 . 4 . 705–731 . jstor.
  2. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD) . Brill . 2007 . 9789004156050 . Boston . 892 . English.
  3. Sanguozhi vol. 50.
  4. Book: Leban, Carl . T'sao T'sao and the Rise of Wei: The Early Years . Columbia University . 1971 . 7 . en.
  5. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Generals Of The South: The Foundation And Early History Of The Three Kingdoms State Of Wu . 1997 . 9780731509010 . 2018 . 439–440 . English.
  6. (後十餘年，弟承拜五官郎中，稍遷長沙東部都尉、武陵太守，撰後漢書百餘卷。) Sanguozhi vol. 50.
  7. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD) . Brill . 2007 . 9789004156050 . Boston . xiii (introduction) . English.
  8. (會稽典錄曰：承字偉平，博學洽聞，嘗所知見，終身不忘。) Kuaiji Dianlu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 50.
  9. (班，王匡之妹夫，董卓使班奉詔到河內，解釋義兵。匡受袁紹旨。收班繫獄，欲殺之以徇軍。班與匡書云：「自古以來，未有下土諸侯舉兵向京師者。劉向傳曰『擲鼠忌器』，器猶忌之，況卓今處宮闕之內，以天子為藩屏，幼主在宮，如何可討？僕與太傅馬公、太僕趙岐、少府陰脩俱受詔命。關東諸郡，雖實嫉卓，猶以銜奉王命，不敢玷辱。而足下獨囚僕于獄，欲以釁鼓，此悖暴無道之甚者也。僕與董卓有何親戚，義豈同惡？而足下張虎狼之口，吐長蛇之毒，恚卓遷怒，何甚酷哉！死，人之所難，然恥為狂夫所害。若亡者有靈，當訴足下於皇天。夫婚姻者禍福之機，今日著矣。曩為一體，今為血讎。亡人子二人，則君之甥，身沒之後，慎勿令臨僕尸骸也。」匡得書，抱班二子而泣。班遂死於獄。班嘗見太山府君及河伯，事在搜神記，語多不載。) Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.6.
  10. Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.1.
  11. (昱年十三，母嘗病，經涉三月。昱慘戚消瘠，至目不交睫，握粟出卜，祈禱泣血，鄉黨稱其孝。就處士東莞綦毌君受公羊傳，兼該群業。至歷年潛志，不闚園圃，親疏希見其面。時入定省父母，須臾即還。高絜廉正，抱禮而立，清英儼恪，莫干其志；旌善以興化，殫邪以矯俗。州郡請召，常稱病不應。國相檀謨、陳遵共召，不起；或興盛怒，終不迴意。舉孝廉，除莒長，宣揚五教，政為國表。會黃巾作亂，陸梁五郡，郡縣發兵，以為先辦。徐州刺史巴祇表功第一，當受遷賞，昱深以為恥，委官還家。徐州牧陶謙初辟別駕從事，辭疾遜遁。謙重令揚州從事會稽吳範宣旨，昱守意不移；欲威以刑罰，然後乃起。舉茂才，遷廣陵太守。賊笮融從臨淮見討，迸入郡界，昱將兵拒戰，敗績見害。) Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.8.
  12. (伍孚字德瑜，少有大節，為郡門下書佐。其本邑長有罪，太守使孚出教，敕曹下督郵收之。孚不肯受教，伏地仰諫曰：「君雖不君，臣不可不臣，明府奈何令孚受教，敕外收本邑長乎？更乞授他吏。」太守奇而聽之。後大將軍何進辟為東曹屬，稍遷侍中、河南尹、越騎校尉。董卓作亂，百僚震慄。孚著小鎧，於朝服裏挾佩刀見卓，欲伺便刺殺之。語闋辭去，卓送至閤中，孚因出刀刺之。卓多力，退卻不中，即收孚。卓曰：「卿欲反邪？」孚大言曰：「汝非吾君，吾非汝臣，何反之有？汝亂國篡主，罪盈惡大，今是吾死日，故來誅姦賊耳，恨不車裂汝於市朝以謝天下。」遂殺孚) Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.6.
  13. (康字季寧，少惇孝悌，勤脩操行，太守李肅察孝廉。肅後坐事伏法，康斂尸送喪還潁川，行服，禮終，舉茂才，歷三郡太守，所在稱治，後拜廬江太守) Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.57.
  14. (景字仲嚮，少以廉能見稱，以明學察孝廉，辟公府。後為豫州刺史，辟汝南陳蕃為別駕，潁川李膺、荀緄、杜密、沛國朱寓為從事，皆天下英俊之士也。稍遷至尚書令，遂登太尉。) Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.54.
  15. (旻有幹事才，達於從政，為漢良吏。初從徐州從事辟司徒府，除盧奴令，冀州舉尤異，遷揚州刺史、丹楊太守。是時邊方有警，羌、胡出寇，三府舉能，遷旻匈奴中郎將。討賊有功，徵拜議郎，還京師。見太尉袁逢，逢問其西域諸國土地、風俗、人物、種數。旻具答言西域本三十六國，後分為五十五，稍散至百餘國；其國大小，道里近遠，人數多少，風俗燥濕，山川、草木、鳥獸、異物名種，不與中國同者，悉口陳其狀，手畫地形。逢奇其才，歎息言：「雖班固作西域傳，何以加此？」旻轉拜長水校尉，終太原太守。) Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.7.
  16. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Emperor Huan and Ling Being the Chronicle of Later Han for the years 157 to 189 AD as recorded in Chapters 54 to 59 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang . 1989 . internet . 39, 141-142, 236, 234, 250, 271 . en.
  17. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Emperor Huan and Ling Being the Chronicle of Later Han for the years 157 to 189 AD as recorded in Chapters 54 to 59 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang . 1989 . internet . 39, 141, 234, 250 . en.
  18. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Emperor Huan and Ling Being the Chronicle of Later Han for the years 157 to 189 AD as recorded in Chapters 54 to 59 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang . 1989 . internet . 270 . en.
  19. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . To Establish Peace Being the Chronicle of Later Han for the years 189 to 220 AD as recorded in Chapters 59 to 69 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang . Australian National University . 1996 . internet . 97-99 . en.
  20. Book: Bielenstein, Hans . The Bureaucracy of Han times . Cambridge University Press . 1980 . 978-0-521-22510-6 . 231 . en.
  21. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Emperor Huan and Ling Being the Chronicle of Later Han for the years 157 to 189 AD as recorded in Chapters 54 to 59 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang . 1989 . internet . 38, 87, 95, 141, 142, 236, 234, 271 . en.
  22. Book: B.Mather, Richard . A New Account of Tales of the World (Shih-shuo Hsin-yü) . University of Minnesota Press . 1976 . 089264155X . 2nd . University of Michigan . 683 . en.
  23. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Imperial Warlord: A biography of Cao Cao 155-220 AD . 18 August 2010 . Brill . 9789004188303 . Leiden . 57 .
  24. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . To Establish Peace Being the Chronicle of Later Han for the years 189 to 220 AD as recorded in Chapters 59 to 69 of the Zizhi tongjian of Sima Guang . Australian National University . 1996 . internet . 56 . en.
  25. 蔡邕在王允坐，聞卓死，有歎惜之音。允責邕曰：「卓，國之大賊，殺主殘臣，天地所不祐，人神所同疾。君為王臣，世受漢恩，國主危難，曾不倒戈，卓受天誅，而更嗟痛乎？」便使收付廷尉。邕謝允曰：「雖以不忠，猶識大義，古今安危，耳所厭聞，口所常玩，豈當背國而向卓也？狂瞽之詞，謬出患入，願黥首為刑以繼漢史。」公卿惜邕才，咸共諫允。允曰：「昔武帝不殺司馬遷，使作謗書，流於後世。方今國祚中衰，戎馬在郊，不可令佞臣執筆在幼主左右，後令吾徒並受謗議。」遂殺邕 Xie Cheng's Hou Han Shu in Sanguozhi vol.6.
  26. Loewe . Michael . 2002 . Cai Yong 蔡邕: A Neglected Figure of Late Eastern Han . Journal of the American Oriental Society . 142 . 3 . 514-516.
  27. 臣松之以為蔡邕雖為卓所親任，情必不黨。寧不知卓之姦凶，為天下所毒，聞其死亡，理無歎惜。縱復令然，不應反言于王允之坐。斯殆謝承之妄記也。史遷紀傳，博有奇功于世，而云王允謂孝武應早殺遷，此非識者之言。但遷為不隱孝武之失，直書其事耳，何謗之有乎？王允之忠正，可謂內省不疚者矣，既無懼于謗，且欲殺邕，當論邕應死與不，豈可慮其謗己而枉戮善人哉！此皆誣罔不通之甚者。Pei Songzhi commentary in Sanguozhi vol.6.
  28. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . Fire Over Luoyang A History of the Later Han Dynasty 23–220 AD . Brill . 2016 . 9789004324916 . Leiden . 466-467 . en.
  29. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD) . Brill . 2007 . 9789004156050 . Boston . 893 . English.
  30. (父煚，漢尚書郎、徐令。) Sanguozhi vol. 50.
  31. (煚子承撰後漢書，稱煚幼以仁孝為行，明達有令才。) Pei Songzhi's annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 50.
  32. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD) . Brill . 2007 . 978-90-04-15605-0 . Boston . 895 . English.
  33. (煚弟貞，履蹈法度，篤學尚義，舉孝廉，建昌長，卒官。) Pei Songzhi's annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 50.
  34. Book: De Crespigny, Rafe . A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD) . Brill Academic Publishers . 2007 . 9789004156050 . Boston . 891 . English.
  35. (子崇揚威將軍，崇弟勗吳郡太守，並知名。) Kuaiji Dianlu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 50.

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