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Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou 後周太祖
Emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty
Reign	11 February 951 – 22 February 954
Successor	Chai Rong
Born	10 September 904 Yaoshan County, Xingzhou (modern Longyao County, Hebei, China)
Died	22 February 954(954-02-22) (aged 49) Kaifeng
Burial	Song Mausoleum (嵩陵; in modern Xinzheng, Henan) 34°32′17.95″N 113°41′55.90″E / 34.5383194°N 113.6988611°E / 34.5383194; 113.6988611
Spouse	See § Family
Issue	Chai Rong (adoptive son) others
Names Surname: Guō (郭) Given name: Wēi (威) Courtesy name: Wénzhòng (文仲) Era dates Guǎngshùn (廣順), began on 13 February 951 Year 1: 9 February 951 – 29 January 952 Year 2: 30 January 952 – 17 January 953 Year 3: 18 January 953 – 5 February 954 Xiǎndé (顯德) Year 1: 6 February 954 – 26 January 955 Regnal name Emperor Shengming Wenwu Rende (聖明文武仁德皇帝) Posthumous name Emperor Shèngshén Gōngsù Wénwǔ Xiào (聖神恭肅文武孝皇帝) Temple name Tàizǔ (太祖; "Grand Progenitor")
House	Guo
Dynasty	Later Zhou
Father	Guo Jian (郭簡)
Mother	Lady Wang (王氏)

Guo Wei (Chinese: 郭威) (10 September 904 – 22 February 954), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou (後周太祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Later Zhou dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning from 951 until his death in 954.

Nicknamed "Sparrow Guo" (郭雀兒) after a sparrow-shaped tattoo on his neck, he rose to a high position in the Later Han as an assistant military commissioner. He founded the Later Zhou in 951.

Early life

When Guo Wei was born in 904 in Yaoshan (堯山; in modern Longyao County, Hebei), the Tang dynasty had disintegrated into regions controlled by warlords fighting amongst one another. Guo was just a toddler when his family moved to Taiyuan (in modern Shanxi), as his father Guo Jian (郭簡) became the prefect (刺史) of Shunzhou (順州, modern Shunyi District, Beijing), serving the Taiyuan-based warlord Li Keyong. Shortly afterwards, Guo Jian was killed by warlord Liu Rengong's forces which conquered Shunzhou, and before Guo Wei's deciduous teeth fell out, his mother Lady Wang (王氏) also died. Orphaned, the young boy was raised by a distant relative, Lady Han (韓氏).

Guo Wei grew up into a muscular young man interested more in warfare than agriculture. He was also fond of drinking and gambling, and frequently participated in brawl; his wife Lady Chai often advised him not to indulge in these activities. When he was around 17, to escape arrest, he went to live with an acquaintance Gentleman Chang (常氏) in Huguan close to Luzhou (潞州, modern Changzhi, Shanxi), shortly before joining the army of Luzhou's interim regent (留後) Li Jitao. Li Jitao was serving Jin, ruled by Li Keyong's son Li Cunxu, but actually plotting to defect to the Later Liang, Jin's archenemy. He was therefore more interested in recruiting brave and talented soldiers than enforcing the law, so when an inebriated Guo stabbed a menacing marketplace butcher to death following an argument, he let Guo walk free, eventually summoning Guo back to serve him.

Career under Later Tang

In 923, Li Cunxu established the Later Tang and overthrew Later Liang. Li Jitao was killed a few months later and all of his former soldiers, including 19-year-old Guo Wei, were assigned to the cavalry rotations. As Guo was literate and good at mathematics, he soon became an officer. He delved into the available literature on military strategy as much as he could, particularly enjoying Spring and Autumn Annals for a Wider World (閫外春秋), recommended by a blood brother Li Qiong (李瓊); Guo Wei also regarded Li Qiong as a teacher as he asked Li to explain to him parts of the Annals which he could not understand.

In 927, the Later Tang emperor Li Siyuan personally led an army to suppress Zhu Shouyin's rebellion. Guo Wei, then under the leadership of general Shi Jingtang, was among the first soldiers scaling the defensive wall of Xun (in modern Henan). Shi saw Guo's literary talents and tasked him to manage military records. Guo proved very popular among generals and ministers.

Career under Later Jin

Later Tang was replaced by the Later Jin in 936.

Career under Later Han

The Later Han was a Shatuo-led Chinese dynasty founded by Liu Zhiyuan, posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu of Later Han. Guo Wei was already familiar with life under the Shatuo people as he had lived under their rule since he was nineteen years old. He served as the Assistant Military Commissioner to Liu Zhiyuan. However, when the teenage Liu Chengyou assumed the Later Han throne in 948, court intrigue enabled Guo to usurp the throne in a coup and declare the establishment of the Later Zhou dynasty on New Year's Day in 951 (11 February in the modern calendar).

Reign

He was the first Han Chinese Emperor in northern China since 923. His rule was stable, and he passed reforms that attempted to relieve pressures on China’s massive peasantry. His rule was vigorous and well-organized. However, he died from an illness three years into his reign in 954.

Ancestry

Family

Consort and issue(s):

• Empress Shengmu, of the Chai clan (聖穆皇后 柴氏)
• Pure Consort, of the Yang clan (楊淑妃 楊氏; 911 – 947)
• Noble Consort, of the Zhang clan (張貴妃 張氏; 915 – 950)
• Virtuous Consort, of the Dong clan (董德妃 董氏; 915－953)
• Unknown
  • Unnamed Prince, 1st son
  • Guo Qingge, Prince of Shan (剡王 郭青哥, d. 24 December 950), 2nd son
  • Guo Yige (郭意哥, d. 24 December 950), 3rd son
  • Unnamed Princess, 1st daughter
  • Unnamed Princess, 2nd daughter
  • Princess Chang of Ju State (莒國長公主, d. 950), 3rd daughter
  • Princess Shou'an (壽安公主), 4rd daughter
    • Married Zhang Yongde (張永德)
  • Princess Yongning (梁國長公主), 5th daughter

References

1. (太祖聖神恭肅文武孝皇帝, 姓郭氏, 諱威, 字文仲...) Wudai Shi, ch. 110.
2. (群臣上尊號曰聖明文武仁德皇帝。) Xin Wudai Shi, vol.11
3. According to Guo Wei's biography in "Old Histories of the Five Dynasties", he was born on the 28th day of the 7th month of the 1st year of the Tianyou era of the reign of Emperor Ai of Tang. This corresponds to 10 Sep 904 on the Julian calendar. (后以唐天祐元年甲子歲七月二十八日，生帝於堯山之舊宅。) Wudai Shi, ch. 110.
4. According to Guo Wei's biography in "Old Histories of the Five Dynasties", he died between 9am and 11 am on the renchen day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the Xiande era of his reign. This corresponds to 22 Feb 954 on the Julian calendar. (壬辰.....是日巳時，帝崩於滋德殿，聖壽五十一。) Wudai Shi, ch. 113.
5. (周太祖少賤，黥其頸上為飛雀，世謂之郭雀兒。) Wudai Shiji, ch. 70.
6. (居無何，皇考為燕軍所陷，殁於王事。帝未及齠齔，章德太后蚤世，姨母楚國夫人韓氏提携鞠养。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
7. (父簡，事晉為順州刺史。劉仁恭攻破順州，簡見殺，子威少孤，依潞州人常氏。) Wudai Shiji, ch. 11. In Xin Wudai Shi, Lady Han was not mentioned.
8. (及長，形神魁壯，趨向奇崛，愛兵好勇，不事田產。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
9. (太祖微時，喜飲博任俠，不拘細行，后常諫止之。) Wudai Shiji, ch. 19.
10. (天祐末，潞州節度使李嗣昭常山戰歿，子繼韜自稱留後，南結梁朝，據城阻命，乃散金以募豪傑。帝時年十八，避吏壺關，依故人常氏，遂往應募。帝負氣用剛，好鬥多力，繼韜奇之，或逾法犯禁，亦多假借焉。嘗游上黨市，有市屠壯健，眾所畏憚，帝以氣凌之，因醉命屠割肉，小不如意，叱之。屠者怒，坦腹謂帝曰：“爾敢刺我否？”帝即剚其腹，市人執之屬吏，繼韜惜而逸之。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
11. (威以通書算補為軍吏。好讀閫外春秋，略知兵法...) Xin Wudai Shi, vol.11
12. (即應募，與周祖等十人約為兄弟。一日會飲，瓊熟視周祖，知非常人。因舉酒祝曰：“凡我十人，龍蛇混合，異日富貴無相忘，苟渝此言，神降之罰。”皆刺臂出血為誓。周祖與瓊情好尤密，嘗造瓊，見其危坐讀書，因問所讀何書，瓊曰：“此《閫外春秋》，所謂以正守國，以奇用兵，較存亡治亂，記賢愚成敗，皆在此也。”周祖令讀之，謂瓊曰：“兄當教我。”自是周祖出入常袖以自隨，遇暇輒讀，每問難瓊，謂瓊為師。) Song Shi, ch. 261.
13. (天成初，明宗幸浚郊。時朱守殷嬰城拒命，帝從晉高祖一軍率先登城。晉祖領副侍衛，以帝長於書計，召置麾下，令掌軍籍，前後將臣，無不倚愛。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
14. Mote, Frederick W. (1999). Imperial China, 900-1800. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. p. 95. ISBN 9780674445154.
15. (高祖諱璟，廣順初，追尊為睿和皇帝，廟號信祖，陵曰溫陵；高祖妣張氏，追諡睿恭皇后。曾祖諱諶，漢贈太保，追尊為明憲皇帝，廟號僖祖，陵曰齊陵；曾祖妣鄭國夫人申氏，追諡明孝皇后。祖諱蘊，漢贈太傅，追尊為翼順皇帝，廟號義祖，陵曰節陵；祖妣陳國夫人韓氏，追諡翼敬皇后。皇考諱簡，漢贈太師，追尊為章肅皇帝，廟號慶祖，陵曰欽陵；皇妣燕國夫人王氏，追謚為章德皇后。) Jiu Wudai Shi, vol.110
16. Posthumously honored as Emperor Zhangsu (章肅皇帝) with the temple name Qingzu (慶祖).
17. Posthumously honored as Empress Zhangde (章德皇后).
18. Posthumously honored as Emperor Yishun (翼順皇帝) with the temple name Yizu (義祖).
19. Posthumously honored as Empress Yijing (翼敬皇后).
20. Posthumously honored as Emperor Mingxian (明憲皇帝) with the temple name Xizu (僖祖).
21. Posthumously honored as Empress Mingxiao (明孝皇后).
22. Posthumously honored as Emperor Ruihe (睿和皇帝) with the temple name Xinzu (信祖).
23. Posthumously honored as Empress Ruigong (睿恭皇后).
24. ^ Most likely died young.

Sources

• (in Chinese) Toqto'a; et al., eds. (1345). Song Shi (宋史) [History of Song].
• (in Chinese) Xue Juzheng; et al., eds. (974). Wudai Shi (五代史) [History of the Five Dynasties].
• (in Chinese) Ouyang Xiu (1073). Wudai Shiji (五代史記) [Historical Records of the Five Dynasties].
• (in Chinese) Sima Guang (1086). Zizhi Tongjian (資治通鑑) [Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government].
• Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900–1800). Harvard University Press. pp. 13–14.

• 904 births
• 954 deaths
• Later Zhou emperors
• Politicians from Xingtai
• Generals from Hebei
• Jin (Later Tang precursor) people
• Later Liang (Five Dynasties) people
• Later Tang people
• Later Jin (Five Dynasties) people
• Liao dynasty people
• Later Han (Five Dynasties) shumishi
• Later Han (Five Dynasties) jiedushi
• Weibo jiedushi
• Later Han (Five Dynasties) chancellors
• Founding monarchs