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Yang Maosou (died 317), was the founding ruler of the Di-led Chouchi state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of China. He is also known as Yang Wusou in some records.

Background

Yang Maosou was the nephew of the Di chieftain, Yang Feilong. Their ancestors initially lived in Qingshui County, Lüeyang Commandery, but during the reign of Yang Ju (楊駒) in the early 3rd-century, they moved to the Chouchi region. When Yang Feilong came to power, his forces grew in strength, and they later returned to Lüeyang.

Feilong was unable to conceive a son, so he adopted the son of his sister, Lady Linghu (令狐氏). He then changed his adopted son's name to Yang Maosou. When Feilong died in 296, Maosou succeeded him as the new chief.

Reign

That same year, a Di chieftain, Qi Wannian, led a tribal rebellion against Jin. The rebellion coincided with famines and devastated the Guanzhong region, creating many refugees in search of food. Yang Maosou led around 4,000 families to resettle in Chouchi and escape the confusion. He declared himself General Who Upholds the State and Worthy Prince of the Right, and soon, other refugees also began to join him. Maosou welcomed them with open arms and allowed them to leave if they wanted to, providing them with supplies to protect and sustain themselves on the way out.

Later, Emperor Min of Jin legitimized Maosou's authority by appointing him General of Agile Cavalry and Worthy Prince of the Left. Maosou's son, Yang Nandi, was also appointed General Who Attacks the South by the Prince of Nanyang, Sima Bao. Later on, Maosou sent tributes and became a vassal to the neighbouring Ba-Di state of Cheng-Han.

In 313, Jin's Inspector of Liang, Zhang Guang, campaigned against the refugee rebel leader, Yang Hu (楊虎). Both sides approached Yang Maosou to form an alliance, and Maosou decided to support Zhang Guang. He sent Yang Nandi to aid Jin, but Nandi betrayed Zhang Guang and joined forces with Yang Hu instead. Nandi defeated Zhang Guang and briefly controlled Hanzhong before being ousted back to Chouchi by a local revolt in 314.

Yang Maosou died in 317. Yang Nandi, being Maosou's eldest son, succeeded him, but decided to jointly rule Chouchi with his brother, Yang Jiantou (楊堅頭).

References

1. Book of Wei states that his name was Yang Maosou (楊茂搜), while the Book of Song states that his name was Yang Wusou (楊戊搜). The Zizhi Tongjian chose to use Yang Maosou as his name (...氐王楊茂搜之子難敵...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.88.
2. Kleeman 1998, p. 167.
3. From the Khitans to the Jurchens & Mongols: A History of Barbarians in Triangle Wars & Quartet Conflicts. iUniverse. 14 November 2022. ISBN 978-1-6632-4258-7.
4. "Central Asiatic Journal". 2006.
5. Historical Dictionary of Medieval China - Page 502
6. (略陽清水氐楊氏...騰子駒，勇健多計略，始徙仇池...千萬子孫名飛龍，漸強盛，晉武假征西將軍，還居略陽。) Song Shu, vol.98
7. (無子，養外甥令狐茂搜為子。) Wei Shu, vol.101
8. (晉惠帝元康六年，避齊萬年之亂，率部落四千家，還保百頃，自號輔國將軍、右賢王。關中人士奔流者多依之，戊搜延納撫接，欲去者則衞護資遣之。) Song Shu, vol.98
9. (愍帝以為驃騎將軍、左賢王。時南陽王保在上邽，又以戊搜子難敵為征南將軍。) Song Shu, vol.98
10. Kleeman 1998, p. 170.
11. Kleeman 1998, p. 167-168.
12. (建興五年，戊搜卒，難敵襲位。與堅頭分部曲，難敵號左賢王，屯下辯，堅頭號右賢王，屯河池。) Song Shu, vol.98

Sources

• Shen, Yue (493). Book of Song (Song Shu).
• Wei, Shou (554). Book of Wei (Wei Shu).
• Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
• Kleeman, Terry (1998). Great Perfection. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824818005.

• Chouchi
• Jin dynasty (266–420) generals
• 317 deaths