Meng Zhixiang

In this Chinese name, the family name is Meng.
Emperor Gaozu of Later Shu
後蜀高祖
1st Emperor of Later Shu
Reign16 March 934[1][2] – 7 September 934
SuccessorMeng Chang
Prince of Shu (蜀王)
Reign933 – 934
jiedushi of Xichuan Circuit
(西川節度使)
Tenure925 – 934
Born10 May 874[3][1]
Died7 September 934(934-09-07) (aged 60)[1][4]
Burial
He Mausoleum (和陵; in modern Chengdu)
30°44′28″N 104°07′11″E / 30.74111°N 104.11972°E / 30.74111; 104.11972
Full name
Era name and dates
Míngdé (明德): 27 May 934[1][4] – 2 February 938[1][5]
Posthumous name
Emperor Wénwǔ Shèngdé Yīngliè Míngxiào
(文武聖德英烈明孝皇帝)
Temple name
Gāozǔ (高祖)
HouseMeng
DynastyLater Shu

Meng Zhixiang (Chinese: 孟知祥; 10 May 874[3][1]–7 September 934[1][4]), courtesy name Baoyin (保胤),[6] also known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Shu (後蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Later Shu dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Meng Zhixiang was originally a general and an in-law of the Later Tang dynasty's ruling family, who went by the family name Li. Meng married the eldest sister or perhaps a cousin of the Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang.[7] Meng served the Later Tang as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), after the conquest of Former Shu. After Emperor Zhuangzong's death, Meng was more distant to the succeeding emperor. The new emperor was Emperor Zhuangzong's adoptive brother, Emperor Mingzong. Meng, fearing accusations by Emperor Mingzong's chief advisor An Chonghui, rebelled, in alliance with Dong Zhang, military governor of neighboring Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan). The Meng-Dong alliance repelled subsequent attempts to suppress or control them, although they continued as nominal subjects of Mingzong. Eventually, Meng overpowered Dong, thus assuming control of both allied domains. Meng continued as titular vassal to Mingzong for the rest of that emperor's reign; but, afterwards, Meng Zhixiang declared himself emperor, thereby founding the Later Shu dynasty.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.
  2. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 278.
  3. ^ a b Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms (十國春秋), vol. 48.
  4. ^ a b c Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 279.
  5. ^ Old History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 136.
  6. ^ New History of the Five Dynasties vol. 64.
  7. ^ Though historical sources such as New History of Five Dynasties, Zizhi Tongjian and The Autumn and Spring of the Ten Kingdoms referred to Meng Zhixiang's wife as daughter of Li Keyong's younger brother Li Kerang, her epitaph referred to her as the eldest daughter of Li Keyong and born by Empress Dowager Cao.