Xiao Kui 蕭巋, Emperor Ming of Later Liang

Xiao Kui 蕭巋 (542–585), zi Renyuan 仁遠, Emperor Ming 明 of Later Liang (r. 562–585).

Xiao Kui's ancestral home was Nan Lanling 南蘭陵 (the Danyang 丹陽 area northwest of modern Changzhou, Jiangsu). He was the son of Xiao Cha 蕭詧 (519–562), Emperor Xuan 宣 of Later Liang (r. 555–562). He was also the grandson of Xiao Tong 蕭統 (501–531). Xiao Kui succeeded his father as emperor in 562.

In 567, the Chen general Hua Jiao 華皎 (d. 567), regional inspector of Xiangzhou 湘州 (administrative seat, Changsha) and other Chen military leaders revolted against the Chen and joined forces with the Northern Zhou regime. Emperor Wu of Zhou (r. 560–578) sent Yuwen Zhi 宇文直 (r. 574) and Hua Jiao to lead armies against the Chen. They were defeated by the Chen forces led by Wu Mingche 吳明徹 (511–577). The Chen then occupied Changsha, Baling, and other areas of the Later Liang. When Emperor Wu of Zhou defeated the Northern Qi in February 577, Xiao Kui paid an official visit to the Northern Zhou court in Ye. After Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou died in 578, the Zhou general Yang Jian 楊堅 (541–604), the future Emperor Wen of Sui (r. 581–604), seized power at the Zhou court. The Zhou generals Yuchi Jiong 尉遲迥 (d. 580), Wang Qian 王謙 (d. 580), Sima Xiaonan 司馬消難 (d. 589), and others organized an army to overthrow Yang Jian. They tried to enlist Xiao Kui to join them, but Xiao Kui refused, for he knew that Yang Jian had a much stronger force.

When Yang Jian founded the Sui dynasty in 581, Xiao Kui became a vassal of the Sui state. On 16 April 581, Xiao Kui sent a letter of congratulations to Yang Jian on his accession as emperor. Yang Jian selected Xiao Kui's daughter as a wife for his son Yang Guang 楊廣 (569–618), the future Emperor Yang of Sui (r. 604–618). Xiao Kui was treated well by the Sui house. Xiao Kui died in the fifth lunar month (3 June–2 July) of 585. He was granted the posthumous title of Emperor Ming. According to Xiao Kui's biography in the Zhou shu, his collected works circulated in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties. He also had written a commentary to the Zhou yi, and a Buddhist work on the Mahayana and Hinayana traditions. The monograph on bibliography of the Sui shu lists his collected works in ten juan. All of these works were lost by the Tang. His only extant literary piece is a petition he presented to Yang Jian when Xiao Kui was on his deathbed.

DRK