Xiao Tong 蕭統, Crown Prince

Xiao Tong 蕭統 (501–531), zi Deshi 德施, posthumous name Zhaoming 昭明. Liang period prince and literatus.

Xiao Tong's ancestral home was Nan Lanling 南蘭陵 (the Danyang 丹陽 area northwest of modern Changzhou, Jiangsu). His childhood zi was Weimo 維摩 (Vimalakīrti). He was the eldest son of Xiao Yan 蕭衍 (464– 549), Emperor Wu of Liang (502–549). Xiao Tong was born in September or October 501 in Xiangyang 襄陽 (modern Xiangfan, Hubei). His mother was Ding Lingguang 丁令光 (485–526), whose natal place was Qiao Kingdom 譙國 (modern Bo 亳 county, Anhui), but whose family had resided in Xiangyang for many generations. Xiao Yan's first wife Xi Hui 郗徽 (468– 499) died in 499 in Xiangyang. Xiao Yan had taken Ding Lingguang as a concubine in 498 when she was fourteen years old. Although mistreated by the senior wife, Ding Lingguang reputedly was obedient and devoted to her.

A little over half a year after Xiao Tong's birth, Xiao Yan assumed the throne of the Liang dynasty. Xiao Tong and his mother had remained in Xiangyang while Xiao Yan led his army against the Southern Qi forces. As soon as the capital Jiankang was secure and Xiao Yan was installed as emperor on 30 April 501, both mother and son were summoned to the capital, where they were given residence in the Xianyang Hall 顯陽殿. On the auspicious jiazi day of the eleventh month of Xiao Yan's first year as emperor (24 December 502), he named Xiao Tong heir designate. He also named Ding Lingguang honored concubine (gui pin 貴嬪). Because Xi Hui had not given birth to a son, Xiao Yan had earlier adopted Xiao Zhengde 蕭正德 (d. 540), the son of his younger brother Xiao Hong 蕭宏 (473–526), as his son. It was assumed that he would be named Xiao Yan's heir. However, when Xiao Tong was born, Xiao Yan selected his own progeny Xiao Tong as heir instead.

As heir designate, Xiao Tong's education was carefully supervised. From an early age, learned scholars were assigned to him as tutors, scribes, librarians, and compilers. Until the age of five, Xiao Tong continued to live in the Xianyang Hall, and all of the members of his entourage were assigned to the Yongfu sheng 永福省 (Department of Eternal Blessings). Xiao Tong's biographies in the Liang shu and Nan shi report that Xiao Tong was a precocious child, and already at the age of three, he began to receive instruction in the Xiao jing and Lun yu. By the age of five, he reputedly could recite the Five Classics from memory. In 509, at the age of nine, he gave a lecture on the Xiao jing in the Shou'an 壽安 Hall, in which he demonstrated a “thorough understanding of the general meaning” of the text. Although precocious feats are commonplaces of Chinese literati's biographies, they may be true; at least there is no evidence in Xiao Tong's case to the contrary.

In July 507, Xiao Tong took up residence in the Eastern Palace, the official domicile of the heir designate. During his first few years in the Eastern Palace, one of his preceptors was Shen Yue 沈約 (441–512), who at that time was probably the most respected writer and scholar at the imperial court. Xiao Tong's closest adviser, however, was the ritual authority Xu Mian 徐勉 (466–535), who was appointed to the Eastern Palace especially to manage the crown prince's affairs. According to the Liang shu, “The crown prince treated him with great deference and consulted with him on every matter.” When Xiao Tong gave his lecture on the Xiao jing, Xu officiated as “holder of the canon.” Soon after Xu was selected as the “worthy most dear” to the crown prince, an honor that earned him wide acclaim. Xu Mian had a reputation for incorruptibility and philanthropy and regularly distributed a portion of his salary to poor relatives. Although the sources do not contain any specific information on this point, it is possible that Xiao Tong's own philanthropic activities were influenced by his mentor's example.

Xiao Tong had a good relationship with his mother, who perhaps because of her commoner status, was not imperious and not much interested in the trappings of palace life. In 503, she gave birth to another son, Xiao Gang 蕭綱 (503–551). Although separated from each other for much of their lives, the two brothers seemed to have had unusual affection for each other.

Other members of Xiao Tong's entourage during the early Liang included a number of talented literary men and scholars. In 502, Yin Jun 殷鈞 (484– 532), Dao Qia 到恰 (477–527), and Liu Xiaochuo 劉孝綽 (481–539) were assigned as secretaries on Xiao Tong's staff. Xiao Tong maintained a close relationship with Liu Xiaochuo for most of his life. In 506, Shen Yue was appointed supervisor of the heir designate's household, and Xie Ju 謝舉 (479–548) was assigned as household provisioner and put in charge of administrative affairs in the Eastern Palace. Xiao Tong had special affection for Xie. In 507, Wang Mao 王茂 (457–516) succeeded Shen Yue as supervisor of the household. Shen Yue was then named junior mentor, while Emperor Wu's younger brother Xiao Hong was designated senior mentor. The latter position perhaps was a nominal post. It was also in this year that Xu Mian took over as the chief supervisor of affairs in the Eastern Palace. Wang Yun 王筠 (481–549), who was much admired by Shen Yue, was appointed secretary. Other members of Xiao Tong's princely establishment at this time were Lu Gao 陸杲 (459–532), Xie Lan 謝覽 (ca. 477–ca. 513), Cai Zun 蔡撙 (467–523), Yin Jun, Yu Zhongrong 庾仲容 (478–551), Xiao Jie 蕭介 (ca. 482–ca. 554), Liu Ru 劉孺 (486–544), and Xiao Zifan 蕭子範 (486–549). Cai Zun was the father of Lady Cai 蔡氏, who became Xiao Tong's consort in 508. Xie Lan was the older brother of Xie Ju. They were grandsons of the famous writer Xie Zhuang 謝莊 (421–466). Yu Zhongrong was a protégé of Xu Mian. Xiao Zifan was a member of the Qi imperial family who was allowed to retain his noble title during the Liang.

In February or March of 508, Emperor Wu established in the Eastern Palace the positions of academician reader-in-waiting. The first two men appointed to this post were Yin Jun and Dao Qia. They together with Yu Qianlou 庾黔婁 (ca. 468–ca. 513) and Ming Shanbin 明山賓 (443–527) were assigned to lecture to Xiao Tong on the Five Classics. Serving on Xiao Tong's staff as secretaries in this year were Lu Chui 陸倕 (470–526) and Zhang Mian 張緬 (490–531). Lu Chui was a skilled poet and writer of parallel prose, and Zhang Mian was a prominent historian.

In 510, at the age of ten, Xiao Tong began to receive instruction at the national university. The chancellor at this time was Zhang Chong 張充 (449–514) from the distinguished Zhang clan of Wu commandery 吳郡 (modern Suzhou). Dao Qia served as one of the professors. In 512, Xiao Tong began to adjudicate legal cases. About this time, Xiao Tong began personally to choose members of his staff. Hearing of the exemplary conduct of Lu Xiang 陸襄 (480–549), he requested the emperor to have him appointed to his entourage. Lu Xiang was first assigned as librarian in the prince's editorial service. He was subsequently promoted to secretary in the prince's Secretariat. Also joining the prince's establishment at this time were Wang Xi 王錫 (499–534), Wang Gui 王規 (492–536), and Yin Yun 殷芸 (471–529).

In 513, Liu Zun 劉遵 (488–535) of the distinguished Liu clan of Pengcheng 彭城 (modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), who was a cousin of Liu Xiaochuo, was appointed secretary on Xiao Tong's staff. He compiled the Donggong sibu mulu 東宮四部目錄 (Four categories catalogue of the Eastern Palace), which was a catalogue of the library of books that Xiao Tong had collected. Xiao Tong was an avid book collector, and he was eager to obtain rare manuscripts. One of his first acquisitions was at about the age of ten, when his young cousin Xiao Fan 蕭範 (502–552) presented him with an old edition of the Han shu. The ink and paper of the text, which was called a “genuine original” from Ban Gu himself, were old, and it was written in an unusual “dragonrising” script that resembled neither “clerical” nor “seal” style. Upon receipt of the manuscript Xiao Tong ordered the scholars Liu Zhilin 劉之遴 (478–549), Zhang Zuan 張纘 (499–549), Dao Gai 到溉 (477–548), and Lu Xiang to compare it with the received version of the Han shu. Liu Zhilin submitted a report that detailed many significant differences. Largely through efforts of this kind, the Eastern Palace library grew to some 30,000 juan.

On 31 January 515, at the age of fifteen, Xiao Tong participated in the capping ceremony that formally admitted him to adulthood. At this time Emperor Wu authorized him to take complete charge of various matters, including the reading of court petitions, adjudication of legal cases, and appointment of officials to his staff. According to his biography in the Liang shu, Xiao Tong “invited and received talented and learned scholars, and he was untiring in his appreciation and admiration for them. He often discussed texts and documents, and sometimes consulted with scholars on matters of the past and present. In his idle moments, he continued with his literary composition.” Emperor Wu at this time assigned Wang Xi 王錫 (499–534) and Zhang Zuan, who were only two years older than Xiao Tong, as his “mentors and companions.” Zhang Zuan was the younger brother of Zhang Mian. Their father Zhang Hongce 張弘策 (456–502) was an uncle of Xiao Yan's mother Zhang Shangrou 張尚柔 (d. 471). At age eleven Zhang Zuan married Xiao Yan's fourth daughter, the Princess of Fuyang. Wang Xi's mother was the Princess of Yixing, Xiao Lingyi 蕭令嫕, a younger sister of Xiao Yan.

In 516, upon imperial command, ten scholars were designated as Eastern Palace academicians. They included Wang Xi, Zhang Zuan, Lu Chui, Zhang Shuai 張率 (475–527), Xie Ju, Wang Gui, Wang Yun, Liu Xiaochuo, Dao Qia, and Zhang Mian. All of these men came from prestigious families. Zhang Shuai was from the prominent Zhang clan of Wujun. In 518, he was appointed coachman of the heir designate.

Another distinguished member of Xiao Tong's staff at this time was Xiao Ziyun 蕭子雲 (487–549), who was the ninth son of Xiao Ni 蕭嶷 (444–492), Prince of Yuzhang during the Southern Qi. In 516, while serving as one of Xiao Tong's many secretaries, he compiled the Donggong xin ji 東宮新記 (New record of the Eastern Palace). This most likely was a memoir of the activities of Xiao Tong's court. Xiao Tong's Eastern Palace was also a center of Buddhist activity. Like his father, Xiao Tong was a devout Buddhist, and he was well-read in the sutras. To pursue his interests, he constructed in the Eastern Palace the Huiyi dian 慧義殿 (Hall [for the comprehension of] the Meaning of Wisdom), which was used for assemblies of monks who preached sermons and discussed points of Buddhist philosophy. Xiao Tong himself took part in these discussions. According to Xiao Tong's biography in the Liang shu, he “himself established the meaning of the erdi 二諦 [dvi-satya or two truths] and fashen 法身 [dharmak%C4%81ya or truth body], and had a new interpretation of these concepts.” In August or September of 518, Xiao Tong conducted a lecture on the two truths and truth body in the Xuanpu yuan 玄圃園 (Hanging Garden) in the Eastern Palace. Attending the lectures were fourteen monks, including the distinguished monk Fayun 法雲 (467–529), who was much favored by Emperor Wu during this period, and members of the lay elite, the most prominent of whom was Xiao Tong's younger brother Xiao Gang. Xiao Tong wrote a number of poems about the event.

On 22 May 519, Emperor Wu received the Bodhisattva precepts in the Wu'ai dian 無礙殿 (Hall of No Obstruction), also known as the Dengjue dian 等覺殿 (Hall of Equal Enlightenment). At a large assembly some 40,000 people also took the precepts, including Xiao Tong. Xiao Tong also declared himself a disciple of the Buddhist monk Huiyue 慧約 (452–535).

During this same period, Xiao Tong and members of his court began to compile literary collections. They produced at least three works: Zheng xu 正序 (Compilation of correct expressions), Wenzhang yinghua 文章英華 (Prime blossoms of writing), and Shiyuan yinghua 詩苑英華 (Prime blossoms from the garden of poetry). The Zheng xu in ten juan was a collection of refined phrases from ancient and contemporary documents and prose writings. This work was lost before the Tang, and thus it is not listed in the monograph on bibliography in the Sui shu. There is some confusion about the Wenzhang yinghua and Shiyuan yinghua. According to Xiao Tong's biography in the Liang shu, the Wenzhang yinghua was a twenty-juan anthology of pentasyllabic verse. Xiao Tong's biography in the Nan shi records the title as Yinghua ji. The monograph on bibliography of the Sui shu mentions a work by this title in thirty juan that had been lost by the early Tang. The monograph on bibliography of the Sui shu lists under Xiao Tong's name the Gujin shiyuan yinghua 古今詩苑英華 (Prime blossoms form the garden of poetry, ancient and present day) in nineteen juan. The two Tang histories record the same title as consisting of twenty juan. Some scholars including Cao Daoheng and Shen Yucheng have suggested the Wenzhang yinghua is the same work as the Gujin shiyuan yinghua. A more credible hypothesis is that of Fu Gang who has argued in his Zhaoming Wen xuan yanjiu that the Wenzhang yinghua is an anthology of pentasyllabic verse, while the [Gujin] shiyuan jinghua is a collection of poetry in a diverse variety of metrical forms. There is also good evidence the primary compiler of the [Gujin] shiyuan jinghua was Liu Xiaochuo.

In 520, Wang Yun, who had been serving as the crown prince's household provisioner, had to resign his post to observe mourning for his mother. He was replaced by Zhang Shuai, who together with Lu Chui and Liu Xiaochuo took charge of administering affairs in the Eastern Palace. In autumn 521, Xiao Tong visited the Kaishan Monastery in the Zhong 鍾 Mountains northeast of the capital. The abbot of the monastery Zhizang 智藏 (458–522) lectured on the Nirvāna sūtra. Xiao Tong attended the lecture and composed a poem for the occasion. Matching poems were written by Lu Chui, Liu Xiaochuo, Liu Xiaoyi 劉孝儀 (484–550), and Xiao Zixian 蕭子顯 (489–537). Liu Xiaoyi was a younger brother of Liu Xiaochuo. Xiao Zixian (487–535) was the eighth son of the Southern Qi prince Xiao Yi. He was one of the Qi nobles who continued to serve the Liang. He is best known as the compiler of the Nan Qi shu 南齊書 (History of the Southern Qi).

In December 522, Xiao Tong's uncle, Xiao Dan 蕭憺 (478–522), the Prince of Shixing 始興, died. He was the eleventh son of Xiao Shunzhi 蕭順之 (d. 492), Xiao Yan's father. The crown prince presided over a discussion with his courtiers about whether it was permissible to curtail the mourning ritual for collateral relatives in order to perform music to celebrate New Year's day. The Crown Prince's coachman Liu Xiaochuo, the vice director of the Secretariat Xu Mian, the Crown Prince's household provisioner Lu Xiang, the left commandant Zhou She 周捨 (479–ca. 524), the chamberlain for the National Treasury Ming Shanbin 明山賓 (443–527), and the infantry commandant Zhu Yi 朱异 (487–549) all participated in the deliberations. Xiao Tong finally decreed that observing a seasonal state ritual was more important than personal grieving for a collatoral relative. However, he decided to express his personal feeling by writing petitions and letters during the “mourning period.”

Apparently, by this time Xiao Tong had written a large number of pieces. In 523 he commanded Liu Xiaochuo to compile his collected works. Liu Xiaochuo's preface to the collection is still extant. Shortly after this time, Xiao Tong's younger brother, Xiao Yi 蕭繹 (508–555), Prince of Xiangdong, wrote the crown prince a letter requesting a copy of the collection and the Shiyuan yinghua. It was also in this year that Ming Shanbin was appointed an academician in the Eastern Palace. Xiao Tong was very fond of Ming Shanbin, who was quite poor. The crown prince gave him funds to complete the construction of a house.

During the period from about 522 to 526, Xiao Tong oversaw the compilation of a collection of writings arranged by genre. This is the monumental anthology known as the Wen xuan (Selections of refined literature). Participating in the compilation were some members of Xiao Tong's court, most notably Liu Xiaochuo. It is also possible that Wang Yun 王筠 (481–549) and Liu Xie 劉勰 (ca. 465–532) were also involved in the project.

In 526, Dao Qia was appointed censor-in-chief. He had long harbored resentment against Liu Xiaochuo, who had frequently insulted him. Dao Qia charged Liu Xiaochuo with taking a concubine into his new residence rather than his mother. There was also some suggestion that the young woman in question was not a concubine but his own sister, Liu Lingxian 劉令嫻 (ca. 500–525), thus implying that he was engaged in an incestuous relationship with her. Liu Xiaochuo was then assigned to the staff of Xiao Yi. Liu Xiaochuo had written letters to his younger brothers maligning Dao Qia. He sent copies of the letters to Xiao Tong, who burned them unopened. His handling of the matter is often cited as an example of the sense of fairness he displayed to all those who had served him.

Ding Lingguang suddenly became ill in the eleventh lunar month of Putong 7 (December 526, January 527). Xiao Tong took up residence in the Yongfu sheng to attend to his mother's illness. She passed away on 3 January 527. He deeply mourned her passing, and even refused to drink liquids until ordered to do so by the emperor. Xiao Tong had always been somewhat plump, but his waist reputedly was reduced to over half its original size from his failure to eat while mourning for his mother. Emperor Wu issued an imperial decree ordering Zhang Zuan to compose a lament for Lady Ding.

According to an account that is recorded in the Nan shi but not the Liang shu, Xiao Tong sent someone to find a good site for the burial of his mother. However, before ground could be broken, a land seller offered the eunuch Yu Sanfu 俞三副 a “commission” of one million cash if he could convince the court to buy his plot for three million cash. The eunuch told Emperor Wu that the burial site obtained by the crown prince was not as auspicious as the one the land seller had offered. Emperor Wu ordered that the land seller's site be purchased, and Lady Ding was buried there. A Daoist recromancer informed the prince that this burial site was not beneficial to the prince, but his lifespan could be lengthened if he performed propitiatory rites at his mother's grave. Wax geese and other objects were buried next to the grave at the place reserved for the eldest son. Xiao Tong had favored two palace supervisors, Bao Miaozhi 鮑邈之 and Wei Ya 魏雅. Some time later they had a falling out, and Bao reported to Emperor Wu that Wei Ya was performing propitiatory rites for the crown prince. The emperor sent people to dig up the grave, and they discovered the wax geese and other objects buried there. Greatly alarmed about this, Emperor Wu was about to order an investigation that could have resulted in severe punishment for Xiao Tong. Xu Mian was able to dissuade him from pursuing this course of action. Xiao Tong was greatly mortified by this incident until the time of his death.

The Nan shi account also mentions that the wax geese incident was a major consideration for Emperor Wu deciding to install Xiao Gang as heir rather than Xiao Tong's eldest son Xiao Huan 蕭歡 (d. 540) after Xiao Tong suddenly died in 531. However, as Cao Daoheng points out, this claim is not credible, for the main reason Emperor Wu chose Xiao Gang over Xiao Huan is that he wished to avoid the trouble that resulted in the late Southern Qi from the naming of young heirs' designate. Furthermore, the suggestion that Emperor Wu looked unfavorably on Xiao Tong after this time may be inaccurate. For example, in 530, the area of Wuxing commandery had suffered repeated floods that had ruined harvests. Emperor Wu ordered that males of this area be conscripted to build a drainage canal from the Zhe River. Xiao Tong presented a petition objecting to the proposal. Emperor Wu personally replied to the petition, thus suggesting that he was not disaffected from the crown prince.

Xiao Tong did not enjoy the blessings of long life. His untimely death at the age of thirty-one was the result of a bizarre accident. In April of 531 Xiao Tong and members of his entourage went to the rear pond of the Eastern Palace for an outing. The crown prince took a small boat onto the pond to pick lotuses. One of the palace ladies who was with him suddenly rocked the boat, and Xiao Tong was thrown into the water. Although his attendants rescued him, he dislocated his thigh. Afraid of causing his father worry, the prince ordered his attendants not to say anything about the incident, and told them merely to report “he was sick in bed.” When Emperor Wu issued an order inquiring about the nature of the crown prince's ill-ness, Xiao Tong wrote a letter himself in reply. As his condition worsened, the prince's attendants implored him to inform the emperor, but he again refused, saying, “How can I let his supreme majesty know I am this wicked!” Finally, on 7 May Xiao Tong became gravely ill, and the emperor was immediately informed. Before the emperor could arrive at the Eastern Palace, Xiao Tong died.

Xiao Tong, who was given the posthumous title Zhaoming taizi 昭明太子 (Crown Prince of Resplendent Brilliance), was buried at Anning 安寧 (modern Chaxing shan 查硎山, northeast of Jiangning 江寧, Nanjing) on 21 June 531. Emperor Wu ordered Wang Yun to compose a lament. On 27 June Xiao Gang was named heir designate. Xiao Tong had five sons. After Xiao Tong's death his eldest son Xiao Huan was named Prince of Yuzhang commandery. Xiao Tong's second son Xiao Yu 蕭譽 (d. 550) was enfeoffed as Prince of Hedong commandery. He later served as regional inspector of Southern Xuzhou and Xiangzhou. The crown prince's third son Xiao Cha 蕭詧 (519–562), Prince of Yueyang, in 546 was assigned as regional inspector of Yongzhou, which was Emperor Wu's base from which he arose to become emperor. In 549, he surrendered to the Western Wei. In 554, he was named emperor of the Later Liang (554–562), which was a feudatory of the Western Wei. Little is known about Xiao Tong two's other sons Xiao Jian 蕭譼 (d. 537) and Xiao Su 蕭𧫣 (d. 546).

As was mentioned above, in 523, Liu Xiaochuo compiled Xiao Tong's collected works. After Xiao Tong's death, Xiao Gang compiled the crown prince's collected works in twenty juan. A twenty-juan collection of Xiao Gang's writings is listed in the monographs on bibliography of the Sui shu and the two Tang histories. This was lost in the Song. The Southern Song private book catalogue Zhizhai shulu jieti 直齋書錄解題 of Chen Zhensun 陳振孫 (1211–1249) records a collection of Crown Prince Zhaoming in five juan. This very likely is the printing done in Guichi, Anhui, in 1181 by Yuan Yueyou 袁說友 (1140–1204). This is not extant, but it served as the basis for the printing collated by Zhou Man 周滿 (jinshi 1532) in 1555. This edition does not descend directly from the Liang edition compiled by Xiao Gang, but is a reconstruction based on citations of Xiao Tong's works contained in leishu and other sources.

The received versions of Xiao Tong's collected works contain from thirty-three to thirty-five poems. Approximately a dozen of his poems have been variously attributed to other writers including Xiao Gang and Xiao Yi, and some scholars have questioned whether Xiao Tong wrote them, especially the poems written in the “palace style.” The subjects of Xiao Tong's verse are on three main themes: Buddhism, sentiments expressed to relatives and friends, and yongwu 詠物 (poems on things). One of his more original pieces is “Yong Shan Tao Wang Rong” 詠山濤王戎 (On Shan Tao and Wang Rong), in which the crown prince writes about the two members of the Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove, Shan Tao 山濤 (205–283) and Wang Rong 王戎 (234–305) that Yan Yanzhi 顏延之 (384–456) had excluded from his “Wujun yong” 五君詠 (On the five lords). Excerpts of five of Xiao Tong's fu are also extant. These are all on yongwu subjects.

Xiao Tong's collected works has a large corpus of prose. He wrote a number of letters to his younger brothers Xiao Gang and Xiao Yi in which he expressed his views about writing. These are important sources for Xiao Tong's literary thought. Xiao Tong's most important treatise on literature is his preface to the Wen xuan. Xiao Tong also edited the collected works of Tao Yuanming 陶淵明 (ca. 365–427). The collection does not survive, but the crown prince's biography of Tao Yuanming and the preface to the collection are extant. Wang Ping has shown that the preface is a cogent statement of Xiao Tong's views on reclusion.

Xiao Tong 蕭統 [12255] Eldest son of the founder of the Liang dynasty and elder brother of the second emperor. See documentation for ancestor, Bao [12248]. See also Giles, pp. 283-4. — RMH