Xiao Ze 蕭賾

Xiao Ze 蕭賾 (440–493), zi Xuanyuan 宣遠, Emperor Wu 武 of the Southern Qi (r. 482–493). Southern Qi emperor.

Xiao Ze's ancestral home was Nan Lanling 南蘭陵 (northwest of modern Changzhou 常州, Jiangsu). He was the eldest son of Xiao Daocheng 蕭道成 (427–482), Emperor Gao (r. 479–482), the founding ruler of the Southern Qi. He was born on 17 July 440. His childhood name was Long'er 龍兒. Ca. 464, Xiao Ze served as attendant gentleman on the staff of Liu Zixun 劉子勛 (456–466), Prince of Xunyang 尋陽 (administrative seat Chaisang 柴桑, southwest of modern Jiujiang, Jiangxi). Shortly thereafter he was assigned as magistrate of Gan 贛 (modern Ganzhou 贛州, Jiangxi).

In January 466, a group of officials launched a revolt in Xunyang against Emperor Ming (r. 465–472) in the name of eleven-year-old Liu Zixun, whom they installed as emperor on 7 February. Xiao Ze refused to join the rebels and was imprisoned by Shen Suzhi 沈肅之, admininstrator of Nankang 南康 (northeast of modern Ganzhou, Jiangxi). He was eventually rescued by his kinsman Xiao Xinzu 蕭欣祖 and retainer Huan Kang 桓康 (427–483). They fled into the Jieyang 揭陽 Mountains (west of modern Shicheng 石城, Jiangxi) where Xiao Ze gathered a force of 3,000 men. Xiao Ze's band performed well in battles against the insurgents.

After the Liu Zixun revolt was put down in September 466, Xiao Ze was rewarded by being appointed director of the Bureau of Provisions in the Department of State Affairs and was granted the noble title of Viscount of Xiyang 西陽 county. He also was assigned as senior administrator on the staff of General Who Comforts the Army Liu Yun 劉韞 (d. 477) and governor of Xiangyang 襄陽 (modern Xiangfan, Hubei). He later was granted the noble title of Viscount of Gan county, where he had previously served as magistrate.

In 476, Xiao Ze was appointed senior administrator on the staff of Liu Xie 劉燮 (fl. 470–480), Prince of Jinxi, the sixth son of Emperor Ming and administrator of Jiangxia 江夏 (administrative seat, Anlu 安陸, modern Yunmeng 雲夢, Hubei). When Emperor Shun (r. 477–479) took the imperial throne in August 477, Xiao Ze was appointed left general of the guards. In December 477, Shen Youzhi 沈攸之 (d. 478), who had established a power base in Xiangyang, rose in revolt against Xiao Ze's father, Xiao Daocheng, who had now established the foundation for what would become the state of Qi. Xiao Ze played an important role in subduing Shen Youzhi's forces in February-March 478. Shortly thereafter Xiao Ze was granted the noble title Marquis of Wenxi 聞喜 county with income from 2,000 households. He also was appointed cavalier attendant-in-ordinary, regional inspector of Jiangzhou 江州 (administrative seat, Chaisang), and palace attendant. In 479, Xiao Ze was named vice director of the Department of State Affairs and general of the middle army.

Xiao Daocheng had himself named Duke of Qi on 9 April 479. On this same day he selected Xiao Ze as his heir. Xiao Daocheng was installed as emperor of the Southern Qi on 29 May 479. He named Xiao Ze imperial heir designate on 18 July. Xiao Daocheng died on 11 April 482. Xiao Ze was installed as emperor on the same day.

Xiao Ze ruled for eleven years. This was the period of cultural floresence known as the Yongming 永明 (483–493) era. Before becoming emperor Xiao Ze had traveled to Fan 樊 (modern Fancheng 樊城, Hubei) and Deng 鄧 (modern Deng county, Henan). When he ascended the throne, recalling nostagically these sites, he composed lyrics titled “Guke yue” 估客樂 (Music of traveling merchants). He ordered the director of the music bureau Liu Yao 劉瑤 to set them to music. After Liu Yao was unable to complete this assignment, the Buddhist monk Shi Baoyue 釋寶月 (fl. 483–493) completed the piece. The only surviving poem by Xiao Ze is the “Guke yue.” His other extant works are some one hundred official writings, which consist mainly of edicts and decrees.

Bibliography

Studies

• Cao Daoheng and Shen Yucheng, Zhongguo wenxuejia dacidian, 398–99.

DRK