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Guo Wei () (10 September 904 – 22 February 954According to Guo Wei's biography in "Old Histories of the Five Dynasties", he died between 9am and 11 am on the ''renchen'' day of the 1st month of the 1st year of the ''Xiande'' era of his reign. This corresponds to 22 Feb 954 on the Julian calendar. ( ��德元年春正月��辰.....是日巳時,å¸å´©æ–¼æ»‹å¾·æ®¿ï¼Œè–壽五å一。) ), also known by his
temple name Temple names are posthumous titles accorded to monarchs of the Sinosphere for the purpose of ancestor worship. The practice of honoring monarchs with temple names began during the Shang dynasty in China and had since been adopted by other dynas ...
as the Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou (), was the founding
emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
of the Chinese Later Zhou dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning from 951 until his death in 954. Nicknamed "Sparrow Guo" () after a sparrow-shaped
tattoo A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing processes ...
on his neck,(周太祖少賤,黥其頸上為飛雀,世謂之郭雀兒。) he rose to a high position in the Later Han as an assistant military commissioner. He founded the Later Zhou in 951.


Early life

When Guo Wei was born in 904 in Yaoshan (堯山; in modern Longyao County,
Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...
), the
Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唿œ), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
had disintegrated into regions controlled by
warlord Warlords are individuals who exercise military, Economy, economic, and Politics, political control over a region, often one State collapse, without a strong central or national government, typically through informal control over Militia, local ...
s fighting amongst one another. Guo was just a
toddler A toddler is a child approximately 1 to 3 years old, though definitions vary. The toddler years are a time of great cognitive, emotional and social development. The word is derived from "toddle", which means to walk unsteadily, as children at thi ...
when his family moved to
Taiyuan Taiyuan; Mandarin pronunciation: (Jin Chinese, Taiyuan Jin: /tʰai˦˥ ye˩˩/) is the capital of Shanxi, China. Taiyuan is the political, economic, cultural and international exchange center of Shanxi Province. It is an industrial base foc ...
(in modern
Shanxi Shanxi; Chinese postal romanization, formerly romanised as Shansi is a Provinces of China, province in North China. Its capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-level cities are Changzhi a ...
), as his father Guo Jian () became the
prefect Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area. A prefect' ...
() of Shunzhou (順州, modern Shunyi District,
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
), serving the Taiyuan-based warlord Li Keyong. Shortly afterwards, Guo Jian was killed by warlord Liu Rengong's forces which conquered Shunzhou, and before Guo Wei's
deciduous teeth Deciduous teeth or primary teeth, also informally known as baby teeth, milk teeth, or temporary teeth,Fehrenbach, MJ and Popowics, T. (2026). ''Illustrated Dental Embryology, Histology, and Anatomy'', 6th edition, Elsevier, page 287–296. are ...
fell out, his mother Lady Wang () also died. Orphaned, the young boy was raised by a distant relative, Lady Han ().(父簡,事晉為順州刺å²ã€‚åŠ‰ä»æ­æ”»ç ´é †å·žï¼Œç°¡è¦‹æ®ºï¼Œå­å¨å°‘å­¤ï¼Œä¾æ½žå·žäººå¸¸æ°ã€‚) In ''Xin Wudai Shi'', Lady Han was not mentioned. Guo Wei grew up into a muscular young man interested more in warfare than agriculture. He was also fond of drinking and gambling, and frequently participated in brawl; his wife Lady Chai often advised him not to indulge in these activities.(太祖微時,喜飲åšä»»ä¿ ï¼Œä¸æ‹˜ç´°è¡Œï¼ŒåŽå¸¸è««æ­¢ä¹‹ã€‚) When he was around 17, to escape arrest, he went to live with an acquaintance Gentleman Chang () in Huguan close to Luzhou (潞州, modern
Changzhi Changzhi ( zh, s=é•¿æ²») is a prefecture-level city in the southeast of Shanxi Province, China, bordering the provinces of Hebei and Henan to the northeast and east, respectively. Historically, the city was one of the 36 administrative areas ( ...
, Shanxi), shortly before joining the army of Luzhou's interim regent () Li Jitao. Li Jitao was serving Jin, ruled by Li Keyong's son Li Cunxu, but actually plotting to defect to the Later Liang, Jin's archenemy. He was therefore more interested in recruiting brave and talented soldiers than enforcing the law, so when an inebriated Guo stabbed a menacing marketplace butcher to death following an argument, he let Guo walk free, eventually summoning Guo back to serve him.


Career under Later Tang

In 923, Li Cunxu established the Later Tang and overthrew Later Liang. Li Jitao was killed a few months later and all of his former soldiers, including 19-year-old Guo Wei, were assigned to the
cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
rotations. As Guo was literate and good at mathematics, he soon became an officer. He delved into the available literature on
military strategy Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired Strategic goal (military), strategic goals. Derived from the Greek language, Greek word ''strategos'', the term strategy, when first used during the 18th ...
as much as he could, particularly enjoying ''Spring and Autumn Annals for a Wider World'' (), recommended by a
blood brother Blood brother can refer to two or more people not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is in modern times usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where each person makes a small cut, usually on a finger, han ...
Li Qiong (); Guo Wei also regarded Li Qiong as a teacher as he asked Li to explain to him parts of the ''Annals'' which he could not understand.(峿‡‰å‹Ÿï¼Œèˆ‡å‘¨ç¥–ç­‰å人約為兄弟。一日會飲,瓊熟視周祖,知éžå¸¸äººã€‚å› èˆ‰é…’ç¥æ›°ï¼šâ€œå‡¡æˆ‘å人,é¾è›‡æ··åˆï¼Œç•°æ—¥å¯Œè²´ç„¡ç›¸å¿˜ï¼Œè‹Ÿæ¸æ­¤è¨€ï¼Œç¥žé™ä¹‹ç½°ã€‚â€çš†åˆºè‡‚出血為誓。周祖與瓊情好尤密,嘗造瓊,見其å±åè®€æ›¸ï¼Œå› å•æ‰€è®€ä½•æ›¸ï¼Œç“Šæ›°ï¼šâ€œæ­¤ã€Šé–«å¤–æ˜¥ç§‹ã€‹ï¼Œæ‰€è¬‚ä»¥æ­£å®ˆåœ‹ï¼Œä»¥å¥‡ç”¨å…µï¼Œè¼ƒå­˜äº¡æ²»äº‚ï¼Œè¨˜è³¢æ„šæˆæ•—,皆在此也。â€å‘¨ç¥–令讀之,謂瓊曰:“兄當教我。â€è‡ªæ˜¯å‘¨ç¥–å‡ºå…¥å¸¸è¢–ä»¥è‡ªéš¨ï¼Œé‡æš‡è¼’讀,æ¯å•難瓊,謂瓊為師。) In 927, the Later Tang
emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
Li Siyuan Li Siyuan (æŽå—£æº, later changed to Li Dan (æŽäº¶)) (10 October 867 – 15 December 933), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (å¾Œå”æ˜Žå®—), was the second emperor of the Later Tang dynasty of China, reign ...
personally led an army to suppress Zhu Shouyin's rebellion. Guo Wei, then under the leadership of general Shi Jingtang, was among the first soldiers scaling the
defensive wall A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or earthworks to extensive military fortifications such as curtain walls with t ...
of Xun (in modern
Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
). Shi saw Guo's literary talents and tasked him to manage military records. Guo proved very popular among generals and ministers.


Career under Later Jin

Later Tang was replaced by the Later Jin in 936.


Career under Later Han

The Later Han was a Shatuo-led Chinese dynasty founded by
Liu Zhiyuan Liu Zhiyuan () (March 4, 895 – March 10, 948), later changed to Liu Gao (), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Han (), was the founding Emperor of China, emperor of the Shatuo-led Chinese Later Han (Five Dynasties), Lat ...
, posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu of Later Han. Guo Wei was already familiar with life under the Shatuo people as he had lived under their rule since he was nineteen years old. He served as the Assistant Military Commissioner to Liu Zhiyuan. However, when the teenage Liu Chengyou assumed the Later Han throne in 948, court intrigue enabled Guo to usurp the throne in a coup and declare the establishment of the Later Zhou dynasty on New Year's Day in 951 (11 February in the modern calendar).


Reign

He was the first
Han Chinese The Han Chinese, alternatively the Han people, are an East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Greater China. With a global population of over 1.4 billion, the Han Chinese are the list of contemporary ethnic groups, world's la ...
Emperor in northern
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
since 923. His rule was stable, and he passed reforms that attempted to relieve pressures on
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
’s massive
peasantry A peasant is a pre-industrial agricultural laborer or a farmer with limited land-ownership, especially one living in the Middle Ages under feudalism and paying rent, tax, fees, or services to a landlord. In Europe, three classes of peasan ...
. His rule was vigorous and well-organized. However, he died from an illness three years into his reign in 954.


Ancestry


Family


Consorts and issue

*Empress Shengmu, of the Chai clan (è–ç©†çš‡åŽ æŸ´æ°) *''Pure Consort'', of the Yang clan (楊淑妃 楊æ°; 911 – 947) *''Noble Consort'', of the Zhang clan (張貴妃 å¼µæ°; 915 – 950) *''Virtuous Consort'', of the Dong clan (董德妃 è‘£æ°; 915ï¼953) *Unknown **''Unnamed Prince'',Most likely died young. 1st son **Guo Qingge, Prince of Shan (剡王 郭é’å“¥, d. 24 December 950), 2nd son **Guo Yige (郭æ„å“¥, d. 24 December 950), 3rd son **Unnamed Princess, 1st daughter **Unnamed Princess, 2nd daughter **Princess Chang of Ju State (莒國長公主, d. 950), 3rd daughter **Princess Shou'an (壽安公主), 4rd daughter ***Married Zhang Yongde (張永德) **Princess Yongning (æ¢åœ‹é•·å…¬ä¸»), 5th daughter


References


Sources

* * * * * , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Guo, Wei 904 births 954 deaths Later Zhou emperors Politicians from Xingtai Generals from Hebei Jin (Later Tang precursor) people Later Liang (Five Dynasties) people Later Tang people Later Jin (Five Dynasties) people Liao dynasty people Later Han (Five Dynasties) shumishi Later Han (Five Dynasties) jiedushi Weibo jiedushi Later Han (Five Dynasties) chancellors Founders of Imperial Chinese dynasties