Xiao Zhaoye

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Xiao Zhaoye was born into the Southern Qi imperial family and was the legitimate eldest grandson of Emperor Wu, Xiao Ze. His great-grandfather Xiao Daocheng founded Southern Qi, his grandfather Xiao Ze was its second emperor, and his father Xiao Changmao was Crown Prince Wenhui. The source records signs of intelligence in Xiao Zhaoye's childhood. According to the History of the Southern Dynasties, when Xiao Daocheng was chancellor under Liu Song and stationed at the Eastern Residence, the five-year-old Xiao Zhaoye was playing beside his bed. Xiao Daocheng was having attendants pluck white hairs from his head and asked him, “Child, who am I?” Xiao Zhaoye answered, “Great-grandfather.” Xiao Daocheng laughed and said to the attendants, “Can one be someone else's great-grandfather and still pull out one's white hairs?” He then threw away the mirror and tweezers. On another occasion, when a visitor came to the residence, Xiao Daocheng pointed to Xiao Zhaoye and said, “With him, I already have four generations.” The source presents the anecdote as evidence of Xiao Zhaoye's childhood quickness.

In 482, when Emperor Wu came to the throne, the ten-year-old Xiao Zhaoye was made Prince of Nanjun with two thousand households. On the seventh day of the eleventh lunar month of 487, at age fifteen, he underwent the capping ceremony in Chongzheng Hall of the Eastern Palace. At a small gathering that day, Emperor Wu distributed silk to princes and officials and assigned Xiao Zhaoye two tutors. In 489, officials proposed granting him twenty ceremonial sword-bearers and one music ensemble and selecting distinguished men to serve as companions and fellow students, giving him ceremonial treatment above that of other princes.

As a youth Xiao Zhaoye was handsome and fond of clerical-script calligraphy. While Emperor Wu was alive, he ordered that Xiao Zhaoye's handwritten works not be casually circulated but instead preserved. His bearing and conversation were also admired. Emperor Wu questioned the princes and marquises every five days and often summoned Xiao Zhaoye alone into his tent, asked after him with particular affection, called him by his childhood name Fashen, and favored him greatly.

The source, however, says that Xiao Zhaoye had long shown a difference between outward behavior and inner disposition. His father Xiao Changmao restricted his daily life and expenditure. Xiao Zhaoye once complained to Lady Yu, consort of the Prince of Yuzhang, that although Buddhists said it was fortunate to be born into an imperial family, he found imperial life miserable because attendants and commanders restricted every movement, leaving him less free than the rich sons of butchers and wine sellers in the street. The source interprets the remark as showing his dislike of ritual restraint.

Path to the Succession

On the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month of 493, Crown Prince Wenhui Xiao Changmao died. Xiao Zhaoye displayed extreme grief before others, wailing whenever formal mourning began, but according to the source became very cheerful as soon as he returned to the inner quarters. The History of the Southern Dynasties also records that while his father was gravely ill, Xiao Zhaoye secretly asked a female shaman surnamed Yang to curse his father and grandfather so that he could reach the throne sooner. After Xiao Changmao died, Xiao Zhaoye believed the curse had been effective and rewarded her.

Emperor Wu remained unaware of what the source calls Xiao Zhaoye's true character. On the fourteenth day of the fourth lunar month, he named Xiao Zhaoye imperial grandson and installed him in the Eastern Palace. Emperor Wu had once considered making his fifth son Xiao Zijing, Prince of Anlu, crown prince, but after Xiao Zhaoye and Xiao Zijing came to pay respects together he judged Xiao Zijing “dull” and abandoned the idea. During Emperor Wu's final illness, Wang Rong, Gentleman of the Secretariat and an associate of Xiao Ziliang, wanted to enthrone Xiao Ziliang instead of Xiao Zhaoye, but Xiao Luan, Marquis of Xichang and cousin of Emperor Wu, defeated the plan. Emperor Wu's final advice to Xiao Zhaoye was: “For the first five years let others manage affairs; after five years do not let anyone else manage them.”

Accession and Disorderly Government

On the thirtieth day of the seventh lunar month of 493, Emperor Wu died and the imperial grandson Xiao Zhaoye succeeded to the throne and granted a general amnesty. On the fourth day of the eighth lunar month he ordered implementation of Emperor Wu's final instructions: Xiao Ye, Prince of Wuling and General of the Guarding Army, became General of the Guards; Chen Xianda, General-in-Chief Who Conquers the South, received the privilege of opening an office with the same ceremonial as the Three Excellencies while retaining his post; Xiao Luan, Marquis of Xichang and Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, became Director of the Department; and Shen Wenji, Chamberlain for the Imperial Grandson, became General of the Guarding Army. On the fifth day, Xiao Ziliang, Prince of Jingling and Minister over the Masses, was appointed Grand Preceptor. On the thirteenth day of the ninth lunar month Xiao Zhaoye posthumously honored his father Xiao Changmao with the temple name Shizong and posthumous title Emperor Wen. On the twenty-fifth day of the tenth lunar month he elevated his mother Wang Baoming from consort of the imperial grandson to empress dowager and made his wife He Jingying empress. On the fourth day of the eleventh lunar month, he enfeoffed his younger brothers Xiao Zhaowen as Prince of Xin'an, Xiao Zhaoxiu as Prince of Linhai, and Xiao Zhaocan as Prince of Yongjia.

The source portrays Xiao Zhaoye as immediately abandoning restraint after accession. He gave rewards in sums of hundreds of thousands or millions without concern. On seeing money he reportedly said, “In the past I could not get even a single coin from you; now watch whether I can use you.” Within less than a year, it says, he had nearly exhausted the hundreds of millions of cash accumulated by Emperor Wu. He opened the imperial clothing stores to look through them with the empress and favored women, allowed eunuchs and servants to carry away what they wished, and smashed valuable objects for amusement. The source records that he sometimes went nearly naked, wearing only red gauze shorts and women's patterned underwear; he was fond of cockfighting and secretly spent thousands of cash on fighting cocks. Palace women cut up Emperor Wu's licorice walking stick for use. Xiao Zhaoye also damaged Emperor Wu's Zhaowan Hall and asked the eunuch Xu Longju to sponsor a Buddhist vegetarian offering for him.

The source further states that Xiao Zhaoye had sexual relations with Lady Huo, one of his father Xiao Changmao's favored women. Xu Longju encouraged him to keep Huo permanently in the palace under the pretext of having her become a nun and substituting another woman. It likewise depicts Empress He Jingying as sexually unrestrained, with her doors open throughout the night and men and women moving freely in and out.

Conflict with Xiao Luan and Death

During Xiao Zhaoye's reign, political power increasingly fell into the hands of his great-uncle Xiao Luan. The Secretariat clerks Qimu Zhenzhi and Zhu Longzhi, palace guard generals Cao Daogang and Zhou Fengshu, and others formed Xiao Zhaoye's personal support group. Xiao Luan repeatedly remonstrated with him, but Xiao Zhaoye ignored the advice. Xiao Luan then successively killed Xu Longju and Qimu Zhenzhi, and Xiao Zhaoye did not dare resist.

Later, after a Buddhist nun entered the palace and transmitted strange predictions, Xiao Zhaoye began to suspect Xiao Luan of planning to seize the throne. He was especially close to He Yin, Director of the Secretariat and a cousin of Empress He Jingying, calling him “third father” after the empress's usage. Xiao Zhaoye and He Yin discussed killing Xiao Luan, but He Yin was afraid and hesitated, persuading him not to proceed. Xiao Zhaoye then planned to send Xiao Luan out to the Western Province so that he could no longer control central affairs. Xiao Luan, fearing what might happen, decided to depose him.

On the twentieth day of the seventh lunar month of 494, the first year of Longchang, Xiao Luan sent Xiao Chen, Xiao Tanzhi, and others to kill Cao Daogang, Zhu Longzhi, and their associates in an office building, then led troops from the Department of State Affairs through Yunlong Gate. Wang Yan, Xu Xiaosi, Wang Guangzhi, and others entered with him. Xiao Zhaoye was in Shouchang Hall. On hearing of the coup, he ordered the inner rooms and pavilions closed and sent eunuchs up Xingguang Tower to inspect the situation. They reported seeing a man in military dress followed by several hundred fully armed soldiers beneath the western tower. Shortly afterward Xiao Chen led troops into the palace and blocked Shouchang Pavilion. Xiao Zhaoye fled to the quarters of his favorite Lady Xu and tried unsuccessfully to kill himself with a sword. He wrapped his neck with silk and left Yande Hall in a small carriage. When Xiao Chen first entered, the palace guards had bows and shields ready to resist. He told them, “We are not looking for you; do not move!” They believed him. When they later saw Xiao Zhaoye being taken out, they still wished to fight, but Xiao Zhaoye said nothing. He was killed after leaving by the western passage, aged twenty-two. His body was carried by cart to Xu Longju's residence and buried with the rites of a prince. His remaining supporters were also killed.

On the twenty-first day of the seventh lunar month, Xiao Luan issued an edict in the name of Empress Dowager Wang Baoming posthumously reducing Xiao Zhaoye to Prince of Yulin and proposed Xiao Zhaowen, Prince of Xin'an, as emperor. Xiao Zhaowen ascended the throne on the twenty-fifth day.

Major Activities

Political Activities

Xiao Zhaoye reigned for only about one year, and the political activity described in the source centered mainly on consolidating his throne and resisting the powerful Xiao Luan. At accession he followed the late emperor's orders by appointing Xiao Luan Director of the Department of State Affairs and Xiao Ziliang Grand Preceptor, attempting to balance different forces. He then posthumously honored his father as Emperor Wen with the temple name Shizong, elevated his mother to empress dowager, made He Jingying empress, and granted princely titles to his younger brothers. The source says that he relied heavily on Secretariat clerks Qimu Zhenzhi and Zhu Longzhi, palace guard generals Cao Daogang and Zhou Fengshu, and eunuch Xu Longju, and allowed intimates to sell offices openly, producing administrative disorder. His failed plot with He Yin to kill Xiao Luan and his later attempt to send Xiao Luan away from court instead prompted Xiao Luan to launch a coup first.

Extravagance and Licentiousness

The source presents extravagance as the most conspicuous feature of Xiao Zhaoye's reign. He bestowed rewards of hundreds of thousands or millions, and within less than a year allegedly exhausted hundreds of millions of cash accumulated under Emperor Wu. He opened clothing stores for the empress and favored women, let eunuchs and servants take valuables at will, and smashed precious objects for amusement. It also says he arranged musicians during Emperor Wu's mourning period and quickly returned to laughter and entertainment during mourning for his father, ignoring ritual norms.

Literature and Art

As a youth Xiao Zhaoye was fond of clerical-script calligraphy and was considered accomplished. Emperor Wu specifically ordered that his calligraphy not be casually circulated and instead be preserved, suggesting that it enjoyed some reputation at the time. After becoming emperor, however, the source says that he devoted himself to pleasure and produced no notable literary or artistic achievements.

Personal Relations

• Xiao Daocheng (great-grandfather, founder of Southern Qi); Liu Zhirong (great-grandmother, Empress Zhao); Xiao Ze (grandfather, Emperor Wu of Southern Qi); Pei Huizhao (grandmother, Empress Wumu); Xiao Changmao (father, Crown Prince Wenhui); Wang Baoming (mother, Empress Wen'an); Xiao Zhaowen (second younger brother, fourth emperor of Southern Qi); Xiao Zhaoxiu (third younger brother, Prince of Linhai); Xiao Zhaocan (fourth younger brother, Prince of Yongjia); He Jingying (empress); Lady Huo (father's secondary consort, later surnamed Xu).
• Xiao Ziliang (uncle, Prince of Jingling; helped raise Xiao Zhaoye and later served as Grand Preceptor); He Yin (cousin of the empress and Director of the Secretariat; conspired with Xiao Zhaoye against Xiao Luan).
• Xiao Luan (great-uncle, Marquis of Xichang, Director of the Department of State Affairs; later launched the coup and killed Xiao Zhaoye); Xiao Chen (general who participated in the coup); Xiao Tanzhi (general who participated in the coup); Wang Yan, Xu Xiaosi, Wang Guangzhi, and Shen Wenji (officials involved in the coup); Qimu Zhenzhi and Zhu Longzhi (Secretariat clerks and supporters of Xiao Zhaoye); Cao Daogang and Zhou Fengshu (palace guard generals and supporters); Xu Longju (eunuch and favorite).
• Xiao Luan (launched the coup after Xiao Zhaoye's misconduct and attempts to reduce his power); Wang Rong (had earlier attempted to enthrone Xiao Ziliang and was defeated by Xiao Luan and ordered to die).

Historical Assessment

Southern Qi / Contemporary

Xiao Zixian's Book of Southern Qi described Xiao Zhaoye as outwardly attractive but inwardly deceitful. It argued that his position as eldest legitimate grandson had initially hidden his defects from Emperor Wu, but that misconduct originating within the palace was enough to endanger the state. The work further condemned him for abandoning ritual and law while bearing responsibility for the dynasty.

Tang Period

Li Yanshou's History of the Southern Dynasties likewise emphasized Xiao Zhaoye's legitimate succession and the fact that his defects were not obvious before accession, but argued that misconduct within the palace was sufficient to destabilize the state. It also connected the auspicious or ominous implications of the era name Longchang with the brevity of his rule.

Song and Yuan Periods

The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government attributed Xiao Zhaoye's fall to loss of virtue and reliance on petty men. Its narrative treats Xiao Luan's seizure of power as usurpation but also presents Xiao Zhaoye's licentious behavior and favoritism as major causes of his own destruction. Historians of the Song and Yuan periods generally followed the Book of Southern Qi and History of the Southern Dynasties in presenting him as a negative example of a ruler who failed to cultivate himself and distinguish worthy officials from flatterers.

Modern Assessments

Modern historical discussion often analyzes Xiao Zhaoye's death through the political struggle surrounding the Southern Qi court. In this view, his failure resulted not only from the personal conduct described in the traditional histories but also from his inability to control government once Xiao Luan's power had grown. He lacked both the strength to confront Xiao Luan and the strategy to coexist with him, and was ultimately killed by the powerful minister. Because his reign was extremely short and the Book of Southern Qi and History of the Southern Dynasties record his extravagance in detail, he remains an important case for studying political dysfunction and imperial-clan conflict in Southern Qi.