Xiao Daqi
Encyclopedia
Xiao Daqi (524–551), courtesy name Renzong (仁宗), formally Crown Prince Ai (哀太子, literally "the lamentable crown prince"), was a crown prince
of the Chinese
dynasty Liang Dynasty
. He was the oldest son of Emperor Jianwen
(Xiao Gang).
, the first crown prince of his grandfather Emperor Wu
, died in 531, and Emperor Wu created Xiao Gang crown prince instead. In 532, as the crown prince's oldest son, Xiao Daqi was created the Prince of Xuancheng. In 548, when the general Hou Jing
rebelled and sieged the capital Jiankang
, Xiao Daqi was given a general title, but did not appear to actually command troops. In 549, during peace negotiations that Xiao Gang entered with Hou, Hou was demanding that Xiao Daqi be sent to him as a hostage, but that term was never agreed to before peace negotiations collapsed over other issues. Hou subsequently captured the city, taking Emperor Wu, Xiao Gang, and other members of the imperial household, including Xiao Daqi, as hostages. Later that year, when Emperor Wu died, Xiao Gang succeeded to the throne (as Emperor Jianwen), albeit under Hou's control, and Emperor Jianwen created Xiao Daqi crown prince. (Xiao Daqi's mother Princess Wang also died in 549, without having been created empress, so presumably she died before Emperor Wu did.)
Despite Hou's control over the political scene, Xiao Daqi was said to have never humiliated himself before Hou or Hou's associates. When his attendants asked him how he was able to keep his composure, he explained, "If the bandit [Hou] wanted to maintain the leadership, then he would surely not kill me. Even if I were arrogant and yelling at him, he would not rebuke me. If he decided to act, even if I bowed to him 100 times a day, I would not be able to save myself." He further explained, "I expect to die before the bandit dies. If my uncles [Emperor Jianwen's brothers, several of whom were key provincial governors] can destroy the bandit, the bandit will surely kill us before dying himself. If the uncles fail, he will kill me so that he can receive the ultimate glory [i.e., become emperor]. How can I spend a life that will surely die on unproductive worries?"
In spring 551, when Hou advanced west on the Yangtze River
to fight Xiao Daqi's uncle Xiao Yi
the Prince of Xiangdong, then the strongest of the remaining Liang princes, he carried Xiao Daqi with him as hostage. In summer 551, when Hou was defeated by Xiao Yi's general Wang Sengbian
, Hou fled back to Jiankang, and his fleet was in such a disarray at the time that Xiao Daqi had an opportunity to escape to Northern Qi
, and Xiao Daqi's attendants largely encouraged him to do so. Xiao Daqi, however, responded, "Since the empire plunged into warfare, I have decided not to live in a humiliating manner. His Imperial Majesty is held by the bandit, and how would I dare to leave him? If I flee, I am rebelling against my father, not the bandit." He therefore continued back to Jiankang.
the Prince of Yuzhang. Hou executed all of Emperor Jianwen's sons under his control, including Xiao Daqi. When the executioners arrived at Xiao Daqi's residence, he was giving a lecture on the Tao Te Ching
. He stated, "I knew long ago that this would happen. Alas, it is happening too late." The executioners initially wanted him to strangle him with his belt, but he responded, "That does not kill," and instead told them to use a rope, which they used to strangle him. In 552, after Xiao Yi declared himself emperor (as Emperor Yuan), he awarded Xiao Daqi his posthumous name
.
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
. He was the oldest son of Emperor Jianwen
Emperor Jianwen of Liang
Emperor Jianwen of Liang , personal name Xiao Gang , courtesy name Shizuan , nickname Liutong , was an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty. He was initially not the crown prince of his father Emperor Wu, the founder of the dynasty, but became the crown prince in 531 after his older brother Xiao...
(Xiao Gang).
Early years
Xiao Daqi was born in 524, to Xiao Gang (who was then the Prince of Jin'an) and his wife, Princess Wang Lingbin (王靈賓). Xiao Daqi's uncle Xiao TongXiao Tong
Xiao Tong , courtesy name Deshi , formally Crown Prince Zhaoming , later further posthumously honored as Emperor Zhaoming , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Liang Dynasty...
, the first crown prince of his grandfather Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang , personal name Xiao Yan , courtesy name Shuda , nickname Lian'er , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
, died in 531, and Emperor Wu created Xiao Gang crown prince instead. In 532, as the crown prince's oldest son, Xiao Daqi was created the Prince of Xuancheng. In 548, when the general Hou Jing
Hou Jing
Hou Jing , courtesy name Wanjing , was a general for the Chinese states Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, and Liang Dynasty, and briefly, after controlling the Liang imperial regime for several years, usurped the Liang throne, establishing a state of Han...
rebelled and sieged the capital Jiankang
Jiankang
Jiankang was the capital city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties. Its walls are extant ruins in the modern municipal region of Nanjing.-History:...
, Xiao Daqi was given a general title, but did not appear to actually command troops. In 549, during peace negotiations that Xiao Gang entered with Hou, Hou was demanding that Xiao Daqi be sent to him as a hostage, but that term was never agreed to before peace negotiations collapsed over other issues. Hou subsequently captured the city, taking Emperor Wu, Xiao Gang, and other members of the imperial household, including Xiao Daqi, as hostages. Later that year, when Emperor Wu died, Xiao Gang succeeded to the throne (as Emperor Jianwen), albeit under Hou's control, and Emperor Jianwen created Xiao Daqi crown prince. (Xiao Daqi's mother Princess Wang also died in 549, without having been created empress, so presumably she died before Emperor Wu did.)
Despite Hou's control over the political scene, Xiao Daqi was said to have never humiliated himself before Hou or Hou's associates. When his attendants asked him how he was able to keep his composure, he explained, "If the bandit [Hou] wanted to maintain the leadership, then he would surely not kill me. Even if I were arrogant and yelling at him, he would not rebuke me. If he decided to act, even if I bowed to him 100 times a day, I would not be able to save myself." He further explained, "I expect to die before the bandit dies. If my uncles [Emperor Jianwen's brothers, several of whom were key provincial governors] can destroy the bandit, the bandit will surely kill us before dying himself. If the uncles fail, he will kill me so that he can receive the ultimate glory [i.e., become emperor]. How can I spend a life that will surely die on unproductive worries?"
In spring 551, when Hou advanced west on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
to fight Xiao Daqi's uncle Xiao Yi
Emperor Yuan of Liang
Emperor Yuan of Liang , personal name Xiao Yi , courtesy name Shicheng , nickname Qifu , was an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
the Prince of Xiangdong, then the strongest of the remaining Liang princes, he carried Xiao Daqi with him as hostage. In summer 551, when Hou was defeated by Xiao Yi's general Wang Sengbian
Wang Sengbian
Wang Sengbian , courtesy name Juncai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Liang Dynasty. He came to prominence as the leading general under Emperor Yuan 's campaigns against the rebel general Hou Jing and other competitors for the Liang throne, and after Emperor Yuan was defeated by Western Wei...
, Hou fled back to Jiankang, and his fleet was in such a disarray at the time that Xiao Daqi had an opportunity to escape to Northern Qi
Northern Qi
The Northern Qi Dynasty was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.-History:The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan...
, and Xiao Daqi's attendants largely encouraged him to do so. Xiao Daqi, however, responded, "Since the empire plunged into warfare, I have decided not to live in a humiliating manner. His Imperial Majesty is held by the bandit, and how would I dare to leave him? If I flee, I am rebelling against my father, not the bandit." He therefore continued back to Jiankang.
Final Years
In fall 551, with Hou believing that he might be nearing defeat, he wanted to take the throne. In order to first show off his power, he deposed Emperor Jianwen and replaced him with Xiao Tong's grandson Xiao DongXiao Dong
Xiao Dung , courtesy name Yuanji , sometimes known by his pre-ascension title of Prince of Yuzhang , was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
the Prince of Yuzhang. Hou executed all of Emperor Jianwen's sons under his control, including Xiao Daqi. When the executioners arrived at Xiao Daqi's residence, he was giving a lecture on the Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching, Dao De Jing, or Daodejing , also simply referred to as the Laozi, whose authorship has been attributed to Laozi, is a Chinese classic text...
. He stated, "I knew long ago that this would happen. Alas, it is happening too late." The executioners initially wanted him to strangle him with his belt, but he responded, "That does not kill," and instead told them to use a rope, which they used to strangle him. In 552, after Xiao Yi declared himself emperor (as Emperor Yuan), he awarded Xiao Daqi his posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
.