釋氏稽古略 3.6

3.6

Taboo name Yuan, style name Shude. A man of Chengji in Longxi. His grandfather, Hu, along with Li Bi and eight others, assisted the Western Wei; all were Pillars of the State. When Emperor Min of the Zhou received the abdication of Western Wei, he posthumously enfeoffed Hu as Duke of the State of Tang. Hu fathered Bing, and Bing fathered Yuan; both successively inherited the title of Duke of Tang. Yuan served the Sui. In the ninth year of the Daye era of Emperor Yang [613 CE], the Emperor appointed Li Yuan, Junior Minister of the Court of the Imperial Insignia, as retaining defense officer of Honghua Commandery, with the thirteen commanderies of Guanxi all subject to his mobilization. In the twelfth year [616 CE], in the first month, an edict appointed Li Yuan, General of the Right Valiant Guard and Duke of Tang, as retaining defense officer of Taiyuan. In the thirteenth year [617 CE], in the eleventh month, Li Yuan captured Chang'an and enthroned Emperor Gong. In the wuyin year [618 CE], in the third month, Emperor Gong of the Sui ordered the King of Tang to establish officials from the Chancellor down, and added the Nine Bestowals. The report of Sui Emperor Yang's demise at Jiangdu reached Chang'an. In the fifth month, Emperor Gong abdicated to the Tang; the King of Tang ascended the imperial throne. He reigned for nine years, living to the age of seventy. Era: Wude (nine years).