Prince Wenhui, whose name was Chang Mao, courtesy name Yun Qiao, was the eldest son of Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yu. Before Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty had even turned twenty, he had already fathered Prince Chang Mao, whom he doted on. Prince Chang Mao was both handsome and chubby, who was nicknamed Bai Ze. Towards the end of the Yuanhui era of the Song Dynasty, he followed his father Liu Yu to Yingzhou (present-day Wuhan, Hubei). Later, when Liu Yu returned to Pencheng (present-day Huanggang, Hubei) to resist Shen Youzhi, he also sent Prince Chang Mao to encourage the generals and get a firsthand experience of military life. The court appointed him as a secretary, but he did not take up the position. Later, he was appointed as the General of State Affairs, and then promoted to Chief Military Officer of the Prince Jinxi. After things settled down, Liu Yu sent Prince Chang Mao back to Jiankang (present-day Nanjing).
At that time, Liu Yu was busy conquering the world and always worried about his legitimate son. He said to Prince Chang Mao, "Once you return, my affairs will be settled." Liu Yu settled the prince in a room on the east side of his mansion, allowing him to interact with civil and military officials and guests. Liu Yu also specifically instructed Xun Boyu, "When I leave the city, all the military forces in the city will be under Chang Mao's command. Even if I don't leave the city, the patrol troops inside and outside the city and the soldiers at each city gate will often be inspected by Chang Mao." Later, he was promoted to secretary, but because the name sounded like Emperor Xuan (Liu Yifu), Chang Mao did not accept the appointment and instead became a Lang of the Central Secretariat. He was later promoted to Yellow Gate Attendant, but he still declined the position.
In the third year of Shengming, Liu Yu was about to abdicate the throne, and his son Liu Yifu (Emperor Shizu of the Song Dynasty) had already returned to the capital. Because Xiangyang was a strategic location, Liu Yu did not want it to fall into the hands of outsiders, so he sent Prince Chang Mao to take on the role of Commissioner, Governor of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, Yingzhou, the military affairs of Jingling in Sizhou, the Left General of the Army, the Inspector of Ningman, and the Governor of Yongzhou. This was a major responsibility and a daunting task!
In the year 477 AD, I was appointed Prince of Nanjun, with a fief of two thousand households. I was the first legitimate grandson to be made a prince in the Jiangzuo region! Later, I was promoted to the position of General for Conquering Barbarians. Before that, the Governor of Liangzhou, Fan Bainian, was a formidable figure. He successfully persuaded the fugitive Li Wunu of Jinshou to surrender and also pacified Di tribe rebels like Yangcheng and Sudaochi, earning quite a reputation.
Later, when the incident involving Shen You escalated, Fan Bainian dispatched General Yin Guangzong to march from Weixing to support the capital while keeping an eye on the situation. After the situation calmed down, the court appointed Wang Xuanmiao as his replacement. Li Wunu advised Fan Bainian to occupy Hanzhong and not listen to the court, but before Fan Bainian could make up his mind, Wang Xuanmiao arrived. Fan Bainian was reluctant to leave Weixing. The Crown Prince was worried that he might rebel, so he sent someone to persuade him, promising him the position of Prefect of the Granaries. Fan Bainian then went to Xiangyang, where he was captured and executed. Fan Bainian was from Zitong, later moved to Huayang, and his family had been local prominent figures for generations, well-known in the province. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty, Di tribe bandits obstructed the road to Jinshou, and Fan Bainian, who was then a Lang in charge of the Granaries, was ordered to oversee road repairs, returning to the court from Yizhou. He later became the Prefect of Jinshou. He suppressed the Di tribe rebellion and was eventually appointed as the Governor of Liangzhou. Fan Bainian was highly capable and articulate, and Emperor Song Ming had a good impression of him. After his death, Liu Hong, the Prefect of Baxi, wrote to Emperor Taizu to report the incident, and Emperor Taizu replied: "Fan Bainian was fortunate not to rebel; just thinking about it is frightening!"
At that time, there were tomb raiders in Xiangyang. It was rumored to be the tomb of the King of Chu, and they unearthed many treasures, such as jade sandals, jade folding screens, bamboo slips, and silk weavings. These bamboo slips varied in width and were two feet long, with their bamboo skin still intact. The tomb robbers used torches for illumination. Later, someone obtained more than ten bamboo slips and brought them to the military commander, Wang Senqian, to see. Wang Senqian said that this was the "Records of Craftsmanship" written by Ke Dou, which is a missing part of the "Book of Zhou." At the time, the local government dispatched investigators who found some relics as well, leading to various interpretations. At that time, nomadic tribes from the north were invading the south, and the emperor was worried they would attack Fancheng and Mianyang. In 478 AD, I was summoned to serve as an attendant and the general of the central army, and I also set up my own residence in Shitoucheng. Mu Fei had passed away, and it was time to don mourning attire. The emperor intended to personally attend the funeral. The ministers were debating whether the crown prince should go out to greet him.
Wang Jian, the Left Supervisor, said, "In the 'Book of Rites: Questions on Mourning,' it is written that 'the ruler is to mourn for his wife, the crown prince, and the legitimate wife.' This means that the monarch is to mourn for these three individuals. Now that the emperor has personally come to attend the funeral, he is already coming in the capacity of mourning; although it is for the purpose of comforting and consoling, it does not fall under the category of condolences. Therefore, officials below the rank of Nanjun should not go out to greet him. However, because the emperor has come in person, etiquette can be somewhat flexible. It is not necessary to carry mourning staffs or wear sackcloth; instead, one can stand outside the door to greet him, which is sufficient to show respect without needing to stop crying intentionally. The Crown Prince, after all, is the head of the palace, and the emperor's carriage should be received at the palace according to custom. Since it is a day of mourning, the rituals of auspiciousness and mourning must not be confused, and the Crown Prince should wear a mourning cap while attending to his duties. It is hoped that the mourning will cease, and everything should adhere to the old customs. Since the emperor is not coming in the capacity of offering condolences, the reception should follow the usual etiquette, which is both reasonable and in line with the rites; there should be no problem." After Wang Jian finished speaking, he stepped back. The emperor considered that the Crown Prince's health was not conducive to staying in Shitoushan due to his excessive grief, so he moved him to Xizhou. Four years later, the Crown Prince was appointed as the holder of the imperial seal and the Commander of the military affairs of Nanxu and Yanzhou, General of the Northern Expedition, and Governor of Nanxu Province. After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he was declared Crown Prince. At first, Emperor Taizu liked the "Zuo Zhuan" very much, and the Crown Prince repeatedly recited it in accordance with his wishes, treating it as his mantra. When the Crown Prince was officially appointed as the heir, he placed great importance on establishing a good reputation, courteously receiving literati and nurturing military officials, arranging for them to be close by or to serve in the court. In the third year of Yongming, he delivered a lecture on the 'Classic of Filial Piety' in Chongzheng Hall, and the Minister of Education, Wang Jian, requested the Crown Prince's attendant, Zhou Yong, to write an annotation explaining the text's meaning.
Legend has it that in the winter of the fifth year, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince personally came to the National Academy to oversee the exam. He promptly asked Wang Jian, the Minister of Education: "In the 'Book of Rites' it says 'no lack of respect'. This means that those in lower positions should be respectful to those above, observing proper etiquette; those in higher positions should show kindness to those below, but not necessarily use the word 'respect'. Now, using 'respect' for both those above and below, doesn't that seem a bit unclear?" Wang Jian replied: "Zheng Xuan's commentary on the 'Book of Rites' says that 'the core of etiquette is respect', so both the higher and lower should use the word 'respect'."
The Crown Prince continued: "If according to your explanation, then 'loyalty' and 'kindness' can also be summarized by one word, and 'filial piety' and 'compassion' do not need to be distinguished." Wang Jian explained: "We can't use the same titles for those above and below. The words 'love' and 'respect' sometimes have a specific order. The reason why 'loyalty' and 'kindness' are different is because it is the will of the sages; 'filial piety' and 'compassion' can be interchangeable, there's a rationale for this. The 'Book of Rites' says 'failure to observe funeral rites is akin to being unfilial and unkind', that's the proof." The Crown Prince asked further: "Using 'respect' to serve the monarch, and 'love' to serve parents, both feelings should be taken to the highest level. But now 'respect' is used in dealing with subordinates, doesn't that clash with the principle of the 'Three Bonds'?"
Wang Jian replied: "Serving the monarch must be done with utmost respect, but for subordinates, as long as there's no neglect, that's enough." The Crown Prince continued: "Although both are 'respect', the degree of depth is different, but the text doesn't differentiate between them, which makes it even more confusing." Wang Jian explained: "The text can't cover every aspect; a brief hint of depth is enough. The 'Book of Rites' says 'not forgetting respect is to be the master of the people'; the 'Book of Documents' says 'to serve one's ancestors with filial piety, and to treat subordinates with respect', these are clear points in the classics that support each other."
The Crown Prince asked Zhang Xu, the Grand Minister, about the principles of respect in dealing with others. Zhang Xu replied, "I believe that respect is the fundamental principle of personal conduct and social interactions, so it can be used for both superiors and subordinates." The Crown Prince countered, "While 'respect' is indeed a fundamental principle, it is not exclusively for treating subordinates. The Book of Documents says 'show compassion for the widowed and orphans,' so why isn't there a mention of showing respect to them?" Zhang Xu explained, "Using different words highlights the distinction between respect and kindness, as stated at the beginning of the text, hence the use of 'respect' as a summary."
At this point, Prince Liang of Jingling also interjected, "Etiquette is fundamentally about respect. From top to bottom, I believe there is no conflict." The Crown Prince said, "I am not saying there is a conflict; I just want our words and actions to align, with distinctions in their significance." Prince Ying of Linqing added, "Emphasizing 'respect' first helps clarify the main principle. Specific situations of hierarchy will be detailed in later chapters, so misunderstandings should not arise from general statements." Finally, the Crown Prince asked this question to eleven students including Xie Jiqing, and they all responded in writing to his inquiry.
The Crown Prince asked Wang Jian, "The Book of Changes originally discusses the position of heaven, but the Commentary section says 'the Emperor appears in the Thunder hexagram,' but the Thunder hexagram does not represent heaven; how does this make sense?" Wang Jian replied, "'Qian' hexagram represents strength, 'Zhen' hexagram represents movement and change. Heaven demonstrates its virtues through movement, hence 'the Emperor appears in the Thunder hexagram.'"
The Crown Prince further asked, "Heaven demonstrates virtues through movement, kings emulate heaven, occupying the throne; the 'Zhen' hexagram symbolizes thunder. How can this be considered emulating heaven?" Wang Jian explained, "When it comes to managing family affairs, no one is more suited than the eldest son, so the 'Zhen' hexagram metaphorically refers to the Crown Prince. All things begin with the 'Zhen' hexagram, so this is also bestowed upon the Son of Heaven."
Wang Jian then asked the Crown Prince, "The Book of Filial Piety says 'When Confucius sat, Zengzi served.' The principles of filial piety are deep and complex; even great sages can only strive to follow them. Why was the task of teaching filial piety assigned to Zengzi rather than Yanzi?"
The Crown Prince said, "Although Zengzi is not as virtuous as Yanzi, he excels in filial piety towards his parents, and his conduct is close to the teachings of the sages, which makes his ideas easily accepted. Moreover, he is able to promote the teachings of filial piety well, so it is reasonable to choose him."
Wang Jian retorted, "While it may be easy to accept and promote teachings, it is still a far cry from the sages, so this issue seems less significant. The 'Classic of Filial Piety' says 'one can promote the Way', but what if people disregard filial piety?"
The Crown Prince said, "The principles of filial piety already exist and should not be denied because of people's actions. Moreover, Zengzi is a talented individual who can promote the teachings of the sages, so how could there be any barriers?"
Prince Ying of Linchuan also raised a question, "Filial piety is the foundation of virtue, and I've always been skeptical about this. Virtue can benefit all people, while filial piety is a natural instinct, so how can it be acquired later in life?"
The Crown Prince replied, "Precisely because it is not acquired later in life, it can become the foundation of virtue."
Prince Ying of Linchuan continued, "If filial piety is a natural instinct and does not require deliberate cultivation of virtue, just being filial to one’s parents can naturally lead to various virtues. How can filial piety be the foundation of virtue?"
The Crown Prince explained, "Filial piety varies in depth, and virtue varies in magnitude. Based on different levels, the foundation can be determined. What’s there to question?"
The Crown Prince studied in the imperial academy for a long time, which is also quite rare historically.
The following year, the Emperor wanted to review the prisoners in Danyang County and all prisons within a radius of two hundred miles north and south. He decreed, "Reviewing cases is a major matter concerning the governance of the country. The Crown Prince is now an adult and should participate in political affairs. Let the Crown Prince personally handle the review of the cases of the prisoners." The Crown Prince then reviewed the prisoners from three prisons in the Xuanpu Garden's Xuan Yu Hall, each with different outcomes. In his later years, the Emperor enjoyed leisure activities and feasts, delegating some of the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince and the Prince of Jingling both liked Buddhism and together built the Hall of Six Illnesses to support the poor. The Crown Prince was elegant but lived extravagantly, with the palace decorations being exquisite and luxurious, even surpassing the Emperor's palace. He also created the Xuanpu Garden, similar in size to the northern city wall of the capital, with many pavilions and towers in the garden, as well as many unique stones, creating a stunning landscape. To prevent the Emperor's palace from being seen, he planted a row of tall bamboo outside the garden, set up high walls inside, and built hundreds of concealed walls with various clever mechanisms to block the view at any time, which could be quickly constructed and taken down. The Crown Prince was also skilled in making exquisite toys, such as fur coats woven from peacock feathers, glistening brilliantly and more beautiful than pheasant feathers. He followed the example of Emperor Ming of Jin in building the Western Pond when he was a Crown Prince, and requested the Emperor's permission to build a small garden in the eastern field, which the Emperor agreed to. During the Yongming period, both the Imperial Palace and the Crown Prince's palace had abundant military forces, with soldiers and officials rotating shifts to help construct the grand palaces, gardens, and streets, attracting people from the capital to watch. Although the Emperor was strict and had many spies, no one dared to tell him about what the Crown Prince was doing. Later, when the Emperor visited the Marquis of Yuzhang, he passed by the Crown Prince's eastern field and was furious at the grand scale and magnificent scenery, arresting the officials responsible for construction. The Crown Prince, fearing repercussions, hid those people, but still faced criticism. The Crown Prince was already in poor health, with a robust physique, usually staying in the palace and rarely going out to play. He liked to fiddle with ceremonial items, often violating etiquette, even in front of the Emperor, who remained unaware.
Ten years later, Prince Wang Yi of Yuzhang passed away. The Crown Prince saw the Emperor very sad, so he wrote a memorial inscription, but it had not yet been engraved. In the eleventh year of the first month, the Crown Prince fell seriously ill. The Emperor personally went to visit him, with a worried expression on his face. When the Crown Prince was seriously ill, he submitted a memorial in which he stated, "I am lacking in wisdom and virtue, unable to uphold the noble virtues and promote good customs, often feeling anxious as if standing on the edge of a cliff. My health has always been poor, and now I am seriously ill, with a critical condition. I can only silently wait for death to come. I am unable to serve you for long, have not eaten for a long time, and miss your kind face immensely, overwhelmed with sorrow. I understand that life and death are predestined, so there is no need for excessive grief, but I earnestly ask you to mourn my passing and move forward, let go of past sorrows, take care of your health, and share peace and prosperity with the people. Even if I die and go to the underworld, I will have no regrets." The Crown Prince passed away at the age of only thirty-six.
The Crown Prince was already in his thirties, had been in the Eastern Palace for a long time, and had started to participate in political affairs. Both the court and the people thought he was about to inherit the throne. However, he passed away unexpectedly, leaving everyone in shock. The Emperor personally went to the Eastern Palace to mourn, deeply saddened, and ordered that he be buried in ceremonial robes, posthumously honored as Prince Wen Hui, buried in Chong'an Mausoleum.
When Emperor Shizu inherited the throne, while handling the Crown Prince's belongings in the Eastern Palace, it was discovered that the Crown Prince's personal belongings exceeded the prescribed standards. The Emperor was very angry, ordered the relevant authorities to destroy these items, and converted the halls of the Eastern Palace into Chongxu Pavilion. Later, as the forest thickened, the Crown Prince was posthumously honored as Emperor Wen, with the temple name Shizong.
From the outset, the Crown Prince harbored a dislike for Emperor Ming, and privately said to Prince Liang of Jingling, "I suppose his luck is running out." At that time, Prince Liang still made efforts to defend him. Later, Emperor Ming became the emperor and indeed carried out a widespread purge and persecution of the Crown Prince's former officials.
Historians commented: In ancient times, it was uncommon for fathers to weep for their sons. People live long lives, facing old age, illness, and death, which are all part of life. Moreover, the Crown Prince was the rightful heir, in the prime of his life, and his virtues were steadily improving; the royal family's foundation was solid and thriving; as a ruler who preserved the dynasty, he had already started to learn agriculture. Though he was accomplished in both literature and military affairs, his military fortunes were waning, and he died prematurely, passing the throne to a young ruler, which could easily result in turmoil for the nation. From this perspective, it could also be seen as fate.
Praise: When the two symbols descend, three stars shine in the sky. The main branch of the tree is the longest; righteousness does not seek out talent. Just like a steward of the vessel, the life it nurtures does not prolong.
