Lu Xiufu
Encyclopedia
Lù Xiùfū courtesy title Junshi (君实/君實), was a statesman and military commander during the final years of the Chinese
Song Dynasty
. Originally from Yancheng (modern day Jianhu County
) in Jiangsu Province, along with Wen Tianxiang
and Zhang Shijie
, he is regarded as one of the "Three heroes of the late Song Dynasty".
, Lu passed the Imperial examination
, thus becoming a "presented scholar" or Jinshi (进士), and thereafter joined the Ministry of Rites
as a vice-minister.
The temporary capital of the Song at Lin'an
in Guangdong
fell to Mongol
invaders from the north in 1276 CE, and the five-year-old Emperor Gong
was taken prisoner. Together with Chen Yizhong
, Zhang Shijie and Yang Fei (杨妃), amongst others, Lu took care of the two sons of Emperor Duzong of Song, seven year old Zhao Shi (赵昰) and four year old Zhao Bing (赵昺). Later the same year at Fuzhou
in Fujian Province, Zhao Shi was enthroned as Emperor Duanzong of Song
and began his Jingyang Era (景炎 literally: bright flame). Emperor Duanzong appointed Lu as military advisor to the Privy Council
with the task of continuing resistance to the Mongols.
After the emperor died at the age of ten in 1278 CE, Lu and Zhang Shijie together enthroned his younger brother as Emperor Huaizong of Song whilst Empress Dowager Yang (杨太后) effectively ran the court from behind a screen. Lu became Prime Minister of the West (左丞相) and ran the government together with Zhang Shijie.
In 1279 CE, the second year of Emperor Huizong's Xiangxing Era (祥兴 literally: auspicious start), Mongol General Zhang Hongfan
launched a large scale naval offensive against the Song at Mount Ya (modern day Yamen
) forcing the emperor to flee. During the ensuing Battle of Yamen
on March 19, 1279 CE, the entire Song army and navy were totally wiped out. When the eight-year-old emperor heard the news he was terrified and cursed the disorder of his armed forces.
Lu, unwilling to be taken captive by the Mongols, first ordered his wife to commit suicide then advised the emperor:
With that, Lu gave the young emperor his seal, picked him up in his arms and jumped from a cliff into the sea, killing them both. Many imperial concubines and ministers also died and by July there were tens of thousands of corpses floating in the sea. Thus ended the Southern Song Dynasty.
, Guangdong Province.
Today in Jiangmen City
, Guangdong Province there stands a memorial hall to the "Three heroes of the late Song Dynasty". There is also a shrine to the Three heroes in the Shuangxi District of New Taipei City, Taiwan. Built in 1868 during the reign of Qing Dynasty
Emperor Tongzhi, the Three Loyalists Temple (三宗庙/三忠廟) is the religious center of the township.
This article is based on a translation of 陆秀夫 in Chinese Wikipedia.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
. Originally from Yancheng (modern day Jianhu County
Jianhu County
Jianhu County , located in 33º27'49"N 119º47'40"E, is one of the nine counties of Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China...
) in Jiangsu Province, along with Wen Tianxiang
Wen Tianxiang
Wen Tianxiang , Duke of Xinguo, was a scholar-general in the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty. For his resistance to Kublai Khan's invasion of the Song, and for his refusal to yield to the Yuan Dynasty despite being captured and tortured, he is a popular symbol of patriotism and...
and Zhang Shijie
Zhang Shijie
Zhang Shijie was a 13th century Chinese admiral and government official during the Mongol invasion of China.Born to a prosperous family in Hebei, Zhang's family moved into Song China because his father had committed a crime in Jin...
, he is regarded as one of the "Three heroes of the late Song Dynasty".
Life
In 1256 CE, together with Wen TianxiangWen Tianxiang
Wen Tianxiang , Duke of Xinguo, was a scholar-general in the last years of the Southern Song Dynasty. For his resistance to Kublai Khan's invasion of the Song, and for his refusal to yield to the Yuan Dynasty despite being captured and tortured, he is a popular symbol of patriotism and...
, Lu passed the Imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
, thus becoming a "presented scholar" or Jinshi (进士), and thereafter joined the Ministry of Rites
Ministry of Rites
The Ministry of Rites was one of the Chinese Three Departments and Six Ministries which existed from the time of the Tang Dynasty until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 brought an end to Imperial China. Prior to its formation, the tasks given to the Ministry were assigned to officials such as the...
as a vice-minister.
The temporary capital of the Song at Lin'an
Lin'an City
Lin'an City is a county-level city in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. It is located in northwestern Zhejiang....
in Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
fell to Mongol
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
invaders from the north in 1276 CE, and the five-year-old Emperor Gong
Emperor Gong of Song
Emperor Gong of Song Emperor Gong of Song Emperor Gong of Song (1271- unknown (possibly 1323), born Zhào Xiǎn (趙顯), was the 7th Emperor of the Chinese Southern Song Dynasty. He reigned from 1274 until his abdication in 1276 CE when he was succeeded by his elder brother, Emperor Duanzong of Song....
was taken prisoner. Together with Chen Yizhong
Chen Yizhong
Chén Yízhōng , was a Prime Minister of the Chinese Empire during the final years of the Song Dynasty.-Life:...
, Zhang Shijie and Yang Fei (杨妃), amongst others, Lu took care of the two sons of Emperor Duzong of Song, seven year old Zhao Shi (赵昰) and four year old Zhao Bing (赵昺). Later the same year at Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
in Fujian Province, Zhao Shi was enthroned as Emperor Duanzong of Song
Emperor Duanzong of Song
Emperor Duānzōng was the eighth and penultimate emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty of China who reigned from 1276 to 1278 and died at the early age of ten. He was also known as the "Nation Establishing Duke " ....
and began his Jingyang Era (景炎 literally: bright flame). Emperor Duanzong appointed Lu as military advisor to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
with the task of continuing resistance to the Mongols.
After the emperor died at the age of ten in 1278 CE, Lu and Zhang Shijie together enthroned his younger brother as Emperor Huaizong of Song whilst Empress Dowager Yang (杨太后) effectively ran the court from behind a screen. Lu became Prime Minister of the West (左丞相) and ran the government together with Zhang Shijie.
In 1279 CE, the second year of Emperor Huizong's Xiangxing Era (祥兴 literally: auspicious start), Mongol General Zhang Hongfan
Zhang Hongfan
Zhang Hongfan was a Han Chinese general of the Mongol Empire in China. As commander of the Mongol army and navy, he annihilated the Southern Song by crushing the last Song resistance at the Battle of Yamen in 1279, where he is said to have captured 8000 enemy vessels...
launched a large scale naval offensive against the Song at Mount Ya (modern day Yamen
Yamen (town)
Yámén is a town lying in the south of Xinhui District of Jiangmen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. It covers an area of 281 square kilometers and has a population of 40,000....
) forcing the emperor to flee. During the ensuing Battle of Yamen
Battle of Yamen
The naval Battle of Yamen took place on 19 March 1279 and is considered to be the last stand of the Song Dynasty against the invading Mongol-controlled Yuan Dynasty...
on March 19, 1279 CE, the entire Song army and navy were totally wiped out. When the eight-year-old emperor heard the news he was terrified and cursed the disorder of his armed forces.
Lu, unwilling to be taken captive by the Mongols, first ordered his wife to commit suicide then advised the emperor:
With that, Lu gave the young emperor his seal, picked him up in his arms and jumped from a cliff into the sea, killing them both. Many imperial concubines and ministers also died and by July there were tens of thousands of corpses floating in the sea. Thus ended the Southern Song Dynasty.
Legacy
Lu's descendants moved through many places before settling down in Qiangang Village (钱岗村), Conghua CityConghua
Conghua , historically known as Tsungfa, is a County-level city in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.-External links:*...
, Guangdong Province.
Today in Jiangmen City
Jiangmen
Jiangmen , is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong province in southern China with a population of about 4.48 million in 2010. The 3 urban districts are now part of Guangzhou - Shenzhen built up area.-Names:...
, Guangdong Province there stands a memorial hall to the "Three heroes of the late Song Dynasty". There is also a shrine to the Three heroes in the Shuangxi District of New Taipei City, Taiwan. Built in 1868 during the reign of Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
Emperor Tongzhi, the Three Loyalists Temple (三宗庙/三忠廟) is the religious center of the township.
See also
- History of the Song DynastyHistory of the Song DynastyThe Song Dynasty of China was a ruling dynasty that controlled China proper and southern China from the middle of the 10th century into the last quarter of the 13th century...
- Society of the Song DynastySociety of the Song DynastyChinese society during the Song Dynasty was marked by political and legal reforms, a philosophical revival of Confucianism, and the development of cities beyond administrative purposes into centers of trade, industry, and maritime commerce...
- Culture of the Song DynastyCulture of the Song DynastyThe Song Dynasty was a culturally rich and sophisticated age for China. There was blossoming of and advancements in the visual arts, music, literature, and philosophy...
- List of Song Emperors
Further reading
- Giles, Herbert Allen (1939). A Chinese biographical dictionary (Gu jin xing shi zu pu). Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh. (see here for more)
External links
- Xiufu memorial hall
- China 7 BC To 1279
- Song Dynasty at China Heritage Quarterly
- Song Dynasty at bcps.org
This article is based on a translation of 陆秀夫 in Chinese Wikipedia.