#ws100

[WS100]

Gong's great grandson Weigong likewise could see from birth. People considered him to resemble his great grandfather Gong, and for that reason named him as Weigong. In Gaogouli they refer to resembling each other as “Wei”. Weigong likewise was brave and strong, and at ease with bow and horse. In the middle of Wei's Zhengshi [240 – 249], he entered to rob Anping in Liaoxi, and was routed by the Inspector of You province, Muqiu Jian.

His great-great-grandson was Yifuli. Li's son was Zhao. In the time of Emperor Lie [329 – 337], he and the Murong clan attacked and struck each other. 4th Year of Jianguo [341 AD], Murong Yuanzhen led the multitudes to invade them. He entered through the southern pass, fought at Mudi and greatly routed Zhao's army. He exploited the victory for a long advance, and thereupon entered Wandu. Zhao fled and ran away on a single horse. Yuanzhen dug up Zhao's father's tomb, and carried off his corpse, he also carried off his mother and wife, precious treasure, men and women, more than 50 000 people. He burnt his palace houses, destroyed Wandu City, and turned back. Afterwards, Zhao dispatched envoys to come to court. They were hindered and cut off by robbers and foes, and were unable to arrive from [him]. Zhao later was killed by Baiji [Baekje].

In the time of Shizu, Zhao's great-grandson Lian first dispatched an envoy to [the General who] Calms the East to offer a petition to tribute the things of the region, and also to request the state's taboo [characters]. Shizu was delighted with their earnest sincerity. He decreed to send down the imperial lineage's external names and taboos to their state. He dispatched the Outer Staff Cavalier Attendant Gentleman Li Ao to designate Lian Chief Controller of the Various Army Affairs of Liaohai, General who Conquers the East, Acting Central Gentleman Commander who Protects the Eastern Barbarians, State-Founding Duke of Liaodong commandery, and King of Gaogouli.

Ao arrived at his residence at Pingrang [i.e. Pyongyang] City, and inquired into their region's affairs. He stated: South-east of the Liao, more than a thousand li, east until Zha City, south until the Lesser Sea, north until old Fuyu. The population and households has tripled since the time of Former Wei. Their land is 2 000 li from east to west, and more than 1 000 li from north to south. The people have all sprung from the land. They go along with the mountains and valleys, and live there. Fore clothes they use cloth, silk and hides. The native farmland is meagre and poor. Their silk-work and farming are insufficient to provide for themselves, and for that reason their people are modest with food and drink. Their customs are joyful [?], they are fond of singing and dancing. At night, men and women crowd together for entertainment without ranking of the noble and the humble. However when cleaning and purifying they enjoy themselves. Their king is fond of arranging palace buildings. His named officials have the titles of Yeshe, Taishe, Great Brother, and Junior Brother. On their heads they wear twisted style, shaped like a conical cap, and on the sides they insert bird feathers, noble and humble each proportionally. If standing up, they turn back with folded hands. When they kneel to do obeisance, they trail one foot. They travel on foot like they are running. They always use the 10th Month to worship Heaven, and within the state there is a great assembly. At their public gatherings, their clothes and dress area always brocaded and embroidered, with gold and silver as decorations. They are fond of squatting and crouching. When eating they use trays and low tables. They produce a three foot [tall] horse, they state it was originally ridden by Zhumeng, and the horse breed as a result has come down [from it?]. After, tribute was sent soon after each other, annually they delivered 200 jin yellow gold and 400 jin white silver.

At the time Feng Wentong [the final ruler of Northern Yan] led the multitudes to run to them [in 436 AD], Shizu dispatched the Cavalier in Regular Attendance Feng Bo with a decree to Lian ordering him to send off Wentong. Lian sent up a letter claiming he undertook to serve the royal reforms together with Wentong, and in the end did not sent him off. Shizu was furious, and wished to go and chastise him. Hte King of Leping, Pi, and others debated waiting and launch it later. Shizu therefore desisted, and Wentong also soon after was killed by Lian.

Later Empress Dowager Wenming, as Xianzu's Six Palces were not yet made ready, counselled Lian to make him recommend his daughter. Lian offered a petition, stating his daughter was already married, and beseech to use his younger brother's daughter in response to the directive. The imperial court allowed it, and therefore dispatched the King of Anle, Zhen, the Master of Writing, Li Fu, and others to reach the border and send off the gifts.

Lian was tricked by the advise of his left and right, stating that the imperial court formerly had intermarried with the Feng clan, but then not much later wiped out their state. The lessons of Yin were not remote, they ought to just then conveniently decline it. Lian thereupon sent up a letter falsely claiming the girl had died. The imperial court suspected him of concealing trickery, and again dispatched the Provisional Cavalier in Regular Attendance Cheng Jun to sternly call him to account, and if the girl really was dead, attend to select in replacement [someone] gentle of his lineage. Lian stated that if the Son of Heaven forgave his previous errors, he would respectfully undertake to serve the decree. It happened that Xianzu collapsed, and he therefore desisted.

[LS54]

Yiyimo died, his son Weigong was installed. Weigong was brave and strong, at ease with saddles and horses, and good at shooting and hunting. Wei's 2nd Year of Jingchu [238 AD], they dispatched the Grand Tutor, Sima King Xuan [i.e. Sima Yi], to lead the multitudes and chastise Gongsun Yuan. Weigong dispatched the Master of Account and Great Assigner in command of a thousand troops to help the army. 3rd Year of Zhengshi [242 AD], Weigong robbed Xi'an and Jiaping. 5th Year [244 AD], the Insepctor of You province, Muqiu Jian, in command of ten thousand people, set out from Xuantu to chastise Weigong. Weigong in command of 20 000 foot and horse confronted the army, and there was a great battle at Feiliu. Weigong fled in defeat. Jian's army pursued until Xian. They hung up their chariots, bound their horses, and climbed Wandu Mountain. They slaughtered those that were in the capital, the cut off heads and captives numbered more than ten thousand. Weigong only brought along his wife and children to run far away. 6th Year [245 AD], Jian again chastised him. Weigong lightly brought along the various Assigners to run to Woju. Jian sent General Wang Qi to pursue him. He cut across Woju for more than a thousand li, arrived in the southern regions of Sushen, and carved a rock to record his merits. He again reached Wandu Mountain, inscribed the walls of Bunai, and then turned back. After that, they again communicated with the Central Xia.

In the chaos of Jin's Yongjia era [307 – 313], the Xianbei Murong Hui occupied Daji City in Changli, Emperor Yuan conferred on him Inspector of Ping province. The King of Gouli, Yifuli, frequently robbed Liaodong, and Hui was not able to put it in order.

Fuli died, his son Liu was installed in replacement. Emperor Kang's 1st Year of Jianyuan [343 AD], Murong Hui's son Huang led troops to invade him. Liu fought with him, was greatly defeated, and ran and fled on a single horse. Huang exploited the victory to pursue until Wandu, burnt his palace houses, and seized more than 50 000 boys to return home.

Xiaowu's 10th Year of Taiyuan [385 AD], Gouli attacked Liaodong and Xuantu commanderies. Murong Chui of Later Yan dispatched his younger brother Nong to invade Gouli, he restored the two commanderies. Chui died, his son Bao was installed. He used the King of Gouli, An, as Shepherd of Ping province, and ennobled him King of the two states of Liaodong and Daifang. An started to set up the offices of Senior Clerk, Marshal, and Army Advisor, and afterwards roughly had Liaodong commandery.

Arriving at his grandson, Gaolian, he in the middle of Emperor An of Jin's Yixi era [405 – 418], first offered a petition to exchange tribute and duties.

[SuiS081]

Gaoli's ancestor sprung from Fuyu. The King of Fuyu once obtained the daughter of Hebo, and following that had her shut up inside a room. She was followed by the sun's light, which shone on her. She felt it and consequently became pregnant. She gave birth to a large, and there was a boy who broke the shell and came out. His name was Zhumeng. Fuyu's ministers, since Zhumeng had not been born by a person, all requested to kill him. The king did not heed them. Growing up, because he accompanied on hunts, he caught normally a large amount, and they again requested to kill him. His mother reported it to Zhumeng, and Zhumeng abandoned Fuyu and fled south-east. He came to one great river, deep and impossible to cross. Zhumong said:

I am truly the maternal grandson of Hebo, and the son of the son. Now there are difficulties, and pursuing troops are about to catch up. How about getting to cross?

And so fish and turtles piled up and completed a bridge, and Zhumong thereupon crossed. The pursuing riders did not mange to ferry over, and turned back.

Kaw-kjuH-ljejH springs from Pju-yo. They themselves say their first ancestor was Tsyu-muwng. Tsyu-muwng's mother was the daughter of Ha-paek [“Elder River”?]. She was shut inside a room by the King of Pju-yo, and was shone on by the sun. She pulled back her body to avoid it, the image from the sun again chased after her. Then she became pregnant, and gave birth to an egg, large as five dou. The King of Pju-yo threw it away to the dogs. The dogs did not eat it. He threw it away to the pigs, the pigs also did not eat it. He threw it away on the road, cattle and horses avoided it. Later he threw it away in the wilderness, the multitude birds used their plumage to embrace it. The King of Pju-yo sliced and cut it, but was unable to break it. Thereupon he returned it to its mother. Its mother used materials to wrap it up, and set it up in warm place. Then there was a boy who broke through the shell and came out.

When he reached adulthood, he was courtesy named Tsyu-muwng. In their customs, the word Tsyu-muwng is “Good at Shooting”. The people of Pju-yo considered Tsyu-muwng not to be born of humans, and might have marvellous aspirations, so they requested to eliminate him. The King did not listen, and instructed him to rear horses. Tsyu-muwng always secretly tested them, and knew which were good or bad. For the good steeds, he reduced their food to make them thin. The old and worn horses he reared good to make them fat. The King of Pju-yo used the old ones to ride himself, and the thin ones he gave to Tsyu-muwng. Later, during a winter hunt in the field, since Tsyu-muwng was good at shooting, he limited him to a single arrow. Tsyu-muwng, though his arrows were few, the beasts he killed were very many. The subjects of Pju-yo again planned to kill him. Tsyu-muwng's mother secretly knew about it, and informed Tsyu-muwng, saying:

The state want to murder you, since you have talents and schemes. [You] ought to go far away into the four regions.

Tsyu-muwng therefore together with 'U-yinX and 'U-hjw+j, two persons, abandoned Pju-yo, and ran south-east. In the middle of the road they came across a great river. They wished to cross, but there was no bridge. The people of Pju-yo pursued them with considerable urgency. Tsyu-muwng announced to the river, saying:

I am truly the son of the son and the maternal grandson of Ha-paek. Today [I am] running away, pursuing troops are about to catch up. What about getting to cross?

On the surface fish and a turtles floated side by side, making them a complete bridge. Tsyu-muwng got across the fish, and the turtles then let loose, so the pursuing riders did not get to cross.

Tsyu-muwng thereupon arrived at the PhuX-zywit River, where he happened to see three people. One person wore hemp clothes, on of them wore patched up clothes, one of them wore seaweed clothes. They and Tsyu-muwng arrived at Hwot-sying-kwot City. Thereupon he settled there, and titled it Kaw-kjuH-ljejH. Following that, he considered it to be his clan name.

Earlier, at the time when Tsyu-muwng was in Pju-yo, his wife got pregnant. After Tsyu-muwng had fled, she gave birth to a child, his courtesy name at first was Ljo-heaj. Reaching adulthood, he learned that Tsyu-muwng was the ruler of a state. He promptly absconded with his mother and returned to him. He named him Ljo-dat and entrusted him with the affairs of state. Tsyu-muwng died, Ljo-dat was installed in replacement. Ljo-dat died, his son Nyo-ljet was installed in replacement. Nyo-ljet died, his son Mak-loj was installed in replacement. He then campaigned against Pju-yo. Pju-yo was greatly defeated, and thereupon was governed and belonged to him.

Mak-loj's sons and grandsons propagated each other, until his descendant Kjuwng. From birth he opened his eyes and yet was able to see. The people of the state hated him. Reaching adulthood, he was brutal and cruel, the state hence was broken and ruined.

Kjuwng's great grandson HwijH-kjuwng likewise could see from birth. People considered him to resemble his great grandfather Kjuwng, and for that reason named him as HwijH-kjuwng. In Kaw-kjuH-ljejH they refer to resembling each other as “hwijH”. HwijH-kjuwng likewise was brave and strong, and at ease with bow and horse. In the middle of Ngjw+jH's TsyengH-syiX era [240 – 249], he entered to rob 'An-bjaeng in Lew-sej, and was routed by the Inspector of 'Jiw province, MuwX-khjuw GjaemX.

His great-great-grandson was 'It-pjut-lijH. LijH's son was Tsyew. In the time of Emperor Ljet [329 – 337], he and the MuH-yowng clan attacked and struck each other.

The state of Wuji is to the north of Gaojuli, it is the old state of Sushen. The towns and family groups each have their own chiefs, they are not collected into one. Their people sturdy and fearless, among the eastern barbarians they exceedingly strong. Their words and speech are unique and unusual. They often make light of the various states of the Doumolou. The various states likewise troubled by them. The distance to Luo is 5 000 li. 200 li north from Helong is Shanyu Mountain. 13 days travel north from the mountain [you] arrive at Qili Mountain. Travelling again north for 7 days [you] arrive at the Luohuan river. The river wide is more than a li wide. Travelling north again for 15 days [you] arrive at the Tailu River. Travelling north-east again from 18 days [you] come to their state.

The state has a great river, 3 li wide, named the Sumo River. Their land is inferior and wet. They build cities and live in caves, their houses resembles the shape of tombs, with opening on their top. They use ladders to set out and enter. Their state has no cattle, they have chariots and horses. When planting, they pair up to plough,when [driving] a chariot, they push it forward on foot. They have foxtail millet, wheat/barley and non-glutinous millet, for vegetables they have mallow. The rivers and air are salty and frozen [?]. Salt form on top of the trees, there likewise are salt ponds. They have many pigs but no sheep. They chew [?] grain to ferment beer, when they drink it they are able to become drunk .

The married women have cloth skirts, the men and children have fur garments of pigs and dogs. At the evening when they begin to be married, the man goes to the woman's house, grasps the woman's breasts, and then stop. Right there it is considered settled, and they carry on as husband and wife.

They are good at shooting and hunting. Their bows are 3 chi long and the arrows 2 cun long. They use stone as arrowheads. When their father or mother dies in spring or autumn, they establish a burial for them, and on top of the tomb they construct a roof, so to not make it rain on it. If it is autumn or winter, they use the corpse to catch marten. The martens eat their flesh, and they get many of them.

Often, in the 7th or 8th Month, they prepare poisonous herbs to spread out on arrow shafts and arrowheads, to shoot birds and beasts. Those hit readily die. During cooking, the vapours from the poisonous herbs are likewise able to kill people.

South of their state is  Tutai Mountain, Wei speaks of it as “Great August [dahuang]”. It has tigers, leopards, brown bears, and wolves that do not harm people. People do not get to urinate or pollute on the mountain. Those who travel by the mountain,  all consider it brimming with things.

The state of Shiwei is 1 000 li north of the Wuji. The distance from Luo is 6 000 li. On the road setting out north from Helong, after 1 000 li [you] enter the state of Qidan. Again travelling north for 10 days, you arrive at Chuo River. Again travelling north for 3 days there is the Gai River. Again travelling north for 3 days there is the Dule Mountain. That mountain is tall and great, its circumference is more than 300 li. Again travelling north for 3 days there is a great river called Quli. Again travelling north for 3 days you arrive at Ren River. Again travelling north for 5 days, you come to their state. There is a great river following north and then comes, 4 li wide, it is called the Ji River.

The state's soil is inferior and wet. Their language is similar to the states of Kumoxi, Qidan and Doumolou. They somewhat have foxtail millet, wheat/barley, and non-glutinous millet. They only eat pigs and fish, but rear cattle and horses. In their customs there also are no sheep. In summer then the cities are settled, in winter they chase water and grass. They likewise have much marten skins. They employ horn bows, their arrow shafts are especially long.

Women when married are restricted from setting out, they make interlaced fingers chignons [?]. In their state there are few stealing thieves. For theft one punishes three [?]. From those who kill people are demanded 300 horses. Men and women are thoroughly dressed in jackets and trousers of white deer skin. They have intricately brewed beer. Their customs are fond of red gems, they are decorations for the married women. They pierce to hang them on their necks, they consider many to be nobke. Girls that do not get these therefore do not reach marriage. When their father or mother dies, the sons and daughters assemble to weep for three years, the corpse is then set up on top of a tree in the forest.

The state of Doumolou is 1 000 li north of the state of Wuji. The distance to Luo is 6 000 li. It is the old north Fuyu. They are to the east of the Shiwei, to the east of them you come to the sea. The area is 2 000 li square. The earth is suitable for the Five Grains, but does not produce the Five Fruits. Their chiefs and nobles are by nature strong and brave, their prudence is substantial and they do not rob or confiscate. Their lords and chiefs all use the Six Livestock to name officials. The towns and family groups have prominent leaders. When drinking and eating they likewise employ trays and cups. They have hemp cloth. The tailoring of the clothes are exalted and gorgeous, and the bands are great. The Great Men of their state use gold and silver to decorate them.

They employ punishment which is strict and quick, those who kill people die, and they take possession of their family members to be male and female slaves. Their customs are excessive, they particularly detest jealous married women. The jealous ones they kill, and the corpses are put on a mountain to the south of their state to rot. If the woman's family wish to get [it], they deliver up cattle and horses, and then they are given her.

Some say it was originally the land of Huimo.

The state of Wuluohou is to the north of the Didouyu. The distance to the Dai capital is 4 500 li. Their soil is inferior and wet. There is much fog and vapours, and it is cold. The people in winter then dig out the earth to make a room. In summer they then follow the uplands with prolific livestock shepherding. They have many pigs, and have grain and wheat/barley. They have no great lords or chiefs, among the section groups there are none where this has not always been the case. Their custom is to praise setting forth [?], they have skin clothes and used gems as ornaments.

The people are of surpassing bravery, they are not deceptive or thieving. For that reason they are slow to hoard or store up in the wilderness, and there are no bandits or thieves. They are fond of hunting and shooting. For music they have harps. [They make] wood troughs with a leather face, and apply nine strings.

To the north-west of their state is the Wan River. It flows north-east to combine into the Nan River. The small rivers of their land all flow into the Nan. To the east it joins into the sea. Again travelling north-west for 20 days there is the Yini Great River, it is spoken of as the Northern Sea.

Shizu's 4th Year of Zhenjun [443 AD], they came to court. They claimed that north-west of their state were the old burial grounds of the House of State's Former Emperors. There was a stone chamber, 90 paces from south to north, and 40 paces east to west, 70 chi tall. In the room were gods and spirits, and the people very much prayed and made requests to them. Shizu dispatched the Attendant Gentleman of the Palace Writers, Li Chang, to make announcements and sacrifice to them. He carved a written supplication into the walls of the chamber and turned back.