ENTRIES

Xiao Bi 蕭賁 (d. 549), zi Wenhuan 文奐

Southern Liang literatus.

Xiao Bi’s personal name is also read Ben. Xiao Bi’s ancestral home was Nan Lanling 南蘭陵 (northwest of modern Changzhou). His grandfather Xiao Ziliang 蕭子良 (460–494) was Prince of Jingling 竟陵 of the period. His father Xiao Zhaozhou 蕭昭冑 (d. 501) was killed at end of the Southern Qi. Xiao Bi showed a talent for scholarship at an early age. He was also a skilled writer, calligrapher, and painter. He was well known for the miniature landscapes he painted on fans. Xiao Bi began his official career in the law section in the administration of Xiao Yi 蕭繹 (508–554), Prince of Xiangdong 湘東. In 549, the forces of the rebel leader Hou Jing 侯景 (503–552) surrounded the capital Jiankang. Xiao Bi offended Xiao Yi by advising him to send troops to rescue the captured city. He further offended the prince by commenting on the war proclamation that Xiao Yi issued against Hou Jing’s army. In a rage, Xiao Yi ordered Xiao Bi put into prison where he died of starvation. Xiao Bi’s biography in the Nan shi (44.1106) mentions that Xiao Bi compiled a work titled Xijing zaji 西京雜記 (Diverse notes on the Western Capital) in sixty-juan. This is the same title of a collection of anecdotes about Western Han period Chang’an which has been variously attributed to Liu Xin 劉歆 (d. 23), Ge Hong 葛洪 (28 3–363), and Wu Jun 吳均 (469– 520). Lao Kan and William Nienhauser accept the attribution to Xiao Bi. The monograph on bibliography of the Sui shu lists Xiao Bi’s Bianlin 辯林 (Grove of argumentation) in twenty juan, which was also lost already in the Tang. This seems to be a collection of persuasions. His only extant poem “Chang’an dao” 長安道 (Road to Chang’an) is included in the Wenyuan yinhua, Yuefu shiji, and Xian Qin Han Wei Jin Nanbeichao shi.

Bibliography

Studies Lao Kan 勞幹. “Lun Xijing zaji zhi zuozhe ji chengshu shidai” 論西京雜記之作者及 成書時代. Zhongyang yanjiuyuan lishi yuyan yanjiusuo jikan 33 (1962): 19–34. 1468 xiao bi 蕭賁 (d. 549), zi wenhuan 文奐

Nienhauser, William H., Jr. “Once Again, the Authorship of the Hsi-ching tsa-chi 西京雜記 (Miscellanies of the Western Capital).” JAOS 98 (1978): 219–36. Cao Daoheng and Shen Yucheng, Zhongguo wenxuejia dacidian, 389–90. Cao Daoheng and Shen Yucheng, Zhonggu wenshi ziliao congkao, 694–95.

Works

a. “Chang’an dao 長安道 (Road to Chang’an)

Study Shu Peng 舒朋. “Xiao Bi ‘Chang’an dao’ shi xiaojian” 蕭賁《長安道》詩小箋. Shoudu shifan daxue xuebao (Shehui kexue ban) (2001: 1): 32.

TPK

Xiao Cen 蕭岑 (fl. 540–580), zi Zhiyuan 智遠

Later Liang and Sui period literatus.

Xiao Cen’s ancestral home was Nan Lanling 南蘭陵 (northwest of modern Changzhou. His father Xiao Cha 蕭詧 (519–562) was the third son of Xiao Tong 蕭統 (501–531), Crown Prince Zhaoming 昭明 of Liang. Xiao Cen was the eighth son of Xiao Cha, Emperor Xuan 宣 (r. 554–562) of the Later (or Western) Liang in 554. When Xiao Cha passed away, his third son Xiao Kui 蕭巋 (542–585) succeeded to the throne. Xiao Cen served as defender-in-chief in his brother’s court. He was a simple but noble person, and handled administrative matters in a meticulous manner. In 585, Xiao Kui passed away and was succeeded by his son Xiao Cong 蕭琮 (d. 607). Xiao Cen’s brief biography in the Zhou shu (48.867) mentions that after Xiao Cong ascended the throne, Xiao Cen abused his seniority and prestige to engage in illegal activities. During the early , he was appointed general-in-chief and granted the title Duke of Huaiyi com- mandery. Xiao Cen’s only extant poem “Zhao ge xing” 櫂歌行 (Boatman’s song) is included in the Yuefu shiji and Xian Qin Han Wei Jin Nanbeichao shi.

Bibliography

Studies Cao Daoheng and Shen Yucheng, Zhongguo wenxuejia dacidian, 385.

TPK