{ "id": "epm5d0exx9", "slug": "yu-liang", "title": "Yu Liang", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.history", "label": "History and archaeology", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history" }, { "id": "society.history.asia", "label": "Asian history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia" }, { "id": "society.history.asia.china", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia.china" }, { "id": "society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k", "label": "Eastern Jin and the Sixteen Kingdoms (304 to 439)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k" }, { "id": "society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events", "label": "Eastern Jin politics and events", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events", "label": "China · 500 BC to AD 999: Eastern Jin politics and events", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events", "path": [ { "id": "geo.chn", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500", "label": "China · 500 BC to AD 999", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society.history", "label": "History and archaeology", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society.history" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia", "label": "Asian history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china", "label": "China", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k", "label": "Eastern Jin and the Sixteen Kingdoms (304 to 439)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k" }, { "id": "geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events", "label": "Eastern Jin politics and events", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.chn.t500.society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Yu Liang (庾亮), courtesy name Yuangui, was an Eastern Jin statesman and general, brother of Empress Mingmu and dominant regent for the young Emperor Cheng.", "snippet": "Yu Liang (庾亮), courtesy name Yuangui, was an Eastern Jin statesman and general, brother of Empress Mingmu and dominant regent for the young Emperor Cheng.", "node": "society.history.asia.china.e-jin-16k.eastern-jin-politics-and-events", "markdown": "# Yu Liang\n\nYu Liang (庾亮), courtesy name Yuangui (元规), was a statesman and general of the [Eastern Jin](https://www.edgepedia.org/eastern-jin) dynasty (东晋), the elder brother of Empress Mingmu (明穆皇后), and the dominant figure at the court of the young Emperor Cheng during the regency of the late 320s.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) • [2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) His biography is in 《晋书》卷七十三, and he appears prominently in 《资治通鉴》卷九十三.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) • [2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Modern reference works describe him as a high minister of the Eastern Jin who served several young emperors as regent, from a family of Yingchuanyanling (颍川鄢陵).[3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html) • [4](https://open.cnkgraph.com/People/%E6%99%8B%E6%9C%9D/%E5%BA%BE%E4%BA%AE/7230)\n\n| Key facts | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Identity | Yu Liang, courtesy name Yuangui; elder brother of Empress Mingmu; son of Yu Chen (庾琛)[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) |\n| Dynasty and rulers | Eastern Jin; entered service under Emperor Yuan (元帝) when the latter was 镇东, later served Emperor Ming (明帝) and the young Emperor Cheng (晋成帝) as co-regent[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) • [2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) • [3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html) |\n| Principal offices | 中书监, 中书令, 护军将军, and 左卫将军[5](https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html) • [2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) |\n| Campaigns | Against Wang Dun (王敦) (as 左卫将军 against Qian Feng (钱凤), then pursuing Shen Chong (沈充)); the defense against Su Jun (苏峻)[5](https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html) • [2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) |\n| Defining decision | Summoning Su Jun to the capital against the advice of the whole court, triggering the Su Jun rebellion[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) |\n| Surviving work | His memorial 《让中书令表》 is preserved in the anthology 《文选》[3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html) |\n\n## Origins and family\n\nThe standard history records that Yu Liang was the elder brother of Empress Mingmu and that his father Yu Chen is recorded in the same history.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) It describes him as handsome and fond of discussion, devoted to the texts of Zhuang Zi (庄子) and Lao Zi (老子), severe and punctilious in bearing and conduct, so that his household was ordered without harshness.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) At sixteen he was offered a post as aide by Donghaiwangyue (东海王越) and declined it.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo)\n\n## Career\n\nWhen Emperor Yuan, then holding the title 镇东, heard of Yu Liang's reputation he recruited him as 西曹掾, and later arranged for Yu Liang's sister to become the crown prince's consort.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo)\n\n**Under Emperor Ming and the Wang Dun crisis.** [Wang Dun](https://www.edgepedia.org/wang-dun) inwardly deeply mistrusted Yu Liang while outwardly honoring him; Yu Liang, fearful, left office on grounds of illness, and then replaced [Wang Dao](https://www.edgepedia.org/wang-dao) (王导) as 中书监.[5](https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html) When Dun raised troops, Yu Liang was made 左卫将军 and fought against Qian Feng.[5](https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html) When Shen Chong fled, the 《资治通鉴》 records that Yu Liang was ordered to supervise Su Jun and others in the pursuit of Shen Chong at Wuxing (吴兴).[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) After the victory he was enfeoffed as Duke of Yongchang County (永昌县开国公) with a gift of 5,400 bolts of silk, which he declined.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) \n\n**Regency.** At Emperor Ming's death Yu Liang was named among the ministers charged with the young emperor's succession, and was reappointed 中书令.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) The empress dowager, his sister, took charge of the court, with Wang Dao, Yu Liang, and Bian Hu (卞壶) sharing the government, but the 《资治通鉴》 states plainly that the essentials of policy were all decided by Yu Liang.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Modern accounts date this co-regency with Wang Dao for the young Emperor Cheng to 325.[3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html)\n\n**The Su Jun rebellion.** Yu Liang came to distrust both Su Jun, the powerful interior commander at Liyang (历阳) with ten thousand crack troops, and Zu Yue (祖约), and resolved to summon Su Jun to the capital.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Wang Dao advised tolerating him; Bian Hu alone objected openly at court, warning that Su Jun held a strong army close to the capital; Wen Jiao sent letter after letter to stop him; the whole court thought the move unwise. Yu Liang ignored them all.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Su Jun allied with Zu Yue and rebelled; his generals Han Huang (韩晃) and Zhang Jian (张健) seized Gushu (姑孰) and its salt and rice stores, and Yu Liang regretted the decision too late.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Yu Liang was given the staff of authority as 都督征讨诸军事, stationed his brother [Yu Yi](https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-yi) (庾翼) with several hundred men at Shitou (石头), and sent a force to hold Cihu (慈湖).[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093)\n\n## Political influence\n\nYu Liang's regency changed the character of the Eastern Jin court. The 《资治通鉴》 contrasts Wang Dao's lenient style, which won men over, with Yu Liang's years in power, when he governed by strict application of law and lost much popular support.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) According to the *Zizhi Tongjian*, his elimination of Nandunwangzong (南顿王宗), a close kinsman of the imperial house whom he suspected of plotting, and the demotion of the former regent-prince associated with him, cost him the allegiance of men near and far; the young emperor learned of the killing only later, and asked Yu Liang what would happen if people said the emperor's uncle himself was a rebel.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) His decision to summon Su Jun, taken against the entire court, produced the rebellion that sacked the capital.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) • [3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html)\n\n## Military style\n\nAccording to the 《晋书》, against Wang Dun he held the 左卫将军 command against Qian Feng,[5](https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html) and was ordered to supervise Su Jun and others in the pursuit of Shen Chong.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Against Su Jun his dispositions were defensive, spreading forces between Shitou and Cihu; the history records that he rejected a proposal from Kong Tan (孔坦) and Tao Hui (陶回) to seize the passes first while the rebels were absent, and the rebels struck first at Gushu.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093)\n\n## Death, titles, and heirs\n\nAt his burial [He Chong](https://www.edgepedia.org/he-chong) (何充) exclaimed, in the history's words, that burying a jade tree in the earth was more than human feeling could bear.[5](https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html)\n\n## Assessment\n\nThe standard history presents a man of severe personal discipline who repeatedly declined titles, silk gifts, and high office.[1](https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo) • [6](https://deltoi.com/zh/twenty-four-histories/jinshu/chapter-73) The 《资治通鉴》's narrative, however, records that his legalistic rule and his killing of the Prince of Nandun cost him hearts, and that his summons of Su Jun was opposed by every senior figure at court.[2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) One low-credibility web encyclopedia attributes a systematic \"Xianhe reform\" to him; the standard histories support only the shift from Wang Dao's leniency to strict law, and that claim is not adopted here.[7](https://www.wenxueyuedu.cn/jinchao/157516645096.html) • [2](https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093) Modern accounts give the emperor's age at the succession as six sui.[3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html)\n\n## Legacy\n\nYu Liang's memorial 《让中书令表》, declining the headship of the secretariat, was judged fine enough to enter the canonical anthology 《文选》, and a Confucian ritual text of his appeared in the Tang encyclopedia 《艺文类聚》.[3](http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html) \n\n## References\n\n1. 晋书卷七十三 (识典古籍). https://www.shidianguji.com/zh/book/HY2029/chapter/1kw0oyn0umqyo\n2. 《资治通鉴》卷九十三, Wikisource transcription. https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/資治通鑑/卷093\n3. \"Yu Liang 庾亮\", chinaknowledge.de. http://chinaknowledge.org/History/Division/personsyuliang.html\n4. 人物 庾亮 (中国知识基础设施人物条目). https://open.cnkgraph.com/People/%E6%99%8B%E6%9C%9D/%E5%BA%BE%E4%BA%AE/7230\n5. 卷七十三·列传第四十三 (东里书斋《晋书》). https://donglishuzhai.net/chapter/1203.html\n6. 卷073 Book of Jin (Jinshu), Deltoi. https://deltoi.com/zh/twenty-four-histories/jinshu/chapter-73\n7. 《庾亮政治手腕与晋朝权力格局》, 大地人文百科网 (low-credibility source, cited only as a claim not adopted). https://www.wenxueyuedu.cn/jinchao/157516645096.html\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › History and archaeology › Asian history › China › Eastern Jin and the Sixteen Kingdoms (304 to 439) › Eastern Jin politics and events*\n\n*Initially written Sep 23, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Yu Liang\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Yu Liang](https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang](https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Yu Liang\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/yu-liang. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Yu Liang, courtesy name Yuangui, was an Eastern Jin statesman and general, brother of Empress Mingmu and dominant regent for the young Emperor Cheng." }