Emperor Wu of Liang (Xiao Yan)

Reigned forty-eight years, devoted to Buddhism, gave himself to Tongtai Temple four times, and died in the Hou Jing Rebellion.

Life

Eight Friends of Jingling

Xiao Yan was a member of the Southern Qi royal house, learned and talented, and was counted with Shen Yue, Xie Tiao and others among the "Eight Friends of Jingling." When the Qi court fell into chaos at the end of the dynasty, he rose in revolt in Yong Province, stormed Jiankang and in 502 CE founded the Liang dynasty by abdication.

Golden Age of Liang

In the early part of his reign he was diligent in government, rising at the fourth watch in winter to read official documents until his hands were chapped from the cold; he cleaned up the bureaucracy and valued education. In 507 CE Wei Rui and Cao Jingzong crushed Northern Wei at Zhongli, and the Liang dynasty's prestige reached its peak. Southern culture flourished most under the Liang, and Xiao Tong compiled the Selections of Refined Literature.

Hou Jing Rebellion

In his later years he was fervently devoted to Buddhism, giving himself to Tongtai Temple four times, each time redeemed by the court at enormous cost; he was too lenient toward the royal clan and officials, and government became corrupt. In 548 CE the surrendered general Hou Jing rebelled and captured Taicheng in Jiankang, and Xiao Yan, trapped there, starved to death at the age of eighty-six.

Legacy

Emperor Wu of Liang reigned for 48 years, the longest of any Southern Dynasties emperor, and Southern culture reached its peak under him; but his late-life obsession with Buddhism and his indulgence let the Liang dynasty collapse swiftly in the Hou Jing Rebellion. The line "480 Temples of the Southern Dynasties" describes exactly this era.

Major works & achievements

• Founded the Liang dynasty
• Crushed Northern Wei at the Battle of Zhongli
• Compiled the Liang Code

Did you know? He urged monks to abstain from meat, establishing the vegetarian tradition of Chinese Buddhism.

Key dates

• 502Founded the Liang dynasty by abdication
• 507Crushed Northern Wei at the Battle of Zhongli
• 527First gave himself to Tongtai Temple
• 547Took in Hou Jing, a surrendered Eastern Wei general
• 548Hou Jing Rebellion
• 549Fall of Taicheng; trapped and starved to death