Background

Xiao Gang was born in 503, as the third son of Emperor Wu. His mother Consort Ding Lingguang (丁令光) also gave birth to Emperor Wu's firstborn son and crown prince Xiao Tong, and therefore carried a special status within his palace even though she was never empress. In 506, at the age of three, Xiao Gang was made the Prince of Jin'an. As he grew in age, he was given a number of progressively higher offices. In 526, when Consort Ding died, he resigned those offices to observe a mourning period for her, but Emperor Wu restored him to those offices before the mourning period was over.

Consort Ding's death would bring about a disastrous effect in the relationship between Xiao Gang's father Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang's brother Xiao Tong. Xiao Tong sought out an appropriate place to bury Consort Ding, but while he was doing so, a land owner bribed the eunuch Yu Sanfu (俞三副) into convincing Emperor Wu that that piece of land would bring good fortune for the emperor, and so Emperor Wu bought the land and buried Consort Ding there. However, once Consort Ding was buried, a Taoist monk informed Xiao Tong that he believed that the land would bring ill fortune for Consort Ding's oldest son—Xiao Tong. Xiao Tong therefore allowed the monk to bury a few items intended to dissolve the ill fortune, such as wax ducks, at the position reserved for the oldest son. Later on, when one of Xiao Tong's attendants, Bao Miaozhi (鲍邈之), was squeezed out of Xiao Tong's inner circles by another attendant, Wei Ya (魏雅), he, in resentment, reported to Emperor Wu that Wei had carried out sorcery on Xiao Tong's behalf. When Emperor Wu investigated, waxed ducks were found, and Emperor Wu became surprised and angry, and wanted to investigate further. He only stopped the investigation when he was advised to do so by the prime minister Xu Mian, executing only the Taoist monk who had suggested the burial of wax ducks. Xiao Tong became humiliated in the affair, and was never able to clear himself completely in his father's eyes.

Xiao Tong died in 531. Under Confucian rules of succession, his oldest son Xiao Huan (萧欢) the Duke of Huarong was expected to succeed him as crown prince, and Emperor Wu summoned Xiao Huan back to the capital Jiankang in order to do so. However, still resentful over the wax duck affair, he hesitated for days without carrying out the creation, and finally did not do so. Instead, against popular opinion, he installed Xiao Gang, his then-surviving oldest son, as crown prince. Xiao Gang's staff advisor Zhou Hongzheng (周弘正) wrote a memo to Xiao Gang advising him to decline, but Xiao Gang did not do so, although he subsequently avenged Xiao Tong's disgrace by executing Bao Miaozhi.

As crown prince

As crown prince, Xiao Gang was a distinguished poet, as well as patron of the poets Liu Zun and Xu Li (徐攡), as well as Xu Ling, the anthologist of New Songs from the Jade Terrace. The poem "Multitudinous Blossoms" by Liu Zun describes the luxurious but ultimately pitiful life of a professional male prostitute. One of the crown prince's own poems describes a languid life of lolling on an ivory inlaid bed, surrounded by feather curtains, with a male lover. Given his own writing, some have asserted that Xiao Gang was homosexual. Others have pointed to the numerous children claimed by him later in life as evidence of heterosexuality. There is no way to prove either assertion, and the notion of a powerful man pointedly limiting himself to one gender or the other would in fact have been alien in a culture where class hierarchy affected male sex lives far more than the genders of their partners. The poet Xu's writing style became known as "palace style", and initially, Emperor Wu was displeased about this development, but once Emperor Wu met Xu, he was impressed by Xu's talents, and became a patron of Xu himself as well.

It is unclear whether Xiao Gang carried out much decision-making duties in the imperial administration, as Xiao Tong did before his death. As Emperor Wu aged, Xiao Gang's younger brothers Xiao Xu (萧续) the Prince of Luling, Xiao Guan (萧纶) the Prince of Shaoling, Xiao Yi the Prince of Xiangdong, and Xiao Ji the Prince of Wuling grew less obedient of his edicts, and effectively exercised imperial powers in their provincial domains. Fearing that his brothers would seize power, Xiao Gang selected elite troops to be the palace guards for the crown prince's palace. He honored Taoist philosophies, and often lectured on the Tao Te Ching and the Zhuangzi.

In 547, the Eastern Wei general Hou Jing, in a conflict with the new regent Gao Cheng, surrendered the 13 provinces (the region between the Yellow River and the Huai River) to Liang, seeking aid from Liang. However, both Xiao Gang's cousin Xiao Yuanming the Marquess of Zhenyang, and Hou himself, were defeated by the Eastern Wei general Murong Shaozong (慕容绍宗). Xiao Yuanming was captured, while Hou fled and, surprising the Liang governor of Southern Yu Province (南豫州, modern central Anhui), Wei An (韦黯), seized the key city Shouyang (寿阳, in modern Lu'an, Anhui), the capital of Southern Yu Province. Instead of punishing Hou, however, Emperor Wu allowed him to serve as the governor of Southern Yu Province. It is unclear whether Xiao Gang was involved in making these decisions, but he was clearly informed about them, as he revealed these decisions to his assistant He Jingrong (何敬容).

Soon, however, Hou, believing that Emperor Wu, who engaged in peace talks with Eastern Wei and appeared to be willing to betray him to exchange for Xiao Yuanming, rebelled in summer 548. Hou's army quickly advanced on Jiankang, assisted by Xiao Gang's cousin Xiao Zhengde the Prince of Linhe, putting Jiankang under siege. Emperor Wu put Xiao Gang in charge of the defenses, but Xiao Gang was unsuccessful in preventing the outer city from falling. The imperial troops were forced to withdraw into the palace. When Hou then claimed that it was the corrupt official Zhu Yi that he wanted to kill, Xiao Gang confirmed that Zhu was indeed corrupt, but advised against executing Zhu in that it would serve nothing in the campaign against Hou. Soon, Hou declared Xiao Zhengde emperor. While provincial troops gathered near Jiankang to try to relieve the besieged palace, those troops, commanded by Liu Zhongli (柳仲礼) and Xiao Guan, were unsuccessful, and ultimately, after Liu was nearly killed in a battle, Liu refused to engage Hou any further, leaving the palace troops to fend for themselves. (Xiao Yi and Xiao Ji, although they each had large numbers of troops in their domains, largely stood and sent only token troops.) In winter 548, Hou's general Fan Taobang (范桃棒) offered to rebel against Hou, and while Emperor Wu was initially in favor of the idea, Xiao Gang spoke against it, and it was not carried out. Soon, Fan was killed by Hou, and an opportunity was lost.

In spring 549, Xiao Gang tried to negotiate peace with Hou, whose troops had by then tired. Hou initially agreed—with the terms being that he would be given the provinces west of the Yangtze River. However, Hou soon reneged on the peace agreement and resumed the siege of the palace. Soon, the palace fell, and Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang were effectively taken as hostages, although Hou continued to formally honor them as emperor and crown prince, despite his earlier agreement with Xiao Zhengde to have them killed. (Hou soon deposed Xiao Zhengde and killed him.) Xiao Gang's attendants all fled, except for Xu Li and Yin Buhai (殷不害). The provincial troops which had come to Jiankang's aid were disbanded, and Hou was now in control of the capital region.

Meanwhile, Emperor Wu, while he was under Hou's control, was unwilling to yield, and he refused to carry out some of the acts that Hou wanted him to. Xiao Gang tried to urge Emperor Wu to follow Hou's requests, but Emperor Wu refused. Hou put Emperor Wu under closer guard, and Emperor Wu, in anger, soon grew ill and died. (Some historians believe that Hou starved Emperor Wu to death.) Xiao Gang did not dare to weep for Emperor Wu's death, and Hou made him emperor to succeed Emperor Wu (as Emperor Jianwen).

As emperor

Emperor Jianwen was formally recognized by the governors of the provinces not under Hou's control, but they saw his edicts as coerced and not binding on them, and they continued to resist Hou, and yet at the same time fought each other for territorial control and were largely ineffective when Hou attacked them, allowing Hou to seize additional territory. Eastern Wei (and its successor state Northern Qi, established in 550 as Gao Cheng's brother Gao Yang seized the throne from Emperor Xiaojing) largely seized the Liang provinces north of the Yangtze. Emperor Jianwen himself tried to foster a relationship with Hou, to ensure his own safety, and in 550, he married his daughter the Princess Liyang to Hou as Hou's wife. Hou favored the princess greatly, and for the time being, the emperor appeared safe. He created his oldest son Xiao Daqi crown prince. However, Hou still kept the emperor under heavy guard, and only several officials, including his cousin Xiao Zi (萧谘) the Marquess of Wulin, Wang Ke (王克), and Yin Buhai were allowed to see him. Meanwhile, most of the provincial governors eventually accepted the command of Emperor Jianwen's brother Xiao Yi the Prince of Xiangdong, the governor of Jing Province (荆州, modern western Hubei).

In summer 550, Hou sent his general Ren Yue (任约) to try to conquer the central empire. Ren first defeated and captured Emperor Jianwen's son Xiao Daxin (萧大心) the Prince of Xunyang and governor of Jiang Province (江州, modern central and northern Jiangxi), and then continued on to try to attack Xiao Yi's territory. When Ren was unable to prevail against Xiao Yi's general Xu Wensheng (徐文盛), and Hou himself commanded a force to aid Ren. In winter 550, while Hou was away from Jiankang, Emperor Jianwen's nephew Xiao Huili plotted with his brother Xiao Aili (萧乂理), the general Liu Jingli (柳敬礼), and Emperor Jianwen's cousins Xiao Quan (萧劝) the Marquess of Xixiang and Xiao Mian (萧勔) the Marquess of Dongxiang, to start a rebellion at Jiankang and overthrow Hou Jing's lieutenant Wang Wei. The plot was discovered, however, and Xiao Huili and his coconspirators were executed by Wang. While Wang could not show that Emperor Jianwen was involved, Hou and Wang became even more suspicious of Emperor Jianwen thereafter. In fear, Wang Ke and Yin stopped seeing the emperor, but Xiao Zi continued. In response, Hou had Xiao Zi assassinated. Emperor Jianwen believed that eventually he would be killed as well, and he commented as such to Yin.

Removal and death

In summer 551, Hou was again aiding Ren, taking Xiao Daqi with him as hostage. Initially, with Hou backing him, Ren took the important city of Jiangxia (江夏, in modern Wuhan, Hubei), and Hou next approached Xiao Yi's headquarters at Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei). However, Hou's forces then became bogged down while trying to siege Baling (巴陵, in modern Yueyang, Hunan), with Xiao Yi's general Wang Sengbian successfully defending Baling. Soon, Hou's food supplies ran out, and his forces collapsed. Ren was captured, and two other key generals, Song Zixian (宋子仙) and Ding He (丁和) were killed. Hou fled back to Jiankang.

Hou, believing that his days of power might be numbered, wanted to become emperor. Meanwhile, Wang had disputes with Emperor Jianwen's daughter Princess Liyang, and believing that she would eventually harm him, persuaded Hou that he should remove the emperor to show off his power. In fall 551, Hou deposed Emperor Jianwen and demoted him back to the title of Prince of Jin'an, and made Xiao Huan's son Xiao Dong the Prince of Yuzhang emperor. Hou had all of Emperor Jianwen's sons who were under his control, including Xiao Daqi the Crown Prince, executed. (He soon regretted these actions, and considered restoring Emperor Jianwen to the throne and making Xiao Dong crown prince, but Wang persuaded him not to do so.) He put Emperor Jianwen under house arrest.

During the house arrest period, Emperor Jianwen, filled with sadness and fear, wrote several hundred poems—and because he was not given paper to write on, wrote the poems on the walls and screens of his residence. Less than two months after Emperor Jianwen's removal, Wang persuaded Hou that Emperor Jianwen must be removed, and Hou sent Wang, Peng Jun (彭隽), and Wang Xiuzuan (王修纂) to visit Emperor Jianwen one night. Emperor Jianwen, knowing what their intentions were, feasted and drank with them, becoming very intoxicated. Once he fell asleep, they suffocated him, and then placed him in a makeshift casket, storing the casket in a brewery. In 552, after Wang Sengbian captured Jiankang, he had Emperor Jianwen's casket placed in the palace and then buried with imperial honors.

Era name

• Dabao (大宝 dà bǎo) 550-551

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Jianwenjian, of the Wang clan of Langya (简文简皇后 琊琅王氏; 505–549), personal name Lingbin (灵宾)

　• Xiao Daqi, Crown Prince Ai (哀皇太子 萧大器; 524–551), first son

　• Xiao Dalian, Prince Nan (南王 萧大连; 527–551), fifth son

　• Princess Changshan (长山公主), personal name Miaohong (妙纮)

• Furen, of the Zuo clan (夫人 左氏; d. 537)

　• Xiao Dalin, Prince Nanhai (南海王 萧大临; 527–551), fourth son

　• Xiao Dachun, Prince Anlu (安陆王 萧大春; 530–551), sixth son

• Furen, of the Xie clan (夫人 谢氏)

　• Xiao Daya, Duke Liuyang (浏阳公 萧大雅; 533–549), 12th son

• Furen, of the Zhang clan (夫人 张氏)

　• Xiao Dazhuang, Prince Xinxing (新兴王 萧大庄; 534–551), 13th son

• Furen, of the Fan clan (夫人 范氏)

　• Xiao Dawei, Prince Wuning (武宁王 萧大威; 539–551), 15th son

• Furen, of the Chen clan (夫人 陈氏; d. 544)

　• Xiao Daxin, Prince Yi'an (义安王 萧大昕; 541–551), 18th son

• Furen, of the Zhu clan (夫人 朱氏)

　• Xiao Dazhi, Prince Suijian (绥建王 萧大挚; 542–551), 19th son

• Shufei, of the Fan clan (淑妃 范氏)

　• Princess Liyang (溧阳公主; b. 536)

　　• Married Hou Jing (503–552) in 549

• Xiurong, of the Chen clan (淑容 陈氏)

　• Xiao Daxin, Prince Xunyang (浔阳王 萧大心; 523–551), second son

• Zhaohua, of the Bao clan (昭华 包氏)

　• Xiao Dajun, Prince Xiyang (西阳王 萧大钧; 539–551), 14th son

• Xiuhua, of the Chu clan (修华 褚氏)

　• Xiao Daqiu, Prince Jianping (建平王 萧大球; 541–551), 17th son

• Meiren, of the Pan clan (美人 潘氏)

　• Xiao Daxun (萧大训; 540–549), 16th son

• Unknown

　• Xiao Dakuan, Prince Linchuan (临川王 萧大款), third son

　• Xiao Dacheng, Prince Guiyang (桂阳王 萧大成; b. 531), eighth son

　• Xiao Dafeng, Prince Runan (汝南王 萧大封; b. 531), ninth son

　• Xiao Dahuan, Prince Jinxi (晋熙王 萧大圜; 542–581), 20th son

　• Princess Nansha (南沙公主)

　　• Married Yuan Xian of Chen (陈郡 袁宪; 529–598)

　• Princess Yuyao (馀姚公主)

　　• Married Wang Pu of Langya (琊琅 王溥) in 549

　• Princess Haiyan (海盐公主), ninth daughter

　　• Married Zhang Xi of Fanyang (范阳 张希)

　• Princess Anyang (安阳公主), 11th daughter

　　• Married Zhang Jiao of Fanyang (范阳 张交)

Ancestry

生平

梁简文帝萧纲生于天监二年十月丁未（503年12月2日），最早封为晋安王，食邑八千户。天监八年（509年），任云麾将军，领石头戍军事。天监九年（510年），以轻车将军改任使持节、都督南北兖、青、徐、冀五州诸军事、宣毅将军、南兖州刺史。天监十二年（513年），入朝任宣惠将军、丹阳尹。天监十三年（514年），出为使持节、都督荆、雍、梁、南北秦、益、宁七州诸军事、南蛮校尉、荆州刺史。天监十四年（515年），改任为都督江州诸军事、云麾将军、江州刺史，持节如故。天监十七年（518年），征为西中郎将、领石头戍军事，不久复任宣惠将军、丹阳尹，加侍中。

普通元年（520年）冬，出任为使持节、都督益、宁、雍、梁、南北秦、沙七州诸军事、益州刺史；还未赴任，又改授云麾将军、南徐州刺史。普通四年（523年），改任使持节、都督雍、梁、南北秦四州郢州之竟陵司州之随郡诸军事，平西将军、宁蛮校尉、雍州刺史。普通五年（524年）正月辛卯，进号安北将军。普通七年（526年），擢升都督荆、益、南梁三州诸军事。

大通二年（528年），萧纲趁北魏发生尔朱荣之乱上表请求北伐，收复新野、南阳，写信说降北魏南荆州刺史李志，北魏北青州刺史元隽等也投降，于是拓地千里，武帝为此大赦天下；中大通二年（530年）正月，征为都督南扬、徐二州诸军事、骠骑将军、扬州刺史。次年萧统病故之后被封为皇太子。

548年侯景叛乱，萧纲助守台城，梁武帝因自认为年老，授权萧纲主军国大事。侯景部下仪同三司范桃棒在被俘的云旗将军陈昕劝说下图谋率所部袭杀侯景部下行台左丞王伟、部将宋子仙，再去建康投降。范桃棒写信射入建康城中，再秘密派陈昕趁夜吊绳入城。武帝大喜，但萧纲担心有诈，犹豫不决。范桃棒又派陈昕写信说：「现在仅带所领五百人，如果到城门，都自己脱甲，乞求朝廷开门赐容。事成之后，保证擒侯景。」萧纲见其恳切，愈发生疑。结果事泄，范桃棒被杀，陈昕出城接应后也被擒杀。

侯景攻陷台城后，梁武帝于549年被饿死，但是侯景认为目前仍然不能自立为皇帝，便拥立萧纲为皇帝，但是梁简文帝萧纲不过是侯景的傀儡，侯景平时对他十分防范，只允许他的堂弟卫尉卿武林侯萧谘、仆射王克、通事舍人殷不害这些文弱者出入卧室和他讲谈论议。次年梁简文帝萧纲想取《周易》「内文明而外柔顺，以蒙大难，文王以之」之意改元「文明」以示自己被劫持，又担心侯景觉察到，最后改元大宝。十一月，萧纲侄南康王萧会理因谋杀侯景被告发而被杀，王克、殷不害惧祸，稍稍疏远了他，只有萧谘不离开梁简文帝萧纲，不时朝请，侯景怀疑梁简文帝萧纲知道萧会理的图谋，派人刺杀萧谘。551年八月戊午（10月2日），侯景派人废梁简文帝萧纲为晋安王，改立豫章王萧栋为皇帝，并大量杀死梁简文帝萧纲诸子；梁简文帝萧纲被囚禁于永福省。侯景曾有意复立梁简文帝萧纲，被劝止。梁简文帝萧纲被废后两个月，梦到吞土，很不快，告诉殷不害让他试著解梦。殷不害说晋文公重耳流亡在外时得到当地人所送的土块，后来回到晋国，此梦当是此兆。梁简文帝萧纲希望此言不虚，但不久（天正元年十月壬寅，551年11月15日）就被侯景派人用土袋压死，享年49岁。

侯景事后为梁简文帝萧纲上諡号曰明皇帝，庙号高宗，梁元帝在552年追諡萧纲为简文皇帝，庙号太宗。

文学造诣

萧纲本人文学造诣很高，雅好诗赋，有大量咏物、宫体、闺怨之作，其中五言诗最多，并且与萧子显、萧绎、徐擒、庾肩吾等人形成宫体诗流派，萧纲是宫体诗的代表。侯景攻入建康期间，曾经「募人出烧东宫，东宫台殿遂尽。所聚百橱图籍，一皆灰烬」。

其曾于《菩提树颂序》中著有「悲哉六识，沉沦八苦，不有大圣，谁拯慧桥」的名句。

家庭

父母

父母

• 梁武帝萧衍

• 丁令光，其子萧纲继位后，追尊其为穆太后

兄弟

• 长兄 萧统：皇太子→皇帝（追尊），字德施，谥昭明太子→昭明皇帝

• 第二兄 萧综：豫章郡王，字世谦

• 第四弟 萧绩：南康郡王，字世谨，谥简王

• 第五弟 萧续：庐陵郡王，字世欣，谥威王

• 第六弟 萧纶：邵陵郡王，字世调，谥携王/忠壮王

• 第七弟 萧绎：湘东郡王→皇帝，字世诚，谥孝元皇帝

• 第八弟 萧纪：武陵郡王→皇帝，字世询，谥贞献王

后妃

皇后

• 王灵宾：萧纲当太子时的太子妃，于萧纲登基前逝世，萧纲登基前后追封为皇后。

妃嫔

• 范淑妃：生溧阳公主

• 褚修华：生建平王萧大球

• 陈淑容：生浔阳王萧大心

• 包昭华：生西阳王萧大钧

• 左夫人：生南海王萧大临、安陆王萧大春

• 谢夫人：生浏阳公萧大雅

• 张夫人：生新兴王萧大庄

• 范夫人：生武宁王萧大威

• 陈夫人：生义安王萧大昕

• 朱夫人：生绥建王萧大挚

儿女

儿

• 长子 萧大器：宣城王→哀太子

• 二子 萧大心：当阳公→寻阳王

• 三子 萧大款：石城公→江夏王→临川王

• 四子 萧大临：宁国公→南海王

• 五子 萧大连：临城公→南郡王

• 六子 萧大春：西丰公→安陆王

• 八子 萧大成：新淦公→山阳王→桂阳王

• 九子 萧大封：临湘公→宜都王→汝南王→（北周）晋陵公

• 十二子 萧大雅：浏阳公

• 十三子 萧大庄：高唐公→新兴王

• 十四子 萧大钧：西阳王

• 十五子 萧大威：武宁王

• 十六子 萧大训

• 十七子 萧大球：建平王

• 十八子 萧大昕：义安王

• 十九子 萧大挚：绥建王

• 二十子 萧大圜：乐梁王→晋熙王→（北周）始宁公

• 第七、十、十一子早亡，未命名。

女

• 南沙公主：下嫁袁宪

• 萧妙紘：长山公主

• 溧阳公主：母范淑妃。后为侯景之妃。

• 馀姚公主：下嫁王溥

• 第九女 海盐公主：下嫁张希

• 第十一女 安阳公主：下嫁张交，又称定阳公主。

参考资料及注释

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