Early life

When Guo Wei was born in 904 in Yaoshan (尧山; in modern Longyao County, Hebei), the Tang Dynasty had disintegrated into regions controlled by warlords fighting amongst one another. Guo was just a toddler when his family moved to Taiyuan (in modern Shanxi), as his father Guo Jian (郭简) became the prefect (刺史) of Shunzhou (顺州, modern Shunyi District, Beijing), serving the Taiyuan-based warlord Li Keyong. Shortly afterwards, Guo Jian was killed by warlord Liu Rengong's forces which conquered Shunzhou, and before Guo Wei's deciduous teeth fell out his mother Lady Wang (王氏) also died. Orphaned, the young boy was raised by a distant relative, Lady Han (韩氏).

Guo Wei grew up into a muscular young man interested more in warfare than agriculture. He was also fond of drinking and gambling and frequently participated in brawls. When he was around 17, to escape arrest, he went to live with an acquaintance Gentleman Chang (常氏) in Huguan close to Luzhou (潞州, modern Changzhi, Shanxi), shortly before joining the army of Luzhou's interim regent (留后) Li Jitao. Li Jitao was serving Jin, ruled by Li Keyong's son Li Cunxu, but actually plotting to defect to the Later Liang, Jin's archenemy. He was therefore more interested in recruiting brave and talented soldiers than enforcing the law, so when an inebriated Guo stabbed a menacing marketplace butcher to death following an argument, he let Guo walk free, eventually summoning Guo back to serve him.

Career under Later Tang

In 923, Li Cunxu established the Later Tang and overthrew Later Liang. Li Jitao was killed a few months later and all of his former soldiers, including 19-year-old Guo Wei, were assigned to the cavalry rotations. As Guo was literate and good at mathematics, he soon became an officer. He delved into the available literature on military strategy as much as he could, particularly enjoying Spring and Autumn Annals for a Wider World (阃外春秋), recommended by a blood brother Li Qiong (李琼).

In 927, the Later Tang emperor Li Siyuan personally led an army to suppress Zhu Shouyin's rebellion. Guo Wei, then under the leadership of general Shi Jingtang, was among the first soldiers scaling the defensive wall of Xun (in modern Henan). Shi saw Guo's literary talents and tasked him to manage military records. Guo proved very popular among generals and ministers.

Career under Later Jin

Later Tang was replaced by the Later Jin in 936.

Career under Later Han

The Later Han was founded by a Shatuo Turk by the name of Liu Zhiyuan, posthumously known as Gaozu of Later Han. Guo Wei was already familiar with life under the Shatuo Turks as he had lived under their rule since he was nineteen years old. He served as the Assistant Military Commissioner to the founder of the Later Han. However, when a teenager assumed the throne in 948, court intrigue enabled Guo to usurp the throne in a coup and declare himself the founding Emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty on New Year』s Day in 951 (11 February in the modern calendar).

Reign

He was the first Han Chinese Emperor in northern China since 923. His rule was able and he passed reforms that attempted to relieve pressures on China』s massive peasantry. His rule was vigorous and well-organized. However, he died from an illness three years into his reign in 954.

Family

Ancestry

• 1st son, no mention in historical texts, most likely died young

• Guo Qingge (郭青哥), 2nd son, almost certainly still a child when he was killed in 950 by Liu Chengyou

• Guo Yige (郭意哥), 3rd son, almost certainly still a child when he was killed in 950 by Liu Chengyou

• 1st daughter, no mention in historical texts, most likely died young

• 2nd daughter, no mention in historical texts, most likely died young

• 3rd daughter, killed in 950 by Liu Chengyou

• 4th daughter, married Zhang Yongde

• 5th daughter, died before 951

出身

其出身不详，父为后晋时的顺州刺史郭简，母王氏。《旧五代史》记载一说，称其本姓常，随母改嫁入郭简家，因而改姓郭姓。《新五代史》称其母本来是郭简之妻，后来改嫁常氏。

生平

唐天佑元年七月二十八日（904年9月10日）郭威生于尧山，父为后晋时的顺州刺史郭简，母王氏。或说本姓常，幼时随母亲改嫁郭简，故改姓郭。3岁时徙家太原，不久郭简被杀，郭威成为孤儿，由姨母韩氏抚养。他身材魁梧，习武好斗。其时李继韬在潞州招募兵勇，郭威前去投军，得到李继韬的赏识。郭威在闹市与一名欺压市场的屠户争执，醉酒而杀之，原应斩首，李继韬怜其才勇，暗中将其释放，而后又召之，任为幕僚。

平定后汉乱事

947年契丹灭后晋，沙陀人刘知远起兵太原，建国后汉，郭威为邺都（今河北大名县）留守。刘知远称帝不到一年即死去，其子刘承佑继位，拜郭威为枢密副使。乾佑元年（948年）三月河中（今山西永济）李守贞、永兴（今陕西西安）赵思绾及凤翔（今陕西凤翔）王景崇相继反汉，郭威陆续平定乱事，赵思绾投降，李守贞、王景崇自焚。

建立后周

乾佑三年（950年）四月，郭威以枢密使出任邺都留守、天雄军节度使之际，隐帝疑忌大臣，乘郭威在外时下诏将开封城内郭威（当时郭威已有成年的儿子）、郭威养子郭荣和王峻的全家屠杀殆尽，还派邺都行营马军都指挥使郭崇威去杀郭威、王峻。

清赵翼谓之：「五代乱世，本无刑章，视人命如草芥，动以族诛为事」。 枢密使院吏魏仁浦劝郭威先发制人。同年十一月，郭威发动兵变，隐帝出逃之时被其部将郭允明所杀。后郭威进京，让太后李三娘主政，郭威起初想拥立刘知远之子刘承勋为帝，百官皆同意，但是太后以刘承勋身体羸弱不能继承大统拒绝，众人无奈，只能迎宗室刘贇为帝，但是郭威与其父刘崇不和，但假意同意。之后因为辽主耶律阮得知后汉内乱，派兵南下，镇州邢州二州被辽军所扰后，上报京城请求救援，郭威向李太后禀报情况后带兵北征。郭威领兵从汴梁出发，走到滑州，遇上刘贇从徐州劳军的特使，这让郭威心中感到气愤，觉得刘贇太过心急，还没上位，就想要拉拢人心，最终加以拒绝。诸将明白郭威心中意图，不肯接受赏赐，私下说道：「我等屠戮京师，自知不法，如果刘氏复立，还有我等活路吗？」。郭威大军来到澶州的时候，正准备在早上开拔行军，军士大噪，军士们翻墙而入进入郭威营中，表达了复立刘氏的担忧，没等郭威回应，军士们就扯下了杆上的黄旗，披在了郭威的身上，然后大呼万岁。郭威假装无奈，和军士们约法三章，带兵折返汴梁，逼迫太后授为「监国」，夺得国政。郭威凭藉演出「黄旗加身」的戏码，让士兵拥护自己称帝，建立了后周，建都汴京（今河南省开封市），改元广顺，废刘贇为湘阴公，将其软禁杀害。

郭威建立后周后，下诏减免赋税，并且带头节俭，禁止进献奇货，把宫中的珍玩宝物当众打碎，以示自己和之前喜好奢侈的帝王不同。郭威厚待后汉宗室和尊重刘知远，但他同时也废除了后汉留下的苛政和酷刑。并且极力推动恢复农业生产，使得当时的编户增加了三万多。郭威谦逊地重用了很多文臣，他广招人才、励精图治，得魏仁浦、李谷、王溥、范质等辅臣。郭威改观了自唐末动乱以来军人跋扈乱政的情况，为后周之后的鼎盛打下了坚实基础，并为北宋的繁荣开了好头。

广顺三年（953年），封郭荣为晋王。广顺四年（954年），周太祖郭威去世，享年50岁，死前托付自己丧事一切从简，切勿叨扰百姓。因亲生儿子全都被刘承佑杀害，由养子暨妻侄晋王柴荣继位。

家庭

妻妾

周太祖三任嫡妻及一位妾室，一为皇后三为妃，且皆是夫死再嫁的寡妇，赵翼谓之：「统计前后四娶，皆再醮妇，亦不可解也。」

• 发妻，柴皇后

• 继妻，杨淑妃

• 继妻，张贵妃

• 妾室，董德妃

女官或妃嫔

• 尚宫、尚食为女官名，国夫人、郡夫人、县君在五代时，可为妃嫔封号。

• 广顺（951年）元年八月，丙辰，尚宫皇甫氏等三人并封国夫人，司记刘氏等六人并封郡夫人，尚食李氏等宫官八人并封县君

• 尚仪赵氏，封沂国夫人

• 尚服苏氏，封岐国夫人

• 尚宫甫氏或皇甫氏，封汾国夫人

• 司宾高氏，封渤海郡夫人

• 司宾柴氏，封平阳郡夫人

• 司宾茹氏，封颖川郡夫人

• 司记丁氏，封陇西郡夫人

• 司记刘氏，封彭城郡夫人

• 典宝李氏，封陇西县君

• 司宝王氏，封琅琊县君

• 司正李氏，封陇西县君

• 司正王氏，封琅琊县君

• 尚食椰氏，封陇西县君

• 尚功曹氏，封钜鹿县君

• 司衣李氏，封陇西县君

• 司药林氏，封会稽县君

• 司药翟氏，特封郡阳县君

子女

;子

• 长子 剡王郭侗，初名郭青哥，后汉末遇害。太祖即位，诏赠太尉，赐名侗。显德四年追封。

• 次子 巳王郭信，太祖子，初名郭意哥，后汉末遇害。太祖即位，诏赠司空，赐名信。显德四年追封。

史书将其记作次子、三子，是因为将养子郭荣算作长子。

;女

• 第三女，乐安公主，为后汉所害，广顺元年二月追封，至显德四年四月，又追封莒国长公主。

• 第四女，寿安公主，下嫁张永德，广顺元年四月封，至显德元年，封晋国长公主。

• 第五女，永宁公主，广顺元年九月追封，至显德四年四月，又追封梁国长公主。

其他晚辈亲属

• 侄郭守筠，为刘承佑所害，赠左领军卫将军，因「筠」与「荣」音近，追改名郭守愿，又赠左卫大将军

• 侄郭奉超，为刘承佑所害，赠左监门卫将军、右卫大将军

• 侄郭定哥，为刘承佑所害，赠左千牛卫将军，追赐名郭逊，又赠右武卫大将军

• 内侄柴荣，郭威元配柴皇后之侄，即后周世宗

• 外甥李重进，郭威姐姐福庆长公主之子

• 女婿张永德，郭威女儿寿安公主之夫

• 内甥曹彬，郭威第三任妻张贵妃之甥，北宋建国宰相

注释