Background

Tuoba Jun was born in 440, when his father Tuoba Huang was the crown prince of his grandfather, Emperor Taiwu. (Some historical sources give his birthdate as 448, a date that appears rather unlikely because that would make him only six years older than his son, Emperor Xianwen.) His mother, Consort Yujiulü, was the sister of the general Yujiulü Pi (郁久閭毗), who had been a member of the Rouran royal house but who had surrendered to Northern Wei. When he was little, he was much favored by his grandfather Emperor Taiwu, and often accompanied Emperor Taiwu, even on military campaigns. While he carried no official titles, he was known as the Prime Imperial Grandson (嫡皇孫). Around the new year 452, after his father Tuoba Huang had died in 451 after falling ill over his fear of false accusations by the eunuch Zong Ai, Emperor Taiwu created him the Prince of Gaoyang, but then reconsidered, believing that a princely title was inappropriate for his oldest grandson, and therefore cancelled the title—signifying strongly that he intended for Tuoba Jun to succeed him.

However, Zong Ai, in fear that Emperor Taiwu would punish him over his false accusations against Crown Prince Huang, assassinated Emperor Taiwu in spring 452, and, skipping over Tuoba Jun, made Tuoba Huang's younger brother Tuoba Yu the Prince of Nan'an emperor. Zong controlled all important matters of state, and when Tuoba Yu, displeased about Zong's arrogance, tried to strip him of power in fall 452, Zong assassinated him as well. The officials Dugu Ni (獨孤尼), Yuan He, Baba Kehou (拔拔渴侯), and Buliugu Li, however, then overthrew Zong and executed him, making Tuoba Jun emperor at the age of 12, as Emperor Wencheng.

Early reign

He was four years old when he became emperor. Immediately following Emperor Wencheng's taking the throne, it appeared that the high-level officials began internecine struggles against each other, as for several years officials would be put into honored positions, only to be executed days or months later. These included senior officials held over from Emperor Taiwu's administration as well as those who had accomplished much in putting Emperor Wencheng on the throne, and included:

• Tuoba Shoule (拓拔壽樂), chief commander (winter 452)

• Baba Kehou, a major participant in the coup bringing Emperor Wencheng to the throne (winter 452)

• Tuxi Bi (吐奚弼), prime minister under Tuoba Yu (winter 452)

• Zhang Li (張黎), chief commander under Tuoba Yu (winter 452)

• Tuoba Zhouniu (拓拔周忸) the Prince of Leling, chief commander (winter 452)

• Duguhun Yuanbao (獨孤渾元寶) the Prince of Jingzhao (spring 453)

• Tuoba Chong (拓拔崇) the Prince of Jianning, Emperor Wencheng's granduncle, and his son Tuoba Li (拓拔麗) the Prince of Ji'nan (spring 453)

• Yujiulü Ruowen (郁久閭若文) the Prince of Puyang (fall 453)

• Tuoba Ren (拓拔仁) the Prince of Yongchang, Emperor Wencheng's distant uncle (fall 453)

• Tuoba Ba (拓拔拔) the Prince of Leping, Emperor Wencheng's distant uncle (spring 455)

It appeared that Yuan He and Buliugu Li were the key victors out of these struggles, for not only did they not suffer during the infighting, but became exceedingly honored late in Emperor Wencheng's reign. Both they and Dugu Ni were created princes. Whether Emperor Wencheng himself was involved in these internecine struggles is unclear, although the edicts were issued in his name. Yuchi Juan (尉遲眷), already a decorated general during Emperor Taiwu's reign, also became powerful.

Another characteristic of Emperor Wencheng's reign was that he often toured the provinces throughout his empire.

In winter 452, Emperor Wencheng's mother Consort Yujiulü died, and he subsequently posthumously honored his parents as emperor and empress.

Around the new year 453, Emperor Wencheng, a Buddhist, officially ended the prohibitions against Buddhism that Emperor Taiwu had instituted in 445 (which became known as the first of Three Disasters of Wu), and he personally performed tonsure on five monks. However, as per the traditions instituted by Emperor Taiwu, he also publicly received Taoist amulets in spring 454.

In spring 453, Emperor Wencheng honored his wet nurse Lady Chang as empress dowager, and treated her brothers as if they were his biological uncles.

In fall 454, Emperor Wencheng's concubine Consort Li gave birth to his oldest son Tuoba Hong. In 456, he created another imperial consort, Consort Feng, empress and created Tuoba Hong crown prince—and then, pursuant to Northern Wei tradition, ordered Tuoba Hong's mother Consort Li to commit suicide.

In winter 458, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack against Rouran, but considered abandoning it when his troops encountered a snow storm. At Yuchi Juan's urging (arguing that a withdrawal would unduly signal weakness to Rouran), however, Emperor Wencheng continued, and while he was not able to deal a major defeat to Rouran's Chuluo Khan Yujiulü Tuhezhen, a number of Rouran tribesmen surrendered. Meanwhile, in his absence, his generals Feng Chiwen (封敕文) and Pi Baozi (皮豹子) engaged Liu Song forces near the Ji River (濟水, the route of which had been overtaken by the Yellow River in modern times), with inconclusive results.

Late reign

In summer 460, Emperor Wencheng's wet nurse Empress Dowager Chang died.

Also in summer 460, based on advice given by Cao An (曹安) the Marquess of Dingyang, Emperor Wencheng launched a major attack on Tuyuhun's khan Murong Shiyin (慕容拾寅), who had drawn Northern Wei officials' ire by accepting commissions by both Northern Wei and Liu Song and by showing off his wealth. The commanding generals were Emperor Wencheng's brother Tuoba Xincheng (拓拔新成) the Prince of Yangping and Li Hui (李惠) the Duke of Nan Commandery. However, while the armies were able to capture a large number of livestock, Murong Shiyin received advance warning and was able to flee into the mountains, and the armies also suffered from illnesses.

In 464, while on one of his tours to various parts of the empire, Emperor Wencheng personally attended a Gaoche tribal ceremony to sacrifice to the heavens, and the Gaoche people were very pleased.

In summer 465, Emperor Wencheng died and was succeeded by his son Tuoba Hong (as Emperor Xianwen). Power soon fell into the hands of the official Yifu Hun, who tried to monopolize power and executed a number of other officials, including Buliugu Li, but in 466 was in turn ambushed by Emperor Wencheng's wife Empress Dowager Feng.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Wenming, of the Feng clan of Changle (文明皇后 長樂馮氏; 441–490)

• Empress Yuan, of the Li clan of Dunqiu (元皇后 頓丘李氏; d. 456)

　• Tuoba Hong, Emperor Xianwen (獻文皇帝 拓跋弘; 454–476), first son

• Furen, of the Li clan (夫人 李氏)

　• Tuoba Changle, Prince Anleli (安樂厲王 拓跋長樂; d. 479), second son

• Furen, of the Cao clan (夫人 曹氏)

　• Tuoba Lüe, Prince Guangchuanzhuang (廣川莊王 拓跋略; d. 480), third son

• Furen, of the Juqu clan (夫人 沮渠氏)

　• Tuoba Jian, Prince Qishun (齊順王 拓跋簡; 460–499), fourth son

• Furen, of the Yi clan (夫人 乙氏)

　• Tuoba Ruo, Prince Hejianxiao (河間孝王 拓跋若), fifth son

• Furen, of the Yue clan (夫人 悅氏)

　• Tuoba Meng, Prince Anfengkuang (安豐匡王 拓跋猛; d. 489), sixth son

• Furen, of the Xuan clan (夫人 玄氏)

　• Tuoba Anping, Prince Han'ai (韓哀王 拓跋安平), seventh son

• Unknown

　• Princess Xihe (西河公主)

　　• Married Xue Chuguba of Hedong, Duke Hedong (河東 薛初古拔; 427–484) in 469, and had issue (one son)

Ancestry

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Li Guangjie in the 2006 Chinese TV series Empress Feng of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

• Portrayed by Luo Jin in the 2016 Chinese TV series The Princess Weiyoung.

鮮卑名

北京大學歷史系教授羅新認為魏文成帝的鮮卑名烏雷的語源不詳，但蒙古文《黃金史》中記載明朝初期的蒙古諸汗有兀雷帖木爾(Öljei Temür)，Öljei翻譯為兀雷省略了中間的輔音j-，是因為在黃金史中Öljei寫成了Ölui，一般認為是訛寫所至。《蒙古源流》提到的同一人，在清朝乾隆時期的漢文翻譯為「額勒錐特穆爾」，反映了正確的蒙古語讀音。但是阿勒泰語言中j-與y-之間的轉化是眾所周知的，正因為這樣，Öljei（Olga）在一些突厥方言中讀作olya、olyo。德福（Gerhard Doerfer）在《新波斯語中的突厥語與蒙古語因素》的第1冊《新波斯語中的蒙古語因素》中列舉了olga（意為「戰利品」）的多種書寫形式和用例，並指出這一名號是從動詞詞根ol-（意為「找到、獲得、發現」）派生而來，羅新認為魏文成帝的直勤號烏雷也許與此有關。

即位之前

正平元年（451年），太武帝北征，任太子拓跋晃為監國，但宦官中常侍宗愛對太子多加幹預，又與太子部屬給事仇尼道盛和侍郎任城互有閒隙，宗愛怕日後太子登基對己不利，於是與東宮勢力展開權力鬥爭，仗著拓跋燾的信任誣陷太子及其手下人意圖造反，不曾想皇帝拓跋燾竟然相信了。繼而下令整肅太子府，且誅殺了許多太子近臣。太子拓跋晃因此積憂成疾，一病而死，時年才24歲。

後來魏太武帝拓跋燾知道太子是清白的，非常懊悔。但宗愛一見到此，怕被皇帝誅殺，先下手為強於正平二年（452年）三月弒太武帝。太武帝死後，朝廷欲立太武帝最年長的在世兒子第三子東平王拓跋翰為帝，但宗愛與拓跋翰關係不好，因此假立太武皇后之命，將拓跋翰殺掉，又假借皇后之命，將擁立東平王的大臣尚書僕射蘭延、侍中吳興公和疋及侍中太原公薛提殺死，然後立太武帝幼子南安王拓跋余為帝，宗愛自為大司馬、大將軍、太師，總督中外軍事、領中祕書，封馮翊王，大權在握。拓跋余想奪回皇權，又于十月一日遭宗愛所弒。短短數月，宗愛連殺兩位皇帝，引起朝野震動。

羽林郎中劉尼、太子少傅游雅、殿中尚書源賀、尚書陸麗、尚書長孫渴侯五人密謀，十月三日（10月31日），由太子少傅游雅、源賀、長孫渴侯率禁軍守衛宮廷，陸麗與劉尼一起迎皇孫拓跋濬入宮即位。拓跋濬改元興安。

執政

拓跋濬即位後，便誅殺了宗愛、賈周等人，都動用五刑，滅三族。興安元年（452年）十一月初九，文成帝追謚父親拓跋晃為景穆皇帝，母親閭氏為恭皇后，尊乳母常氏為保太后。

太武帝崇信道教，一度太武滅佛。興安元年，拓跋濬下令複興佛教。興安二年，令建造雲岡石窟。

拓跋濬不再繼續太武帝四處用兵的政策，停止南侵南朝宋，休養生息。但也有徵伐。太安四年（458年），拓跋濬親率10萬騎兵、15萬輛戰車，進攻柔然。柔然處羅可汗吐賀真遠遠逃走。柔然別部統帥烏朱駕頹等人率領幾千個帳幕所聚的部落投降。

去世

和平六年五月十一日（465年6月21日），拓跋濬去世，時年僅25歲。六月初二，定謚號為文成皇帝，廟號高宗。八月，安葬雲中的金陵。

家庭

后妃

• 文成文明皇后馮氏，初封貴人，父馮朗，孝文廢皇后及孝文幽皇后之姑母

• 文成元皇后李氏，生拓跋弘之後，始封貴人，追封皇后

• 慕容夫人，燕成武帝慕容垂玄孫女，趙王慕容麟曾孫女，後燕散騎常侍慕容根孫女，北魏使持節、平西將軍、秦益二州刺史、沛郡公慕容帶之女，後宮三夫人之首，魏文成帝死後改嫁使持節、侍中、徐州諸軍事、開府、徐州剌史、濟陰康王元鬱

• 李夫人

• 曹夫人

• 沮渠夫人，沮渠牧犍女

• 乙夫人

• 悅夫人

• 玄夫人

• 夫人于仙姬，于闐國王的女兒

• 嬪耿壽姬，建中將軍、魏郡太守耿紹之女

• 耿嬪，東漢大將軍、新興侯耿況後裔，後燕使持節、鎮東將軍、幽州刺史耿誕孫女，北魏威遠將軍、博陵郡太守耿樂之女

子女

• 魏獻文帝拓跋弘，生母孝元皇后

• 拓跋長樂，北魏徵西大將軍、開府儀同三司、安樂厲王，生母李夫人

• 拓跋略，北魏中都大官、廣川莊王，生母曹夫人

• 拓跋簡，北魏太保、齊郡順王，生母沮渠夫人

• 拓跋若，北魏河間孝王，生母乙夫人

• 拓跋猛，北魏和龍鎮都大將、營州刺史、安豐匡王，生母悅夫人

• 拓跋安平，北魏韓哀王，生母玄夫人

• 西河公主，嫁鎮西大將軍、左光祿大夫、啟府、南豫州刺史、駙馬都尉、河東康公薛初古拔

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