Early life

Guo Ziyi was born into the family of a middle-class civil servant in Hua Prefecture (华州, present-day Hua County in Shaanxi), he was described as a handsome man and was over 1.9 meters tall.

Around 735 Guo Ziyi was saved from a court martial by the poet Li Bai, who intervened on his behalf with the local commander.

Unlike other members of his family, Guo Ziyi entered political life through the official military examinations instead of a literary exam (for civil servants). He passed the military examinations in 749 and became an officer in the border regions of the Tang Empire and quickly rose through the ranks to become a jiedushi (regional military governor).

An Shi Rebellion

First victories

Limited records exist about Guo Ziyi before the An Lushan Rebellion; it was during the rebellion that he earned his fame. When rebellion broke out in 755, Guo Ziyi was assigned to protect the Tong Pass, a strategic location on the Chinese frontier. A large force of ten thousand rebels were marching toward the pass. Guo Ziyi took advantage of the situation by luring the rebels onto the plains in front of the pass where there were only scarce settlements. The rebels saw little to loot and were discouraged, while the Tang troops were prepared to fight, motivated by the desire to protect their families in the Tong Pass and the capital of Chang'an. Guo engaged the seven thousand troops at the Battle of Qingbi and scattered the rest while suffering few casualties to his own force, winning his first victory.

By the following year of 756 the capital fell due to the ineptitude and corruption of the chancellor Yang Guozhong and his eunuchs. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang fled the city, accompanied by his personal guard and members of the Yang family, including his consort Yang Guifei. Members of the entourage, including the troops, resented Yang Guozhong, holding him responsible for the failed strategy that led to the fall of Chang'an. Yang Guozhong was denounced and executed. Following this, the emperor's own troops also forced him to execute his beloved consort Yang Guifei. The emperor then fled with the remainder of the entourage under difficult conditions to Chengdu in Jiannan.

Meanwhile, Guo Ziyi confronted a great force of a hundred thousand led by rebel commander Shi Siming. Although Guo had only ten thousand men he delayed Shi Siming's army until reinforcements could arrive. Shi Siming was tricked into thinking he would be ambushed if he moved against Guo and was delayed forty days. At that point commander Li Guangbi came to Guo's relief with ninety thousand men. The opposing forces clashed, resulting in few Tang losses, while the rebels suffered ten thousand casualties. Shi Siming quickly gathered up what was left of his force and retreated back to Fanyang, the rebels' stronghold. Li recommended Guo to Emperor Xuanzong, and Guo quickly asked the emperor for permission to launch an immediate counter-attack to destroy the remaining rebels, but Xuanzong refused him.

Change of Emperor and the Shaanxi campaign

Xuanzong's son, Li Heng, stayed behind in the city of Lingwu and declared himself emperor on 12 August 756. Emperor Suzong of Tang immediately began organizing a counter-attack against the advancing rebels. From this time on, Xuanzong was known as the "Retired Emperor", and after the retaking of Chang'an from the rebels he returned there, where he lived until his death in 761.

The rebel crisis decreased the power of the Imperial Court. Thus, after assuming power, Suzong's authority was weak and many Tang generals cared little for the emperor's orders. There were few generals of Chinese descent such as Guo Ziyi remaining in the Tang army. Guo was given the post of Imperial Commander and Suzong provided support for his military operations, which were met with great success. By 757, Guo Ziyi had entered the Shaanxi battlefront, and many locals willingly aided him against the rebels, increasing the Guo army to perhaps twice its original size. The rebels suffered dramatic losses, including the deaths of their generals, after which Guo declared victory on the Shaanxi front.

Changan victory and rebel collapse

Guo Ziyi then immediately turned his attention to retaking Chang'an. He attacked with 15 000 men, whereas the rebels were able to assemble only 10 000 men, and defeated them. Guo's victories in Shaanxi and at Chang'an contributed to in-fighting among the rebel ranks. The leader of the rebels, An Lushan, was killed by his son, An Qingxu, who gathered up what was left of the rebels and retreated to Luoyang. When Suzong arrived at Chang'an, it is said that he shed tears and said to Guo, "This may be my country, but it is recreated by your hand." 「虽吾之家国，实由卿再造。」

In 758, Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, and other jiedushi were ordered to eliminate the last remaining rebels in Yi. However, Suzong was troubled by the growing power of the jiedushi so he placed his eunuchs in charge of the campaign. This became a disaster, but Guo Ziyi managed to make the best out of the situation by convincing his fellow jiedushi that they could have one easy victory if they laid siege to the rebel city. All of them agreed to this strategy and the rebel's supplies were depleted during the siege. When the time came to assault the city, however, there was no commander-in-chief to coordinate the attack since all the jiedushi were of equal rank, and it proved ineffective. In the meantime, reinforcements under Shi Siming arrived to reinforce An Qingxu. The Tang forces missed the opportunity to eliminate the rebels. A bloody battle followed in 759, fought in poor weather and again with no central command for the Tang. Although the Tang force emerged victorious, both sides suffered tremendous losses (the rebel leader Shi Siming himself was killed, as were most of the Mongol rebels) and the result of the battle was unacceptable to the emperor, since the Tang army had been known to win battles while suffering relatively few casualties. The jiedushi began to blame one another, and many of them targeted Guo, placing much of the blame on him. In fact, aside from the emperor himself, Guo Ziyi was the only one that the common people were willing to follow. Suzong, worried by Guo's popularity, used this as a pretext to decrease Guo's authority, demoting him while generously rewarding the other jiedushi.

Under Emperor Suzong

Although the An Lushan Rebellion was finally put down in 763, the Tang was immediately confronted by another threat from the Tibetan Empire. Tibet had benefited from the Tang's prosperous period when trade with the Tang was frequent. During the An Lushan Rebellion, it reached the height of its power, and betrayed the peace treaty with the Tang by supporting the rebels. Weakened by the rebellion, Tang border garrisons were unable to resist Tibetan raids into their territory. Most jiedushi were not ethnically Chinese and had little incentive to defend the Tang Empire, especially when it was ruled by a weak emperor. In response, Suzong re-promoted Guo Ziyi, but only as a military figurehead with no authority, in the hope that merely the threat of sending Guo against them would keep the Tibetans at bay. In 762, a general named Wang Yuanzhi murdered Li Jingzhi, the jiedushi of Shaanxi, claiming that the troops were still so loyal to Guo that they demanded he be reinstated as jiedushi. Suzong was forced to return Guo Ziyi to his former position. When Guo Ziyi arrived, however, instead of thanking Wang he condemned the general for his disloyalty in killing his commander. He also pointed out that such an act disrupted the chain of command, which might embolden the Tibetans to attack. General Wang submitted to his mistakes and committed suicide. Guo Ziyi quickly assumed command of the post and the Tibetans ceased their attacks.

Under Emperor Daizong and Tibetan Invasion

Not long after, Suzong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Daizong of Tang. The new emperor was worried about Guo Ziyi's fame and called him back to Chang'an. Guo Ziyi advised the emperor to take a note of the threat posed by the Tibetans, but the emperor largely ignored this.

Tibetan invasion of 763

In 763, a force of 100 000 Tibetans invaded the Tang. Daizong fled Chang'an on 16 November when it became clear the city would be captured. The Tibetans crowned Li Chenghong as emperor of Tang in Chang'an, but retreated a month later fearing a Tang army had arrived. In reality Guo ordered cavalry scouts to go forward and light fires, in places where the enemies could see, and then retreat. Guo also sent secret messages to Chang'an, ordering citizens to strike gongs and create fire. The Tibetans, confused by these actions, panicked, scattering when the rumor spread that Guo Ziyi moved against them with a large force. With the Tibetans retreating from their positions, the invasion was concluded without loss to either side. Many Chinese military historians consider this victory to be the best example of Sun Tzu's idea of the cleanest kind of battle, "a war with no loss on either side but simply played out with the desired effect for the victor." There are discrepancies in the number of cavalry Guo dispatched; Chinese sources state that Guo had sent out only 13 scouts, but a Tibetan text indicates there had been 200. Nevertheless, the Tibetan army retreated, and when Guo Ziyi arrived at Chang'an with his "large" force, Daizong appeared to him and stated, "By employing the Elder not sooner: so many deaths reached, woe is this!" 「用卿不早，故及于此。」

Tibetan invasion of 764

The Tibetan Empire invaded again in 764 with a force of 70,000 but was repulsed in Jiannan by the jiedushi Yan Wu.

Tibetan threat of 765 and the Uyghur alliance

The Tibetans attacked again in 765, when the Tiele jiedushi Pugu Huai'en sent false messages to Trisong Detsen, the emperor of Tibet, stating that Guo Ziyi had died. The Tibetan emperor was eager to avenge his earlier defeats, and dispatched a large force to attack Tang China again. Various Uyghur chieftains, also believing that Guo was dead, joined force with the Tibetans. The Tibetan force was recorded as more than 30,000 (including a few thousand Uyghurs), almost the entire Tibetan military at the time. However Pugu died on 27 September, and his army defected to the Tang.

When news of the Tibetan attack reached Emperor Daizong, he dispatched Guo Ziyi to defend the Tang with only few thousand men. When Guo was within a day's march from the enemy, he decided to go alone to see the Uyghur chieftains. His officers and son Guo Xi (郭晞) were so dismayed and panicked by his intention that they would not let go of his horse's reins, declaring such an act would be suicide. Guo laughed and convinced his officers to let him go, but his son would not. Angered, Guo whipped his son's hand so that he released the reins, reprimanding him and telling him that this was a life and death situation for the empire; their force was small and if they fought the Tibetans alone, both father and son, and their troops, would die. If he succeeded in his plan the empire would be defended, but if it failed only his own life would be lost.

When Guo arrived at the Uyghur's camp, he did not reveal his identity and appeared to be a messenger who had been sent to tell them that Guo Ziyi was coming to see them. The Uyghur chieftains, many of whom had joined the rebel side in the An Lushan Rebellion, were surprised and panicked to hear that Guo was alive, deciding that they had to meet with him. Guo laughed at them and asked them why they would want to face Guo Ziyi again after their defeat at his hands during the An Shi Rebellion. The Uyghur chieftains replied they had been told that he was dead, but if they met with him and saw he was alive, they would retreat. Guo, however, insisted that Guo Ziyi did not seek their retreat but instead wanted them to join him against the Tibetans. The Uyghur chieftains, saying they had been deceived by the Tibetans about Guo's death, agreed to break the alliance with them. They even claimed that shamans had foretold that a great man would lead them to victory and that they now believed this man must be Guo, and agreed to join forces with the Tang.

Battle of Xiyuan

Guo returned to his camp and ordered a thousand light horsemen to make a quick rush at the Tibetan camp at Xiyuan. When the Tibetans realized the Uyghurs had broken their alliance, they attempted to withdraw, but Guo's horsemen arrived and scattered their forces; at the same time, Guo's Uyghur allies arrived and prevented the Tibetans' retreat. Over 10 000 Tibetans were killed in battle and another 10 000 were taken prisoner. Guo continued to pursue the Tibetans and freed over 4000 Tang subjects they had taken captive.

When the emperor of Tibet heard that his force had been defeated, he quickly sent a message to Emperor Daizong seeking a peace, stating that his army had been on a hunting trip and had had no intention of attacking the Tang Empire. Although Daizong did not believe this, he agreed to the peace and Tibet was never again a threat to China.

Later life, death and posthumous honor

Guo was later made the Prince of Fenyang (汾阳郡王), and is hence often referred to as "Guo Fenyang". He lived to the age of 85 and was given the posthumous name of Zhongwu (忠武: "Loyal and Martial") after his death.

There is a commonly remembered tale dated to the year 767 in which his son had an argument with his wife, a princess of Tang. During the argument, the princess and Guo's son compared their fathers, Emperor Daizong and Guo Ziyi. Guo's son was purported to have said, "What is so great about being an emperor? My father could become emperor at any time if he wanted to." Guo was so angry at his son for implying such an idea of disloyalty that he had him locked up and waited for Emperor Daizong to pass judgement on him. The princess regretted what had happened and asked Guo to forgive his son, but Guo refused. When Emperor Daizong arrived, he pardoned the son and said to Guo, "When the son and daughter fight, it is better as old men to pretend to be deaf.": 「不痴不聋，不作家翁。儿女子闺房之言，何足听也！」

In another instance, the son hit his wife in a drunken rage. Again Guo was so angry at his son that he had him arrested again. But again the princess begged for her husband to be forgiven, and again Emperor Daizong stepped in and forgave his son-in-law. This story of Guo's son and the princess was popularized by the rather literally titled Beijing Opera "Hitting the Princess While Drunk" 醉打金枝.

Popular folklore states that the Jade Emperor was so pleased with Guo's actions in defending the nation and in giving happiness to the people that he sent a heavenly official down from heaven to ask Guo what his greatest desire was. Guo replied that he had fought for so long and had seen so much bloodshed that all he desired was peace and happiness. As a reward, the Jade Emperor had Guo guided to heaven and bestowed the Celestial post of "God of Prosperity and Happiness" to him.

Legacy

Guo Ziyi has been credited by many historians with putting down the An Lushan Rebellion, characterizing him as the man who single-handedly saved the Tang dynasty. His impact on East Asia was also dramatic in that he renewed Tang relations with many of its Uyghur allies, who later supported the dynasty in campaigns against the Tibetan Empire. After his various victories over the Tibetans they were never able to restore their military might and lost much of their political strength in Asia.

In 757, or thereabouts, Guo Ziyi saved the renowned poet Li Bai from a death sentence for treason by offering Emperor Suzong of Tang his own official rank in exchange for Li Bai's life. In the event, Suzong commuted Li Bai's sentence to exile, and later pardoned him, and Guo Ziyi was allowed to retain his rank.

Future members of his family would also go to become famous generals, among them Guo Puyo, a general greatly used by Genghis Khan, and Guo Kan, one of the best generals of the Mongol Empire.

In Fiction & popular Culture

• Portrayed by Lee Kwok-lun in The Legend of Lady Yang''. (2000)

生平

郭子仪，祖籍山西汾阳，公元697年阴历十二月十二日（698年1月29日），一说是中秋节（697年阴历八月十五日，阳历697年9月5日)生于华州郑县(今陕西华县)，仪表堂堂，身高超过1.9米。出身官吏之家，父亲是寿州刺史郭敬之。郭子仪早年正是盛唐时期，并未受重用。郭子仪早年参加武举，以「异等」的成绩补任左卫长上（从九品下），后累迁至桂州都督府长史、单于都护府副都护、振武军使、安西副都护等。天宝八载（749年）三月，郭子仪升任左武卫大将军（从三品上）、横塞军使、安北副都护，又改横塞军使为天德军使。天宝十三载（754年）春，郭子仪兼任九原郡（丰州）都督、西受降城使、九原郡太守、朔方节度右厢兵马使。不久，郭子仪的母亲、赠魏国夫人向氏去世，他去职返家守孝。

天宝十四载（755年）安史之乱时，被封为朔方节度使（灵州，在今宁夏吴忠西北古城镇），奉诏讨伐，联合朔方军李光弼分兵进军河北，会师常山（河北正定），击败史思明，收复河北。此时郭子仪建议皇帝，北取范阳，直捣叛军虎穴，以减轻潼关之围，但是玄宗不允。此后种下日后晚唐藩镇割据的局面，日后亦成为唐朝灭亡之远因。天宝十五载（756年）与回纥联军平定河曲，次年春天收复河东（今山西永济）、冯翊（今陕西大荔），并进攻潼关，大败崔乾佑，唐军死伤过万人。崔乾佑退保蒲津。安禄山为其子安庆绪所杀。唐肃宗即位后，拜郭子仪为兵部尚书、同中书门下平章事。

至德二载（757年），奉敕引兵赴凤翔，途中在白渠留运桥（今三原东南）击败李归仁铁骑五千人，五月，与安守忠、李归仁战于清渠（今西安以西）失利，退保武功（今武功西北），九月，随元帅广平王李俶率唐与回纥合兵十五万人，再与安守忠、李归仁交战于香积寺（今长安县西南）之北，回纥兵绕到敌人后方，前后夹击，杀敌六万人，张通儒逃往陕郡，最后收复首都长安（今陕西西安），唐军威仪再度得以重现长安。

其后，唐军乘胜东进，于新店（今河南三门峡市西南）大败严庄、张通儒等十五万人，迫使安庆绪渡黄河，退回相州。东都洛阳复归。以功加司徒，封代国公。史思明从范阳率军救安庆绪，双方大战于安阳河（今安阳北）北列阵接战，厮杀难分难解，最后由九个节度使率领，号称六十万人的唐军退溃（邺城之战）。此场战役的主要指挥者宦官鱼朝恩，其并无领导才能，并将战役失败之责归于郭子仪。郭子仪被召还长安，解除兵权，处于闲官。

宝应元年（762年），太原（今太原西南）、绛州（今山西新绛）军兵叛乱，朝廷恐惧，封子仪为汾阳郡王，出镇绛州。又遭宦官程元振离间，解除兵权。

广德元年（763年），吐蕃趁安史之乱攻占河陇地区，程元振知情不报，仆固怀恩勾引吐蕃、回纥入侵，同年十月，吐蕃攻到奉天县（今陕西乾县），直逼长安，京师震撼，朝廷再度启用子仪为关内副元帅。此时吐蕃军已渡渭水，迫唐代宗弃长安东奔陕州，子仪循秦岭至商州（陕西商州）收集散兵数千人，以智取胜，白天击鼓张旗，夜间多处燃火，吐蕃不解其意，乃撤兵西去，于是长安光复。十二月，代宗回长安，郭子仪到滻水迎接。代宗羞愧说：「用卿不早，故及于此。」

广德二年（764年），朔方节度使仆固怀恩反，引回纥、吐蕃十万军进攻关中。子仪埋伏于乾陵（陕西乾县），回纥、吐蕃军知其有备，不战而退。

永泰元年（765年）七月，唐代宗的女儿升平公主下嫁郭子仪第六子郭暧。十月，吐蕃、回纥再度联兵内侵，子仪在泾阳（今属陕西）被回纥所围。子仪在回纥素有威望，亲率数十骑到前线，亲自说服回纥大帅药葛罗与唐结盟，反将吐蕃击溃，稳住关中，长安之危遂解。

大历元年（766年），屯军于河中，使军粮充裕。大历八年，吐蕃十万之众强攻泾、邠（今彬县），子仪遣兵马使浑瑊出兵宜禄（今长武），结果首战失利，遂召诸将检讨战败原因，再兵分三路，连克百城（今甘肃灵台西南）、潘原（平凉东）等地，吐蕃败退。

同华节度使周智光跋扈，郭子仪屡次请求讨灭，代宗不准。大历二年（767年）正月，代宗派郭子仪女婿工部侍郎赵纵写了命郭子仪便宜行事讨伐周智光的密诏，封在蜡丸里由家童走小道到河中府送给郭子仪。郭子仪派浑瑊、李怀光发兵渭南，同华军开始叛离周智光，周智光大将李汉惠在同州率众投降，周智光也很快被部下杀死。

大历十四年（780年），唐德宗继位，子仪被尊为「尚父」，进位太尉、中书令。建中二年六月十四（781年7月9日），郭子仪去世。据《旧唐书·郭子仪传》载：「薨，时年八十五，德宗闻之，震悼，废朝五日……陪葬建陵，……旧令一品坟高丈八，而诏特加十尺。」该墓在陵西南2公里的坡阳村，墓前有清代毕沅书的郭子仪墓石碑。今墓已夷为平地。

历代状元中，唯一由武状元而位至宰相者，即身为唐代开元初年武举高等（状元）的郭子仪，一生历仕玄宗、肃宗、代宗、德宗四朝，曾两度担任宰相。同时，也是历代武状元中军功最为显赫者。

佚事

• 郭子仪第六子叫郭暧，唐代宗时驸马，娶升平公主。大历二年（767年），郭暧与升平公主吵架。郭暧说：「你仗著你父亲是天子是吗？我父亲只是不想做天子而已！」公主非常愤怒，乘车直奔皇宫向父皇代宗奏报他的悖逆之言。代宗说：「这并非你所知道的那样。郭子仪他确实是如同其子所言，假使他想当天子的话，这天下岂是你娘家所有的呢？」于是安慰升平公主并叫公主回家。郭子仪知道后，气得把郭暧囚禁起来，然后入宫等待代宗治罪。代宗安慰郭子仪说：「俗话说：『不痴不聋，不作家翁。』小俩口在私房里吵嘴的言词，怎值得当真去听呢！」郭子仪请罪回家后，杖责了乱说话的郭暧数十个板子。这个故事即为京剧《醉打金枝》的原型。

• 郭子仪父亲之墓遭人盗掘，当时人都怀疑是素来对郭子仪不满的宦官鱼朝恩所指使。朝廷担心他因此发兵谋叛，事发后郭子仪入朝，皇帝发语试探此事，郭子仪流涕曰：「臣率领军队已久，不能禁止暴乱，军人们挖人祖坟的事大概很多，这是臣不忠不孝而获得天谴，不是人为。」朝廷因为郭子仪的这一席话，人心才得到安稳。

• 郭子仪的后代共有五位唐代驸马。分别是儿子郭暧（娶唐代宗之女升平公主）、孙子郭鏦（郭暧之子，娶唐顺宗之女汉阳公主李畅）和郭熔（郭暧之子，娶唐顺宗之女西河公主）、曾孙郭仲恭（郭暧之子郭钊的长子，娶唐穆宗之女金堂公主）和郭仲词（郭仲恭之弟，娶唐穆宗之女饶阳公主）。另外还出过一位皇太后，即孙女郭贵妃（郭暧长女，嫁唐宪宗，生唐穆宗）。

• 郭子仪之宅在唐长安城亲城坊西北角。

• 《卢杞探病》 卢杞是唐朝知名的奸臣，巧言杀人，为政严苛，迷惑皇帝，铲除异己，为唐朝带来深重灾难。 有次郭子仪生病，百官前来探望，穷奢极侈的郭子仪都任由姬妾在场。 当年的卢杞还是个小官，来访时，郭子仪就命令姬妾们全都躲起来，郭子仪一个人独自恭敬的接待卢杞。 卢杞离去后，郭子仪向家人解释： 「卢杞相貌丑陋，脸一边是灰色一边是青色，因为姬妾和下人们，平常欢乐放荡惯了，心比较不懂得收摄，如果见到了卢杞的样貌，一定会忍不住取笑他。但卢杞的内心阴险狡诈，口才又很好，工于心计，将来一定会当大官！若这个人得到了权势，我郭门一族都无法活命！所以，我才一个人独自很恭敬的接待卢杞。」 几年后，卢杞果然靠著奸险狡诈谄媚的工夫，陷害了很多忠贤，踏著别人的头，当上了宰相。朝廷的忠良都被他所陷害，卢杞唯独特别敬重郭子仪。

• 硬颈典故，即郭年轻时任初级武官，被同僚牵扯需斩但实蒙冤屈，幸当日监斩官是李白，郭临刑前呼冤求覆判，李果调卷宗果郭受冤改判轻罪，郭铭记于心李之大恩，后发生安史之乱，李受郭之庇謢得以卫事安度

评价

• 裴垍：「汾阳事上诚荩，临下宽厚，每降城下邑，所至之处，必得士心。前后遭罹幸臣程元振、鱼朝恩谮毁百端，时方握强兵，或方临戎敌，诏命征之，未尝不即日应召，故谗谤不能行。代宗幸陕时，令以数十骑觇贼，及在泾阳，又陷于胡虏重围之中，皆以身许国，未尝以危亡易虑，亦遇天幸，竟免患难。田承嗣方跋扈魏州，傲狠无礼，子仪尝遣使至，承嗣西望拜之，指其膝谓使者曰：「兹膝不屈于人若干岁矣，今为公拜。」李灵曜据汴州，公私财赋一皆遏绝，独子仪封币经其境，莫敢留之，必持兵卫送。其为豺虎所服如此。麾下老将若李怀光辈数十人，皆王侯重贵，子仪颐指进退，如仆隶焉。幕府之盛，近代无比。始与李光弼齐名，虽威略不逮，而宽厚得人过之。岁入官俸二十四万贯，私利不在焉。其宅在亲仁里，居其里四分之一，中通永巷，家人三千，相出入者不知其居。前后赐良田美器，名园甲馆，声色珍玩，堆积羡溢，不可胜纪。代宗不名，呼为大臣。天下以其身为安危者殆二十年。校中书令考二十有四。权倾天下而朝不忌，功盖一代而主不疑，侈穷人欲而君子不之罪。富贵寿考，繁衍安泰，哀荣终始，人道之盛，此无缺焉。唯以谗怒，诬奏判官户部郎中张谭杖杀之，物议为薄。」

• 刘昫：「天宝之季，盗起幽陵，万乘播迁，两都覆没。天祚土德，实生汾阳。自河朔班师，关西殄寇，身捍豺虎，手披荆榛。七八年间，其勤至矣，再造王室，勋高一代。及国威复振，群小肆谗，位重恳辞，失宠无怨。不幸危而邀君父，不挟憾以报仇雠，晏然效忠，有死无二，诚大雅君子，社稷纯臣。自秦、汉已还，勋力之盛，无与伦比。而晞、暧于縗粗之中，拔身虎口，赴难奉天，可谓忠孝之门有嗣矣。」赞曰：「猗欤汾阳，功扶昊苍。秉仁蹈义，铁心石肠。四朝静乱，五福其昌。为臣之节，敢告忠良。」

• 欧阳修：「天宝末，盗发幽陵，外阻内讧。子仪自朔方提孤军，转战逐北，谊不还顾。当是时，天子西走，唐祚若赘斿，而能辅太子，再造王室。及大难略平，遭谗甚，诡夺兵柄，然朝闻命，夕引道，无纤介自嫌。及被围泾阳，单骑见虏，压以至诚，猜忍沮谋。虽唐命方永，亦由忠贯日月，神明扶持者。」

• 陈元靓：「天祚有唐，奕奕重光。宁无否运，盖恃忠良。白日再中，祅彗未亡。目视横流，心竞包藏。力扶天柱，唯赖汾阳。雪涕将坛，气销帝乡。惟师尚父，可同鹰扬。图形配享，无愧祠唐。」

• 柏杨：「郭子仪在历史上有崇高的地位，但几乎无人可比的，却不是他的战功，也不是他一身系国家安危，而是他虽然享尽世间荣华富贵，而仍能保住人头，不被砍掉；身死之后，子孙还继续享福数十年，甚至百馀年。中国人最奇特的命运是：你如果不照著当权人物的模式，而擅自爱国，爱国就会成为一种危险行为。大多数对国家有贡献的人，最后往往都是被逐、被囚、被杀、被屠，或在死后祸延子孙。只郭子仪是极少数的例外──至少，他最被人称道。我们肯定郭子仪的功劳，以及对国家所作的努力，但史论家认为他：「权势倾盖天下，中央并不猜忌；功劳超过当世，皇帝毫不怀疑；穷奢极侈，舆论却不抨击。」对读者简直是无耻的诈欺。郭子仪受猜忌、受怀疑，史不绝书，事实俱在……而刘昫、裴垍、宋祁之流竟公然扯谎，说没有这回事，把全中国人都当成白痴。……郭子仪对来自四面八方的猜忌怀疑、谗言陷害，采取的是……把自己的咽喉小腹，毫无保留地呈现在皇帝、宦官和权臣等鲨鱼群面前，乞灵于对方相信他的忠心，不但绝不反击，而且毫无怨言，更重要的是乞灵于他的运气，使鲨鱼群相信他确实于己无害。感谢上帝，他判断正确，如果他判断错误，他就得付出韩信、彭越、檀道济以及后来岳飞、熊廷弼、袁崇焕的代价，这代价是凄惨的，所以连忠心耿耿的李光弼、李怀光，都不敢一试。郭子仪不是一个成功的将领，（在邺城）围攻安庆绪，战斗最危急时，郭子仪第一个先拍马而逃，引起大军崩溃，但他却是一位官场文化中最成功的政客，用矮化自己，去明哲保身，这种权力游戏中「柔能克刚」哲学的生存方式，形成中国人的特有品质，以致中国人在再尊贵的时候，随时都在准备卑屈的作贱自己。郭子仪最受部属爱戴的所谓「宽厚」，事实上不过是纵容部属蹂躏残害小民，小民不敢呼冤而已。他的儿子郭晞在邠州的暴行，足够说明小民在郭子仪宽厚手段之下的悲惨命运。但小民的声音既没有人听到，也没有人记载，史册上记载的全都是将领和官员们歌颂他的声音，因为他们虐待小民却不必受到惩罚，剥削勒索小民卖儿卖女的钱一直都在增加，郭子仪是他们的保护神，歌颂的声音自然响彻云霄。

家庭

弟

• 郭幼明，胞弟

• 郭幼贤

妻

• 王氏（704年或705年—777年），天宝年间初封琅琊县君。进封太原郡君、霍国夫人。生六子八女。

妾

• 张氏，南阳夫人

• 李氏

子

• 郭曜，母早亡，继母王氏，长子。娶太原郡夫人王氏。

• 郭旰，母不详，次子，至德二年，在永丰仓与安守忠交战，战死。

• 郭晞，母王氏，三子，赵国公。妻鲁郡夫人长孙璀，长孙冲曾孙女。

• 郭昢，母不详，四子。

• 郭晤，母王氏，五子。娶彭城刘氏。

• 郭暧，母王氏，六子。代国公。娶唐代宗女升平公主。

• 郭曙，母王氏，七子，祁国公。

• 郭映，母王氏，八子。

女，《新唐书 列传第六十二》称郭子仪「八子七婿，皆贵显朝廷」。据王氏神道碑，王氏生有八女。

• 长女，嫁成都县令卢让金

• 二女，嫁鄂州观察使吴仲孺

• 三女，嫁卫尉卿张浚

• 四女，嫁殿中少监李洞清

• 五女，嫁司门郎中郑浑

• 六女，嫁汾州别驾张邕

• 七女，嫁和州刺史赵纵

• 八女，嫁太常寺丞王宰

孙辈

• 郭锋，郭曜子。

• 郭钢，郭晞长子，累封赵国公，赠兵部尚书。

• 郭钧，郭晞次子，侍御史。

• 郭鍊，郭晞三子，奉先县主簿。

• 郭鋿，郭晤长子，太子通事舍人。

• 郭锬，郭晤次子，弘文馆学生。

• 郭鍴，郭晤三子，乡贡明经。

• 郭鐇，郭晤子。

• 郭氏，郭晤长女，前郑州刺史、兼御史大夫、益昌郡王李某妻，太原郡夫人。

• 郭氏，即懿安皇后，为唐宪宗贵妃（唐宪宗妃），生唐穆宗，尊「皇太后」。母仪天下，贵尊「太皇太后」。共历「穆宗」、「敬宗」、「文宗」、「武宗」、「宣宗」等五朝，世称「贤后」。为六子郭暧与「升平公主」长女。

• 郭氏，「升平公主」所生次女。

• 郭铸，为六子郭暧子与「升平公主」庶子。

• 郭钊，妻沈氏，沈氏母为唐代宗女长林公主。为六子郭暧与「升平公主」子。

• 郭鏦，尚唐顺宗女汉阳公主李畅，赠尚书左仆射。为六子郭暧与「升平公主」子。

• 郭熔，尚唐顺宗女西河公主。为六子郭暧与「升平公主」子。

• 郭銛，为七子郭曙之子。

曾孙辈

• 郭承嘏，字复卿，郭钧之子。

• 郭氏，郭钧之女，生郑枢夫人赵郡东祖李氏。

• 郭仲文，郭钊之子。

• 郭仲词，尚唐穆宗女饶阳公主为妻，郭钊之子。

• 郭仲恭，尚唐穆宗女金堂公主为妻，郭钊之子。

• 郭尚舍，为郭熔之子

郭子仪世系

• 虚线表示婚姻关系，实线表示血亲关系

后人

• 郭忠福–五代时成仙，诏封广泽尊王。

• 郭侃—蒙古帝国著名将领，郭德海次子。

• 郭宝玉—金末元初将领、郭侃祖父。

• 郭德海—金末元初人，郭宝玉子、郭侃父亲。

• 郭荣—金末元初著名学者、郭守敬祖父。

• 郭守敬—元代著名科学家。

• 郭树根—现代著名建筑师。

纪念

纪念地

• 陕西省华县子仪中学。

• 陕西省华县子仪公园。

军舰

• 中华民国海军成功级巡防舰5号舰子仪号PFG-1107是一艘以郭子仪来命名的军舰

庙宇

• 台湾鹿港郭厝保安宫祭祀汾阳忠武王，郭子仪将军

纪念堂

• 台湾内湖 郭子仪纪念堂

注释

参考

• 《旧唐书·卷一百二十·列传第七十》郭子仪传

• 《新唐书·列传第六十二》郭子仪传