#tuoba tao

[incorrectmedievalchina]

Okay but in everything that tuoba tao does, tuoba si is reminded of his father. Tuoba Tao even LOOKS like tuoba gui. And since tuoba gui is an abusive shitfuck of a father, tuoba si secretly hates him. But tuoba si can't show that he hates his father. So he pretends to love his father and projects all of his repressed hatred for his father onto tuoba tao.

[nemainofthewater]

Welcome to the 'Best Character with [X] surname' polls!

This is where I take several characters from different Chinese media (mostly cnovels and cdrama) and run a poll on which one is the 'best'. What does best mean? It's up to you! Whether you love them, are intrigued by their characters, love to hate them, or they're your '2 second blorbos whose personality you made up wholesale', these are all reasons for you to vote for your favs!

NB: the surnames are not exactly the same in all the cases, as often they will be a different character. I am, however, grouping them all together otherwise things got more complicated.

If you can't find a surname, it's because I couldn't find enough candidates (at least 3 from 3 distinct medias) to compete. Feel free to submit candidates!

I will be posting several polls at a time, so do come back and check this masterpost to remember which polls are ongoing, who the winners are, and who's coming up next!

Finished polls: Xing/Rong/Nan/Ren/Pan/Qu/Fu/Sui/Tan/You/Sima/Xuan/Chang/Xun/Shangguan/Jian/Qian/Shu/Xi/Yuwen/Cai/Sha/Yin/Ceng/Helian/Zeng/Lou/Mi/Ji/Ping/Tong/Tuoba/Ge/Murong/Hei/Niu/Tao/Si/Pang/Zi/Gongsun/Mao/Qing/Lian

Chi/Shan/Tian/Dao/Chao/Xin/Ran/Sang/Cang/Miao/Yao/Zang/Chong/Nangong/Kong/Hai/Deng/Kang/Jun/Chun/Gui/Peng/Gong/Dai/Bao/Bian/Leng/Xian/Kan/Hou/Shao/Kou/Zuo/Lai/Tie/Huan/Min/Xiong/Cen/Dou/Misc

There's only a certain number of hyperlinks that can be added per post, so the rest of the completed polls can now be found here

All the details of the individual polls under the readmore

An - posted 15/03/24 WINNER An Zhe

Bai - posted 28/02/24 WINNER Bai Fengxi

Baili - posted 22/03/24 WINNER Baili Qingmiao

Bao - posted 1/05/24 WINNER Bao Rongxing

Bi - posted 26/03/24 WINNER Bi Changfeng

Bian - posted 1/05/14 WINNER Bian Cheng

Cai - posted 7/04/24 WINNER Cai Quan

Cang - posted 23/04/24 WINNER Cang Jiumin

Cao - posted 8/02/24. WINNER - Cao Weining

Cen - posted 7/05/24 WINNEER Cen Xiao

Ceng - posted 8/04/24 WINNER Ceng Aiyu

Chang - posted 3/04/24 WINNER Chang Geng

Chao - posted 21/04/24 WINNER Chao Zi

Chen - posted 9/02/24 WINNER Chen Qingxu

Cheng - posted 10/03/24 WINNER Cheng Shaoshang

Chi - posted 19/04/24 WINNERS Chi Zhanggui and Chi Xiaochi

Chong - posted 25/04/24 WINNER Chong Ming

Chu - posted 12/03/24 WINNER Chu Wanning

Chun - posted 28/04/24 WINNER Chun Shen

Cui - posted 11/03/24 WINNER Madam Cui

Dai - posted 30/04/24 WINNER Dai Mubai

Dao - posted 20/04/24 WINNER Dao Mingsi

Deng - posted 27/04/24 WINNER Deng Kuan

Di - posted 16/02/24 WINNER Di Feisheng

Ding - posted 7/03/24 WINNER Ding Rong

Dong - posted 21/03/24 WINNER Dong Yi

Dongfang - posted 25/03/24 WINNER Dongfang Qingcang

Dou - posted 7/05/24 WINNER Dou Cheng

Du - posted 26/03/24 WINNER Du Cheng

Duan - posted 23/03/24 WINNER Duan Baiyue

Fan - posted 27/02/24 WINNER Fan Xian

Fang - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Fang Duobing

Fei - posted 20/03/24 WINNER Fei Du

Feng - posted 28/02/24 WINNER 'Other'

Fu - posted 31/03/24 WINNER Fu Yao

Gao - posted 13/02/24 WINNER Gao Xiaolian

Ge - posted 13/04/24 WINNER Ge Chen

Gong - posted 30/04/24 WINNER Gong Yu

Gongsun - posted 17/04/24 WINNER Gongsun Heng

Gu - posted 7/03/24 WINNER Gu Xiang

Guan - posted 17/03/24 WINNER Guan Hemeng

Gui - posted 29/04/24 WINNERS Gui Wen, Gui Yang, Gui Bai and 'Other'

Guo - posted 9/02/24 WINNER Guo Changcheng

Hai - posted 26/04/24 WINNER Hai Lanshi

Han - posted 17/03/24 WINNER Han Ying

Hao - posted 16/03/24 WINNER Hao Du

He - posted 22/03/24 WINNER He Xuan

Hei - posted 14/04/24 WINNER Hei Xiazi

Helian - posted 9/04/24 wINNER Helian Yi

Hong - posted 8/03/24 WINNER Hong Qigong

Hou - posted 3/05/24 WINNER Hou Bin

Hu - posted 6/03/24 WINNER Hu Tianying

Hua - posted 21/02/24 WINNER Hua Cheng

Huan - posted 6/05/24 WINNER Huan Xiaoyan

Huang - posted 20/03/24 WINNER Huang Shaotian

Huo - posted 25/02/24 WINNER Huo Xiuxiu

Ji - posted 11/04/24 WINNER Ji Xue

Jia - posted 18/03/24 WINNER Jia Kui

Jian - posted 4/04/24 WINNER Jian Buzhi

Jiang - posted 12/02/24 WINNER Jiang Cheng

Jiao - posted 27/03/24 WINNER Jiao Liqiao

Jin - posted 29/02/24 WINNER Jin Ling

Jing - posted 14/03/24 WINNER Jing Beiyuan

Jun - posted 28/04/24 WINNER 'Other"

Kan - posted 3/05/24 WINNER Kan Jian

Kang - posted 27/04/24 WINNER 'Other'

Kong - posted 26/04/24 WINNERS Kong Xiu and Alexis Kong

Kou - posted 4/05/24 WINNER Kou Baimen

Lai - posted 5/05/24 WINNER Lai Zhongshu

Lan - posted 23/02/24 WINNER Lan Wangji

Lei - posted 12/03/24 WINNER Lei Wujie

Leng - posted 2/05/24 WINNER Leng Yue

Li - posted 18/02/24 WINNER Li Lianhua

Lian - posted 18/04/24 WINNERS Lian Yufan and Lian Qiao

Liang - posted 13/03/24 WINNER 'Other'

Lin - posted 14/02/24 WINNER Lin Chen

Ling - posted 6/03/24 WINNER Ling Wen

Liu - posted 16/02/24 WINNER Liu Qingge

Long - posted 23/03/24 WINNER Long Zhi

Lou - posted 10/04/24 WINNER Lou Yao

Lu - posted 5/03/24 WINNER Lu Guang

Luo - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Luo Binghe

Ma - posted 13/03/24 WINNER Ma Xiuying

Mao - posted 17/04/24 WINNER Mao Panfeng

Mei - posted 14/02/24 WINNER Mei Changsu

Meng - posted 29/02/24 WINNER Meng Zhi

Mi - posted 10/04/24 WINER Mi Chong

Miao - posted 23/04/24 WINNER Miao Renfeng

Min - posted 6/05/24 WINNER Min Yunzhong

Ming - posted 26/02/24 WINNER Ming Yi

Misc - posted 7/05/24 WINNER Gongyi Xiao

Mo - posted 18/02/24 WINNER Mo Xuanyu

Mu - posted 22/02/24 WINNER Mu Nihuang

Murong - posted 13/04/24 WINNER Other

Nan - posted 29/03/24 WINNER Nan Feng

Nangong - posted 25/04/24 WINNER Nangong Si

Nie - posted 15/03/24 WINNER Nie Huaisang

Ning - posted 19/03/24 WINNER Ning Yingying

Niu - posted 14/04/24 WINNER Niu Chunmiao

Ouyang - posted 5/03/24 WINNER Ouyang Zizhen

Pan - posted 30/03/24 WINNER Pan Zi

Pang - posted 16/04/24 WINNER Pang Yizhi

Pei - posted 20/02/24 WINNER Pei Ming

Peng - posted 29/04/24 wINNER Peng Sanbian

Ping - posted 11/04/24 WINNER Ping An

Qi - posted 22/02/24 WINNER 'Other'

Qian - posted 5/04/24 WINNER Qian Jin

Qiao - posted 10/02/24 WINNER Qiao Wanmian

Qin - posted 16/03/24 WINNER Qin Banruo

Qing - posted 18/04/24 WINNER Qing Ge

Qiu - posted 25/03/24 WINNER Qiu Congxue

Qu - posted 30/03/24 WINNER Qu Lingfeng

Ran - posted 22/04/24 WINNERS Ran Lin and Ran Yun

Ren - posted 29/03/24 WINNER Ren Ruyi

Rong - posted 28/03/24 WINNER Rong Changqing

Ruan - posted 21/03/24 WINNER Ruan Nanzhu

Sang - posted 22/04/24 WINNER Sang Zan

Sha - posted 7/04/24 WINNER Sha Hualing

Shan - posted 19/04/24 WINNER Shan Gudao

Shang - posted 3/03/24 WINNER Shang Qinghua

Shangguan - posted 4/04/24 WINNER Shangguan Qin

Shao - posted 4/05/24 WINNER Shao Lin

Shen - posted 23/02/24 WINNER Shen Wei

Sheng - posted 4/03/24 WINNER Sheng Minglan

Sima - posted 2/04/24 WINNER Sima Yi

Shi - posted 8/03/24 WINNER Shi Qingxuan

Shu - posted 5/04/24 WINNER Shu Yanyan

Si - posted 15/04/24 WINNER Si Yilin

Song - posted 19/02/24 WINNER Song Lan

Su - posted 13/02/24 WINNER Su Zhe

Sun - posted 15/02/24 WINNER Sun Wukong

Sui - posted 31/03/24 WINNER Sui Zhou

Tan - posted 1/04/24 WINNER 'Other'

Tang - posted 12/02/24 WINNER Tang Fan

Tao - posted 15/04/24 WINNER Tao Ran

Tian - posted 20/04/24 WINNER Tian Qi

Tie - posted 5/05/24 WINNERS Tie Yinyi and Tie Miansheng

Tong - posted 12/04/24 WINNER Tong Lu

Tuoba - posted 12/04/24 WINNER Tuoba Yan

Wan - posted 24/03/24 WINNER Consort Wan

Wang - posted 26/02/24 WINNER Wang Pangzi

Wei - posted 8/02/24 WINNER Wei Wuxian

Wen - posted 2/03/24 WINNER Wen Kexing

Wu - posted 15/02/24 WINNER Wu Xie

Xi - posted 6/04/24 WINNER Xi Ping

Xia - posted 11/03/24 WINNER Xia Dong

Xian - posted 2/05/24 WINNERS Xian Ge and Xian Qing

Xiang - posted 19/03/24 WINNER Xiang Liu and Xiang Nanfang

Xiao - posted 20/02/24 WINNER Xiao Jingyan

Xie - posted 21/02/24 WINNER Xie Lian

Xin - posted 21/04/24 WINNER Xin Ziyuan

Xing - posted 28/03/24 WINNER Xing Zhi

Xiong - posted 7/05/24 WINNERS Xiong yipei and Xiong Chumo

Xu - posted 25/02/24 WINNER Xu Da

Xun - posted 3/04/24 WINNER Xun Feizhan

Xuan - posted 2/04/24 WINNER Xuan Shen'an | The Empress

Xue -posted 11/02/24 WINNER Xue Yang

Yan - posted 19/02/24 WINNER Yan Wushi

Yang - posted 3/03/24 WINNER Yang Wuxie

Yao - posted 24/04/24 WINNER Yao Zhen

Ye - posted 10/02/24 WINNER Ye Baiyi

Yi - posted 9/03/24 WINNER Yi Bichen

Yin - posted 8/04/24 WINNER Yin Yu

Ying - posted 17/02/24 WINNER Ying Hecong

You - posted 1/04/24 WINNER You Huo

Yu - posted 11/02/23 WINNER Yu Ziyuan

Yun - posted 1/03/24 WINNER Yun Biqiu

Yuan - posted 27/02/24 WINNER Yuan Boya

Yue - posted 4/03/24 WINNER Yue Qingyuan

Yuwen - posted 6/04/24 WINNER Yuwen Xuan

Zang - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Zang Ming

Zeng - posted 9/04/24 WINNER Zeng Xiangdong

Zhan - posted 10/03/24 WINNER Zhan Yunfei

Zhang - posted 17/02/24 WINNER Zhang Qiling

Zhao - posted 1/03/24 WINNER Zhao Yunlan

Zhen - posted 24/03/24 WINNER Zhen Ping

Zhi - posted 14/03/24 WINNER Zhi Xiu

Zhong - posted 27/03/24 WINNER Zhong Li

Zhou - posted 2/02/24 WINNER Zhou Zishu

Zhu - posted 9/03/24 Winner Zhu Hong

Zhuge - posted 18/03/24 WINNER Zhuge Liang

Zi - posted 16/04/24 WINNER 'Other'

Zuo - posted 5/05/24 WINNER Zuo Ran

[craftercat]

What do you think is the truth of Cui Hao’s death?

I have already answered a question relating to Cui Hao's death, but in short, I think it had a lot to do with Tuoba Huang.

Tuoba Huang was the crown prince and a major opponent of Cui Hao. He also had a large role in the case, as he tried to spare Gao Yun and have him further accuse Cui Hao. The Southern dynasties also attribute Cui Hao's death to Tuoba Huang.

Cui Hao was a very honest minister willing to go against the court. For example, in 417, most ministers wanted Northern Wei to block the Jin troops' advance westwards to Later Qin, as they worried that Liu Yu might attack them. Cui Hao advised against this. Tuoba Si couldn't fight his whole court, and Yao Hong's sister was his concubine. He ended up with a compromise; while he didn't directly attack Jin troops, he stationed troops at the northern banks of the Yellow River, which did not cut off Liu Yu's route (along the southern and western banks), but guarded against a potential Jin attack.

The troops harassed Liu Yu's forces as they sailed west to Later Qin, however the Jin army inflicted a decisive defeat. The reason for the defeat was likely that the response was weak and the harassment half-hearted on Tuoba Si's part, and as Cui Hao said, Baba Song was not a particularly talented general. Indeed, Tuoba Si did not send out Baba Song on a military expedition after this.

Later on, most of the officials and Tuoba Tao's wet nurse Empress Dowager Dou advised against a Rouran attack. However, Cui Hao advised Tuoba Tao to attack, and he took the advice. This ended up working, as Tuoba Tao inflicted a defeat on Rouran forces, which prevented them attacking during a later Liu Song campaign.

These events show that Cui Hao's advice was usually right, however he often went against the majority opinion in court. This attitude earned him a lot of enemies, including Tuoba Huang.

As for the accusation of defaming Northern Wei's history, there is a lot of potential ways he could have defamed Northern Wei emperors. There is debate over whether Tuoba Gui was Tuoba Shiyijian's father and he betrayed him rather than Tuoba Shijun. As well, he engaged in an incestuous relationship with his aunt and displayed tyrannical behaviour in his later years. I have also seen a theory that Lady Helan may have married Tuoba Shiyijian after Tuoba Shi's death.

There is a theory that Consort Liu actually died of crimes and Tuoba Si framed her death the way it is written for legitimacy, but I find the arguments for the theory weak. It doesn't solve any major problems in historical records, so I trust the records for her death. However, Consort Du being under house arrest during her life and her critical posthumous name could suggest that she committed a crime, and Tuoba Tao potentially covered this up.

I do find it plausible that Cui Hao did slander Northern Wei history. But the broader cause of his death was that he had many enemies such as Tuoba Huang in court. If Tuoba Tao were to support Cui Hao, he would have to go against Tuoba Huang and other officials, which I don't think he was willing to do, especially given that this would make Cui Hao even more powerful than he already was. If he were to side with Cui Hao, he could potentially become too powerful.

[gizkasparadise]

I’m living for your princess weiyoung posts, what do you think of the show so far? Not gonna lie, I had a major crush on li weiyoung the whole time I was watching it haha!

im on ep 33! some #thoughts in no particular order:

-im living for weiyoung and tuoba yu as sort of foils to each other? like they’re both cunning, and yu is sort of like what weiyoung would be with 30% more ruthless. i like that they’re parallel characters and that he has a crush on her brain + wants her because she can help him get TOTAL DOMINATION vs something more villain cliche like beauty

-um jun tao + bai zhi should be dating. that’s that on that

-i think tuoba jun is the most chill/cute/nice male lead i’ve seen in a cdrama and i live for his gentle slapping of people 

-im so. tired. of the li family. everyone but minde and grandma get out and go away

-it’s really refreshing to see a female lead winning by cunning/shrewdness

-i love minde but i still havent warmed up on tuoba di. i normally like her actress but the character is super grating

-i live for every dramatic catch after weiyoung falls

-overall the show is pretty and i love the majority of the characters. there’s been some plots where im frustrated as hell but it’s been fun so far!

[bookofjin]

Were there any famous weapons during the period? I know Helian Bobo had a named sword, but I'd like to know if there were others

Well, here is what Tao Honging has to say about it in the Records of Swords and Blades, Old and New:

Liu Yuan of Former Zhao in the 2nd Year of Yuanxi [305 AD] made one blade, 3 chi 9 cun long, the writing said “Wipe out the Thieves” in the clerical script.

Shi Le of Former Zhao, in the 2nd Year of Jianping [331 AD] made one blade, using 500 metal and 10 000 labourers, from head to point 3 chi, 6 cun. The inscription said “Establish Peace” [jianping] in the clerical script.

At the time when Le was not yet honoured, he ploughed the earth and obtained one blade, the inscription said “Shi Clan's Splendour” in the seal script.

Shi Jilong [Hu] in the 14th Year of Jianwu [348 AD], made one blade, 5 chi long, the inscription said “August Emperor Shi Clan” in the clerical script.

Li Xiong of Later Shu in the 1st Year of Yanping [306 AD] made 500 blades, the text said “Mount the Horse” in the clerical script.

Zhang Shi of Former Liang made 500 blades, have none of the old blades, they are fully lost [?]. The writing said “Hegemon”.

Emperor Zhaocheng of Later Wei, Tuoba Jian, in the 1st Year of Jianguo [338 AD], at Chizhi City cast 10 stabbing blades, the metal were engraved with the letters Chizi.

Emperor Daowu, Gui, in the 1st Year of Dengguo [386 AD], at Song'e cast one sword, the inscription said “Zhen Mountain” in the clerical script.

Emperor Mingyuan, Si, in the 1st Year of Taichang [416 AD], made one sword, 4 chi long, the inscription on the back said “Taichang” [“Grand Ordinary”]. Arriving at the 1st Year of Zhenyuan [440 AD], there was a scholar of the Way that carried on Heaven' teachings and making plain. He had the Emperor make a sword, 3 chi, 6 cun long, in the clerical scrip. Following that changed the inaugural to Zhenjun [“True Lord”].

Emperor Xuanwu, Ke, in the 1st Year of Jingming [500 AD], at Bailu Mountain made one blade, the writing said “Bailu” [“White Deer] in the clerical script.

Fu Jian of Former Qin in the 4th Year of Ganlou [362 AD], made one blade, employing 5 000 labourers. The inscription said “Godly Skill” in the clerical script.

Murong Jun of Former Yan in the 1st Year of Yuanxi [352 AD], made 28 blades, the inscription said “28 Generals” in the clerical script.

Murong Chui of Later Yan in the 1st Year of Jianxing [386 AD], made 2 blades, 7 chi long, one male and one female, in the clerical script. If they were separated, they cried.

Yao Chang of Later Qin in the 1st Year of Jianchu [386 AD], made one blade the inscription said “Zhongshan” [“Middle Mountain”], 3 chi, 7 cun long, in the clerical script.

Qifu Guoren of Western Qin in the 3rd Year of Jianyi [387 AD], made one blade, the inscription said “Establishing Righteousness” [jianyi] in the clerical script.

Lü Guang of Later Liang in the 1st Year of Linjia [389 AD] made one blade, the inscription on the back said “Unicorn Excellence” [linjia], 3 chi, 6 cun long.

Tufa Wugu of Southern Liang in the 3rd Year of Taichu [397 AD], made one blade, narrow and small, 2 chi, 5 cun long, in a blue-green colour. The craftsman said: “At the time when it was made, [I] dreamt I saw one person wearing cinnabar-coloured clothes, who stated 'I am the Grand One God come to see you!' This blade when presented was certain to make a sound, later it fell into the possession of the Tujue Kaghan.

Murong Xuanming of Souther Liang in the 1st Year of Jianping [400 AD] made 4 blades, the writing said “Establish Peace” [jianping] in the clerical script.

Li Hao of Western Liang in the 1st Year of Yongjian [420 AD], made one pearl and gem blade, the inscription said “Hundred Victories” in the clerical script.

Juqu Mengxun of Northern Liang in the 3rd Year of Yong'an [403 AD], made 100 blades, the inscription said “Eternal Calm” [yong'an] in the clerical script.

Helian Bobo of Xia province in the 2nd Year of Longsheng [408 AD], made 5 blades, the back of the edge had a dragon-sparrow encircling, there was also gold inlaid to make the image of one dragon. 3 chi, 9 cun long, the inscription said:

“Sharp instrument of the past,

Wu and Chu's Zhanlu.

Great Xia's Dragon-Sparrow,

Best in fame and chief in divinity.

Can be cherishing distant,

Can be placating the near.

Like the wind scatters the grass,

Power to harness the Nine Wards.”

The King of Song, Liu Yu, crushed Chang'an, and obtained this blade. Later it entered Liang.

[fleurdelystranslations]

The Era Where Mulan lived

Mulan lived in Northern Wei. 

The Northern Wei Dynasty (Chinese: 北魏朝; pinyin: Běi Wèi Cháo), also known as the Tuoba Wei (拓拔魏), Later Wei (後魏), or Yuan Wei (元魏), was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 (de jure until 535). 

The emperor was Tuoba Tao.

Read more about the era: here

Clothing

Traditional Xianbei clothing would look like this: 

(Han-ren): 

(From: https://goo.gl/images/f5RaB6)

Who are the Xianbei? 

The Xianbei (/ʃjɛnˈbeɪ/; Chinese: 鮮卑; pinyin: Xiānbēi; Wade–Giles: Hsien-pei) were an originally nomadic tribal confederation residing in what is today's eastern Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeast China. Along with the Xiongnu, they were one of the major nomadic groups in northern China from the Han Dynasty to the Northern and Southern dynasties. They eventually established their own northern dynasties such as the Northern Wei founded in the 4th century AD by the Tuoba clan.[2][3][4][5] During the Uprising of the Five Barbarians they became categorized as one of the Five Barbarians by the Han Chinese.

(From wikipedia)

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

[incorrectmedievalchina]

Tuoba Tao: Ok, maybe playing ‘whose family is most dysfunctional’ wasn’t the best idea we’ve had. Tuoba Huang's been crying in the bathroom for an hour. We can’t get him out...

[incorrectmedievalchina]

Cui Hao: Bixia, stop! This isn't you, you've gone mad with power!

Tuoba Tao: Well of course I have.

Tuoba Tao: Have you ever tried going mad without power?

Tuoba Tao: It's boring.

[nemainofthewater]

Best character surnamed: Tao

Come and vote for the best characters with the same surname!*

What does best mean? It's up to you! Whether you love them, are intrigued by their characters, love to hate them, or they're your '2 second blorbos whose personality you made up wholesale', these are all reasons for you to vote for your favs!

*note, the surnames are not exactly the same in all the cases, as often there will be a different character. I am, however, grouping them all together otherwise things got more complicated.

Propaganda is very welcome! If I’ve forgotten anyone, let me know in the notes.

This is part of a larger series of ‘best character with X surname’ polls’. The overview with ongoing polls, winners, and future polls can be found here

EDIT: Silent Reading is the original novel that Justice in the Dark was based on and I believe that Tao Ran and Tao Ze are therefore alternate versions of each other

[craftercat]

How did the administration of Northern Wei evolve throughout the dynasty?

Under Tuoba Gui, I'd say that his administration was mixed. He attempted to centralise power around himself and a military aristocracy that replaced the tribal vassal system. However, these military aristocrats formed their own power base, just like how the tribal vassals did in other Hu-led states.

He at first encouraged agriculture and had a good administration, however this went down the drain in his late reign. In his late reign, punishments were harsh and excessive, crime was rampant and went unpunished, and officials were negligent and corrupt. I think that his positives outweigh his flaws, but he is overrated.

Tuoba Si had to fix the problems of Tuoba Gui's late reign. He called back capable ministers who his father had alienated, got rid of corrupt officials, properly enforced laws, and relieved the people's hardships. This led to decreased corruption in officials. He was also a notably good judge of talent.

He was unable to fix the corruption problem entirely, as he didn't have the resources to pay his officials, and still had to share power with the aristocrats. However, I think that he tried his best to deal with the problem.

Tuoba Tao was at first like his father. He cracked down on corruption and properly enforced the laws. However, he did enforce harsh punishments and often executed his officials. At first it was more 'strict' than 'cruel', but it eventually became cruel. This led to factionalism within court that led to the death of many chancellors and caused the crown prince to die in depression. As well, the quality of his officials worsened during his reign.

Under Tuoba Jun, the administration was decently run, though no major changes were made. Tuoba Hong was a talented ruler, and he ruled over criminal cases diligently, and punishments became fairer. Yuan Hong's administration was similarly well-run.

Empress Dowager Feng instituted the equal field system, which finally got rid of the problem of wealthy magistrates hoarding land and population, as land was assigned directly by the state. At this point, the state had the resources to implement such a system, and the sister Three Elders system made it possible to properly assign the land.

[craftercat]

You mention Liu Yu was a capable general, but what was he like as an emperor?

Liu Yu only reigned for two years as emperor, so we don't get much in terms of his actual reign. The main things he did were starting the trend of killing the old imperial family after a usurpation, and trying to use the method of entrusting the crown prince to capable ministers to ensure smooth succession and failing.

When Liu Yu usurped the throne from Sima Dewen, he wanted to execute Sima Dewen, and eventually found an opportunity and murdered him. Before this, it was standard practice in Han Chinese regimes to treat the previous imperial family well. After this, the other Southern dynasties would massacre the old imperial family when they usurped the throne.

Tuoba Si and Li Shimin used the entrusting the crown prince to capable ministers method in their succession. Tuoba Si implemented this the most successfully, while Li Shimin and Liu Yu did it less successfully.

The reason they entrusted their successors to their ministers was because their successors (Liu Yifu, Tuoba Tao and Li Zhi) were all young and lacked experience. Liu Yifu and Tuoba Tao were 15-16, and at that stage where they were too old for a regency, but needed the help of ministers to gain leadership experience.

I think that there were a few differences between Liu Yu and Tuoba Si's implementation. One was that Tuoba Si actively cultivated a good relationship between Tuoba Tao and his ministers, while Liu Yu did not, and instead warned Liu Yifu that they should not be trusted. This was obviously going to cause tension between the groups.

The second was that Liu Yu entrusted Liu Yifu to fewer ministers. Tuoba Si had six ministers advise Tuoba Tao, while Liu Yu only entrusted Liu Yifu to four, and one (Tan Daoji) was not in Jiankang, so in reality it was only three ministers that helped him. Li Shimin only entrusted Li Zhi to two ministers (Zhangsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang), even fewer than Liu Yu. Entrusting power to more ministers made power more thinly dispersed, and this was a good thing, as it ensured that no one minister could become too powerful.

The third was the quality of the successors. Liu Yifu was frivolous and incompetent, his main achievements being losing land to Tuoba Si and being deposed by his own ministers. Tuoba Tao was much more competent, reunified the north, and was good in civil affairs as well. Li Zhi was hardly incompetent as a successor, but was not as strong and aggressive as Tuoba Tao.

[craftercat]

I'm doing research into the reigns of Emperor Daowu (Tuoba Gui), Emperor Mingyuan (Tuoba Si) and the early part of Emperor Taiwu (Tuoba Tao)'s reigns, so can asks that help and stimulate the research be sent please?

[craftercat]

How would you rank the Northern wei dynasty emperors for their talents and capabilities?

Tuoba Gui: 8/10. He founded Northern Wei and greatly expanded its territory and defeated the Rouran. He consolidated his power by abolishing independent tribal chiefs and encouraged agricultural development. However, he became cruel and paranoid at the end of his reign, executing officials for minor reasons, and this led to corruption and rampant crime.

Tuoba Si: 8/10. He was a good administrator, less cruel than his father or his son, and started the idea of Northern Wei emperors actually listening to their advisors. He frequently inquired about the people's hardships and also encouraged agriculture, and fixed the problems of Tuoba Gui's late reign. He was able to fend off Rouran attacks and took lands to the south when Liu Yu died, however he did have a few military failures which bring his rating down.

Tuoba Tao: 8.5/10. He actually reunified the north for a period of time that wasn't 5 minutes. He was also a good administrator and did his best to deal with corruption. However, like his grandfather, he became cruel at the end of his reign. This led to factionalism and political intrigue that caused the death of his crown prince and trusted minister, and was eventually assassinated.

Tuoba Yu: ?/10. I'm not even sure if he counts as an emperor or not, as he was only honoured as a prince. He was a puppet of Zong Ai and killed by Zong Ai when he wanted power for himself.#

Tuoba Jun: 7/10. He allowed the people to rest after the military campaigns of Tuoba Tao, and was more lenient than his grandfather, taking more after his great-grandfather Tuoba Si. He had some success with Rouran, but mixed results with Liu Song, and there was a lot of political intrigue during his early reign over his regency.

Tuoba Hong: 8/10. During his actual reign, he encouraged honesty in officials and was more involved in criminal cases. He did manipulate these cases a few times, however the overall effect was fairer application of laws. He abdicated to his son at 17 to pursue his philosophical interests.

Yuan Hong: 8/10. His sinicisation reforms shaped the culture of the Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang dynasties. However, it did face a lot of backlash that led to division and conflict during his actual reign. He likely had a role along with Empress Feng in the creation of the successful equal-field system and Three Elders system, which took power away from powerful magistrates and ensured more land was worked.

Yuan Ke: 3.5/10. During his reign, there was a lot of conflict between the powerful and corrupt Gao Zhao and the imperial clan. This fighting further weakened the Northern Wei, especially as his successor was five when he died. He abolished the "子贵母死" system, however this led to the regency of Consort Hu.

Yuan Xu: ?/10. He was a puppet of his mother Empress Hu and the regent Yuan Cha due to being a child. Neither regent was any good and their corruption led to revolts throughout Northern Wei. Empress Hu eventually poisoned him.

Yuan Ziyou: 5/10. He seemed to have talent himself, but ended up a puppet of Erzhu Rong. He killed Erzhu Rong in a coup, however he was killed by Erzhu Rong's relatives.

Yuan Gong: 5/10. Like Yuan Ziyou, he tried to exert influence himself, but the Erzhus were still very powerful. Their corruption led to Gao Huan rebelling and got poisoned.

After this it's just puppets of Gao Huan or Yuwen Tai.

[craftercat]

There are two alternatives as to the history of Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei, one stating he was the son Tuoba Shi and Lady he or Tuoba Shiyijian and Princess Murong. Which one do you most subscribe too?

I will probably make an article at some point on this matter. The official history is the more popular version, but there are definitely some holes in it:

If Tuoba Gui was born posthumously to his father, how does he have a younger brother of the same mother?

Why do Tuoba Shi and Tuoba Shijun have almost exactly the same name, and we know very little about them besides their death (for Tuoba Shi) or their betrayal (for Tuoba Shijun)?

Why was Tuoba Gui so willing to turn on his uncles?

How was Tuoba Si born unusually late in life when Tuoba Gui was 21 when he was born?

However, there are a few questions raised by #2.

Where did the Helan clan come from, and why were they so powerful?

And did Princess Helan, Tuoba Gui's mother in official history, also not exist?

Why were the Murongs and Tuoba Gui so willing to turn on each other?

There are a few theories surrounding this. The Southern dynasties aren't the most reliable source when it comes to Northern Wei family history (see Consort Du and Tuoba Tao, and it also claims that Tuoba Tao killed Tuoba Huang which is... not the full story. They also transcribe Tuoba slightly differently as 托跋). You have to remember that they see the Northern Wei dynasty emperors as being barbarian usurpers.

However, unlike the others, this one does fix some problems in the Weishu records. So I have to lend it some credence.

One theory is that Princess Helan married another member of the Tuoba clan after Tuoba Shi's death. This would fix Tuoba Gu's origin. Murong Chui and Tuoba Gui were still related, so that would explain why he helped out Tuoba Gui. The betrayal of the Helans is because Tuoba Gui thought of them as being too powerful, after they assisted a rival tribe. This is Tuoba Gui we're talking about.

The assertion that Tuoba Gui was unusually old when he fathered Tuoba Si is unusual, as nothing was said about Tuoba Tao fathering Tuoba Huang at 20. Then again, given that later on, Tuoba Huang fathered Tuoba Jun at 12, Tuoba Jun fathered Tuoba Hong at 14, and Tuoba Hong fathered Yuan Hong at 13, 21 is late compared to those ages. Even his son Tuoba Si fathered his eldest son Tuoba Tao five years earlier in his life than Tuoba Gui.

Ultimately, it's impossible to prove one version over the other, as unlike most contradictions in the histories of Northern Wei and the history of the Southern dynasties, this one fixes problems. Another is the death of Tuoba Tao; the Southern dynasties do not record that he was killed by Zong Ai. In Northern Wei, the officials accused Zong Ai of killing Tuoba Yu, not Tuoba Tao. So it's possible that Zong Ai's regicide of Tuoba Tao was created to slander him.

[craftercat]

What is the theory about Tuoba tao’s mother commiting treason?

It's not very well attested but the theory that Consort Du had committed some kind of crime is an interesting theory I've seen on the internet. I think it makes sense, but it cannot be proven.

The reason that the theory has been suggested is because the records of the Weishu essentially indicate that Consort Du was under house arrest for much of Tuoba Si's reign. Tuoba Dao was unable to see his mother from a young age according to his biography, while Du Chao's biography states he could not communicate with his sister when he worked in the capital.

However, the Weishu does not give any reason as to why she would have been under house arrest. Another thing I find intriguing is her posthumous title, which is a critical one indicating that the person had made serious mistakes during their lifetime. It doesn't fit with the positive or mournful titles of the other empresses of Northern Wei before Empress Dowager Hu (who was defeated and killed).

I think that 'treason' is a strong word. Tuoba Si would have simply executed her if she committed treason. But I do think it's plausible that the reason that she was under house arrest was because she had committed some kind of crime.

I don't think the reason was to do with the Northern Wei tradition of killing the crown prince's mother. Consort Du died in 420, and Tuoba Dao died in 422. The gap between the events is too large for them to be linked. Consort Li of Tuoba Jun was allowed to contact her brothers in the Southern dynasties when she died due to the tradition, so I don't think Consort Du would be barred from contacting her relatives because of it.

[craftercat]

Hi, not trying to put pressure on you but when wilk your Northern wei articles be uploaded on your tumblr? I have loved your previous articles and recently read the one about Empress Zhangsun so cannot wait for the upcoming ones! And what themes will your articles be covering?

I have a few drafts, so these should be coming in the summer. There'll also be some articles on the Wei-Song wars. There will be an introductory article on Dai, then I will discuss Tuoba Gui's rise to power in the first. My plan after that is an article focusing on his rule as emperor, an article on his death and the following succession crisis, an article on Tuoba Si's political achievements, and an article on Tuoba Si's southern expedition, which gets to Tuoba Tao's reign. After that I'm still formulating a plan.

That's the main series. I'm also going to go into detail on certain topics in separate articles such as Tuoba Gui's parentage controversy, Sinicisation and Empress Dowager Feng's land reforms. It is going to be a long series, but that's because Northern Wei is a fascinating dynasty.