Yao Yizhong, posthumously honored as Emperor Jingyuan, was a Qiang military general of the Later Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
25 Facts About Yao Yizhong
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Yao Yizhong was a Qiang chieftain from Chiting county, Nan'an commandery.
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Yao Yizhong's family claimed descent from Yu the Great and the Shaodang Qiang.
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Yao Yizhong's great-great-great-grandfather was Qianna, who submitted to Han and moved to Chiting.
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Yao Yizhong was characterised as dutiful and well-respected all around in his youth.
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In 312, a year after the Disaster of Yongjia, Yao Yizhong moved to Yumei and set his base, where he opened himself to provide shelter to refugees from the east.
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Yao Yizhong attracted thousands of both tribal and Han refugees wishing to escape the chaos.
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Yao Yizhong advised Shi Hu to relocate the strong and influential families of Longshang to the region surrounding their capital, Xiangguo.
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This, according to Yao Yizhong, would keep the families in check while strengthening the capital.
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Yao Yizhong was not pleased with what had happened, so he feigned illness to avoid needing to congratulate Shi Hu.
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Yao Yizhong was eventually forced to in the end, and when the two finally met, Yizhong sternly criticised him for what he had done to Shi Hong.
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Yao Yizhong was not satisfied with Shi Hu's answer, but at the same time, Shi Hu did not dare to punish Yao Yizhong.
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Yao Yizhong stood out in Shi Hu court for being both humble yet very blunt with his words, his most notable habit being that he referred to everyone, including Shi Hu, as "you " rather than their respective titles when talking to them.
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Yao Yizhong eventually caught him and, despite Zuo Wei's relations, was set to have him executed for his crimes.
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Yao Yizhong's subordinate urged him to let him off, and so Yao Yizhong did.
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Yao Yizhong had left out the guards of one of his sons, Shi Xuan, who were exiled to Liang province after Xuan was executed for killing his younger brother, Shi Tao and attempting to assassinate his father.
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Yao Yizhong was furious and demanded Shi Hu to meet him at once.
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Shi Hu immediately made Yao Yizhong Commissioner Bearing Credentials, Palace Attendant, and General Who Conquers The West.
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Yao Yizhong joined the Grand Commander Shi Bin at Xingyang, where he took Liang Du's head and destroyed the remaining rebel forces.
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Yao Yizhong was succeeded by his preteen son Shi Shi as expected but many including Yao Yizhong were angry that actual power was held by Empress Dowager Liu and the Prime Minister Zhang Chai in the court.
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Meanwhile, Shi Zhi formally declared himself as emperor after Shi Jian was killed by Ran Min, and Yao Yizhong was appointed as his Prime Minister of the Right.
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Yao Yizhong advised his sons to serve the Jin dynasty, as the Shi clan with the recent deaths of its last members under Shi Kun was no more.
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Yao Yizhong Xiang carried his father's coffin around until he was killed in battle in 357 when fighting Former Qin forces.
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Former Qin's emperor Fu Sheng ordered that Yao Yizhong's body be buried as a prince in Ji County, Tianshui.
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When his 24th son, Yao Chang, became emperor of Later Qin in 386, Yizhong was posthumously named Emperor Jingyuan.