伯圭 Bóguī

Bogui, son of Zicheng

Bogui, Successor Prince of Xiu, styled Yuxi, was Xiaozong's elder brother by the same mother. He was first given the rank of Gentleman for Promotion to Service by grace, posted as Sheriff of Huating in Xiu Prefecture, rose through office to Clerk of the Judicial Commission of Zhexi, and was appointed Supernumerary Vice Prefect of Ming Prefecture. When Xiaozong received the throne by abdication, the retired emperor issued an edict appointing Bogui Compiler of the Jiying Hall and Prefect of Tai Prefecture (acting). Edit

In the commandery Bogui won quite a name for good government. He was appointed Edict Attendant of the Fuwen Pavilion, changed to Prefect of Ming Prefecture (acting), and made Coastal Regional Commander. When a foreign merchant died within his territory, leaving a vast fortune, the clerks asked that it be confiscated, but Bogui would not allow it, and instructed the merchant's companions to escort the coffin and the property home. He was promoted to Auxiliary Academician of the Fuwen Pavilion; he left office to mourn a parent, and when the mourning was over he was again Prefect of Ming Prefecture (acting). He rebuilt the school and had the young clansmen enrol in it, keeping them in order by its rules. An edict ordered the garrison at Dinghai moved to Xupu. Bogui memorialised: "Dinghai stands at a vital point that must be held; its defences cannot be withdrawn. I ask that troops be drawn from the regional command to man it." This was followed. Edit

The pirates were running wild. Bogui sent men to persuade their chief, Ge Ming, to surrender, and then sent Ming to capture his confederate Ni De. Both men were known as fierce and cunning, but Bogui won them both over and employed them, and the pirate bands then dispersed. For this he was promoted one grade, and rose in turn to Academician of the Xianmo Pavilion and of the Longtu Pavilion. In ten years in the commandery he governed with leniency and moderation: he dredged the lakes and ponds, shared out the water fairly, and cleared those unjustly imprisoned. Once some men were caught casting copper coins illegally; he could not bear to punish them by law, but told them to change their trade, and none of the people offended again. Edit

In the third year of Chunxi he was made Military Commissioner of the Ande Army, soon given the additional title of Commander Unequalled in Honour, and made Commissioner of the Wanshou Abbey. When he paid court at the Deshou Palace, the retired emperor gave him a jade belt; he was given the additional title of Junior Guardian and enfeoffed as Prince of Xingyang Commandery. When Gaozong died, Bogui came to the palace to mourn, served as General Superintendent of the Temporary Imperial Tomb, and was appointed Junior Mentor. When Guangzong came to the throne he was promoted to Junior Preceptor. A year later he was summoned to an audience, promoted to Grand Guardian and enfeoffed as Successor Prince of Xiu, and granted a first-class mansion beside the shrine of Prince Anxi. Edit

An official memorialised: "In the Zhiping period, when the household of the Prince of Pu was posthumously honoured, the prince's sons and grandsons, nearly twenty men, were all promoted in order from palace guard posts. Now only one man, Shikui, stands in the Southern Rank; this is no way to strengthen the main trunk and its branches and make the foundations firm as rock. Before the Xiu household was established, if they were to be given salaries they could not avoid being charged with official duties; but now that the household has been established, if they are still charged with official duties, there may one day be criticism. To hold them to account would hurt the bond of kinship, and not to would set aside the law. Why not put them in the Southern Rank, so that they bear no official responsibilities and enjoy wealth and honour?" An edict then allowed Bogui's sons to change their rank. Edit

In the second year of Shaoxi he was appointed Administrator of the Great Office of Imperial Clan Affairs, and proposed that a separate clan school be set up to teach the young clansmen. He was raised over the usual steps to Grand Preceptor and excused from attending court audiences. Soon after he was given the concurrent post of Military Commissioner of the Chongxin Army, granted a mansion, and returned to Hu Prefecture, where he died at home soon after. When news of his death came, the emperor suspended court for three days; he was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Chong, with the posthumous name Xianjing. Edit

Bogui was modest and careful by nature, and did not presume on being a close kinsman. When he saw the emperor each day, he observed the courtesies of family, yet however warm and intimate the private banquets, he kept to a subject's manners all the more respectfully. One day Xiaozong asked him about the days before he became emperor; Bogui declined, saying, "Your servant is old and can no longer remember." Though asked again and again, he would not speak of it. The emperor laughed and said, "Why so very careful?" and loved and valued him all the more. Once he was to have his residence enlarged with a double pavilion along the lake; the officials concerned had already measured the timber, but Bogui firmly declined and it was stopped. When the Fuling tomb was completed he was promoted to Secretariat Director, and declined it five times in all. Ningzong admired his spirit and ordered that the rites to honour him be discussed separately; he was granted the privilege of not being called by name when announced at court, and of being carried in a sedan chair to the gate of the hall. He had nine sons: Shikui, Shikui, Shichui, Shixie, Shiyu, Shigao, Shiyan, Shimi and Shigong. Edit