成德軍首任節度使李寶臣(張忠志)四事考辨

Abstract

This article reassesses the early career of Li Baochen (Zhang Zhongzhi), the founding military governor of the Chengde Army, by cross-referencing his 766 commemorative stele with other excavated materials and historical records. The study presents four findings. First, it revises the chronology of his governance over Heng Prefecture. By correlating the stele’s internal dating with the 763 enfeoffments, it demonstrates that Li’s control of Heng began in 756 as a military occupation, correcting the traditional 757 dating based on later administrative appointments. Second, drawing on the official titles of the author Wang Jin and the administrative changes in the prefectural divisions of the Hebei Circuit, the article identifies the Longxing Monastery stele fragment not as a “spirit way stele” (shendaobei), but as a second commemorative stele erected in 768. Third, it confirms the authenticity of Li’s unusual royal title, “King of Goryeo Joseon.” Incorporating recent research on Khitan leadership strategies in Yingzhou, the article argues that this title could reflect a frontier political repertoire rooted in the political culture of Tang China’s northeastern borderlands and resonant with earlier identity grafting practices, used to consolidate military authority - a context that may parallel the peculiar description in the Dunhuang document P.T. 1283. Finally, by triangulating Han Hong’s memorial concerning Li Baochen’s son with geographical clues and eighth-century burial practices, the study argues that identifying Li as the occupant of the Tianzhuang tomb in Quyang presents the most plausible hypothesis among current candidates.