Background
Xiao Daocheng was born in 427. His ancestors traced their line to the famed Han Dynasty prime minister Xiao He, and if their records were accurate, Xiao Daocheng was Xiao He's 24-generation descendant. During the Jin and Liu Song dynasties, Xiao's ancestors served as low-level officials. His father Xiao Chengzhi (蕭承之) was a general under Emperor Wen of Liu Song, and for his contributions in campaigns against rival Northern Wei was created the Baron of Jinxing. Xiao Daocheng himself first studied the Confucian classics at the university set up by Emperor Wen and headed by the hermit Lei Cizong (zh:雷次宗) when he was 12, but by age 15 he was serving in the military. He continued serving as a military officer during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Xiaowu (Emperor Wen's son).
Read more about this topic: Emperor Gao Of Southern Qi
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