Li Yiyan

Li Yiyan

Li Yiyan (李義琰) (d. 688) was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.

Background

It is not known when Li Yiyan was born. His family was from Wei Prefecture (魏州, part of modern Handan, Hebei), but his ancestors were said to be originally from Longxi (隴西, in modern Tianshui, Gansu), thus sharing an origin with Tang Dynasty's imperial Li clan, but he was considered sufficiently distant not to be considered an imperial clan member. [Compare with "New Book of Tang", vol. 131 [http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan17.htm] (biographies of imperial clan members who served as chancellors).] His father Li Xuande (李玄德) served as the county magistrate of Yingtao County (癭陶, in modern Xingtai, Hebei).

Li Yiyan himself passed the imperial examinations when he was young, and subsequently served as the sheriff of Taiyuan County. At that time, he served under the famed general Li Shiji, who served as the commandant at Bing Prefecture (并州, i.e., Taiyuan). Because of Li Shiji's accomplishments and reputation, the other subordinate officials were all fearful of him and dared not to speak on important matters with him, but Li Yiyan was said to be unafraid of the commandant and was willing to discuss matters of importance. As a result, Li Shiji respected him. [As Li Shiji started his stint as commandant at Bing Prefecture sometime between 626 and 629 and was recalled to the capital to serve as minister of defense in 641, these events must have occurred sometime during those years.]

During Emperor Gaozong's reign

During the "Linde" era (of Emperor Gaozong's reign (664-665), Li Yiyan served as the magistrate of Baishui County (白水, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi) and was said to be capable as a county magistrate. He was subsequently promoted to be a mid-low-level official at the ministry of justice, and was eventually promoted to the post of "Zhongshu Shilang" (中書侍郎) -- deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, "Zhongshu Sheng") -- during the "Shangyuan" era (674-676). In 675, when Emperor Gaozong, because of his chronic illness (which might have been hypertension), considered making his powerful wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian) regent, the chancellor Hao Chujun vehemently opposed, and Li concurred with Hao, eventually leading to Emperor Gaozong abandoning the idea.

In 676, Li was given the designation "Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin" (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor "de facto". In 677, he was also made a member of the staff of Emperor Gaozong's crown prince Li Xian. In 680, when Li Xian offended Empress Wu and was deposed on accusation of treason, Li's fellow chancellor and fellow staff member Zhang Da'an was demoted, but Emperor Gaozong pardoned the rest of the staff and retained them for the new crown prince Li Zhe. The staff, including fellow chancellor Xue Yuanchao, all danced in gratitude (as pursuant to ceremonies of thanksgiving at the time), but Li did not dance but was instead blaming himself for Li Xian's downfall -- and this led to much praise from the people.

It was said around the same time that Li's mansion did not have a central bedroom. At that time, his brother Li Yijin (李義璡) was serving on staff of the prefecture of Qi Prefecture (岐州, roughly modern Baoji, Shaanxi), and when Li Yijin heard this, he bought good wood and delivered them to Li Yiyan. On a subsequently occasion, when Li Yijin was visiting the capital, he saw that Li Yiyan had not yet used the wood to build a central bedroom, and he asked Li Yiyan about it. Li Yiyan responded, "I feel inadequate as a chancellor, and if I build an impressive bedroom, this would bring disaster on me. How is this loving me?" Li Yijin responded, "Even when a person becomes a county magistrate or sheriff, he would want to build a new house. My brother, you are honored and powerful, why do you live in a small house to bring shame to your subordinates?" Li Yiyan further responded, "Not everything should be perfect, and blessings will not be doubled. Since I am an honored official, if I expand my mansion, unless I am fully virtuous, I will bring disaster on myself. It is not that I do not want a new bedroom, but that I am afraid of disaster." He therefore never constructed a new bedroom, and eventually, the wood decayed after rain.

In 683, Li Yiyan was moving his parents' tomb, and he asked his maternal uncle to move his maternal ancestors' tombs. When Emperor Gaozong heard this, he angrily remarked, "Li Yiyan is leaning on his uncle just because he is honored. This person should not be again in charge of important things!" When Li heard this, he became disconcerted, and he requested retirement on account of foot illness, which Emperor Gaozong granted, and Emperor Gaozong further gave him the honorific title "Yinqing Guanglu Daifu" (銀青光祿大夫). As Li was about to retire to the vicinity of the eastern capital Luoyang, many officials held a feast in his honor just outside the city gates, and this scene was compared to the grand sendoff that was held for the Han Dynasty officials Shu Guang (疏廣) and his nephew Shu Shou (疏受), who retired at the height of their careers.

During Empress Dowager Wu's regency

Emperor Gaozong died in 683, and Empress Wu, as empress dowager, subsequently served as regent over Emperor Zhongzong (Li Zhe), whom she deposed in 684 due to his disobedience to her, and Emperor Ruizong, both her sons. Early on Emperor Ruizong's "Chuigong" era (685-689), a recall of Li Yiyan was made, asking him to serve as the prefect of Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo, Henan), but Li, knowing that he had previously offended Empress Dowager Wu by opposing her regency, was apprehensive and did not accept the recall. He died in 688.

Notes and references

* "Book of Tang", vol. 81. [http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/tan10.htm]
* "New Book of Tang", vol. 105. [http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan15.htm]
* "Zizhi Tongjian", vols. 202, 203.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Emperor Gaozong of Tang — (zh cp|c=唐高宗|p=Táng Gāozōng) (July 21, 628 [ [http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ftms bin/kiwi1/luso.sh?lstype=2 dyna=%AD%F0 king=%A4%D3%A9v reign=%ADs%C6%5B yy=2 ycanzi= mm=6 dd= dcanzi=%A9%B0%B1G 兩千年中西曆轉換 ] ] December 27, 683 [… …   Wikipedia

  • Chinese literature — History of Literature Bronze Age literature Sumerian Egyptian Akkadian Classical literatu …   Wikipedia

  • Wu Zetian — This is a Chinese name; the family name is Wu. Wu Zetian Empress Regnant of the Zhou Dynasty Empress of Zhou Dynasty …   Wikipedia

  • Chen Kun (actor) — This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen. Chen Kun Chen at the 2007 Shanghai International Film Festival. Chinese name 陳坤 (Traditional) …   Wikipedia

  • Jia Pingwa — (贾平凹), Chinese novelist, born 21 February 1952 in Shangluo in Shaanxi province. According to [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006 08/31/content 678520.htm China Daily ] he is the third most popular writer in China, in a biennial poll… …   Wikipedia

  • Chancellor of the Tang Dynasty — The chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 宰相; pinyin: zǎixiàng) was an office that was semi formally designated for a number of high level officials at one time during the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. Contents …   Wikipedia

  • Chinese films of the 2000s — This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. Cinema of China List of Chinese films 1905–1919 1920s 1930 …   Wikipedia

  • Hao Chujun — (郝處俊) (607 681), formally Duke of Zengshan (甑山公), was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He was known for his honesty and willingness to advise Emperor Gaozong… …   Wikipedia

  • City of Life and Death — Ficha técnica Dirección Lu Chuan Producción Lu Chuan Han Sanping John Chong Guion Lu Chuan …   Wikipedia Español

  • City of Life and Death — Directed by Lu Chuan Produced by Lu Chuan Han Sanping John C …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”