Gao Zhizhou
Encyclopedia
Gao Zhizhou (602–683) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
Gao Zhizhou was born in 602, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui
, the founding emperor of Tang's predecessor Sui Dynasty
. His family was from what would become Chang Prefecture (常州, roughly modern Changzhou
, Jiangsu
). He was said to have been studious in his youth and, after passing the imperial examination
, served as the county magistrate of Fei County (費縣, in modern Linyi
, Shandong
). As his salary was higher than those of the sheriff and the secretary general of the county, he shared his salary evenly with them. He was also said to be a capable county magistrate, and the people and subordinate officials carved a stone monument in his honor. Eventually, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, he was made an imperial scholar and participated in the creation of the literary works Yaoshan Yucai (瑤山玉彩) and Wenguan Cilin (文館辭林), headed by Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Li Hong
. Further, he and two other officials, He Kai (賀凱) and Wang Zhenru (王真儒), assisted in Li Hong's studies. In 668, he took a vacation home to bury his parents, and when he reached home, he commented to his relatives, "Knowing how to advance but not how to retreat is the way to disaster." He thereafter, claiming an illness, resigned.
Gao was subsequently recalled to serve as the prefect of Shou Prefecture (壽州, roughly modern Lu'an
, Anhui
). He was said to be gracious and forgiving in his rule, and the people appreciated it. Whenever he went out to visit the towns, he would first summon the local teachers and students to see how the students were doing in their studies and their understanding of current affairs, before he would move on to the matters of agriculture and law. In 671, he was recalled to the central government to serve as imperial consultant and acting deputy minister of ceremonies. In 676, he was serving as Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng), when he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. He was also in charge of editing imperial histories. In 677, he was also made a member of the staff of Li Hong's younger brother Li Xian
, now crown prince after Li Hong's death in 675. In 679, however, he became imperial censor and was no longer chancellor. In 680, when Li Xian, who had by now lost the favor of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian), was accused of plotting treason, Gao, along with the chancellors Xue Yuanchao
and Pei Yan
, were in charge of the investigations, and Li Xian was found guilty, deposed, and exiled. Gao, by this point, had repeatedly requested to retire, and Emperor Gaozong granted the retirement request. He died in 683 and was given posthumous honors and the posthumous name
Ding (定, "considerate").
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
.
Gao Zhizhou was born in 602, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui — personal name Yang Jian , Xianbei name Puliuru Jian , nickname Naluoyan — was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty . He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state...
, the founding emperor of Tang's predecessor Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
. His family was from what would become Chang Prefecture (常州, roughly modern Changzhou
Changzhou
Changzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It was previously known as Yanling, Lanling, Jinling, and Wujin. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Changzhou borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Zhenjiang to the...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
). He was said to have been studious in his youth and, after passing the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
, served as the county magistrate of Fei County (費縣, in modern Linyi
Linyi
Linyi is a prefecture-level city in the south of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The largest prefecture-level city in Shandong both by area and total population, Linyi borders Rizhao to the east, Weifang to the northeast, Zibo to the north, Tai'an to the northwest, Jining to the...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). As his salary was higher than those of the sheriff and the secretary general of the county, he shared his salary evenly with them. He was also said to be a capable county magistrate, and the people and subordinate officials carved a stone monument in his honor. Eventually, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, he was made an imperial scholar and participated in the creation of the literary works Yaoshan Yucai (瑤山玉彩) and Wenguan Cilin (文館辭林), headed by Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Li Hong
Li Hong
Li Hong , formally Emperor Xiaojing with the temple name of Yizong , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
. Further, he and two other officials, He Kai (賀凱) and Wang Zhenru (王真儒), assisted in Li Hong's studies. In 668, he took a vacation home to bury his parents, and when he reached home, he commented to his relatives, "Knowing how to advance but not how to retreat is the way to disaster." He thereafter, claiming an illness, resigned.
Gao was subsequently recalled to serve as the prefect of Shou Prefecture (壽州, roughly modern Lu'an
Lu'an
Lu'an , is a prefecture-level city in western Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, with a population of 5,612,590 inhabitants at 2010 census. Its built up area is home to 1,482,729 inhabitants spread out on 2 urban districts...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
). He was said to be gracious and forgiving in his rule, and the people appreciated it. Whenever he went out to visit the towns, he would first summon the local teachers and students to see how the students were doing in their studies and their understanding of current affairs, before he would move on to the matters of agriculture and law. In 671, he was recalled to the central government to serve as imperial consultant and acting deputy minister of ceremonies. In 676, he was serving as Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng), when he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. He was also in charge of editing imperial histories. In 677, he was also made a member of the staff of Li Hong's younger brother Li Xian
Li Xian
Li Xian , courtesy name Mingyun , formally Crown Prince Zhanghuai , named Li De from 672 to 674, was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong, and the second son of his second wife Empress Wu...
, now crown prince after Li Hong's death in 675. In 679, however, he became imperial censor and was no longer chancellor. In 680, when Li Xian, who had by now lost the favor of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
(later known as Wu Zetian), was accused of plotting treason, Gao, along with the chancellors Xue Yuanchao
Xue Yuanchao
Xue Yuanchao , formal name Xue Zhen but went by the courtesy name of Yuanchao, formally Baron of Fenyin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong....
and Pei Yan
Pei Yan
Pei Yan , courtesy name Zilong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, as well as regency by his wife Empress Wu over their sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong...
, were in charge of the investigations, and Li Xian was found guilty, deposed, and exiled. Gao, by this point, had repeatedly requested to retire, and Emperor Gaozong granted the retirement request. He died in 683 and was given posthumous honors and the posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
Ding (定, "considerate").