Li Huaiyuan
Encyclopedia
Li Huaiyuan (died 706), courtesy name Guangde (廣德), formally Duke Cheng of Zhao Commandery (趙郡成公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
and Wu Zetian
's Zhou Dynasty, serving twice as chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian and her son Emperor Zhongzong
.
, Hebei
). He lost his parents early in his life and was poor, but was diligent in his studies and capable in literary matters. There was a clansman of his who had high status who wished to adopt him so that he could receive the benefit of that high status when seeking to advance in civil service, but Li Huaiyuan declined, believing doing so would be dishonorable. He eventually passed the imperial examination
and entered civil service, and was eventually promoted to be the deputy minister of ceremonies (司禮少卿, Sili Shaoqing).
, Hebei
). He later successively served as secretary general at Yang Prefecture (揚州, roughly modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
) and Yi Prefecture (益州, roughly modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
), eventually serving as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, roughly modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
). He was said to be a simple and efficient prefect. At some point, he was recalled to the central government to serve as an advisor to the Crown Prince
, then as a senior advisor at the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai), then the deputy minister of rites (春官侍郎, Chunguan Shilang), and then as Luantai Shilang (鸞臺侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau. In 701, during the reign of Wu Zetian
, Li Huaiyuan was still serving as Luantai Shilang, when he was given the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. Five months later, he was made the minister of justice (秋官尚書, Qiuguan Shangshu), no longer a chancellor. He was also created the Baron of Pingxiang, made an advisor to the Crown Prince Li Xian
, and given the honorific title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). In 704, he requested retirement, and Wu Zetian removed him from his offices except as an advisor to Li Xian.
to return to the capital Chang'an
, he put Li Huaiyuan in charge of Luoyang. It was said that while Li Huaiyuan was greatly honored, he lived a simple and frugal life. He did not build mansions and did not enlarge his garden. He often rode a small horse, and when his fellow chancellor Doulu Qinwang
asked him, "You, Duke, are greatly honored. Why not buy a handsome horse?" Li Huaiyuan responded, "I value a horse by its tameness, not by its handsomeness." Li Huaiyuan died in fall 706 and was buried with honor, with Emperor Zhongzong personally writing his eulogy.
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...
and Wu Zetian
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...
's Zhou Dynasty, serving twice as chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian and her son Emperor Zhongzong
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Xiǎn , at times during his life Li Zhe and Wu Xian , was the fourth Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710.Emperor Zhongzong was the son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu...
.
Background
It is not known when Li Huaiyuan was born, but it is known that he was from Xing Prefecture (邢州, roughly modern XingtaiXingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
). He lost his parents early in his life and was poor, but was diligent in his studies and capable in literary matters. There was a clansman of his who had high status who wished to adopt him so that he could receive the benefit of that high status when seeking to advance in civil service, but Li Huaiyuan declined, believing doing so would be dishonorable. He eventually passed 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...
and entered civil service, and was eventually promoted to be the deputy minister of ceremonies (司禮少卿, Sili Shaoqing).
During Wu Zetian's reign
Li Huaiyuan was later commissioned to be the prefect of Xing Prefecture, but declined it on account that it was inappropriate for him to govern his home prefecture, and was instead made the prefect of Ji Prefecture (冀州, roughly modern HengshuiHengshui
Hengshui is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, China. It has an urban population of 460,240 in the built up area and a population of 4,340,373 at the 2010 census in its administrative area...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
). He later successively served as secretary general at Yang Prefecture (揚州, roughly modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, 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...
) and Yi Prefecture (益州, roughly modern Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
), eventually serving as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, roughly modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). He was said to be a simple and efficient prefect. At some point, he was recalled to the central government to serve as an advisor to the 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....
, then as a senior advisor at the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai), then the deputy minister of rites (春官侍郎, Chunguan Shilang), and then as Luantai Shilang (鸞臺侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau. In 701, during the reign of Wu Zetian
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...
, Li Huaiyuan was still serving as Luantai Shilang, when he was given the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. Five months later, he was made the minister of justice (秋官尚書, Qiuguan Shangshu), no longer a chancellor. He was also created the Baron of Pingxiang, made an advisor to the Crown Prince Li Xian
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Xiǎn , at times during his life Li Zhe and Wu Xian , was the fourth Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710.Emperor Zhongzong was the son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu...
, and given the honorific title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). In 704, he requested retirement, and Wu Zetian removed him from his offices except as an advisor to Li Xian.
During Emperor Zhongzong's reign
In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup, and Li Xian, formerly emperor, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). He recalled Li Huaiyuan to serve as a senior advisor at the examination bureau and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), again making him chancellor. He also created Li Huaiyuan the Duke of Zhao Commandery and gave him the honorific title Jinzi Guanglu Daifu (金紫光祿大夫). In 706, Li Huaiyuan retired again, although when Emperor Zhongzong soon departed the eastern capital LuoyangLuoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
to return to the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, he put Li Huaiyuan in charge of Luoyang. It was said that while Li Huaiyuan was greatly honored, he lived a simple and frugal life. He did not build mansions and did not enlarge his garden. He often rode a small horse, and when his fellow chancellor Doulu Qinwang
Doulu Qinwang
Doulu Qinwang , né Lu Qinwang , formally Duke Yuan of Rui , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, serving several terms as chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian and her son Emperor Zhongzong.- Background :Doulu Qinwang might have been born in 630,...
asked him, "You, Duke, are greatly honored. Why not buy a handsome horse?" Li Huaiyuan responded, "I value a horse by its tameness, not by its handsomeness." Li Huaiyuan died in fall 706 and was buried with honor, with Emperor Zhongzong personally writing his eulogy.