Pei Judao
Encyclopedia
Pei Judao (died July 22, 690) was a general and official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
.
). His grandfather Pei Jingmin (裴鏡民) served as the minister of defense during Tang Dynasty
's predecessor Sui Dynasty
, and his father Pei Xizai (裴熙載) served as a secretary general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
Little is known about most of Pei Judao's career, other than that, at one point during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
, he served as a general commanding the imperial guards, and that Emperor Gaozong took his daughter to be the wife of Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Li Hong
.
(Li Hong's younger brother), Pei Judao was serving as the minister of justice, when Emperor Ruizong's (and Li Hong's) mother, the regent
Empress Dowager Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian) gave Pei the designation of Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Later that year, he was made Neishi (內史) -- the head of the legislative bureau of government (鳳閣, Fengge) and a post considered one for a chancellor. In 687, he was made Nayan (納言) -- the head of the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai), also a post considered one for a chancellor. Around the new year 689, Empress Dowager Wu, who had by that point taken up permanent residence in the eastern capital Luoyang
, made Pei the official in charge of the capital Chang'an
. Sometime during his service as chancellor, she created him the Duke of Yi.
In 690, just prior to Empress Dowager Wu taking the throne herself from Emperor Ruizong as the "emperor" of her own Zhou Dynasty, interrupting Tang Dynasty, she executed a number of officials and Tang imperial clan members, including Pei. For reasons lost to history, Pei was accused by secret police and imprisoned, finally executed.
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 a chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor Ruizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Dàn , known at times during his life as Li Xulun , Li Lun , Wu Lun , and Wu Dan , was the fifth and ninth emperor of Tang Dynasty...
.
Background
It is not known when Pei Judao was born, but it is known his family was from Jiang Prefecture (絳州, part of modern Yuncheng, ShanxiShanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
). His grandfather Pei Jingmin (裴鏡民) served as the minister of defense during 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...
'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....
, and his father Pei Xizai (裴熙載) served as a secretary general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
Little is known about most of Pei Judao's career, other than that, at one point 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...
, he served as a general commanding the imperial guards, and that Emperor Gaozong took his daughter to be the wife of 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...
.
During Emperor Ruizong's reign
As of 685, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor RuizongEmperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor Ruizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Dàn , known at times during his life as Li Xulun , Li Lun , Wu Lun , and Wu Dan , was the fifth and ninth emperor of Tang Dynasty...
(Li Hong's younger brother), Pei Judao was serving as the minister of justice, when Emperor Ruizong's (and Li Hong's) mother, the regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
Empress Dowager 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) gave Pei the designation of Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Later that year, he was made Neishi (內史) -- the head of the legislative bureau of government (鳳閣, Fengge) and a post considered one for a chancellor. In 687, he was made Nayan (納言) -- the head of the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai), also a post considered one for a chancellor. Around the new year 689, Empress Dowager Wu, who had by that point taken up permanent residence in the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
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...
, made Pei the official in charge of 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...
. Sometime during his service as chancellor, she created him the Duke of Yi.
In 690, just prior to Empress Dowager Wu taking the throne herself from Emperor Ruizong as the "emperor" of her own Zhou Dynasty, interrupting Tang Dynasty, she executed a number of officials and Tang imperial clan members, including Pei. For reasons lost to history, Pei was accused by secret police and imprisoned, finally executed.