Su Liangsi
Encyclopedia
Su Liangsi (606
– February 24, 690), formally the Duke of Wen (溫公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
.
. His father Su Shizhang (蘇世長) was then an official for Sui Dynasty
, and had been an official for Sui's predecessor Northern Zhou
. After Sui's fall in 619, Su initially submitted to one of the contenders to succeed Sui, Wang Shichong
the Emperor of Zheng, but after Zheng was defeated by Tang Dynasty
forces in 621, submitted to Tang and became a Tang official, subsequently serving under its first two emperors Emperor Gaozu
and Emperor Taizong
. Su's family was from Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an
, Shaanxi
) -- the capital prefecture for both Sui and Tang.
, Su Liangsi served as the military advisor to Emperor Gaozong's son Li Xian
the Prince of Zhou. It was said that because Li Xian was young, his behaviors were often against regulations; Su would sternly advise against such behavior, and Li Xian feared and respected him. It was also said that many staff members were not capable officials, but Su carefully governed the staff and there were few violations against regulations, earning him much praise from Emperor Gaozong.
Later in Emperor Gaozong's reign, he was made the secretary general at Jing Prefecture (荊州, roughly modern Jingzhou
, Hubei
). On an occasion in 682, Emperor Gaozong sent eunuchs to the Yangtze River
region to seek out unusual bamboo plants, hoping to transplant them to the imperial garden. The eunuchs were said to abuse this authority to overpower the people, and when they went through Jing Prefecture, Su arrested them and submitted a petition to Emperor Gaozong, stating, "Looking for unusual things afar and disturbing the regions on the way is not the way for holy ones to show that they love the people. Further, these frivolous persons are abusing their authority and causing damage to the imperial reputation." Emperor Gaozong commented to his powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian), "I did not think this through carefully, and I drew a rebuke from Su Liangsi." He wrote an edict thanking Su, and ordered that the collected bamboo plants be thrown into the river.
However, while serving at Jing Prefecture, Su was also involved in an embarrassing event that caused people to believe that he did not study well. In Jing Prefecture was a Buddhist temple that Emperor Xuan of Western Liang
had built named Hedong Temple (河東寺), dedicated to Emperor Xuan's older brother Xiao Yu (蕭譽) the Prince of Hedong, who had been killed early by their uncle Emperor Yuan of Liang
. Su, when he saw the temple, unaware of its connection with the Prince of Hedong, commented, "What does Hedong have to do with this region between the Yangtze and the Han River
?" (Hedong originally referred to the region east of the Yellow River
, in modern Shanxi
.) He submitted a request, later approved, that the temple be torn down. This caused the people of the region to complain that he was unaware of history.
During Emperor Gaozong's Yongchun era (682-683), Su was made the secretary general of Yong Prefecture. At that time, the Guanzhong
region (i.e., the region around the capital Chang'an
) was suffering from a famine that was so severe that people resorted to cannibalism
, and there were many thefts and robberies. Su was said to be a strict governor, and criminal cases were usually solved within three days.
with the name Li Zhe) (as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands of Empress Wu, as empress dowager
and regent
. In 684, when Emperor Zhongzong showed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with his brother Li Dan
the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong), but thereafter held onto power even more firmly. Around this time, Su Liangsi was made the minister of public works, and in 685 he was made Nayan (納言) -- the head of the examination bureau of government and a post considered one for a chancellor, replacing Wang Dezhen
. As Empress Dowager Wu had taken up permanent residence at the eastern capital Luoyang
, Su was made the official in charge of Chang'an; he was also created the Duke of Wen. As he departed Luoyang, Empress Dowager Wu personally recited a poem to send him off. At that time, the director of imperial constructions, Pei Feigong (裴匪躬), was in charge of the imperial garden at Chang'an and proposed that the fruits and vegetables in the garden be gathered and sold to supplement the imperial budget. Su rejected the proposal, pointing out that it was inappropriate for the imperial government to be competing on the market with farmers.
In 686, Su was recalled to Luoyang to serve as Wenchang Zuo Xiang (文昌左相) -- one of the heads of the executive bureau and also a post for a chancellor—and further given the chancellor designation Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品). Around this time, there was an incident where he encountered Empress Dowager Wu's lover, the Buddhist monk Huaiyi
. Huaiyi did not greet him and displayed himself arrogantly. In anger, Su ordered his guards to seize Huaiyi and slap him. When Huaiyi complained to Empress Dowager Wu, she responded semi-jocularly, "Your Eminence should enter through the North Gate [(i.e., directly into the palace without going through the governmental buildings to the south of the palace)]. The Southern Palace is where chancellors gather; do not violate it."
In spring 690, Su was removed from his post as head of the executive bureau, but was given the honorific title Tejin (特進) and continued to serve as a chancellor de facto with the Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin designation. He was said to have a poor relationship with fellow chancellor Wei Fangzhi
, and later that spring, when Wei was accused of capital offenses, Wei, during interrogation, intentionally stated that Su was related to the case as well. Empress Dowager Wu, however, stated publicly herself that she did not believe Su was involved, and Su, in fear, bowed to her to thank her, but could not get up after bowing. He was delivered on an imperial wagon back to his house, and Empress Dowager Wu sent the imperial physicians Zhang Wenzhong (張文仲) and Wei Cizang (韋慈藏) to look after him. Still, he died that same day and was buried with great honors. However, soon, after his son Su Jianyan (蘇踐言) was accused of crimes and exiled to the Lingnan
region, Su Liangsi's honors were posthumously stripped, and his assets were seized. His other sons Su Jianzhong (蘇踐忠) and Su Jianyi (蘇踐義) were also involved. Su Jianyan died in Lingnan. In 707, after Emperor Zhongzong had been restored to the throne in 705, Su Liangsi's titles were restored, and Su Jianyan's son Su Wuxuan (蘇務玄) was allowed to inherit the title of Duke of Wen.
606
Year 606 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 606 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Shashanka is the first recorded independent...
– February 24, 690), formally the Duke of Wen (溫公), was an official of the Chinese
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 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
Su Liangsi was born in 606, during the reign of Emperor Yang of SuiEmperor Yang of Sui
Emperor Yang of Sui , personal name Yang Guang , alternative name Ying , nickname Amo , known as Emperor Ming during the brief reign of his grandson Yang Tong), was the second son of Emperor Wen of Sui, and the second emperor of China's Sui Dynasty.Emperor Yang's original name was Yang Ying, but...
. His father Su Shizhang (蘇世長) was then an official for 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 had been an official for Sui's predecessor Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...
. After Sui's fall in 619, Su initially submitted to one of the contenders to succeed Sui, Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong , courtesy name Xingman , was a general of the Chinese Sui Dynasty who deposed Sui's last emperor Yang Tong and briefly ruled as the emperor of a succeeding state of Zheng...
the Emperor of Zheng, but after Zheng was defeated by 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...
forces in 621, submitted to Tang and became a Tang official, subsequently serving under its first two emperors Emperor Gaozu
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
and Emperor Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
. Su's family was from Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, 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...
) -- the capital prefecture for both Sui and Tang.
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
During the reign of Emperor Taizong's son Emperor GaozongEmperor 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...
, Su Liangsi served as the military advisor to Emperor Gaozong's son 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...
the Prince of Zhou. It was said that because Li Xian was young, his behaviors were often against regulations; Su would sternly advise against such behavior, and Li Xian feared and respected him. It was also said that many staff members were not capable officials, but Su carefully governed the staff and there were few violations against regulations, earning him much praise from Emperor Gaozong.
Later in Emperor Gaozong's reign, he was made the secretary general at Jing Prefecture (荊州, roughly modern Jingzhou
Jingzhou
Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
). On an occasion in 682, Emperor Gaozong sent eunuchs to the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
region to seek out unusual bamboo plants, hoping to transplant them to the imperial garden. The eunuchs were said to abuse this authority to overpower the people, and when they went through Jing Prefecture, Su arrested them and submitted a petition to Emperor Gaozong, stating, "Looking for unusual things afar and disturbing the regions on the way is not the way for holy ones to show that they love the people. Further, these frivolous persons are abusing their authority and causing damage to the imperial reputation." Emperor Gaozong commented to his 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), "I did not think this through carefully, and I drew a rebuke from Su Liangsi." He wrote an edict thanking Su, and ordered that the collected bamboo plants be thrown into the river.
However, while serving at Jing Prefecture, Su was also involved in an embarrassing event that caused people to believe that he did not study well. In Jing Prefecture was a Buddhist temple that Emperor Xuan of Western Liang
Emperor Xuan of Western Liang
Emperor Xuan of Liang , personal name Xiao Cha , courtesy name Lisun , was a emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
had built named Hedong Temple (河東寺), dedicated to Emperor Xuan's older brother Xiao Yu (蕭譽) the Prince of Hedong, who had been killed early by their uncle Emperor Yuan of Liang
Emperor Yuan of Liang
Emperor Yuan of Liang , personal name Xiao Yi , courtesy name Shicheng , nickname Qifu , was an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
. Su, when he saw the temple, unaware of its connection with the Prince of Hedong, commented, "What does Hedong have to do with this region between the Yangtze and the Han River
Han River (Hanshui)
The Han River is a left tributary of the Yangtze River with a length of 1532 km. Historically it was referred to as Hànshuǐ and the name is still occasionally used today....
?" (Hedong originally referred to the region east of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
, in modern Shanxi
Shanxi
' 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....
.) He submitted a request, later approved, that the temple be torn down. This caused the people of the region to complain that he was unaware of history.
During Emperor Gaozong's Yongchun era (682-683), Su was made the secretary general of Yong Prefecture. At that time, the Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
region (i.e., the region around 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...
) was suffering from a famine that was so severe that people resorted to cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, and there were many thefts and robberies. Su was said to be a strict governor, and criminal cases were usually solved within three days.
During Emperor Ruizong's first reign
Emperor Gaozong died in 683 and was succeeded by Li Xian (then Crown PrinceCrown 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....
with the name Li Zhe) (as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands of Empress Wu, as empress dowager
Empress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
and 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...
. In 684, when Emperor Zhongzong showed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with his brother Li Dan
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...
the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong), but thereafter held onto power even more firmly. Around this time, Su Liangsi was made the minister of public works, and in 685 he was made Nayan (納言) -- the head of the examination bureau of government and a post considered one for a chancellor, replacing Wang Dezhen
Wang Dezhen
Wang Dezhen was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, briefly serving as a chancellor on two occasions -- once during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, and once during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong, when Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Wu served as empress dowager and regent.-...
. As Empress Dowager Wu had taken up permanent residence at 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...
, Su was made the official in charge of Chang'an; he was also created the Duke of Wen. As he departed Luoyang, Empress Dowager Wu personally recited a poem to send him off. At that time, the director of imperial constructions, Pei Feigong (裴匪躬), was in charge of the imperial garden at Chang'an and proposed that the fruits and vegetables in the garden be gathered and sold to supplement the imperial budget. Su rejected the proposal, pointing out that it was inappropriate for the imperial government to be competing on the market with farmers.
In 686, Su was recalled to Luoyang to serve as Wenchang Zuo Xiang (文昌左相) -- one of the heads of the executive bureau and also a post for a chancellor—and further given the chancellor designation Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品). Around this time, there was an incident where he encountered Empress Dowager Wu's lover, the Buddhist monk Huaiyi
Huaiyi
Huaiyi , né Feng Xiaobao , sometimes referred to as Xue Huaiyi , was a Buddhist monk who was known for being the lover of Wu Zetian, the only woman to be commonly recognized as "emperor" in the history of China....
. Huaiyi did not greet him and displayed himself arrogantly. In anger, Su ordered his guards to seize Huaiyi and slap him. When Huaiyi complained to Empress Dowager Wu, she responded semi-jocularly, "Your Eminence should enter through the North Gate [(i.e., directly into the palace without going through the governmental buildings to the south of the palace)]. The Southern Palace is where chancellors gather; do not violate it."
In spring 690, Su was removed from his post as head of the executive bureau, but was given the honorific title Tejin (特進) and continued to serve as a chancellor de facto with the Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin designation. He was said to have a poor relationship with fellow chancellor Wei Fangzhi
Wei Fangzhi
Wei Fangzhi , formally the Duke of Fuyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who served as chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong.- Background :...
, and later that spring, when Wei was accused of capital offenses, Wei, during interrogation, intentionally stated that Su was related to the case as well. Empress Dowager Wu, however, stated publicly herself that she did not believe Su was involved, and Su, in fear, bowed to her to thank her, but could not get up after bowing. He was delivered on an imperial wagon back to his house, and Empress Dowager Wu sent the imperial physicians Zhang Wenzhong (張文仲) and Wei Cizang (韋慈藏) to look after him. Still, he died that same day and was buried with great honors. However, soon, after his son Su Jianyan (蘇踐言) was accused of crimes and exiled to the Lingnan
Lingnan
Lingnan is a geographic area referring to lands in the south of China's "Five Ranges" which are Tayu, Qitian, Dupang, Mengzhu, Yuecheng. The region covers the Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces of modern China and northern Vietnam...
region, Su Liangsi's honors were posthumously stripped, and his assets were seized. His other sons Su Jianzhong (蘇踐忠) and Su Jianyi (蘇踐義) were also involved. Su Jianyan died in Lingnan. In 707, after Emperor Zhongzong had been restored to the throne in 705, Su Liangsi's titles were restored, and Su Jianyan's son Su Wuxuan (蘇務玄) was allowed to inherit the title of Duke of Wen.