Wei Daijia
Encyclopedia
Wei Daijia (died 689?) was a general and official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
.
, Shaanxi
), the capital prefecture for both Tang Dynasty
and its predecessor dynasty Sui Dynasty
. Wei Daijia's grandfather Wei Chong (韋沖) served as a minister during Sui, and his father Wei Ting (韋挺) served as an official in late Sui and during Tang, under its first two emperors Emperor Gaozu
and Emperor Taizong
. Wei Daijia himself started his government career service as an officer in the imperial guard corps, and he married a daughter of the renowned general Li Daozong
the Prince of Jiangxia (Emperor Taizong's cousin).
the Crown Prince
(as Emperor Gaozong). In 653, Li Daozong, who had been in a conflict with Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle, the chancellor Zhangsun Wuji
, was exiled, and as a result of his status as Li Daozong's son-in-law, Wei Daijia was sent out of the capital Chang'an
to serve as an officer at Lulong Base (盧龍府, in modern Qinhuangdao
, Hebei
). On one occasion, the general Xin Wenling (辛文陵) was patrolling the border with Goguryeo
, when Goguryeo forces ambushed him and initially defeated him. Wei and another officer, Xue Rengui
, led their troops to try to aid Xin, who was eventually able to fight off the Goguryeo forces. During the battle, Wei suffered serious injuries, including being hit in the left foot with an arrow, but declined to claim accomplishments from the battle. As a result of his injuries, he was eventually removed from his post.
Later, Wei was made the prefect of Lan Prefecture (蘭州, roughly modern Lanzhou
, Gansu
). At that time, Tufan posed a serious threat to Tang's western prefectures, and Emperor Gaozong made his son Li Xian
the Prince of Pei nominally the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu) and made Wei his military advisor. He later served as the prefect of Su Prefecture (肅州, roughly modern Jiuquan
, Gansu
), and was said to have done well in defending the prefecture against Tufan attacks. He was recalled back to Chang'an to serve as a commanding general of the imperial guards. During a Tufan attack in 678, he was briefly made acting commandant at Liang Prefecture to defend against the attack, but was soon recalled to Chang'an. He was also created the Marquess of Fuyang.
the Crown Prince (as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian) 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 wielded power even more firmly. Around this time, she made Wei Daijia the minister of civil service affairs and acting Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies
), putting him in charge of constructing Emperor Gaozong's tomb. After the tomb was completed, in 685, she awarded him the honorific title of Zijin Guanglu Daifu (紫金光祿大夫). She also gave him the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. She further awarded him silk and made one of his sons an official of the fifth rank. It was said that Wei, because he had a military background, lacked talent for selecting officials, and therefore did not have a good reputation as a minister of civil service affairs.
Later in 685, Empress Dowager Wu commissioned Wei to lead an army to defend against an Eastern Tujue attack -- a campaign that lasted until spring 686. In summer 686, she made him Wenchang You Xiang (文昌右相) -- one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (文昌臺, Wenchang Tai). It was said that Wei felt that his promotions were undeserved and was not feeling comfortable about them, and therefore repeatedly offered to resign, but Empress Dowager Wu repeatedly declined. He also requested that some of his titles be removed and that his father Wei Ting, who had died late in Emperor Taizong's reign in exile, be posthumously honored, and therefore she posthumously honored Wei Ting as the prefect of Run Prefecture (潤州, roughly modern Zhenjiang
, Jiangsu
). In 689, Wei Daijia requested that he be put back into command of an army, and so Empress Dowager Wu commissioned him to attack Tufan, commanding 36 generals; she also created him the Duke of Fuyang. He set out on the campaign and encountered Tufan forces at Yinshijia River (寅識迦河, flowing through Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
, Xinjiang
). He enjoyed some initial success, but was eventually defeated by Tufan forces. Further, it was cold and the food supplies were low, causing many deaths due to cold and hunger; this forced him to withdraw to Gaochang
. Empress Dowager Wu was incensed, and she executed Wei's deputy Yan Wengu (閻溫古) for having hesitated during the campaign, while exiling Wei to Xiu Prefecture (繡州, roughly modern Guigang
, Guangxi
). He died in exile soon thereafter.
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
It is not known when Wei Daijia was born, but it was known that his family was from Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'anXi'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 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 its predecessor dynasty 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....
. Wei Daijia's grandfather Wei Chong (韋沖) served as a minister during Sui, and his father Wei Ting (韋挺) served as an official in late Sui and during Tang, 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...
. Wei Daijia himself started his government career service as an officer in the imperial guard corps, and he married a daughter of the renowned general Li Daozong
Li Daozong
Li Daozong , courtesy name Chengfan , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was a cousin of Emperor Taizong, and in Emperor Taizong's reign commanded forces in campaigns against Eastern Tujue, Tuyuhun, Goguryeo, and Xueyantuo...
the Prince of Jiangxia (Emperor Taizong's cousin).
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
Emperor Taizong died in 649 and was succeeded by his son Li ZhiEmperor 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...
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....
(as Emperor Gaozong). In 653, Li Daozong, who had been in a conflict with Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle, the chancellor Zhangsun Wuji
Zhangsun Wuji
Zhangsun Wuji , courtesy name Fuji , formally Duke of Zhao , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty during the reigns of his brother-in-law Emperor Taizong and nephew Emperor Gaozong...
, was exiled, and as a result of his status as Li Daozong's son-in-law, Wei Daijia was sent out 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...
to serve as an officer at Lulong Base (盧龍府, in modern Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao
Qinhuangdao is a port city in northeastern Hebei province of North China. It is about 300 km east of Beijing, on the Bohai Sea, the innermost gulf of the Yellow Sea....
, 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...
). On one occasion, the general Xin Wenling (辛文陵) was patrolling the border with Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
, when Goguryeo forces ambushed him and initially defeated him. Wei and another officer, Xue Rengui
Xue rengui
Xue Ren'gui , formal name Xue Li but went by the courtesy name of Rengui, was one of the most famous Chinese generals during the early Tang Dynasty, due to references to him in popular literature...
, led their troops to try to aid Xin, who was eventually able to fight off the Goguryeo forces. During the battle, Wei suffered serious injuries, including being hit in the left foot with an arrow, but declined to claim accomplishments from the battle. As a result of his injuries, he was eventually removed from his post.
Later, Wei was made the prefect of Lan Prefecture (蘭州, roughly modern Lanzhou
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
). At that time, Tufan posed a serious threat to Tang's western prefectures, and Emperor Gaozong made his son 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...
the Prince of Pei nominally the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu) and made Wei his military advisor. He later served as the prefect of Su Prefecture (肅州, roughly modern Jiuquan
Jiuquan
- Suzhou town :The administrative center of the "prefecture-level city" of Jiuquan is the "District" of Suzhou , which occupies 3,386 square km in the eastern part of Jiuquan "prefecture-level city", and had a population of 340,000 as of 2002....
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
), and was said to have done well in defending the prefecture against Tufan attacks. He was recalled back to Chang'an to serve as a commanding general of the imperial guards. During a Tufan attack in 678, he was briefly made acting commandant at Liang Prefecture to defend against the attack, but was soon recalled to Chang'an. He was also created the Marquess of Fuyang.
During Emperor Ruizong's reign
Emperor Gaozong died in 683 and was succeeded by his son Li ZheEmperor 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 Crown Prince (as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands 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) 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 wielded power even more firmly. Around this time, she made Wei Daijia the minister of civil service affairs and acting Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
), putting him in charge of constructing Emperor Gaozong's tomb. After the tomb was completed, in 685, she awarded him the honorific title of Zijin Guanglu Daifu (紫金光祿大夫). She also gave him the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. She further awarded him silk and made one of his sons an official of the fifth rank. It was said that Wei, because he had a military background, lacked talent for selecting officials, and therefore did not have a good reputation as a minister of civil service affairs.
Later in 685, Empress Dowager Wu commissioned Wei to lead an army to defend against an Eastern Tujue attack -- a campaign that lasted until spring 686. In summer 686, she made him Wenchang You Xiang (文昌右相) -- one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (文昌臺, Wenchang Tai). It was said that Wei felt that his promotions were undeserved and was not feeling comfortable about them, and therefore repeatedly offered to resign, but Empress Dowager Wu repeatedly declined. He also requested that some of his titles be removed and that his father Wei Ting, who had died late in Emperor Taizong's reign in exile, be posthumously honored, and therefore she posthumously honored Wei Ting as the prefect of Run Prefecture (潤州, roughly modern Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Jiangsu province in the eastern People's Republic of China . Sitting on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Changzhou to the east, and Yangzhou across the river to the north.Once...
, 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...
). In 689, Wei Daijia requested that he be put back into command of an army, and so Empress Dowager Wu commissioned him to attack Tufan, commanding 36 generals; she also created him the Duke of Fuyang. He set out on the campaign and encountered Tufan forces at Yinshijia River (寅識迦河, flowing through Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture
Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture , in northernmost Xinjiang, is the only Kazakh autonomous prefecture of the People's Republic of China.-Geography and coordinates:The following figures excludes both Tacheng Prefecture and Altay Prefecture....
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
). He enjoyed some initial success, but was eventually defeated by Tufan forces. Further, it was cold and the food supplies were low, causing many deaths due to cold and hunger; this forced him to withdraw to Gaochang
Gaochang
Gaochang is the site of an ancient oasis city built on the northern rim of the inhospitable Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China. A busy trading center, it was a stopping point for merchant traders traveling on the Silk Road...
. Empress Dowager Wu was incensed, and she executed Wei's deputy Yan Wengu (閻溫古) for having hesitated during the campaign, while exiling Wei to Xiu Prefecture (繡州, roughly modern Guigang
Guigang
Guigang is a prefecture-level city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.-Geography and climate:Guigang is located in central Guangxi province. It is located between Guangxi's five major cities, Nanning, Guilin, Liuzhou, Beihai, and Wuzhou. Its location makes it a major transportation and...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
). He died in exile soon thereafter.