Xu Yushi
Encyclopedia
Xu Yushi (died 679), formally Duke Jian of Ping'en (平恩簡公), was briefly a chancellor of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
Xu Yushi was a son of Xu Shao (許紹), a Sui Dynasty
official who, after Tang was founded in 618, submitted to Tang, along with a substantial amount of territory in modern Hubei
and Chongqing
, and was rewarded for his ability to fend off attacks from two other rebel rulers who also claimed imperial titles -- Xiao Xi
the Emperor of Liang and Wang Shichong
the Emperor of Zheng and who was greatly praised by Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu
for his contributions to Tang's eventual takeover of the entire realm. (In this, Xu Shao was assisted by Xu Yushi's brother-in-law Hao Xianggui (郝相貴), whose son (Xu Yushi's nephew) Hao Chujun
later also served as a chancellor.) Xu Yushi was himself described to be capable in literature and arts, and was also said to had been a top finisher in the imperial examination
, but not much is known of his early career as an imperial official.
In 659, Xu was promoted to the post of deputy head of the examination bureau of government, and was also made a chancellor de facto. Late that year, he was made acting Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor by itself. In 662, he was formally made the head of the examination bureau (but the title, by that point, was changed to Zuoxiang (左相), as part of a major reorganization of office titles earlier that year). At some point, for the fact that he participated in editing imperial historical records, he was created the Duke of Ping'en.
Late that year, an incident involving Xu Yushi's son Xu Ziran (許自然) would lead to Xu Yushi's removal. Xu Ziran, who was in charge of imperial wagons, had gone out on a hunt, and during the hunt, he had damaged a farmer's crops. When the farmer became angry, Xu Ziran fired arrows toward the farmer. Xu Yushi caned Xu Ziran 100 times, but did not report this to the emperor. When the farmer submitted a formal accusation, the accusation was initially put aside by the official Yang Deyi (楊德裔), but another official, Yuan Gongyu (袁公瑜), then resubmitted the accusation directly to the emperor under a pseudonym. Emperor Gaozong, in anger, stated, "Xu Yushi is a chancellor, but when the people's lives and properties were interfered with, he did not report to me. Is this not an abuse of power?" Xu responded, "I serve in a key position of the government, and I serve Your Imperial Majesty with honesty and fairness, and I could not please everyone. That is why I am being attacked. As for abusing power, only someone who commands strong troops or is stationed at a key military post can do so. I am but a civilian who serves the emperor, and I only know how to perfect myself behind closed doors. How can I abuse power?" This caused Emperor Gaozong to be angrier, and he stated, "Are you displeased that you do not command troops?" Another chancellor, Xu Jingzong
, who happened to be present, stated, "For an imperial subject to have this kind of attitude, death would be too good of a treatment for him!" Emperor Gaozong ordered that Xu Yushi be expelled from his presence and removed from his post.
At a later point, Xu was made the prefect of Qian Prefecture (虔州, roughly modern Ganzhou
, Jiangxi
), and eventually the prefect of the more important Xiang Prefecture (相州, roughly modern Handan
, Hebei
). It was said that Xu governed Xiang Prefecture so well that both the people and his subordinates carved stone monuments to praise him. It was also mentioned in history that on one occasion, when one of his subordinates was revealed to have received bribes, he did not punish the subordinate, but rather sent him poems discussing honest officials. The subordinate receiving bribes became ashamed and thereafter served honestly. During Emperor Gaozong's Shangyuan era (674-676), he was recalled to the capital to serve as minister of census.
After his retirement, Xu Yushi's granddaughter married the soon-to-be famous poet Li Bo
and one of his descendents was the poet Xu Hun
.
Xu Yushi died in 679.
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...
, 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...
.
Xu Yushi was a son of Xu Shao (許紹), a 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....
official who, after Tang was founded in 618, submitted to Tang, along with a substantial amount of territory in modern 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...
and Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
, and was rewarded for his ability to fend off attacks from two other rebel rulers who also claimed imperial titles -- Xiao Xi
Xiao Xi
Xiao Xian was a descendant of the imperial house of the Chinese dynasty Liang Dynasty, who rose against the rule of Sui Dynasty toward the end of the rule of Emperor Yang of Sui...
the Emperor of Liang and 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 and who was greatly praised by Tang's founder 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...
for his contributions to Tang's eventual takeover of the entire realm. (In this, Xu Shao was assisted by Xu Yushi's brother-in-law Hao Xianggui (郝相貴), whose son (Xu Yushi's nephew) Hao Chujun
Hao Chujun
Hao Chujun , formally Duke of Zengshan , was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He was known for his honesty and willingness to advise Emperor Gaozong against actions he considered unwise...
later also served as a chancellor.) Xu Yushi was himself described to be capable in literature and arts, and was also said to had been a top finisher in 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...
, but not much is known of his early career as an imperial official.
In 659, Xu was promoted to the post of deputy head of the examination bureau of government, and was also made a chancellor de facto. Late that year, he was made acting Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor by itself. In 662, he was formally made the head of the examination bureau (but the title, by that point, was changed to Zuoxiang (左相), as part of a major reorganization of office titles earlier that year). At some point, for the fact that he participated in editing imperial historical records, he was created the Duke of Ping'en.
Late that year, an incident involving Xu Yushi's son Xu Ziran (許自然) would lead to Xu Yushi's removal. Xu Ziran, who was in charge of imperial wagons, had gone out on a hunt, and during the hunt, he had damaged a farmer's crops. When the farmer became angry, Xu Ziran fired arrows toward the farmer. Xu Yushi caned Xu Ziran 100 times, but did not report this to the emperor. When the farmer submitted a formal accusation, the accusation was initially put aside by the official Yang Deyi (楊德裔), but another official, Yuan Gongyu (袁公瑜), then resubmitted the accusation directly to the emperor under a pseudonym. Emperor Gaozong, in anger, stated, "Xu Yushi is a chancellor, but when the people's lives and properties were interfered with, he did not report to me. Is this not an abuse of power?" Xu responded, "I serve in a key position of the government, and I serve Your Imperial Majesty with honesty and fairness, and I could not please everyone. That is why I am being attacked. As for abusing power, only someone who commands strong troops or is stationed at a key military post can do so. I am but a civilian who serves the emperor, and I only know how to perfect myself behind closed doors. How can I abuse power?" This caused Emperor Gaozong to be angrier, and he stated, "Are you displeased that you do not command troops?" Another chancellor, Xu Jingzong
Xu Jingzong
Xu Jingzong , courtesy name Yanzu , formally Duke Gong of Gaoyang , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, who happened to be present, stated, "For an imperial subject to have this kind of attitude, death would be too good of a treatment for him!" Emperor Gaozong ordered that Xu Yushi be expelled from his presence and removed from his post.
At a later point, Xu was made the prefect of Qian Prefecture (虔州, roughly modern Ganzhou
Ganzhou
Ganzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Its administrative seat is at Zhanggong .-History:...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
), and eventually the prefect of the more important Xiang Prefecture (相州, roughly modern Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, 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...
). It was said that Xu governed Xiang Prefecture so well that both the people and his subordinates carved stone monuments to praise him. It was also mentioned in history that on one occasion, when one of his subordinates was revealed to have received bribes, he did not punish the subordinate, but rather sent him poems discussing honest officials. The subordinate receiving bribes became ashamed and thereafter served honestly. During Emperor Gaozong's Shangyuan era (674-676), he was recalled to the capital to serve as minister of census.
After his retirement, Xu Yushi's granddaughter married the soon-to-be famous poet Li Bo
Li Bai
Li Bai , also known in the West by various other transliterations, especially Li Po, was a major Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty poetry period. He has been regarded as one of the greatest poets in China's Tang period, which is often called China's "golden age" of poetry. Around a thousand existing...
and one of his descendents was the poet Xu Hun
Xu Hun
Xu Hun was a Chinese poet of the Tang poetry tradition of the Tang Dynasty. He received his Jinshi degree through the imperial examination system in 832, and subsequently followed a "moderately distinguished" professional career...
.
Xu Yushi died in 679.