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Chancellor of the Tang dynasty

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79-580: The chancellor ( Chinese : 宰相 ; pinyin : zǎixiàng ) was a semi-formally designated office position for a number of high-level officials at one time during the Tang dynasty of China. This list also includes chancellors of the short-lived Wu Zhou dynasty , which is typically treated as an interregnum of the Tang dynasty by historians. Ouyang Xiu , the author of the New Book of Tang , asserts that

158-453: A change in the emperor's position—believing that Emperor Ruizong would suspect Li Longji of plotting a coup and that she could remove Li Longji this way. Instead, Emperor Ruizong, reasoning that the change in the emperor's position could be accounted by an orderly transition, offered to pass the throne to Li Longji. Princess Taiping fervently opposed it, and Li Longji initially declined, but at Emperor Ruizong's insistence finally accepted and took

237-418: A different palace, She even forbade him to move around him personal residence and did not let him meet the imperial officials or give input on affairs of state, with Emperor Ruizong not even nominally approving official actions. Emperor Ruizong's wife Princess Liu was created empress , while her son Li Chengqi was created crown prince. Soon after Emperor Ruizong took the throne, Empress Dowager Wu carried out

316-514: A guard beheaded her. Li Guo'er, Wu Yanxiu, and the powerful lady in waiting Lady Helou were killed as well. Li Longji soon slaughtered a number of officials in Empress Dowager's faction as well as her clan, while displaying Empress Dowager Wei's body on the street. Li Dan took over as regent, but at the urging of Princess Taiping, Li Longji, and Li Chengqi, Li Dan soon took the throne from Emperor Shang and again became emperor. Emperor Shang

395-574: A large number of officials and generals who dared to speak in Pei's defense, later executing some of them. In 686, Empress Dowager created a number of bronze boxes designed to encourage secret reports of crimes. She also began to retain a group of secret police officials to carry out torture and interrogation of people suspected of opposing her rule, including Suo Yuanli , Zhou Xing , and Lai Junchen . On one occasion, she offered to return imperial authorities to Emperor Ruizong, but Emperor Ruizong knew that she

474-464: A major renaming of governmental offices and banners. She, who disliked the capital Chang'an , also elevated Luoyang's status, making it a co-equal capital with Chang'an. She further, at the suggestion of her nephew Wu Chengsi , built an ancestral temple for five generations of her ancestors and had Emperor Ruizong posthumously create them princes. In fall 684, Li Jingye the Duke of Ying (the grandson of

553-476: A petition to request her to spare Liu—which, however, as Liu observed, had the opposite effect, and she ordered Liu to commit suicide. In 688, fearing that Empress Dowager Wu was using a ceremony to worship the god of the Luo River (洛水, flowing near Luoyang) as an excuse to summon them to Luoyang to slaughter them, the imperial princes considered rebellion, and one was launched by Emperor Ruizong's uncle Li Zhen

632-465: A single sentence, so of the officials would rush to her to please her. As a result, her position and influence went beyond the emperor, and she ruled his administration from her own house without any restrictions. Among the relatives of the Tang dynasty and the ministers of civil and military affairs, there was still one person who made her feel terrified, and that was Li Longji. Princess Taiping, finding Li Longji to be not receptive to her influences and has

711-524: A strong will, began to spread news of offenses by Li Longji, hoping that he would eventually be removed. In 711, the chancellors Yao Yuanzhi and Song Jing tried to defuse the situation by having Princess Taiping sent to Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng , Shanxi ) and the two princes with arguable better claims on the throne than Li Longji—Li Chengqi and Li Shouli the Prince of Bin (whose father Li Xián (note different tone than Emperor Zhongzong)

790-470: The Canyu Chaozheng also continued appearing, including Canzhi Jiwu (參知機務, literally "participator in important matters"), Canzhang Jimi (參掌機密, literally "participator in national secret matters"), Canzhi Zhengshi (參知政事, literally "participator in governance matters"), Canmou Zhengshi (參謀政事, similarly in meaning to Canzhi Zhengshi ) also appeared, which Bo rendered as "chancellors de facto of

869-579: The Shàngshūpúshè (尚書僕射)). Ouyang asserts, however, that the heads of the examination and legislative bureaus were also considered chancellors. The Tang dynasty founder Emperor Gaozu initially followed the Sui's system of governance, including the five-bureau organization. However, he deviated from his predecessors by creating a single head for the executive bureau, known as the Shàngshūlǐng (尚書令) and appointed

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948-491: The chancellor Liu Youqiu – who had been part of Li Longji's coup plans—Emperor Ruizong agreed and created Li Longji crown prince. Li Longji submitted a petition offering to yield to Li Chengqi, but Emperor Ruizong rejected it. Emperor Ruizong reversed many of Emperor Zhongzong's actions and posthumously honored many people who lost their lives during the reigns of Wu Zetian and Emperor Zhongzong. He further removed thousands of officials that Emperor Zhongzong had commissioned at

1027-438: The eunuch Gao Lishi , and the military officer Li Shoude ( 李守德 )—and decided to act first. On 29 July, Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. Dou fled into a canyon and committed suicide by hanging. Xue Ji was forced to commit suicide. When Emperor Ruizong heard about this, he quickly ascended

1106-527: The Prince of Han and Li Lingkui ( 李靈夔 ) the Prince of Lu. In 690, Empress Dowager Wu received a number of petitions that she take the throne herself, and Emperor Ruizong also submitted such a petition. She accepted, and she took the throne as "empress regnant," establishing a new Zhou dynasty and interrupting Tang dynasty. She demoted Emperor Ruizong to the position of crown prince (with the unusual title Huangsi ( 皇嗣 )), and changed his name back to Lun. She further had him take her family name of Wu. Despite

1185-565: The Prince of Song then persuaded Li Dan to take the throne himself, and he agreed, returning to the throne in Emperor Shang's stead. Li Longji, although not the oldest son, was made crown prince on account of his accomplishments. Soon, however, tensions between Princess Taiping, who had immense power, complete trust of the emperor and many supporters, and Li Longji (who was created crown prince) mounted. Li Longji constantly criticized his aunt for influencing his father's administration, which

1264-484: The Prince of Xinxing (a grandson of Li Deliang ( 李德良 ), a cousin of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu ), Li You ( 李猷 ), Jia Yingfu ( 賈膺福 ), Tang Jun ( 唐晙 ); the generals Chang Yuankai ( 常元楷 ), Li Ci ( 李慈 ), and Li Qin ( 李欽 ); and the monk Huifan, were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. It was further said that they discussed, with the lady in waiting Lady Yuan to poison the gastrodia elata that Emperor Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When this alleged plot

1343-427: The Prince of Yue and Li Zhen's son Li Chong the Prince of Langye, claiming that Emperor Ruizong was under arrest and needed to be rescued. However, both Li Zhen and Li Chong were quickly defeated; Li Chong was killed in battle, while Li Zhen committed suicide. Empress Dowager Wu used this opportunity to carry out a major purge of senior imperial Li clan members, including Emperor Ruizong's granduncles Li Yuanjia ( 李元嘉 )

1422-507: The Tang dynasty inherited its bureaucracy from its dynastic predecessor, the Sui dynasty , under which the founder Emperor Wen of Sui divided his government into five main bureaus: Under Emperor Wen, the executive bureau was regarded as the most important, and he had his most honored officials such as Gao Jiong , Yang Su , and Su Wei lead it at various points. Its heads were generally regarded as chancellors (as it always had two heads, known as

1501-402: The Tang dynasty is disputed. The list does not include people who served as regional governors who were given the titles as honorific titles. The chancellors under the pretenders Li Yun and Li Yu, Prince of De are listed, but not the chancellors under the pretender Li Chenghong because, while Li Chenghong was described to have multiple chancellors, only two (Yu Kefeng (于可封) and Huo Huan (霍環))

1580-527: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.236 via cp1112 cp1112, Varnish XID 973183893 Upstream caches: cp1112 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:42:30 GMT Emperor Ruizong of Tang Emperor Ruizong of Tang (22 June 662 – 13 July 716 ), personal name Li Dan , also known at times during his life as Li Xulun , Li Lun , Wu Lun , and Wu Dan ,

1659-407: The army was never launched. Later that year, she had Li Xian, Li Dan, and Princess Taiping submit formal petitions to have Zhang Changzong created a prince. She then formally rejected the petitions, but created Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi dukes. In 703, Li Dan was made the prefect of Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an , Shaanxi ), the prefecture that included Chang'an. In 705, Wu Zetian

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1738-400: The attack, but before the army could be launched, Ashina Mochuo withdrew. Subsequently, Li Dan was nominally put in charge of the imperial guards. In 702, Wu Zetian put Li Dan in command of an army and made the prefect of Bing Prefecture (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan , Shanxi ), with Wu Sansi, Wu Youning , and Wei Yuanzhong as his assistants, apparently preparing to attack Eastern Tujue, but

1817-417: The beginning of July 710, Emperor Zhongzong died, allegedly poisoned by Empress Wei who then named Zhongzong's youngest son Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen emperor (as Emperor Shang). A mere two weeks later, Li Dan's sister Princess Taiping and Li Dan's son Li Longji the Prince of Linzi launched a coup which resulted in the death of Empress Wei. Princess Taiping, Li Longji, and Li Longji's brother Li Chengqi

1896-645: The bureaus, as chancellors, with titles such as Cānyù Cháozhèng (參豫朝政, literally "participator in the administration's governance"). Yet later in 643, he revised the designation and formalized it as the Tóngzhōngshūménxiàsānpǐn (同中書門下三品, literally meaning "equivalent to the officials with the third rank from the Zhōngshū and the Ménxià ") — because the heads of the legislative bureau, the Zhōngshūlǐng (中書令), and

1975-475: The chancellors begin to rotate off-days so that at least one would always be on duty; when submissions were to be made to the emperor, they were signed in the names of all chancellors, whether on duty or not. The name of their meeting place also changed back to Zhengshi Tang . This list also includes the chancellors during the Wu Zhou dynasty of Wu Zetian , even though the propriety of considering it as part of

2054-401: The chancellors had consulted them. Emperor Ruizong especially trusted Princess Taiping and relied on her advice to run the governmental matters, and he could not ignore her requests, even if the request was to harm her enemy. Thus, Princess Taiping has decision-making power on many serious events in the court and the country matters. She can often decide the promotion or demotion of officials with

2133-459: The crown prince position to Li Zhe. Wu Zetian agreed and created Li Zhe crown prince (changing his name initially back to Li Xian and then Wu Xian) and Li Dan the Prince of Xiang. In 699, Wu Zetian, in fear that after her death that Li Xian and the Wu clan princes would not be able to coexist peacefully, had Li Xian, Li Dan, their sister Princess Taiping , her husband Wu Youji (Wu Zetian's nephew), and

2212-486: The deceased general Li Ji ), started a rebellion against Empress Dowager Wu at Yang Prefecture, seeking the restoration of Emperor Zhongzong. Empress Dowager Wu, in response, sent the general Li Xiaoyi ( 李孝逸 ), assisted by the generals Li Zhishi ( 李知十 ) and Ma Jingchen ( 馬敬臣 ) to suppress Li Jianye's rebellion, and Li Xiaoyi quickly did so. Meanwhile, believing the chancellor Pei Yan to be undermining her authority, she executed Pei under accusation of treason and demoted

2291-663: The eastern capital Luoyang . Sometime between 676 and 679, he married his wife Princess Liu . Emperor Gaozong died in 683 and was succeeded by Li Dan's older brother Li Zhe the Crown Prince (as Emperor Zhongzong), but Empress Wu retained power as empress dowager and regent . Emperor Zhongzong was a figurehead , and Empress Dowager Wu was the solely in charge of the empire's affairs. In 684, when Emperor Zhongzong displayed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with Li Dan (as Emperor Ruizong), but wielded power even more firmly. Indeed, she housed Emperor Ruizong in

2370-571: The examination bureau, the Shìzhōng (侍中), were of the third rank. These officials were rendered as "chancellors de facto'" Shízhìzǎixiàng (實質宰相) by the Chinese historian Bo Yang in his modern Chinese edition of the Zizhi Tongjian . Throughout Tang history, the names of the examination and legislative bureaus were changed multiple times, and so the designation of Tóngzhōngshū Ménxià Sānpǐn

2449-400: The fact that Wu Zetian created Li Dan crown prince, she considered creating one of her nephews, Wu Chengsi the Prince of Wei or Wu Sansi the Prince of Liang crown prince, and a petition drive for Wu Chengsi to be created crown prince reached its peak in 691. The chancellors Cen Changqian and Ge Fuyuan were even executed for opposing it, but Wu Zetian never did carry out the change, and when

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2528-533: The full throne in their own right and sought to eliminate each other. Liu Youqiu and the general Zhang Wei ( 張暐 ), with Emperor Xuanzong's approval, planned to mobilize the imperial guards to kill several of those chancellors—Dou, Cui, and Cen. However, after Zhang told the plan to the imperial censor Deng Guangbin ( 鄧光賓 ), the news was leaked. Liu was arrested, and initially set to be executed. Emperor Xuanzong interceded on his behalf with Emperor Ruizong, and Liu, Zhang, and Deng were spared but exiled. Later in 712, at

2607-460: The guards harshly, had alienated the guards, and the guard officers Ge Fushun ( 葛福順 ), Chen Xuanli ( 陳玄禮 ), and Li Xianfu ( 李仙鳧 ) thereafter also joined the plot. Without first informing Li Dan, the conspirators rose on 21 July, first killing Wei Bo, Gao, and Empress Wei's cousin Wei Gui ( 韋璿 ). They then attacked the palace. When Empress Dowager Wei panicked and fled to an imperial guard camp,

2686-441: The heads of the examination bureau had these titles during those periods: The men who held the office included: The office was created in 643. The titles, as modified from time to time to reflect the names in changes of the legislative and examination bureaus, included: The office was created in 682. The titles, as modified from time to time to reflect the names in changes of the legislative and examination bureaus, included: It

2765-465: The heads of the executive, examination, and legislative (which was renamed the Zhōngshūshěng (中書省)) bureaus regarded as the chancellors. As there were often, but not always, more than one head for the examination and legislative bureaus, there were not necessarily only four chancellors. Emperor Taizong's reign also began to designate certain high-level officials, even though they were not heads of one of

2844-754: The leader of the petition drive, Wang Qingzhi ( 王慶之 ) was caned to death by the official Li Zhaode , the petition drive dissipated. Meanwhile, in 693, Wu Zetian's lady in waiting Wei Tuan'er ( 韋團兒 ), who was resentful of Li Dan for reasons lost to history, falsely accused Li Dan's wife Crown Princess Liu and concubine Consort Dou of witchcraft, and Wu Zetian killed Crown Princess Liu and Consort Dou. In fear of offending Wu Zetian, Li Dan did not dare to mourn either and continued to behave normally. When Wei Tuan'er tried to further falsely accuse Li Dan, someone, in turn, reported her activities to Wu Zetian, and Wu Zetian executed her. Still, thereafter, Li Dan's sons were demoted in rank and kept under secure watch. Later in 693,

2923-422: The love for his siblings, and talent in calligraphy . In 666, his title was changed to Prince of Yu. In 669, his title was changed to Prince of Ji, and his name was changed from Xulun to Lun. In 675, his title was changed to Prince of Xiang. In 678, his title was changed back to Prince of Yu, and his name was further changed to Li Dan. He was also made the prefect of Luo Prefecture ( 洛州 ), the prefecture containing

3002-525: The name to Zhongshu Menxia (中書門下), apparently employing a double entendre , as when the terms were put together, they meant, "within the doors of the Zhongshu ." Zhang also reorganized the Hall by creating five offices under the chancellors—in charge of civil service, state secrets, military matters, governance, and criminal law, respectively. Later in the dynasty—starting during the reign of Emperor Suzong —

3081-402: The office to his second son and future emperor Lǐ Shìmín (李世民). After Li Shimin became emperor in 626, the office was left vacant because none of his officials dared to occupy it. Thus from the year 626 the executive bureau was headed by its two vice-directors, the Shàngshūpúshè . Around this time, probably by Emperor Taizong's orders, the institution of multiple chancellors was formalized, with

3160-524: The office was for the deputy heads of the Shangshu Sheng ): After 705, the heads of the executive bureau were no longer considered chancellors unless they received the chancellor-de facto designation. The leiglsative bureau had these changes in name: Correspondingly, the heads of the legislative bureau had these titles during those periods: The men who held the office included: The examination bureau had these changes in name: Correspondingly,

3239-424: The officials Pei Feigong ( 裴匪躬 ) and Fan Yunxian ( 范雲仙 ) were executed on account of meeting Li Dan secretly, and there were accusations that Li Dan was planning to rebel against Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian ordered that the officials not be allowed to meet Li Dan, and further arrested his servants to interrogate them. The secret police official Lai Junchen tortured Li Dan's servants, and many of them, unable to stand up to

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3318-653: The only woman in Chinese history ever to rule with this title. She issued a decree that ended the Tang dynasty and founded the Zhou dynasty . Emperor Ruizong was reduced to the position of crown prince , with the unconventional title of Huangsi (皇嗣, "imperial successor"). In the following years, Empress Wu's nephews Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi tried to have one of them named heir to the throne, but Wu Zetian resisted these calls. Eventually, in October 698, faced with foreign invasion and dissatisfaction at home, Empress Wu accepted

3397-409: The orders of the new emperor. As a result, his edicts continued to carry greater force than Emperor Xuanzong's; Even the new emperor had to obey his rulings. Meanwhile, Princess Taiping continued to be highly extremely influential in governmental matters through Emperor Ruizong: she used his power without permission, and most chancellors, forbidden troops, officials and warlords were her associates. (Of

3476-479: The other Wu clan princes swear an oath to each other and read the oaths to the gods. The oaths were then carved on iron and kept in the imperial archives. Later that year, the restrictions on his and Li Xian's sons were lifted, and they were allowed to live outside the palace. In 701, when there was an incursion by the Eastern Tujue khan Ashina Mochuo , Li Dan was put in command of an army to defend against

3555-421: The palace, however, was repelled, and he was killed in flight. Some of his followers implicated Li Dan and Princess Taiping after they were arrested and interrogated. Emperor Zhongzong initially had the imperial censor Xiao Zhizhong put in charge of investigating Li Dan and Princess Taiping, but at Xiao's earnest urging stopped the investigation. In 708, when Li Guo'er married again, to Wu Yanxiu ( 武延秀 ), Li Dan

3634-412: The power to stubbornly resist and bitterly fight against Li Longji (now Emperor Xuanzong). Eventually, in 713, suspecting Princess Taiping of planning a coup, Emperor Xuanzong acted first, killing her associates and forcing her to commit suicide. After the death of Princess Taiping, Emperor Ruizong himself yielded imperial powers to Emperor Xuanzong and left the governmental scene. He died in 716. Li Xulun

3713-539: The recommendations of powerful courtiers, without having been submitted for examination by the examination (門下省, Menxia Sheng ) and legislative (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng ) bureaus of government, as was proper. Meanwhile, though, with Emperor Ruizong considered meek, the court was dominated by two competing factions—of Princess Taiping and Li Longji. Indeed, it was said that whenever chancellors brought proposals to Emperor Ruizong, Emperor Ruizong would ask them whether they had consulted Princess Taiping and Li Longji, and only act if

3792-423: The seven chancellors at the time, five – Dou Huaizhen , Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi , Cui Shi , and Lu Xiangxian – were made chancellors at her recommendation, although Lu was not considered a member of her party.) As he continued to control, of course, he was still unable to control the rivalry scene dominated by two rival factions: the war between Princess Taiping and Emperor Xuanzong intensified: both sought to seize

3871-508: The state were secure, then consideration should be first given to the oldest son of the wife. If the state were in danger, then consideration should be first given for achievement. If you did not follow this principle, the people of the entire empire will be disappointed. I would rather die than to be placed above the Prince of Ping [(i.e., Li Longji, whose title had been changed to Prince of Ping by this point)]. Li Chengqi wept and begged to yield for several days, and after further persuasion by

3950-494: The state." Emperor Zhongzong also gave Li Dan the title of Taiwei (太尉, one of the Three Excellencies ) and made him a chancellor with the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin ( 同中書門下三品 ). Li Dan declined both honors, and Emperor Zhongzong then offered to create him heir apparent, which Li Dan declined as well. Emperor Zhongzong subsequently created his son Li Chongjun crown prince. In 707, Li Chongjun, who

4029-420: The suggestion of the chancellor Di Renjie and recalled the exiled Li Xian to the capital Luoyang . Soon, Li Dan offered to yield the position of crown prince to his elder brother, and Li Xian became crown prince instead. In 705, a coup overthrew Wu Zetian and restored Emperor Zhongzong to the throne. The five years of Emperor Zhongzong's reign were dominated by Zhongzong's empress consort, Empress Wei . In

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4108-534: The third class." The chancellors periodically met together at the Zhengshi Tang (政事堂, literally "the Hall of State Matters"), originally physically located within the examination bureau. In 683, when Pei Yan , then the head of the examination bureau, became the head of the legislative bureau, the Zhengshi Tang was moved from the examination bureau to the legislative bureau. Later, during Emperor Xuanzong's reign, when Zhang Shuo became chancellor, he changed

4187-493: The throne (as Emperor Xuanzong). However, at Princess Taiping's suggestion, Emperor Ruizong retained much of the imperial power as Taishang Huang (retired emperor): the appointment and removal of officials of the third rank and above (namely: chancellors) in the court, the reception of state guests, military control, the power of executions for the officials, the decision-making power of important military and political matters and power to official announcement, determine and reject

4266-675: The title of Pingzhang Junguo Zhongshi (平章軍國重事) briefly in 830. Toward the end of the dynasty, Li Zhirou was briefly put temporarily in charge of the Office of the Chancellors in 895 with the designation Quanzhi Zhongshu Shi (權知中書事) and therefore could be regarded as a chancellor as well (and was listed in the table of chancellors in the New Book of Tang ); similarly, Lu Guangqi went through two similar titles. Grand chancellor (China) Too Many Requests If you report this error to

4345-580: The torture, considered falsely implicating Li Dan. One of them, An Jinzang , however, cut his own belly open and proclaimed Li Dan's innocence. When Wu Zetian heard this, she sent imperial doctors to save An, and, impressed by An's willingness to die to show Li Dan's innocence, ended the investigation against Li Dan. In 698, after Wu Zetian had, at the encouragement of the chancellors Di Renjie , Wang Fangqing , and Wang Jishan , as well as her close associate Ji Xu and lovers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong , recalled Li Zhe from exile, Li Dan offered to yield

4424-427: The tower at Chengtian Gate ( 承天門 ) to ascertain what was happening. Guo reported to him Emperor Xuanzong's intentions, and Emperor Ruizong felt compelled to affirm Emperor Xuanzong's actions in an edict. The next day, Emperor Ruizong issued an edict transferring all authorities to Emperor Xuanzong and moved to a secondary palace, Baifu Hall ( 百福殿 ). Meanwhile, Princess Taiping, hearing what happened to her associates and

4503-432: The transfer of all authorities by Emperor Ruizong to Emperor Xuanzong, she found herself powerless and defenseless in a power struggle without the authority of her brother and without her allies, and fled into a temple in the mountains, only appearing three days later. Emperor Xuanzong ordered her to commit suicide at home, and put to death her sons and associates, except for Xue Chongjian. It was said that when Emperor Ruizong

4582-421: The urging of Princess Taiping , Emperor Ruizong decreed that Emperor Xuanzong lead a group of soldiers to examine the northern border. She wanted to plot to replace him in his absence. However, the group of conscripted soldiers was disbanded in spring 713, and the plan was never carried out. By summer 713, it was said that Princesses Taiping, Dou, Cen, Xiao, Cui; along with other officials Xue Ji , Li Jin ( 李晉 )

4661-407: Was Li Lin , in 757–758, and the chancellor-de facto-of-second-grade designation became very common and was used for the rest of Tang history. Furthermore, after 705, the heads of the executive bureau were no longer considered chancellors unless they received the chancellor-de facto designation of either kind. Throughout the early dynasty until the second reign of Emperor Ruizong in 710, variations of

4740-426: Was an older brother to both Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong) – out of the capital to serve as prefectural prefects, but after their plan was discovered by Princess Taiping, she angrily complained, and was recalled to the capital along with Li Chengqi and Li Shouli. Yao and Song, credited with reforming the civil service system, were demoted, and it was said that thereafter, the civil service system became as confused as it

4819-411: Was at Baifu Hall, the only person who attended to him regularly was Emperor Xuanzong's daughter Princess Shouchun. With the death of Princess Taiping, her property, which is said to surround all of the most fertile land and the best livestock around the capital and in each province of the empire, and there were so many treasures of her that surpassed the total annual income of the empire, was confiscated by

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4898-502: Was born in 662, as the youngest son of Emperor Gaozong and his second wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian). Later that year, he was created the Prince of Yin. In 664, he was nominally made the commandant at Ji Prefecture (冀州, roughly modern Hengshui , Hebei ) and the Chanyu Protectorate General (headquarters in modern Hohhot , Inner Mongolia ). It was said that, as he grew, he became known for humility,

4977-545: Was during Emperor Zhongzong's reign. In 712, the general Sun Quan ( 孫佺 ), the commandant at You Prefecture (幽州, roughly modern Beijing ), aggressively attacked the Xi chieftain Li Dabu ( 李大酺 ), and was defeated by Li Dabu, at the loss of nearly the entire army. Later in 712, Princess Taiping had astrologers warn Emperor Ruizong that the constellation that symbolized the imperial throne, Dizuo ( 帝座 ), showed that there would be

5056-419: Was exercised by his sister Princess Taiping . In February 684, Li Dan's mother Empress Wu demoted his older brother Emperor Zhongzong (Li Xian) who had attempted to rule free of his mother and named him emperor (as Emperor Ruizong). Emperor Ruizong, however, was a hollow figurehead under control of his mother and had no real power, even nominally, his name was not included in the issued documents or orders. He

5135-591: Was fearful of what would happen if the plan failed, and therefore informed the plan to Li Dan's son (by Consort Dou) Li Longji the Prince of Linzi. Li Longji responded by conspiring with Princess Taiping, Princess Taiping's son Xue Chongjian ( 薛崇簡 ), as well as several low-level officials close to him – Zhong Shaojing , Wang Chongye ( 王崇曄 ), Liu Youqiu , and Ma Sizong ( 麻嗣宗 ) – to act first. Meanwhile, Empress Wei's nephews Wei Bo ( 韋播 ) and Gao Song ( 高嵩 ), who had recently been put in command of imperial guards and who had tried to establish their authority by dealing with

5214-576: Was frequently changed in response thereof. For example, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong , when the legislative bureau was briefly known as the Zǐwéishěng (紫微省) and the examination bureau the Huángménshěng (黃門省), the chancellors de facto were known as the Tóng Zǐwéi Huángmén Sānpǐn . A lesser designation, with the same powers, was created in 682 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong , and

5293-659: Was in vain, instead Princess Taiping also responded to the proposal to remove him from the post of crown prince, which was in vain. Eventually, in September 712, Emperor Ruizong, believing that astrological signs called for a change of emperors, abdicated in favor of Li Longji (as Emperor Xuanzong ). However, at Princess Taiping's suggestion, Emperor Ruizong, now carrying the title of Taishang Huang (retired emperor), continued to wield actual and superior power. This allowed Princess Taiping to continue to participate and have influence in governmental affairs without change and still had

5372-548: Was initially known as the Tóng Zhōngshū Ménxià Píngzhāngshì (同中書門下平章事, literally "equivalent to the participators from the Zhōngshū and the Ménxià "), rendered by Bo as "chancellors de facto second grade." Later in Tang history, after the Anshi Rebellion , while the chancellor-de facto designation was not officially abolished, it was no longer in use, as the last chancellor to be designated as such

5451-469: Was named in historical accounts, and Yu and Huo's actual titles were not given in those accounts. The executive bureau had these changes in name: Correspondingly, the heads of the executive bureau, considered chancellors from 618 to 705, had these titles during those periods: The men who held the office included (including the Shangshu Puye during Emperor Gaozu's reign, even though at that time

5530-567: Was not actually intending to do so, and therefore declined. She thereafter resumed exercising imperial powers. Emperor Ruizong had completely stayed out of political matters during these years, but he made an exception in 687 when Empress Dowager Wu believed the chancellor Liu Yizhi , who had previously served on his staff when he was a prince, whom she had trusted and promoted, to have turned against her in favoring that she return imperial authorities to Emperor Ruizong. She had Liu accused of corruption and arrested, and Emperor Ruizong personally wrote

5609-515: Was not born of Emperor Zhongzong's powerful wife Empress Wei (her only son Li Chongrun having been killed by Wu Zetian), was angry that Empress Wei's daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle and her husband Wu Chongxun (武崇訓, Wu Sansi's son) repeatedly insulted him and were trying to persuade Emperor Zhongzong to create Li Guo'er crown princess to displace Li Chongjun, rose in rebellion and killed Wu Sansi and Wu Chongxun. His subsequent attack on

5688-467: Was not even able to move freely around his private residence, let alone attend to governmental affairs. From then onwards, the Tang dynasty existed only in name and Empress Dowager Wu ruled China for over six years as quasi-emperor. Empress Wu, was comfortable about the empire being entirely under her control, decided finally to seize the throne, so in October 690 Emperor Ruizong ceded the imperial throne to his mother, who installed herself as empress regnant –

5767-439: Was often referred to in brief as Tong Pingzhangshi (同平章事). The office recurred as variations of the pre-formalization titles, even after formalization of the chancellors de facto offices of the first and second grades, but did not regularly recur after 713. Liu Youqiu , who held the title as Zhi Junguo Zhongshi , was the last person to hold any variation of the title as chancellor as a regular title, although Pei Du would hold

5846-580: Was opposed by and ultimately altered at the suggestions of Empress Wei's cousin Wei Wen and Zong Chuke . After Li Chongmao took the throne (as Emperor Shang), Empress Wei became empress dowager and regent, while Li Dan only received an entirely ceremonial title of senior advisor to the crown prince (太子太師, Taizi Taishi ) – as there was no crown prince at the time. Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Wei's party viewed Li Dan and Princess Taiping as threats and considered eliminating them. One of her partisans, Cui Riyong ,

5925-444: Was overthrown in a coup led by Zhang Jianzhi , Cui Xuanwei , Huan Yanfan , Jing Hui , and Yuan Shuji . (Yuan was Li Dan's secretary general, and during the coup, Yuan's responsibility was to safeguard Li Dan, suggesting, but not proving, that Li Dan might have known about the coup plans.) Li Xian was restored to the throne, and he gave Li Dan the special title of Anguo Xiangwang ( 安國相王 ), literally "the Prince of Xiang who pacified

6004-454: Was reduced in rank back to Prince of Wen. Emperor Ruizong was immediately faced with the issue of whom to make crown prince—as Li Chengqi, as the oldest son overall and the oldest son of his wife, was the appropriate heir under Confucian principles of succession, but Li Longji had been the one whose accomplishments had allowed him to retake the throne. He hesitated. Li Chengqi declined consideration to be crown prince—stating to his father: If

6083-462: Was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong, who had already received advice from Wang Ju ( 王琚 ), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Riyong to act first, did so. He convened a meeting with his brothers Li Fan ( 李範 ) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye ( 李業 ) the Prince of Xue, Guo Yuanzhen , along with a number of his associates—the general Wang Maozhong ( 王毛仲 ), the officials Jiang Jiao ( 姜皎 ) and Li Lingwen ( 李令問 ), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi ( 王守一 ),

6162-612: Was the ceremonial protector of her litter. On 3 July 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death that traditional historians believed to be a poisoning carried out by Empress Wei and Li Guo'er, so that Empress Wei could be Empress Regnant like Wu Zetian and Li Guo'er could be crown princess. Under a will drafted for Emperor Zhongzong by Princess Taiping and Emperor Zhongzong's concubine Consort Shangguan Wan'er , Emperor Zhongzong's son by another concubine, Li Chongmao would be named emperor, with Empress Wei serving as empress dowager and regent, but with Li Dan as co-regent. This plan, however,

6241-540: Was the fifth and ninth emperor of the Chinese Tang dynasty . He was the eighth son of Emperor Gaozong and the fourth son of Emperor Gaozong's second wife Empress Wu . He was wholly a figurehead during his first reign when he was controlled by his mother, and he was the titular and puppet ruler of the Tang Empire from 684 to 690. During his second reign after his mother's death, significant power and influence

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