Han Yuan
Encyclopedia
Han Yuan (606–659), courtesy name Boyu (伯玉), formally Duke of Yingchuan (潁川公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
. He drew the ire of Emperor Gaozong by opposing the removal of Emperor Gaozong's first wife Empress Wang
and replacement by his favorite concubine, Consort Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian) and was exiled. He died in 659, just in advance of a wave of reprisals initiated by the new Empress Wu and her allies that would have included his execution had he not died.
. His family was from the region of Sui
's (and later its successor Tang
's) capital Chang'an
. His grandfather Han Shao (韓紹) served as deputy minister of husbandry during Sui Dynasty, and his father Han Zhongliang (韓仲良) served as deputy minister of justice during the reign of Tang Dynasty's founder Emperor Gaozu
. For Han Zhongliang's contributions in revising the laws during Emperor Gaozu's reign, he was later promoted during the reign of Emperor Gaozu's son and successor Emperor Taizong
to be minister of justice and was created the Duke of Yingchuan, a title that Han Yuan later inherited.
Han Yuan himself was described to be full of integrity and knowledge when he was young, and was said to have skills fit for officials. During Emperor Taizong's reign, he inherited the title of Duke of Yingchuan from Han Zhongliang, and eventually served as deputy minister of defense.
(as Emperor Gaozong). Han Yuan became acting Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎) -- the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). He was also given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. In 654, he was given the honorific title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). In 655, he became Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor, and he was also made a staff member of Emperor Gaozong's son and crown prince
Li Zhong
.
By that point, Emperor Gaozong's favor for his wife Empress Wang
had waned, and his favorite concubine was Consort Wu
. Early in 655, he wanted to create Consort Wu, who carried the sixth highest rank among imperial consorts, Zhaoyi (昭儀), the unprecedented title of Chenfei (宸妃), and promoting her over all other imperial consorts directly under Empress Wang herself, but Han and fellow chancellor Lai Ji
both opposed on the grounds that the title was unprecedented, and so Emperor Gaozong did not carry it out.
Later that year, Consort Wu falsely accused Empress Wang and her mother Lady Liu of using witchcraft to try to regain Emperor Gaozong's favor. Emperor Gaozong began discussions with the chancellors on deposing Empress Wang and replacing her with Consort Wu. The chancellors, other than the senior general Li Ji
, who refused to render an opinion (but later also stated to Emperor Gaozong that it was his own business and that he needed not ask anyone else) and Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle Zhangsun Wuji
, who showed disapproval by silence, were largely vocal in their opposition, with the strongest opposition from Chu Suiliang
. Meanwhile, Han also opposed the move, weeping bitterly during one meeting with Emperor Gaozong, causing Emperor Gaozong to remove him from the palace. He later further submitted a petition, pointing out that Empress Wang was the wife Emperor Taizong selected for Emperor Gaozong and was not known for faults. Emperor Gaozong did not listen and, after demoting Chu to be the commandant at Tan Prefecture (潭州, roughly modern Changsha, Hunan
), in order to show the other chancellors what he was willing to do, deposed Empress Wang and replaced her with Consort Wu late in 655. (The former Empress Wang and her ally Consort Xiao
were later executed cruelly at the instigation of the new Empress Wu.) One of the first things that the new empress did as empress was to submit a petition praising Han and Lai for their faithfulness and requesting that they be rewarded -- a petition that, however, made Han and Lai apprehensive that she was aware of their opposition of her, and Han offered to resign thereafter, an offer that Emperor Gaozong did not accept.
In 656, Han nevertheless submitted a petition arguing on Chu's behalf, pointing how faithfully Chu had served both Emperor Gaozong and his father Emperor Taizong. After Han's petition, Emperor Gaozong summoned him and agreed with him that Chu was faithful, but declined to recall Chu on the basis that Chu was disobedient. Han again offered to resign, and Emperor Gaozong again declined.
In 657, after Chu had been rotated to be the prefect of Gui Prefecture (桂州, roughly modern Guilin
, Guangxi
), Empress Wu's allies Xu Jingzong
and Li Yifu
accused Han and Lai of conspiring with Chu to rebel -- accusing them moving to a prefecture of greater military importance than Tan Prefecture. Emperor Gaozong demoted both Han and Lai to be prefects of distance prefectures -- in Han's case, Zhen Prefecture (振州, roughly modern Sanya
, Hainan
) -- and ordered that they not be allowed to visit the capital. (Chu and Empress Wang's uncle Liu Shi
were similarly demoted.)
In 659, Empress Wu and her allies furthered the reprisals, this time accusing Zhangsun of plotting treason and accusing Han, Chu, and Liu of being part of the treasonous plot. Zhangsun was deposed and eventually forced to commit suicide. Chu, who had died in 658, was posthumously stripped of all his titles, while orders were sent out, initially for Han and Liu to be stripped of their titles, and then for their execution. Before the executioners could arrive, however, Han had already died. The executioners opened up his casket to make sure that it was his body inside, before returning to Chang'an. His assets were seized, and his family was exiled to the modern Guangdong
and Guangxi
region. In 705, after Empress Wu (who had, since that point, seized the throne herself with the title of "emperor" but had been overthrown earlier that year by her son Emperor Zhongzong
) died, her will had provisions that restored Han's titles, although whether she wrote those provisions herself was debatable.
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 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 drew the ire of Emperor Gaozong by opposing the removal of Emperor Gaozong's first wife Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Gaozong)
Empress Wang was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. She was the first wife and empress of Emperor Gaozong and became empress shortly after he became emperor in 649. She, however, did not bear any sons for him and was not favored...
and replacement by his favorite concubine, Consort 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) and was exiled. He died in 659, just in advance of a wave of reprisals initiated by the new Empress Wu and her allies that would have included his execution had he not died.
Background
Han Yuan 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 family was from the region of Sui
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....
's (and later its successor Tang
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) 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...
. His grandfather Han Shao (韓紹) served as deputy minister of husbandry during Sui Dynasty, and his father Han Zhongliang (韓仲良) served as deputy minister of justice during the reign of Tang Dynasty'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 Han Zhongliang's contributions in revising the laws during Emperor Gaozu's reign, he was later promoted during the reign of Emperor Gaozu's son and successor 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...
to be minister of justice and was created the Duke of Yingchuan, a title that Han Yuan later inherited.
Han Yuan himself was described to be full of integrity and knowledge when he was young, and was said to have skills fit for officials. During Emperor Taizong's reign, he inherited the title of Duke of Yingchuan from Han Zhongliang, and eventually served as deputy minister of defense.
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
In 652, after Emperor Taizong had died in 649 and been 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...
(as Emperor Gaozong). Han Yuan became acting Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎) -- the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). He was also given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. In 654, he was given the honorific title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). In 655, he became Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor, and he was also made a staff member of Emperor Gaozong's son and 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 Zhong
Li Zhong
Li Zhong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 86th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 50th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Tiger Slaying General".-Background:...
.
By that point, Emperor Gaozong's favor for his wife Empress Wang
Empress Wang (Gaozong)
Empress Wang was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. She was the first wife and empress of Emperor Gaozong and became empress shortly after he became emperor in 649. She, however, did not bear any sons for him and was not favored...
had waned, and his favorite concubine was Consort 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...
. Early in 655, he wanted to create Consort Wu, who carried the sixth highest rank among imperial consorts, Zhaoyi (昭儀), the unprecedented title of Chenfei (宸妃), and promoting her over all other imperial consorts directly under Empress Wang herself, but Han and fellow chancellor Lai Ji
Lai Ji
Lai Ji was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He later offended Emperor Gaozong by opposing the ascension of Emperor Gaozong's second wife Empress Wu and was exiled to be a prefect in the extreme western part of the state...
both opposed on the grounds that the title was unprecedented, and so Emperor Gaozong did not carry it out.
Later that year, Consort Wu falsely accused Empress Wang and her mother Lady Liu of using witchcraft to try to regain Emperor Gaozong's favor. Emperor Gaozong began discussions with the chancellors on deposing Empress Wang and replacing her with Consort Wu. The chancellors, other than the senior general Li Ji
Li Shiji
Li Shiji , né Xu Shiji , later known in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang as Li Ji , courtesy name Maogong , formally Duke Zhenwu of Ying , was one of the most celebrated generals early in the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
, who refused to render an opinion (but later also stated to Emperor Gaozong that it was his own business and that he needed not ask anyone else) and Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle 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...
, who showed disapproval by silence, were largely vocal in their opposition, with the strongest opposition from Chu Suiliang
Chu Suiliang
Chu Suiliang , courtesy name Dengshan , formally Duke of Henan , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, during the reigns of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizong's son Emperor Gaozong...
. Meanwhile, Han also opposed the move, weeping bitterly during one meeting with Emperor Gaozong, causing Emperor Gaozong to remove him from the palace. He later further submitted a petition, pointing out that Empress Wang was the wife Emperor Taizong selected for Emperor Gaozong and was not known for faults. Emperor Gaozong did not listen and, after demoting Chu to be the commandant at Tan Prefecture (潭州, roughly modern Changsha, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
), in order to show the other chancellors what he was willing to do, deposed Empress Wang and replaced her with Consort Wu late in 655. (The former Empress Wang and her ally Consort Xiao
Consort Xiao (Gaozong)
Consort Xiao, imperial consort rank Shufei was a concubine of Emperor Gaozong of Tang...
were later executed cruelly at the instigation of the new Empress Wu.) One of the first things that the new empress did as empress was to submit a petition praising Han and Lai for their faithfulness and requesting that they be rewarded -- a petition that, however, made Han and Lai apprehensive that she was aware of their opposition of her, and Han offered to resign thereafter, an offer that Emperor Gaozong did not accept.
In 656, Han nevertheless submitted a petition arguing on Chu's behalf, pointing how faithfully Chu had served both Emperor Gaozong and his father Emperor Taizong. After Han's petition, Emperor Gaozong summoned him and agreed with him that Chu was faithful, but declined to recall Chu on the basis that Chu was disobedient. Han again offered to resign, and Emperor Gaozong again declined.
In 657, after Chu had been rotated to be the prefect of Gui Prefecture (桂州, roughly modern Guilin
Guilin
Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city...
, 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...
), Empress Wu's allies Xu Jingzong
Xu Jingzong
Xu Jingzong , courtesy name Yanzu , formally Duke Gong of Gaoyang , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
and Li Yifu
Li Yifu
Li Yifu was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. He became particularly powerful because of his support for Emperor Gaozong's second wife Empress Wu when her ascension was opposed by then-chancellors, and he had a reputation for treachery...
accused Han and Lai of conspiring with Chu to rebel -- accusing them moving to a prefecture of greater military importance than Tan Prefecture. Emperor Gaozong demoted both Han and Lai to be prefects of distance prefectures -- in Han's case, Zhen Prefecture (振州, roughly modern Sanya
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...
, Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
) -- and ordered that they not be allowed to visit the capital. (Chu and Empress Wang's uncle Liu Shi
Liu Shi (chancellor)
Liu Shi , courtesy name Zishao , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His niece was Emperor Gaozong's first wife Empress Wang, and as Emperor Gaozong's favors for her waned, Liu found himself in a precarious position...
were similarly demoted.)
In 659, Empress Wu and her allies furthered the reprisals, this time accusing Zhangsun of plotting treason and accusing Han, Chu, and Liu of being part of the treasonous plot. Zhangsun was deposed and eventually forced to commit suicide. Chu, who had died in 658, was posthumously stripped of all his titles, while orders were sent out, initially for Han and Liu to be stripped of their titles, and then for their execution. Before the executioners could arrive, however, Han had already died. The executioners opened up his casket to make sure that it was his body inside, before returning to Chang'an. His assets were seized, and his family was exiled to the modern Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
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...
region. In 705, after Empress Wu (who had, since that point, seized the throne herself with the title of "emperor" but had been overthrown earlier that year by her son Emperor Zhongzong
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...
) died, her will had provisions that restored Han's titles, although whether she wrote those provisions herself was debatable.