Le Yanwei
Encyclopedia
Le Yanwei (died 676), courtesy name Degui (德珪), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving briefly as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
Le Yanwei was from the Tang capital Chang'an
. As of 656, he was serving as imperial attendant, when Liu Hongye (劉弘業), the son of Liu Ji
, a former chancellor who was accused of improprieties (comparing himself to historical regents Yi Yin and Huo Guang
) and forced to commit suicide by Emperor Gaozong's father Emperor Taizong
in 646, submitted a petition accusing the recently deposed chancellor Chu Suiliang
of having falsely accused Liu Ji in 645. (Liu Hongye did so at the instigation of the chancellor Li Yifu
, who was a political enemy of Chu and a former subordinate of Liu Ji.) Emperor Gaozong consulted his officials, and they, wanting to ingratiate themselves with Li Yifu, an ally to Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian), all were in favor of reversing the judgment on Liu Ji. Le, however, opposed this, stating:
Emperor Gaozong agreed and suspended further discussion. Soon thereafter, one of Le's parents died, and he left governmental service. He was soon recalled to serve as the prefect of Tang Prefecture (唐州, roughly modern Nanyang
, Henan
). As he went to see the emperor to thank for the commission, Emperor Gaozong remembered his willingness to stand up to Li Yifu, and kept him at the central government's examination bureau (東臺, Dong Tai) as a mid-level official. Around new year 665, Le was serving as Xi Tai Shilang (西臺侍郎) -- the deputy head of the legislative bureau (西臺, Xi Tai) -- as well as a staff member for Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Li Hong
, when he was given the designation Tong Dong Xi Tai Sanpin (同東西臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. However, about four months later, both he and his colleague Sun Chuyue
were no longer chancellors. He was instead made imperial censor, succeeding Liu Rengui
. He was still imperial censor in 670 when the generals Xue Rengui
, Guo Daifeng (郭待封), and Ashina Daozhen (阿史那道真) suffered a major loss to Tufan forces commanded by its general Lun Qinling (論欽陵). Emperor Gaozong sent Le to the army to investigate, and he put Xue, Guo, and Ashina in chains and delivered them back to Chang'an, where Emperor Gaozong spared their lives but removed them from their posts. Le died in 676 and was buried with honor. His son Le Sihui
later also served as a chancellor, during the reign of Wu Zetian.
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 briefly 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...
.
Le Yanwei was from the Tang 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...
. As of 656, he was serving as imperial attendant, when Liu Hongye (劉弘業), the son of Liu Ji
Liu Ji (Tang Dynasty)
Liu Ji , courtesy name Sidao , was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang, who was particularly relied on by Emperor Taizong late in his reign...
, a former chancellor who was accused of improprieties (comparing himself to historical regents Yi Yin and Huo Guang
Huo Guang
Huo Guang , courtesy name Zimeng was a Western Han statesman who was a rare example in Chinese history of a powerful official who deposed an emperor for the good of the state rather than to usurp the throne...
) and forced to commit suicide by Emperor Gaozong's father 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...
in 646, submitted a petition accusing the recently deposed chancellor 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...
of having falsely accused Liu Ji in 645. (Liu Hongye did so at the instigation of the chancellor 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...
, who was a political enemy of Chu and a former subordinate of Liu Ji.) Emperor Gaozong consulted his officials, and they, wanting to ingratiate themselves with Li Yifu, an ally to 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), all were in favor of reversing the judgment on Liu Ji. Le, however, opposed this, stating:
Emperor Gaozong agreed and suspended further discussion. Soon thereafter, one of Le's parents died, and he left governmental service. He was soon recalled to serve as the prefect of Tang Prefecture (唐州, roughly modern Nanyang
Nanyang, Henan
Nanyang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Henan province, People's Republic of China. The city with the largest administrative area in Henan, Nanyang borders Xinyang to the southeast, Zhumadian to the east, Pingdingshan to the northeast, Luoyang to the north, Sanmenxia to the...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). As he went to see the emperor to thank for the commission, Emperor Gaozong remembered his willingness to stand up to Li Yifu, and kept him at the central government's examination bureau (東臺, Dong Tai) as a mid-level official. Around new year 665, Le was serving as Xi Tai Shilang (西臺侍郎) -- the deputy head of the legislative bureau (西臺, Xi Tai) -- as well as a staff member for Emperor Gaozong's 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 Hong
Li Hong
Li Hong , formally Emperor Xiaojing with the temple name of Yizong , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, when he was given the designation Tong Dong Xi Tai Sanpin (同東西臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. However, about four months later, both he and his colleague Sun Chuyue
Sun Chuyue
Sun Chuyue , alternative name Sun Maodao and/or Sun Daomao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang....
were no longer chancellors. He was instead made imperial censor, succeeding Liu Rengui
Liu Rengui
Liu Rengui , courtesy name Zhengze , formally Duke Wenxian of Lecheng , was a general and official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong and the subsequent regency of his wife Wu Zetian over his sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong...
. He was still imperial censor in 670 when the generals 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...
, Guo Daifeng (郭待封), and Ashina Daozhen (阿史那道真) suffered a major loss to Tufan forces commanded by its general Lun Qinling (論欽陵). Emperor Gaozong sent Le to the army to investigate, and he put Xue, Guo, and Ashina in chains and delivered them back to Chang'an, where Emperor Gaozong spared their lives but removed them from their posts. Le died in 676 and was buried with honor. His son Le Sihui
Le Sihui
Le Sihui was an official during Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, briefly serving as chancellor.It is not known when Le Sihui was born. His father Le Yanwei served as chancellor during the reign of Wu Zetian's husband Emperor Gaozong of Tang...
later also served as a chancellor, during the reign of Wu Zetian.