Li Jingchen
Encyclopedia
Li Jingchen was briefly a chancellor of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
.
Little is known about Li Jingchen's career before or after his brief stint as chancellor, as, atypical for a chancellor, he did not have a biography in either the Book of Tang
or the New Book of Tang
. As of 684
, he was serving as Fengge Sheren (鳳閣舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (鳳閣, Fengge), when the head of the legislative bureau, the chancellor Pei Yan
, was accused of treason after angering Emperor Ruizong's powerful mother and regent
Empress Dowager Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian) by suggesting that she return imperial authorities to Emperor Ruizong. Many imperial officials spoke in Pei's defense, but Li Jingchen was said to be one of the officials who testified that Pei was planning treason. Empress Dowager Wu arrested and demoted many officials who defended Pei, while promoting Li and the official who investigated Pei, Qian Weidao
, to chancellor positions -- in Li's case, with the designation of Tong Fenge Luantai Pingchangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), signifying a lesser designation than the Tong Fenge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品) designation that Qian received. However, the day after Pei was executed -- just 10 days after Li was made chancellor -- Empress Dowager Wu removed the chancellor designation from Li, making him the deputy minister of vassal affairs (司賓少卿, Sibin Shaoqing) instead. There was no further record about Li in official histories, and there appears to be no historical record of his death.
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 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...
.
Little is known about Li Jingchen's career before or after his brief stint as chancellor, as, atypical for a chancellor, he did not have a biography in either the Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
or the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
. As of 684
684
Year 684 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 684 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Wu Ze Tian takes power in China.* The Ummayad...
, he was serving as Fengge Sheren (鳳閣舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (鳳閣, Fengge), when the head of the legislative bureau, the chancellor Pei Yan
Pei Yan
Pei Yan , courtesy name Zilong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, as well as regency by his wife Empress Wu over their sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong...
, was accused of treason after angering Emperor Ruizong's powerful mother 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...
Empress Dowager 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) by suggesting that she return imperial authorities to Emperor Ruizong. Many imperial officials spoke in Pei's defense, but Li Jingchen was said to be one of the officials who testified that Pei was planning treason. Empress Dowager Wu arrested and demoted many officials who defended Pei, while promoting Li and the official who investigated Pei, Qian Weidao
Qian Weidao
Qian Weidao was twice briefly a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong....
, to chancellor positions -- in Li's case, with the designation of Tong Fenge Luantai Pingchangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), signifying a lesser designation than the Tong Fenge Luantai Sanpin (同鳳閣鸞臺三品) designation that Qian received. However, the day after Pei was executed -- just 10 days after Li was made chancellor -- Empress Dowager Wu removed the chancellor designation from Li, making him the deputy minister of vassal affairs (司賓少卿, Sibin Shaoqing) instead. There was no further record about Li in official histories, and there appears to be no historical record of his death.