Li Yiyan
Encyclopedia
Li Yiyan (died 688) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
, Hebei
), but his ancestors were said to be originally from Longxi (隴西, in modern Tianshui
, Gansu
), thus sharing an origin with Tang Dynasty's imperial Li clan, but he was considered sufficiently distant not to be considered an imperial clan member. His father Li Xuande (李玄德) served as the county magistrate of Yingtao County (癭陶, in modern Xingtai
, Hebei
).
Li Yiyan himself passed the imperial examination
s when he was young, and subsequently served as the sheriff of Taiyuan
County. At that time, he served under the famed general Li Shiji
, who served as the commandant at Bing Prefecture (并州, i.e., Taiyuan). Because of Li Shiji's accomplishments and reputation, the other subordinate officials were all fearful of him and dared not to speak on important matters with him, but Li Yiyan was said to be unafraid of the commandant and was willing to discuss matters of importance. As a result, Li Shiji respected him.
's reign (664-665), Li Yiyan served as the magistrate of Baishui County (白水, in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
) and was said to be capable as a county magistrate. He was subsequently promoted to be a mid-low-level official at the ministry of justice, and was eventually promoted to the post of Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎) -- deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) -- during the Shangyuan era (674-676). In 675, when Emperor Gaozong, because of his chronic illness (which might have been hypertension
), considered making his powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian) regent
, the chancellor Hao Chujun
vehemently opposed, and Li concurred with Hao, eventually leading to Emperor Gaozong abandoning the idea.
In 676, Li was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. In 677, he was also made a member of the staff of Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Li Xian
. In 680, when Li Xian offended Empress Wu and was deposed on accusation of treason, Li's fellow chancellor and fellow staff member Zhang Da'an
was demoted, but Emperor Gaozong pardoned the rest of the staff and retained them for the new crown prince Li Zhe
. The staff, including fellow chancellor Xue Yuanchao
, all danced in gratitude (as pursuant to ceremonies of thanksgiving at the time), but Li did not dance but was instead blaming himself for Li Xian's downfall -- and this led to much praise from the people.
It was said around the same time that Li's mansion did not have a central bedroom. At that time, his brother Li Yijin (李義璡) was serving on staff of the prefecture of Qi Prefecture (岐州, roughly modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
), and when Li Yijin heard this, he bought good wood and delivered them to Li Yiyan. On a subsequently occasion, when Li Yijin was visiting the capital, he saw that Li Yiyan had not yet used the wood to build a central bedroom, and he asked Li Yiyan about it. Li Yiyan responded, "I feel inadequate as a chancellor, and if I build an impressive bedroom, this would bring disaster on me. How is this loving me?" Li Yijin responded, "Even when a person becomes a county magistrate or sheriff, he would want to build a new house. My brother, you are honored and powerful, why do you live in a small house to bring shame to your subordinates?" Li Yiyan further responded, "Not everything should be perfect, and blessings will not be doubled. Since I am an honored official, if I expand my mansion, unless I am fully virtuous, I will bring disaster on myself. It is not that I do not want a new bedroom, but that I am afraid of disaster." He therefore never constructed a new bedroom, and eventually, the wood decayed after rain.
In 683, Li Yiyan was moving his parents' tomb, and he asked his maternal uncle to move his maternal ancestors' tombs. When Emperor Gaozong heard this, he angrily remarked, "Li Yiyan is leaning on his uncle just because he is honored. This person should not be again in charge of important things!" When Li heard this, he became disconcerted, and he requested retirement on account of foot illness, which Emperor Gaozong granted, and Emperor Gaozong further gave him the honorific title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). As Li was about to retire to the vicinity of the eastern capital Luoyang
, many officials held a feast in his honor just outside the city gates, and this scene was compared to the grand sendoff that was held for the Han Dynasty
officials Shu Guang (疏廣) and his nephew Shu Shou (疏受), who retired at the height of their careers.
, subsequently served as regent over Emperor Zhongzong (Li Zhe), whom she deposed in 684 due to his disobedience to her, and created Emperor Ruizong
, both her sons. Early on Emperor Ruizong's Chuigong era (685-689), a recall of Li Yiyan was made, asking him to serve as the prefect of Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo
, Henan
), but Li, knowing that he had previously offended Empress Dowager Wu by opposing her regency, was apprehensive and did not accept the recall. He died in 688.
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 a 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...
.
Background
It is not known when Li Yiyan was born. His family was from Wei Prefecture (魏州, part of modern HandanHandan
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...
), but his ancestors were said to be originally from Longxi (隴西, in modern Tianshui
Tianshui
Tianshui is the second largest city in Gansu province in northwest China. Its population is approximately 3,500,000.Tianshui lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road at the Wei River, through which much of trade occurred between China and the west...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
), thus sharing an origin with Tang Dynasty's imperial Li clan, but he was considered sufficiently distant not to be considered an imperial clan member. His father Li Xuande (李玄德) served as the county magistrate of Yingtao County (癭陶, in modern Xingtai
Xingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
, 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...
).
Li Yiyan himself passed 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...
s when he was young, and subsequently served as the sheriff of Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
County. At that time, he served under the famed general Li Shiji
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 served as the commandant at Bing Prefecture (并州, i.e., Taiyuan). Because of Li Shiji's accomplishments and reputation, the other subordinate officials were all fearful of him and dared not to speak on important matters with him, but Li Yiyan was said to be unafraid of the commandant and was willing to discuss matters of importance. As a result, Li Shiji respected him.
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
During the Linde era (of Emperor GaozongEmperor 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...
's reign (664-665), Li Yiyan served as the magistrate of Baishui County (白水, in modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
) and was said to be capable as a county magistrate. He was subsequently promoted to be a mid-low-level official at the ministry of justice, and was eventually promoted to the post of Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎) -- deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) -- during the Shangyuan era (674-676). In 675, when Emperor Gaozong, because of his chronic illness (which might have been hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
), considered making his 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) 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...
, the chancellor 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...
vehemently opposed, and Li concurred with Hao, eventually leading to Emperor Gaozong abandoning the idea.
In 676, Li was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. In 677, he was also made a member of the staff of 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 Xian
Li Xian
Li Xian , courtesy name Mingyun , formally Crown Prince Zhanghuai , named Li De from 672 to 674, was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong, and the second son of his second wife Empress Wu...
. In 680, when Li Xian offended Empress Wu and was deposed on accusation of treason, Li's fellow chancellor and fellow staff member Zhang Da'an
Zhang Da'an
Zhang Da'an was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.Zhang Da'an was one of the sons of Zhang Gongjin , a key follower of Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, a son and major general of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu, who supported Li...
was demoted, but Emperor Gaozong pardoned the rest of the staff and retained them for the new crown prince Li Zhe
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...
. The staff, including fellow chancellor Xue Yuanchao
Xue Yuanchao
Xue Yuanchao , formal name Xue Zhen but went by the courtesy name of Yuanchao, formally Baron of Fenyin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong....
, all danced in gratitude (as pursuant to ceremonies of thanksgiving at the time), but Li did not dance but was instead blaming himself for Li Xian's downfall -- and this led to much praise from the people.
It was said around the same time that Li's mansion did not have a central bedroom. At that time, his brother Li Yijin (李義璡) was serving on staff of the prefecture of Qi Prefecture (岐州, roughly modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), and when Li Yijin heard this, he bought good wood and delivered them to Li Yiyan. On a subsequently occasion, when Li Yijin was visiting the capital, he saw that Li Yiyan had not yet used the wood to build a central bedroom, and he asked Li Yiyan about it. Li Yiyan responded, "I feel inadequate as a chancellor, and if I build an impressive bedroom, this would bring disaster on me. How is this loving me?" Li Yijin responded, "Even when a person becomes a county magistrate or sheriff, he would want to build a new house. My brother, you are honored and powerful, why do you live in a small house to bring shame to your subordinates?" Li Yiyan further responded, "Not everything should be perfect, and blessings will not be doubled. Since I am an honored official, if I expand my mansion, unless I am fully virtuous, I will bring disaster on myself. It is not that I do not want a new bedroom, but that I am afraid of disaster." He therefore never constructed a new bedroom, and eventually, the wood decayed after rain.
In 683, Li Yiyan was moving his parents' tomb, and he asked his maternal uncle to move his maternal ancestors' tombs. When Emperor Gaozong heard this, he angrily remarked, "Li Yiyan is leaning on his uncle just because he is honored. This person should not be again in charge of important things!" When Li heard this, he became disconcerted, and he requested retirement on account of foot illness, which Emperor Gaozong granted, and Emperor Gaozong further gave him the honorific title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). As Li was about to retire to the vicinity of the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, many officials held a feast in his honor just outside the city gates, and this scene was compared to the grand sendoff that was held for the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
officials Shu Guang (疏廣) and his nephew Shu Shou (疏受), who retired at the height of their careers.
During Empress Dowager Wu's regency
Emperor Gaozong died in 683, and Empress Wu, as empress dowagerEmpress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
, subsequently served as regent over Emperor Zhongzong (Li Zhe), whom she deposed in 684 due to his disobedience to her, and created 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...
, both her sons. Early on Emperor Ruizong's Chuigong era (685-689), a recall of Li Yiyan was made, asking him to serve as the prefect of Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo
Jiaozuo
Jiaozuo is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yellow River, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the south, Xinxiang to the east, Jiyuan to the west, Luoyang to the southwest, and the province of Shanxi...
, 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...
), but Li, knowing that he had previously offended Empress Dowager Wu by opposing her regency, was apprehensive and did not accept the recall. He died in 688.