Liu Ye (Tang Dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Liu Ye (died January 24, 881?), courtesy name Hanfan (漢藩), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong
and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong
.
, Jiangsu
), and his father Liu Sanfu (劉三復) was a long-time staff member of Li Deyu
when Li was a regional governor. Later, when Li became a powerful chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wuzong
, Liu served under Li in the imperial government, eventually reaching the post of deputy minister of justice. It was after a petition by Liu Sanfu that Lady Pei, the wife of the deceased military governor Liu Congjian
, whose adoptive son (and biological nephew) Liu Zhen
rebelled against the imperial government, was put to death, apparently at Li's behest, in 844
. It was shortly after Liu Sanfu's petition regarding Lady Pei that he himself died of illness.
As it is not known when Liu Ye was born, it is unknown how old he was when Liu Sanfu died. However, it was immediately stated that Liu Ye was able to recite poems even when he was just five or six years old and that Li took pity on him — implying that that was, in fact, his age at the time of Liu Sanfu's death. Li took him into the household and had him study under the same teachers that Li's own sons were studying under. After Li lost power and was exiled after Emperor Wuzong's death and succession by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong
in 846
, Liu Ye lost his support, and became a traveling author in the Yangtze River
-Qiantang River
region, writing to support himself. It was said that his writing ability became well-known in the region.
, Henan
), he invited Liu Ye to serve as his assistant in his capacity as the military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi). He later continued to serve under Gao when Gao was transferred to Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
). Liu was later recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as a copyeditor (校書郎, Xiaoshu Lang) at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng).
, Liu Ye, at the recommendations of Liu Zhan
and Gao Qu
, both of whom had known Liu's father Liu Sanfu, recommended Liu Ye to be to be Zuo Shiyi (左拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). In 860, he submitted a petition to Emperor Yizong discussing Li Deyu's contributions and how, after his exile and death in exile, his household was scattered. As a result, Emperor Yizong restored Li's offices and the title of Duke of Wei posthumously. Later, Liu served as an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). Eventually, he rose to be Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang), and chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi). It was said that, despite Liu Zhan's previous recommendation of him, that in 870, when Liu Zhan, who was then chancellor, offended Emperor Yizong by begging for mercy on the part of the family members of the physicians who failed to save Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter Princess Tongchang (Emperor Yizong had executed those physicians and arrested their family members), Liu Ye joined Princess Tongchang's husband Wei Baoheng
and the chancellor Lu Yan
in falsely accusing Liu Zhan, leading to Liu Zhan's exile.
In 871, Liu was given the additional post of director of the salt and iron monopolies. Later in the year, he was made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
. In 874, Liu Zhan was recalled to the capital to again serve as chancellor, and it was said that Liu Ye was apprehensive about this development. Later in the year, after Liu Zhan grew ill and died after Liu Ye had invited him to a feast at the directory of salt and iron monopolies, it was commonly suspected that Liu Ye had poisoned Liu Zhan to death.
By this time, though, Xiao Fang
and Cui Yanzhao
had become the leading chancellors, and neither liked Liu Ye. At their behest, in 874, Liu was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
). Prior to Liu's departure, when he met with Emperor Xizong to thank for the commission, he read a poem that he had written:
It was said that Emperor Xizong was saddened by the poem. While serving at Huainan, in 876, when Huainan came under the attack of the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi
, Liu sought aid from the imperial government, and thus Emperor Xizong ordered Xue Neng (薛能) the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
) to send several thousand soldiers to aid Liu. Subsequently, Emperor Xizong replaced Liu with the general Gao Pian
and recalled him to Chang'an, and then commissioned him as the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
) and the mayor of its capital Fengxiang Municipality. Liu then resigned due to illness and was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the legislative bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
In 880, agrarian rebel Huang Chao
captured Chang'an and established his own state of Qi as its emperor. Emperor Xizong fled to Chengdu
. Liu was unable to follow Emperor Xizong in his flight, and he, as well as the current chancellors Doulu Zhuan
and Cui Hang
, hid at the house of the imperial guard general Zhang Zhifang
, who had publicly submitted to Huang but had secreted a number of Tang officials at his house. When the Qi troops intensified their searches for Tang officials, Liu fled with Doulu and Cui at night, but all three were captured. Huang offered them official posts, but they refused and were executed.
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 reigns of Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
.
Background
It is not known when Liu Ye was born. His family was from Run Prefecture (潤州, in modern ZhenjiangZhenjiang
Zhenjiang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Jiangsu province in the eastern People's Republic of China . Sitting on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Changzhou to the east, and Yangzhou across the river to the north.Once...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
), and his father Liu Sanfu (劉三復) was a long-time staff member of Li Deyu
Li Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
when Li was a regional governor. Later, when Li became a powerful chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
, Liu served under Li in the imperial government, eventually reaching the post of deputy minister of justice. It was after a petition by Liu Sanfu that Lady Pei, the wife of the deceased military governor Liu Congjian
Liu Congjian
Liu Congjian , formally the Duke of Pei , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who is most known for his term as the military governor of Zhaoyi Circuit , during which he was viewed as a warlord who maintained a tight hold on the circuit but also as someone who served as a...
, whose adoptive son (and biological nephew) Liu Zhen
Liu Zhen
Liu Zhen was the son of Liu Sheng, and the grandson of Emperor Jing of Han. According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Zhen was granted the title of Ting Marquis of Lucheng by the Emperor Wu of Han...
rebelled against the imperial government, was put to death, apparently at Li's behest, in 844
844
Year 844 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Rhodri Mawr becomes king of Gwynedd....
. It was shortly after Liu Sanfu's petition regarding Lady Pei that he himself died of illness.
As it is not known when Liu Ye was born, it is unknown how old he was when Liu Sanfu died. However, it was immediately stated that Liu Ye was able to recite poems even when he was just five or six years old and that Li took pity on him — implying that that was, in fact, his age at the time of Liu Sanfu's death. Li took him into the household and had him study under the same teachers that Li's own sons were studying under. After Li lost power and was exiled after Emperor Wuzong's death and succession by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
in 846
846
Year 846 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nominoe occupies Nantes and Rennes, he makes raids in Anjou and threatens Bayeux...
, Liu Ye lost his support, and became a traveling author in the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
-Qiantang River
Qiantang River
The Qiantang River is a southeast Chinese river that originates in the borders of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces and passes through Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, before flowing into the East China Sea through Hangzhou Bay....
region, writing to support himself. It was said that his writing ability became well-known in the region.
Early career
Later, when the official Gao Shaoyi (高少逸) served as the governor of Shanguo Circuit (陝虢, headquartered in modern SanmenxiaSanmenxia
-Administration:The prefecture-level city of Sanmenxia administers one district, two county-level cities and three counties.*Hubin District*Lingbao City*Yima City*Lushi County*Shan County*Mianchi County*Sanmenxia Development Zone...
, 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...
), he invited Liu Ye to serve as his assistant in his capacity as the military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi). He later continued to serve under Gao when Gao was transferred to Zhenguo Circuit (鎮國, headquartered 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...
). Liu was later recalled to the 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...
to serve as a copyeditor (校書郎, Xiaoshu Lang) at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng).
During Emperor Yizong's reign
Early in the Xiantong era (860-874) of Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor YizongEmperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
, Liu Ye, at the recommendations of Liu Zhan
Liu Zhan
Liu Zhan , courtesy name Jizhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
and Gao Qu
Gao Qu
Gao Qu , courtesy name Yingzhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly during the reign of Emperor Yizong.- Background :...
, both of whom had known Liu's father Liu Sanfu, recommended Liu Ye to be to be Zuo Shiyi (左拾遺), a low-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). In 860, he submitted a petition to Emperor Yizong discussing Li Deyu's contributions and how, after his exile and death in exile, his household was scattered. As a result, Emperor Yizong restored Li's offices and the title of Duke of Wei posthumously. Later, Liu served as an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). Eventually, he rose to be Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang), and chief imperial scholar (翰林學士承旨, Hanlin Xueshi Chengzhi). It was said that, despite Liu Zhan's previous recommendation of him, that in 870, when Liu Zhan, who was then chancellor, offended Emperor Yizong by begging for mercy on the part of the family members of the physicians who failed to save Emperor Yizong's favorite daughter Princess Tongchang (Emperor Yizong had executed those physicians and arrested their family members), Liu Ye joined Princess Tongchang's husband Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng , courtesy name Yunyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became extremely powerful late in the reign of his father-in-law Emperor Yizong, rising to the post of chancellor and becoming the most powerful official at court, but after Emperor Yizong's death was...
and the chancellor Lu Yan
Lu Yan
Lu Yan was the oldest son of Lu Xun, a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He died at a young age.-References:...
in falsely accusing Liu Zhan, leading to Liu Zhan's exile.
In 871, Liu was given the additional post of director of the salt and iron monopolies. Later in the year, he was made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.
During Emperor Xizong's reign
Emperor Yizong died in 873 and was succeeded by his young son Emperor XizongEmperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
. In 874, Liu Zhan was recalled to the capital to again serve as chancellor, and it was said that Liu Ye was apprehensive about this development. Later in the year, after Liu Zhan grew ill and died after Liu Ye had invited him to a feast at the directory of salt and iron monopolies, it was commonly suspected that Liu Ye had poisoned Liu Zhan to death.
By this time, though, Xiao Fang
Xiao Fang
Xiao Fang , courtesy name Sidao , formally the Marquess of Lanling , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
and Cui Yanzhao
Cui Yanzhao
Cui Yanzhao , courtesy name Siwen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong.- Background :It is not known when Cui Yanzhao was born...
had become the leading chancellors, and neither liked Liu Ye. At their behest, in 874, Liu was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
). Prior to Liu's departure, when he met with Emperor Xizong to thank for the commission, he read a poem that he had written:
It was said that Emperor Xizong was saddened by the poem. While serving at Huainan, in 876, when Huainan came under the attack of the agrarian rebel Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi
Wang Xianzhi , courtesy name Zijing , was a famous Chinese calligrapher of the Eastern Jin.He was the seventh and youngest son of the famed Wang Xizhi. Wang inherited his father's talent for the art, although his siblings were all notable calligraphers. His style is more fluid than his father's,...
, Liu sought aid from the imperial government, and thus Emperor Xizong ordered Xue Neng (薛能) the military governor of Ganhua Circuit (感化, headquartered in modern Xuzhou
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
) to send several thousand soldiers to aid Liu. Subsequently, Emperor Xizong replaced Liu with the general Gao Pian
Gao Pian
Gao Pian , courtesy name Qianli , formally the Prince of Bohai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
and recalled him to Chang'an, and then commissioned him as the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in 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 the mayor of its capital Fengxiang Municipality. Liu then resigned due to illness and was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the legislative bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
In 880, agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
captured Chang'an and established his own state of Qi as its emperor. Emperor Xizong fled to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. Liu was unable to follow Emperor Xizong in his flight, and he, as well as the current chancellors Doulu Zhuan
Doulu Zhuan
Doulu Zhuan , courtesy name Xizhen , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong...
and Cui Hang
Cui Hang
Cui Hang , courtesy name Neirong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong. When the agrarian rebel Huang Chao captured the Tang capital Chang'an, Cui was unable to flee; he was then executed by Huang's new state of Qi.-...
, hid at the house of the imperial guard general Zhang Zhifang
Zhang Zhifang
Zhang Zhifang was a general of the Chinese dynasty. Succeeding his father Zhang Zhongwu, he briefly ruled Lulong Circuit as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government, but fearing a mutiny, he fled to the imperial capital Chang'an and thereafter served as an...
, who had publicly submitted to Huang but had secreted a number of Tang officials at his house. When the Qi troops intensified their searches for Tang officials, Liu fled with Doulu and Cui at night, but all three were captured. Huang offered them official posts, but they refused and were executed.