Niu Xianke
Encyclopedia
Niu Xianke (675 – September 2, 742), formally Duke Zhenjian of Bin (豳貞簡公), was a general and official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong
. He took an unconventional rise to the chancellor position—by starting as a low-level bureaucrat and gradually getting promoted, rather than going through the imperial examination
s -- and was known for being careful and obedient to fellow chancellor Li Linfu
.
. He was from Jing Prefecture (涇州, roughly modern Pingliang
, Gansu
). His family traced its ancestry to the Han Dynasty
military official Niu Han (牛邯), whose descendants later settled in the region that became Jing Prefecture, and clearly was not prominent in political circles, as, unlike most other chancellors of the time, there were no records of any other ancestors of his serving as officials. All that were recorded about his great-grandfather Niu Tong (牛通), grandfather Niu Hui (牛會), and father Niu Yi (牛意) were their names.
Niu Xianke himself initially served as a minor bureaucrat at his home county of Chungu (鶉觚, in modern Pingliang), and he was respected by the county magistrate Fu Wenjing (傅文靜). Fu later became in charge of farming/military outposts in the Longyou (隴右, modern eastern Gansu) region, and he engaged Niu to be part of the endeavor. For Niu's contributions in military matters, he was eventually promoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Tao Prefecture (洮州, roughly modern Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
, Gansu
).
, the general Wang Junchuo (王君㚟) served as the military governor (jiedushi
) of Hexi Circuit (河西, headquartered in Wuwei, Gansu
). Niu Xianke and Song Zhen (宋貞) served as his assistants and were his close associates. In 727, when Wang and Song were killed in an ambush by the Huige tribal leader Yaoluoge Hushu (藥羅葛護輸), Niu escaped death. Subsequently, when Emperor Xuanzong made the general Xiao Song
the military governor of Hexi to replace Wang, Niu and Pei Kuan (裴寬) served under Xiao. Xiao entrusted much responsibility to Niu, and Niu was said to be honest and hard-working, and he began to impress the prominent people of the region despite his humble origins. After Xiao became chancellor in 728, at Xiao's recommendation, Niu was made the secretary general of Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei) and acting military governor of Hexi. Xiao continued to recommend him, and eventually, Niu was made the military governor. While serving as military governor, Niu was frugal and saved a large amount of surplus for the governmental treasury, and also had good armor and weapons made.
In 736, Niu replaced Emperor Xuanzong's second cousin Li Hui (李褘) the Prince of Xin'an as the military governor of Shuofang
Circuit (朔方, centering modern Yinchuan, Ningxia
), and the official Cui Xiyi (崔希逸) replaced Niu as the military governor of Hexi. Once Cui arrived at Hexi, he was impressed with the amount of treasury surplus as well as the supply of armor and weapons, and he reported this to Emperor Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong sent the official Zhang Lizhen (張利貞) to verify this, and once the claim was verified, was exceedingly pleased. He wanted to promote Niu to be the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and wanted to create him a title—both actions opposed by the chancellor Zhang Jiuling
, on the basis that Niu, not learned, was unsuitable to be a minister of a major ministry, and that being honest and frugal were part of his responsibility, not something that should be awarded with a title. This drew Emperor Xuanzong's displeasure, and another chancellor, Li Linfu
, seeing this, advocated for Niu's creation as a duke. Emperor Xuanzong agreed and created Niu the Duke of Longxi. Later that year, when Zhang offended Emperor Xuanzong further, Emperor Xuanzong removed him and his friend and fellow chancellor Pei Yaoqing
. He made Niu the minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu) and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto, to serve alongside Li Linfu, while still letting him keep the military governorship of Shuofang. As chancellor, it was said that Niu was careful and frugal, and did not dare to make any key decisions, deferring all of them to Li Linfu.
In 737, the imperial censor Zhou Ziliang (周子諒) submitted an indictment against Niu, arguing that he did not have qualifications to be chancellor, and further cited a prophecy that indicated that a person named Niu would harm the empire. Emperor Xuanzong, in anger, had Zhou caned and then exiled, and Zhou died on the way. (As Zhou had been recommended by Zhang, Li Linfu used this opportunity to attack Zhang, and Zhang was demoted out of the capital.) Later that year, the deputy chief judge of the supreme court, Xu Jiao (徐嶠) submitted a flattering report to Emperor Xuanzong, pointing out that capital punishment had become almost unnecessary due to the peacefulness of his reign. Emperor Xuanzong was pleased, and credited the chancellors. He thus created Li LInfu the Duke of Jin and Niu the Duke of Bin. It was also around this time that a revision of the laws, led by Li Linfu, Niu, and the officials in charge of the justice system, was completed.
In 738, Niu was made Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng) and a post considered one for a chancellor; he was also made the deputy military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), but remained at the capital Chang'an
to serve as chancellor. He was further given the additional post as the minister of defense in 739 and was responsible for selecting military officers, just as Li Linfu was made the minister of civil service affairs and was responsible for selecting officials. In 740, he was stripped of his commands of Shuofang and Hedong, but remained chancellor.
In 742, Niu was gravely ill. His former assistant while at Shuofang, Yao Hong (姚閎), a grandson of the deceased chancellor Yao Chong
, had been favored by him due to Yao Hong's dabbling in supernatural matters and claim to know how to avoid misfortune, and he had recommended Yao to serve as imperial censor. Now that he was ill, he asked Yao to pray for him—and Yao did so but forced Niu to recommend Yao's uncle Yao Yi (姚弈) and the official Lu Huan (盧奐) to replace Niu himself as chancellor. Yao Hong went as far as writing out the petition and forcing Niu to sign, but Niu was so ill that he was unable to sign properly. Niu died in fall 742, and after his death, his wife, when imperial messengers came to mourn him, showed the imperial messengers the petition to accuse Yao Hong of extortion. In anger, Emperor Xuanzong forced Yao Hong to commit suicide and demoted Yao Yi and Lu. He awarded Niu posthumous honors.
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 Xuanzong
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...
. He took an unconventional rise to the chancellor position—by starting as a low-level bureaucrat and gradually getting promoted, rather than going through 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 -- and was known for being careful and obedient to fellow chancellor Li Linfu
Li Linfu
Li Linfu , nickname Genu , formally the Duke of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor for 18 years , during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong—one of the longest terms of service for a chancellor in Tang history, and the longest during Xuanzong's reign.Li...
.
Background
Niu Xianke was born in 675, during the reign 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...
. He was from Jing Prefecture (涇州, roughly modern Pingliang
Pingliang
Pingliang is a prefecture-level city in eastern Gansu Province in China. Pingliang is famous for a local mountain range that includes Kongtong Mountain, a site sacred to Taoism and mythical meeting place of the Yellow Emperor and Guangchengzi, an immortal....
, 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...
). His family traced its ancestry to 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...
military official Niu Han (牛邯), whose descendants later settled in the region that became Jing Prefecture, and clearly was not prominent in political circles, as, unlike most other chancellors of the time, there were no records of any other ancestors of his serving as officials. All that were recorded about his great-grandfather Niu Tong (牛通), grandfather Niu Hui (牛會), and father Niu Yi (牛意) were their names.
Niu Xianke himself initially served as a minor bureaucrat at his home county of Chungu (鶉觚, in modern Pingliang), and he was respected by the county magistrate Fu Wenjing (傅文靜). Fu later became in charge of farming/military outposts in the Longyou (隴右, modern eastern Gansu) region, and he engaged Niu to be part of the endeavor. For Niu's contributions in military matters, he was eventually promoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Tao Prefecture (洮州, roughly modern Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in southern Gansu Province, China. It includes Xiahe and the Labrang Monastery, Luqu, Maqu, and other mostly Tibetan towns and villages...
, 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...
).
During Emperor Xuanzong's reign
Early in the Kaiyuan era (613-641) of Emperor Gaozong's grandson Emperor XuanzongEmperor 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...
, the general Wang Junchuo (王君㚟) served 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 Hexi Circuit (河西, headquartered in Wuwei, 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...
). Niu Xianke and Song Zhen (宋貞) served as his assistants and were his close associates. In 727, when Wang and Song were killed in an ambush by the Huige tribal leader Yaoluoge Hushu (藥羅葛護輸), Niu escaped death. Subsequently, when Emperor Xuanzong made the general Xiao Song
Xiao Song
Xiao Song , formally the Duke of Xu , was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.- Background :...
the military governor of Hexi to replace Wang, Niu and Pei Kuan (裴寬) served under Xiao. Xiao entrusted much responsibility to Niu, and Niu was said to be honest and hard-working, and he began to impress the prominent people of the region despite his humble origins. After Xiao became chancellor in 728, at Xiao's recommendation, Niu was made the secretary general of Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei) and acting military governor of Hexi. Xiao continued to recommend him, and eventually, Niu was made the military governor. While serving as military governor, Niu was frugal and saved a large amount of surplus for the governmental treasury, and also had good armor and weapons made.
In 736, Niu replaced Emperor Xuanzong's second cousin Li Hui (李褘) the Prince of Xin'an as the military governor of Shuofang
Shuofang
Shuofang was a fort built in the land of nomadic horse hasbandry tribes at the dawn of the Chinese written history. According to Bamboo Annals, Shuofang was built by the Emperor Di Yi of Shang state on the third year of his reign in 1098 BC in the midst of the Kun Barbarians territory in the...
Circuit (朔方, centering modern Yinchuan, Ningxia
Ningxia
Ningxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...
), and the official Cui Xiyi (崔希逸) replaced Niu as the military governor of Hexi. Once Cui arrived at Hexi, he was impressed with the amount of treasury surplus as well as the supply of armor and weapons, and he reported this to Emperor Xuanzong. Emperor Xuanzong sent the official Zhang Lizhen (張利貞) to verify this, and once the claim was verified, was exceedingly pleased. He wanted to promote Niu to be the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and wanted to create him a title—both actions opposed by the chancellor Zhang Jiuling
Zhang Jiuling
Zhang Jiuling , courtesy name Zishou , nickname Bowu , formally Count Wenxian of Shixing , was a prominent minister, noted poet and scholar of the Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.- Background :Zhang Jiuling was born in 673, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong...
, on the basis that Niu, not learned, was unsuitable to be a minister of a major ministry, and that being honest and frugal were part of his responsibility, not something that should be awarded with a title. This drew Emperor Xuanzong's displeasure, and another chancellor, Li Linfu
Li Linfu
Li Linfu , nickname Genu , formally the Duke of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor for 18 years , during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong—one of the longest terms of service for a chancellor in Tang history, and the longest during Xuanzong's reign.Li...
, seeing this, advocated for Niu's creation as a duke. Emperor Xuanzong agreed and created Niu the Duke of Longxi. Later that year, when Zhang offended Emperor Xuanzong further, Emperor Xuanzong removed him and his friend and fellow chancellor Pei Yaoqing
Pei Yaoqing
Pei Yaoqing , courtesy name Huanzhi , formally Marquess Wenxian of Zhaocheng , was a poet and politician of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong...
. He made Niu the minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu) and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto, to serve alongside Li Linfu, while still letting him keep the military governorship of Shuofang. As chancellor, it was said that Niu was careful and frugal, and did not dare to make any key decisions, deferring all of them to Li Linfu.
In 737, the imperial censor Zhou Ziliang (周子諒) submitted an indictment against Niu, arguing that he did not have qualifications to be chancellor, and further cited a prophecy that indicated that a person named Niu would harm the empire. Emperor Xuanzong, in anger, had Zhou caned and then exiled, and Zhou died on the way. (As Zhou had been recommended by Zhang, Li Linfu used this opportunity to attack Zhang, and Zhang was demoted out of the capital.) Later that year, the deputy chief judge of the supreme court, Xu Jiao (徐嶠) submitted a flattering report to Emperor Xuanzong, pointing out that capital punishment had become almost unnecessary due to the peacefulness of his reign. Emperor Xuanzong was pleased, and credited the chancellors. He thus created Li LInfu the Duke of Jin and Niu the Duke of Bin. It was also around this time that a revision of the laws, led by Li Linfu, Niu, and the officials in charge of the justice system, was completed.
In 738, Niu was made Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng) and a post considered one for a chancellor; he was also made the deputy military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern 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...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), but remained at 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 chancellor. He was further given the additional post as the minister of defense in 739 and was responsible for selecting military officers, just as Li Linfu was made the minister of civil service affairs and was responsible for selecting officials. In 740, he was stripped of his commands of Shuofang and Hedong, but remained chancellor.
In 742, Niu was gravely ill. His former assistant while at Shuofang, Yao Hong (姚閎), a grandson of the deceased chancellor Yao Chong
Yao Chong
Yao Chong , né Yao Yuanchong , known 700s-713 by the courtesy name of Yuanzhi , formally Duke Wenxian of Liang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, serving as chancellor under four sovereigns—Wu Zetian, her sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong,...
, had been favored by him due to Yao Hong's dabbling in supernatural matters and claim to know how to avoid misfortune, and he had recommended Yao to serve as imperial censor. Now that he was ill, he asked Yao to pray for him—and Yao did so but forced Niu to recommend Yao's uncle Yao Yi (姚弈) and the official Lu Huan (盧奐) to replace Niu himself as chancellor. Yao Hong went as far as writing out the petition and forcing Niu to sign, but Niu was so ill that he was unable to sign properly. Niu died in fall 742, and after his death, his wife, when imperial messengers came to mourn him, showed the imperial messengers the petition to accuse Yao Hong of extortion. In anger, Emperor Xuanzong forced Yao Hong to commit suicide and demoted Yao Yi and Lu. He awarded Niu posthumous honors.