Pei Yan
Encyclopedia
Pei Yan (died November 30, 684), courtesy name Zilong (子隆), 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
(later known as Wu Zetian) over their sons Emperor Zhongzong
and Emperor Ruizong
. He was well-trusted by Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu late in Emperor Gaozong's reign, but drew Empress Wu's ire after he advised her, then empress dowager
, to end her regency and return power to Emperor Ruizong. In 684, she accused him of treason and executed him.
), and it is not known when he was born. When he was young, he became a student at the imperial university, and it was said that during vacations, the other students would often go out to travel, but Pei kept studying. After he studied at the university for more than a year, he was due to be recommended for an official post, but he declined the recommendation on the basis that he felt that his studies were not done, and he ended up studying for more than 10 years at the university, particularly gaining expertise in the Zuo Zhuan
and the Book of Han
.
, and he was made the food storage officer at Pu Prefecture (濮州, roughly modern Heze
, Shandong
). He eventually served successively as assistant imperial censor, imperial archivist, deputy minister of defense, and eventually Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎) -- deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). In 680, he was given the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Later that year, when Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Li Xian
was accused of treason, Emperor Gaozong had him, Xue Yuanchao
, and Gao Zhizhou
investigate. Eventually, Li Xián was deposed and replaced by his brother Li Zhe
.
In 681, Pei Yan became Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. Later that year, he was involved in a dispute with the general Pei Xingjian (裴行儉), as Pei Xingjian had earlier that year defeated the Tujue chief Ashina Fu'nian (阿史那伏念) and induced Ashina Fu'nian to first capture his confederate Ashide Wenbo (阿史德溫博) and then surrender, promising Ashina Fu'nian that he would be spared if he did so. However, Pei Yan was said to be jealous of Pei Xingjian, and he reported that Ashina Fu'nian was only forced to surrender due to military pressure by Pei Xingjian's deputies Zhang Qianxu (張虔勗) and Cheng Wuting (程務挺), advocating that Ashina Fu'nian should be put to death. Emperor Gaozong agreed and executed Ashina Fu'nian, causing Pei Xingjian to be distressed, and Pei Xingjian retired, claiming illness.
In 682, due to a famine in the Guanzhong
region (i.e., the region around the capital Chang'an
), Emperor Gaozong left Chang'an and took up residence at the eastern capital Luoyang
, leaving Li Zhe in charge at Chang'an, assisted by Pei Yan and his fellow chancellors Liu Rengui
and Xue Yuanchao. In 683, when Emperor Gaozong became ill, he summoned Li Zhe to Luoyang, accompanied by Pei, and when Emperor Gaozong's illness became even more serious, he formally put Li Zhe in charge of important state matters, assisted by Pei, Liu Jingxian
, and Guo Zhengyi
. Around the new year 684, Emperor Gaozong died, and formally on Pei's suggestion, Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian), now empress dowager
, took regent
powers until a formal enthronement of Li Zhe (as Emperor Zhongzong). She made Pei Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). (The office of the chancellors, Zhengshi Tang (政事堂), was prior to this event located in the examination bureau. When Pei became Zhongshu Ling, he moved it to the legislative bureau, where it would remain from that point on.)
) Shizhong, and also trying to give an office of the fifth rank (within the nine-rank Tang governmental structure) to his wet nurse
's son. Pei opposed both commissions, and Emperor Zhongzong, in frustration, stated, "What would be wrong even if I give the empire to Wei Xuanzhen? Why do you care that he is made Shizhong?" Concerned, Pei reported this to Empress Dowager Wu. She, in response, ordered Pei and fellow chancellor Liu Yizhi
, as well as the generals Cheng Wuting and Zhang Qianxu, lead troops into the palace, and then issued an edict deposing Emperor Zhongzong and demoting him to the title of Prince of Luling, replacing him with his younger brother Li Dan
the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong). She, however, held onto all imperial power as regent, and Emperor Ruizong had no real power. For his contributions in this matter, Pei was given a noble title.
However, Pei would soon begin to run afoul of Empress Dowager Wu. Later in 684, pursuant to suggestions by her nephew Wu Chengsi
, Empress Dowager Wu planned to posthumously honor her ancestors princes, and also build seven ancestral temples for them—a highly sensitive move, in that regulations allowed only the emperor to build seven ancestral temples, while any noble family, no matter how honored, was restricted to no more than five temples. Pei argued against the move, specifically comparing Empress Dowager Wu's actions to those of Emperor Gao of Han's wife Empress Lü Zhi
(whose clan was powerful in her lifetime as empress dowager but was slaughtered after her death), to no avail, and she began to view him negatively from that point on. Their conflict became worsened later that year, as Empress Dowager Wu, listening to Wu Chengsi's advice, began considering seizing the throne herself with the title of "emperor." She, Wu Chengsi, and another powerful nephew Wu Sansi
were all concerned about the high esteem the people held for Emperor Ruizong's granduncles Li Yuanjia (李元嘉) the Prince of Han and Li Lingkui (李靈夔) the Prince of Lu, and Wu Chengsi suggested that she find excuses to have them executed. When Empress Dowager Wu consulted the chancellors, both Liu Yizhi and Wei Siqian
were fearful and therefore did not dare to speak, but Pei strenuously objected, making her even more angry at him.
Also late in 684, Li Jingye
the Duke of Ying (the grandson of the great general Li Shiji
) rebelled, citing as his agenda his desire to restore power to Emperor Ruizong. One of Li Jingye's key coconspirators was Pei's nephew Xue Zhongzhang (薛仲璋), which drew Empress Dowager Wu's suspicion. Meanwhile, Pei, in order to try to show that the rebellion was nothing to worry about, was intentionally slow in dispatching troops to suppress the rebellion. He further told Empress Dowager Wu that if she returned authorities to Emperor Ruizong, the rebellion would, for the lack of a good point of propaganda, collapse on its own. Empress Dowager Wu became more suspicious, and when the official Cui Cha (崔詧) heard this, he submitted a petition accusing Pei of treason. Empress Dowager Wu had Pei arrested and had him interrogated by the imperial censors Qian Weidao (騫味道) and Yu Chengye (魚承曄). Pei, even while under interrogation, did not humble himself before his interrogators, and when someone encouraged him to be humbler, he responded, "Once a chancellor is arrested, how can he still survive?"
Meanwhile, a number of Pei's colleagues were trying to save him. In particular, Liu Jingxian and another high level official, Hu Yuanfan (胡元範) particularly tried to guarantee that Pei was not treasonous. She did not listen, and Pei was executed later that year. (As a result for their attempts to save Pei, Hu was exiled and died at his place of exile; Liu Jingxian was also exiled and eventually executed; Cheng Wuting was also executed; and Guo Daiju
was demoted.) It was said that when Pei was due to be executed, he looked at his brothers, who were due to be exiled themselves, and sighed, "My brothers, you all became officials out of your own merit, not because I helped you. Alas, now on my account you are being exiled to the boundaries of the empire." When Pei's assets were due to be seized, it was discovered that he had no savings at all. Eventually, only after Empress Dowager Wu's death in 705 (after she had, indeed, taking "emperor" title in 690) and after Emperor Ruizong again became emperor in 710 was Pei posthumously honored and given the posthumous name
of Zhong (忠, "faithful").
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...
, as well as regency
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...
by his 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) over their sons Emperor Zhongzong
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...
and 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...
. He was well-trusted by Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu late in Emperor Gaozong's reign, but drew Empress Wu's ire after he advised her, then empress dowager
Empress 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...
, to end her regency and return power to Emperor Ruizong. In 684, she accused him of treason and executed him.
Background
Pei Yan was from Jiang Prefecture (絳州, part of modern Yuncheng, ShanxiShanxi
' 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....
), and it is not known when he was born. When he was young, he became a student at the imperial university, and it was said that during vacations, the other students would often go out to travel, but Pei kept studying. After he studied at the university for more than a year, he was due to be recommended for an official post, but he declined the recommendation on the basis that he felt that his studies were not done, and he ended up studying for more than 10 years at the university, particularly gaining expertise in the Zuo Zhuan
Zuo Zhuan
The Zuo Zhuan , sometimes translated as the Chronicle of Zuo or the Commentary of Zuo, is among the earliest Chinese works of narrative history and covers the period from 722 BCE to 468 BCE. It is one of the most important sources for understanding the history of the Spring and Autumn Period...
and the Book of Han
Book of Han
The Book of Han, Hanshu or History of the Former Han Dynasty |Fan Ye]] . Various scholars have estimated that the earliest material covered in the book dates back to between 206 and 202 BCE...
.
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
At some point, Pei Yan passed the imperial examinationImperial 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...
, and he was made the food storage officer at Pu Prefecture (濮州, roughly modern Heze
Heze
Heze is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The westernmost prefecture-level city in Shandong, it borders Jining to the east and the provinces of Henan and Anhui to the west and south respectively. The old name of Heze was Caozhou and now a part...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
). He eventually served successively as assistant imperial censor, imperial archivist, deputy minister of defense, and eventually Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎) -- deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). In 680, he was given the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Later that year, when 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...
was accused of treason, Emperor Gaozong had him, 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....
, and Gao Zhizhou
Gao Zhizhou
Gao Zhizhou was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.Gao Zhizhou was born in 602, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, the founding emperor of Tang's predecessor Sui Dynasty. His family was from what would become Chang...
investigate. Eventually, Li Xián was deposed and replaced by his brother 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...
.
In 681, Pei Yan became Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. Later that year, he was involved in a dispute with the general Pei Xingjian (裴行儉), as Pei Xingjian had earlier that year defeated the Tujue chief Ashina Fu'nian (阿史那伏念) and induced Ashina Fu'nian to first capture his confederate Ashide Wenbo (阿史德溫博) and then surrender, promising Ashina Fu'nian that he would be spared if he did so. However, Pei Yan was said to be jealous of Pei Xingjian, and he reported that Ashina Fu'nian was only forced to surrender due to military pressure by Pei Xingjian's deputies Zhang Qianxu (張虔勗) and Cheng Wuting (程務挺), advocating that Ashina Fu'nian should be put to death. Emperor Gaozong agreed and executed Ashina Fu'nian, causing Pei Xingjian to be distressed, and Pei Xingjian retired, claiming illness.
In 682, due to a famine in the Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
region (i.e., the region around 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...
), Emperor Gaozong left Chang'an and took up residence at 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...
, leaving Li Zhe in charge at Chang'an, assisted by Pei Yan and his fellow chancellors 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...
and Xue Yuanchao. In 683, when Emperor Gaozong became ill, he summoned Li Zhe to Luoyang, accompanied by Pei, and when Emperor Gaozong's illness became even more serious, he formally put Li Zhe in charge of important state matters, assisted by Pei, Liu Jingxian
Liu Jingxian
Liu Jingxian , né Liu Qixian , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor late in the reign of Emperor Gaozong and the subsequent regency of Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Dowager Wu over their sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong...
, and Guo Zhengyi
Guo Zhengyi
Guo Zhengyi was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong and the regency of Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Wu over their son Emperor Zhongzong.- Background :It is not known when Guo Zhengyi was born...
. Around the new year 684, Emperor Gaozong died, and formally on Pei's suggestion, 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), now empress dowager
Empress 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...
, took 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...
powers until a formal enthronement of Li Zhe (as Emperor Zhongzong). She made Pei Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). (The office of the chancellors, Zhengshi Tang (政事堂), was prior to this event located in the examination bureau. When Pei became Zhongshu Ling, he moved it to the legislative bureau, where it would remain from that point on.)
During Empress Dowager Wu's regency
In spring 684, Emperor Zhongzong, despite Empress Dowager Wu's regency, attempted to assert some key personnel decisions of his own—trying to make his father-in-law Wei Xuanzhen (韋玄貞, the father of his wife Empress WeiEmpress Wei (Zhongzong)
Empress Wei was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. She was the second wife of Emperor Zhongzong, who reigned twice, and during his second reign, she tried to emulate the example of her mother-in-law Wu Zetian and seize power...
) Shizhong, and also trying to give an office of the fifth rank (within the nine-rank Tang governmental structure) to his wet nurse
Wet nurse
A wet nurse is a woman who is used to breast feed and care for another's child. Wet nurses are used when the mother is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures the families are linked by a special relationship of...
's son. Pei opposed both commissions, and Emperor Zhongzong, in frustration, stated, "What would be wrong even if I give the empire to Wei Xuanzhen? Why do you care that he is made Shizhong?" Concerned, Pei reported this to Empress Dowager Wu. She, in response, ordered Pei and fellow chancellor Liu Yizhi
Liu Yizhi
Liu Yizhi , courtesy name Ximei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong...
, as well as the generals Cheng Wuting and Zhang Qianxu, lead troops into the palace, and then issued an edict deposing Emperor Zhongzong and demoting him to the title of Prince of Luling, replacing him with his younger brother Li Dan
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...
the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong). She, however, held onto all imperial power as regent, and Emperor Ruizong had no real power. For his contributions in this matter, Pei was given a noble title.
However, Pei would soon begin to run afoul of Empress Dowager Wu. Later in 684, pursuant to suggestions by her nephew Wu Chengsi
Wu Chengsi
Wu Chengsi , formally Prince Xuan of Wei , was a nephew of Chinese sovereign Wu Zetian and an imperial prince during her Zhou Dynasty...
, Empress Dowager Wu planned to posthumously honor her ancestors princes, and also build seven ancestral temples for them—a highly sensitive move, in that regulations allowed only the emperor to build seven ancestral temples, while any noble family, no matter how honored, was restricted to no more than five temples. Pei argued against the move, specifically comparing Empress Dowager Wu's actions to those of Emperor Gao of Han's wife Empress Lü Zhi
Empress Lü Zhi
Empress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan...
(whose clan was powerful in her lifetime as empress dowager but was slaughtered after her death), to no avail, and she began to view him negatively from that point on. Their conflict became worsened later that year, as Empress Dowager Wu, listening to Wu Chengsi's advice, began considering seizing the throne herself with the title of "emperor." She, Wu Chengsi, and another powerful nephew Wu Sansi
Wu Sansi
Wu Sansi , formally Prince Xuan of Liang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and his aunt Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, becoming an imperial prince and chancellor during the reign of Wu Zetian and subsequently, while only briefly chancellor during the second reign of Wu Zetian's son...
were all concerned about the high esteem the people held for Emperor Ruizong's granduncles Li Yuanjia (李元嘉) the Prince of Han and Li Lingkui (李靈夔) the Prince of Lu, and Wu Chengsi suggested that she find excuses to have them executed. When Empress Dowager Wu consulted the chancellors, both Liu Yizhi and Wei Siqian
Wei Siqian
Wei Siqian , formal name Wei Renyue but went by the courtesy name of Siqian, formally Baron of Bochang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong...
were fearful and therefore did not dare to speak, but Pei strenuously objected, making her even more angry at him.
Also late in 684, Li Jingye
Li Jingye
Li Jingye , also known as Xu Jingye , was a grandson of the great Tang Dynasty general Li Shiji who, after Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Wu had seized power after Emperor Gaozong's death, rose in rebellion against her, but who was quickly defeated and killed in flight.- Background :It is not...
the Duke of Ying (the grandson of the great 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...
) rebelled, citing as his agenda his desire to restore power to Emperor Ruizong. One of Li Jingye's key coconspirators was Pei's nephew Xue Zhongzhang (薛仲璋), which drew Empress Dowager Wu's suspicion. Meanwhile, Pei, in order to try to show that the rebellion was nothing to worry about, was intentionally slow in dispatching troops to suppress the rebellion. He further told Empress Dowager Wu that if she returned authorities to Emperor Ruizong, the rebellion would, for the lack of a good point of propaganda, collapse on its own. Empress Dowager Wu became more suspicious, and when the official Cui Cha (崔詧) heard this, he submitted a petition accusing Pei of treason. Empress Dowager Wu had Pei arrested and had him interrogated by the imperial censors Qian Weidao (騫味道) and Yu Chengye (魚承曄). Pei, even while under interrogation, did not humble himself before his interrogators, and when someone encouraged him to be humbler, he responded, "Once a chancellor is arrested, how can he still survive?"
Meanwhile, a number of Pei's colleagues were trying to save him. In particular, Liu Jingxian and another high level official, Hu Yuanfan (胡元範) particularly tried to guarantee that Pei was not treasonous. She did not listen, and Pei was executed later that year. (As a result for their attempts to save Pei, Hu was exiled and died at his place of exile; Liu Jingxian was also exiled and eventually executed; Cheng Wuting was also executed; and Guo Daiju
Guo Daiju
Guo Daiju was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong as well as the regency of Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Wu over their sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong.Despite Guo's high status, little is firmly established...
was demoted.) It was said that when Pei was due to be executed, he looked at his brothers, who were due to be exiled themselves, and sighed, "My brothers, you all became officials out of your own merit, not because I helped you. Alas, now on my account you are being exiled to the boundaries of the empire." When Pei's assets were due to be seized, it was discovered that he had no savings at all. Eventually, only after Empress Dowager Wu's death in 705 (after she had, indeed, taking "emperor" title in 690) and after Emperor Ruizong again became emperor in 710 was Pei posthumously honored and given the posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
of Zhong (忠, "faithful").