Shi Wuzi
Encyclopedia
Shi Wuzi (died January 2, 691) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
and Wu Zetian
's Zhou Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor during Wu Zetian's reign.
It is not known when Shi Wuzi was born, but it is known that he was from Liyang (溧陽, in modern Changzhou
, Jiangsu
). As of 690, when Wu Zetian had just taken over the throne from her son Emperor Ruizong
, establishing Zhou and interrupting Tang, Shi was serving as the minister of vassal affairs (司賓卿, Sibin Qin), when she promoted him to be Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai) -- a post considered one for a chancellor. She subsequently commissioned him and nine other officials to tour the 10 circuits that the empire was divided into.
In 691, the assistant imperial censor Lai Zixun (來子珣) falsely accused the official Liu Xinggan (劉行感), his brothers Liu Xingshi (劉行實) and Liu Xingyu (劉行瑜), and nephew Liu Qiantong (劉虔通) of treason. Wu Zetian put Shi and her secret police official Lai Junchen
in charge of the investigations. Shi was friendly with Liu Xinggan and tried to find ways to absolve him and his family members, but could not, and Liu Xinggan and his brothers and nephew were all executed. Afterwards, Lai Junchen reported to Wu Zetian that Shi was trying to absolve the Lius. Wu Zetian ordered Lai Junchen to investigate Shi as well. Shi, in fear, committed suicide.
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...
and Wu Zetian
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...
's Zhou Dynasty, serving briefly as chancellor during Wu Zetian's reign.
It is not known when Shi Wuzi was born, but it is known that he was from Liyang (溧陽, in modern Changzhou
Changzhou
Changzhou is a prefecture-level city in southern Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It was previously known as Yanling, Lanling, Jinling, and Wujin. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, Changzhou borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Zhenjiang to the...
, 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...
). As of 690, when Wu Zetian had just taken over the throne from her son 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...
, establishing Zhou and interrupting Tang, Shi was serving as the minister of vassal affairs (司賓卿, Sibin Qin), when she promoted him to be Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai) -- a post considered one for a chancellor. She subsequently commissioned him and nine other officials to tour the 10 circuits that the empire was divided into.
In 691, the assistant imperial censor Lai Zixun (來子珣) falsely accused the official Liu Xinggan (劉行感), his brothers Liu Xingshi (劉行實) and Liu Xingyu (劉行瑜), and nephew Liu Qiantong (劉虔通) of treason. Wu Zetian put Shi and her secret police official Lai Junchen
Lai Junchen
Lai Junchen was a secret police official during the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, whose ability to interrogate and falsely implicate officials of crimes made him a subject of fear and hatred...
in charge of the investigations. Shi was friendly with Liu Xinggan and tried to find ways to absolve him and his family members, but could not, and Liu Xinggan and his brothers and nephew were all executed. Afterwards, Lai Junchen reported to Wu Zetian that Shi was trying to absolve the Lius. Wu Zetian ordered Lai Junchen to investigate Shi as well. Shi, in fear, committed suicide.