Shu Yuanyu
Encyclopedia
Shu Yuanyu (died December 17, 835) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong
. During Emperor Wenzong's reign, he became involved in a major power struggle between imperial officials and eunuchs known as the Ganlu Incident
, and he was killed by the eunuchs along with three other chancellors, Li Xun
, Wang Ya
, and Jia Su
.
, Zhejiang
), from a part that was said to be so poor that the gentry avoided it. HIs father Shu Heng (舒恆) served as an officer at Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan
, Hubei
). Shu Yuanyu had at least three younger brothers — Shu Yuangong (舒元肱), Shu Yuanjiong (舒元迥), and Shu Yuanbao (舒元褒), each of whom (like he) would eventually pass the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class.
It was said that when Shu Yuanyu began his studies, he became known for his alertness and ability to understand. He later went to live in Jiangxia (江夏, i.e., Wuchang's capital), and the military governor (Jiedushi
) Chi Shimei (郗士美) came to be impressed by his talent and often praised him.
In 813, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong
, Shu passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Hu County (鄠縣, in modern Xi'an
, Shaanxi
); he was to be talented and to have gained a good reputation. When the former chancellor Pei Du
served as the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
), he invited Shu to serve as his scribe, and it was said that the declarations that Shu drafted for him were written so well that Shu's reputation for good writing became well-known.
, Shu Yuanyu was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as an imperial censor, initially with the low title of Jiancha Yushi (監察御史), later with the higher title of Shi Yushi (侍御史). While serving as a censor, it was said that he was fearless in accusing officials he considered corrupt.
As Shu considered himself highly talented, he was ambitious in seeking higher officer. In 831, he submitted a petition to Emperor Wenzong in which he attached his writing and compared himself to the earlier chancellors Ma Zhou
and Zhang Jiazhen, as well as to the Han Dynasty
officials Zhufu Yan (主父偃), Xu Yue (徐樂), and Yan An (嚴安). Emperor Wenzong was impressed with his writing and showed the petition to the chancellors. The chancellor Li Zongmin
, however, considered Shu frivolous and overly ambitious, and he made Shu Zhuzuolang (著作郎), a writer at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), and sent Shu to the eastern capital Luoyang
.
While Shu was at Luoyang, he became friendly with Li Zhongyan
, who was then there observing a mourning period for his mother. Eventually, when Li Zhongyan (whose name was then changed to Li Xun) became a close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, Shu was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Zuosi Langzhong (左司郎中), a supervisory official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng). When Li Guyan
served as the chief imperial censor, he requested that Shu oversee the miscellaneous matters at the Office of the Imperial Censors (御史臺). Subsequently, when Li Guyan became chancellor, at his request, Shu was made acting deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞). It was said that Shu impressed Emperor Wenzong by ruling on criminal cases quickly, such that the backlog dissipated within three months, and thereafter was made deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang). However, he associated closely with Li Xun and another close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, Zheng Zhu
, and it was said that he used the law as a tool against those Li Xun and Zheng disfavored. For example, when Zheng accused relatives of the mayor of Jingzhao (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Yang Yuqing (楊虞卿), of spreading rumors that Zheng was using infant hearts and livers to make immortality pills for Emperor Wenzong, Shu, following Zheng's lead, had Yang quickly found guilty. Soon thereafter, both Li Xun and Shu were made chancellors with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). It was said that while serving as chancellors, Li Xun and Shu often machinated together on how they could seize more power, including in the plot that Li Xun, Zheng, and Emperor Wenzong were forming against the powerful eunuchs. However, it was also said that Li Xun and Shu, in order to gain good reputation, honored senior officials who had been squeezed out by prior chancellors, including Pei Du, Linghu Chu
, and Zheng Tan
.
With Shu's knowledge, but the knowledge of no other chancellor, Li Xun launched his plot (later known as the Ganlu Incident
) on December 14, 835, The plot quickly failed, however, as the eunuchs seized Emperor Wenzong, and Li Xun's troops collapsed. Li Xun fled out of Chang'an, while Shu and fellow chancellors Wang Ya
and Jia Su
returned to the Office of the Chancellors, believing that Emperor Wenzong would soon summon them to deal with the aftermaths, and they ordered the imperial officials under them to continue working normally. S oon thereafter, however, the eunuch-commanded Shence Army (神策軍) soldiers began attacking the governmental buildings, as the eunuchs believed the officials to be complicit with the plot. As the chancellors were about to have lunch, this was reported to them, and they fled. Shu changed into civilian clothes and rode out of Anhua Gate (安化門), but was chased down by Shence Army soldiers and arrested. Meanwhile, the eunuchs submitted a confession that Wang Ya wrote after being tortured, in which he claimed that he and the other imperial officials had intended to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and replace him with Zheng, and Emperor Wenzong subsequently accepted the confession as true
On December 17, the Shence Army soldiers escorted Shu, along with Wang Ya, Wang Fan (王璠), Luo Liyan (羅立言), Guo Xingyu (郭行餘), Jia, and Li Xiaoben (李孝本), along with Li Xun's head, to the imperial ancestral shrine, to be presented like sacrifices. They then were escorted to the execution field and executed by being cut in halves at the waist. Their families were slaughtered. His brothers Shu Yuangong and Shu Yuanjiong were also killed. Shu had written an ode to peonies that was considered well-written, and after Shu's death, there was an occasion when Emperor Wenzong viewed peonies and recited the ode; he wept and mourned Shu.
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 briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
. During Emperor Wenzong's reign, he became involved in a major power struggle between imperial officials and eunuchs known as the Ganlu Incident
Ganlu Incident
The Ganlu Incident referred to an incident on December 14, 835, where then-reigning Emperor Wenzong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, angry about the power that the powerful eunuchs had, conspired with the chancellor Li Xun and the general Zheng Zhu to slaughter the eunuchs...
, and he was killed by the eunuchs along with three other chancellors, Li Xun
Li Zhongyan
Li Zhongyan , known as Li Xun in 835, courtesy name initially Zixun , later Zichui , pseudonym Hermit Wang during the mourning period for his mother, was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, Wang Ya
Wang Ya
Wang Ya , courtesy name Guangjin , formally Duke of Dai , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wenzong...
, and Jia Su
Jia Su
Jia Su , courtesy name Zimei , formally the Baron of Guzang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
.
Background
It is not known when Shu Yuanyu was born, but it is known that he was from Wu Prefecture (婺州, in modern JinhuaJinhua
Jinhua is a prefecture-level city in central Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It borders the provincial capital of Hangzhou to the northwest, Quzhou to the southwest, Lishui to the south, Taizhou to the east, and Shaoxing to the northeast....
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
), from a part that was said to be so poor that the gentry avoided it. HIs father Shu Heng (舒恆) served as an officer at Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
). Shu Yuanyu had at least three younger brothers — Shu Yuangong (舒元肱), Shu Yuanjiong (舒元迥), and Shu Yuanbao (舒元褒), each of whom (like he) would eventually pass 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 in the Jinshi class.
It was said that when Shu Yuanyu began his studies, he became known for his alertness and ability to understand. He later went to live in Jiangxia (江夏, i.e., Wuchang's capital), and 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...
) Chi Shimei (郗士美) came to be impressed by his talent and often praised him.
In 813, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong
Emperor Xianzong of Tang
Emperor Xianzong of Tang , personal name Li Chun , né Li Chun , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
, Shu passed the imperial examinations and was made the sheriff of Hu County (鄠縣, in modern Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, 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...
); he was to be talented and to have gained a good reputation. When the former chancellor Pei Du
Pei Du
Pei Du , courtesy name Zhongli , formally Duke Wenzhong of Jin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Xianzong's grandsons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong...
served as the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, 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...
), he invited Shu to serve as his scribe, and it was said that the declarations that Shu drafted for him were written so well that Shu's reputation for good writing became well-known.
During Emperor Wenzong's reign
Early in the Taihe (827-835) era of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor WenzongEmperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
, Shu Yuanyu was 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 an imperial censor, initially with the low title of Jiancha Yushi (監察御史), later with the higher title of Shi Yushi (侍御史). While serving as a censor, it was said that he was fearless in accusing officials he considered corrupt.
As Shu considered himself highly talented, he was ambitious in seeking higher officer. In 831, he submitted a petition to Emperor Wenzong in which he attached his writing and compared himself to the earlier chancellors Ma Zhou
Ma Zhou
Ma Zhou , courtesy name Binwang , was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. He was initially a commoner and a guest of the general Chang He , and after Chang submitted suggestions that Ma drafted, Emperor Taizong was impressed and retained Ma as an imperial official,...
and Zhang Jiazhen, as well as 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...
officials Zhufu Yan (主父偃), Xu Yue (徐樂), and Yan An (嚴安). Emperor Wenzong was impressed with his writing and showed the petition to the chancellors. The chancellor Li Zongmin
Li Zongmin
Li Zongmin , courtesy name Sunzhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving twice as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
, however, considered Shu frivolous and overly ambitious, and he made Shu Zhuzuolang (著作郎), a writer at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng), and sent Shu to 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...
.
While Shu was at Luoyang, he became friendly with Li Zhongyan
Li Zhongyan
Li Zhongyan , known as Li Xun in 835, courtesy name initially Zixun , later Zichui , pseudonym Hermit Wang during the mourning period for his mother, was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, who was then there observing a mourning period for his mother. Eventually, when Li Zhongyan (whose name was then changed to Li Xun) became a close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, Shu was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Zuosi Langzhong (左司郎中), a supervisory official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng). When Li Guyan
Li Guyan
Li Guyan , courtesy name Zhongshu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong.- Background and early career :It is not clear when Li Guyan was born...
served as the chief imperial censor, he requested that Shu oversee the miscellaneous matters at the Office of the Imperial Censors (御史臺). Subsequently, when Li Guyan became chancellor, at his request, Shu was made acting deputy chief imperial censor (御史中丞). It was said that Shu impressed Emperor Wenzong by ruling on criminal cases quickly, such that the backlog dissipated within three months, and thereafter was made deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang). However, he associated closely with Li Xun and another close associate of Emperor Wenzong's, Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu
Zheng Zhu , probably né Yu Zhu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became a trusted advisor to Emperor Wenzong due to treatments he provided Emperor Wenzong for the emperor's illnesses, and thereafter plotted with Emperor Wenzong and Li Xun to slaughter the powerful eunuchs...
, and it was said that he used the law as a tool against those Li Xun and Zheng disfavored. For example, when Zheng accused relatives of the mayor of Jingzhao (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Yang Yuqing (楊虞卿), of spreading rumors that Zheng was using infant hearts and livers to make immortality pills for Emperor Wenzong, Shu, following Zheng's lead, had Yang quickly found guilty. Soon thereafter, both Li Xun and Shu were made chancellors with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). It was said that while serving as chancellors, Li Xun and Shu often machinated together on how they could seize more power, including in the plot that Li Xun, Zheng, and Emperor Wenzong were forming against the powerful eunuchs. However, it was also said that Li Xun and Shu, in order to gain good reputation, honored senior officials who had been squeezed out by prior chancellors, including Pei Du, Linghu Chu
Linghu Chu
Linghu Chu , courtesy name Keshi , formally Duke Wen of Pengyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong.- Background :Linghu Chu was born in 766, during the reign of Emperor...
, and Zheng Tan
Zheng Tan
Zheng Tan , formally the Duke of Yingyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong. He was viewed as a Li Faction leader in the Niu-Li Factional Struggles....
.
With Shu's knowledge, but the knowledge of no other chancellor, Li Xun launched his plot (later known as the Ganlu Incident
Ganlu Incident
The Ganlu Incident referred to an incident on December 14, 835, where then-reigning Emperor Wenzong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, angry about the power that the powerful eunuchs had, conspired with the chancellor Li Xun and the general Zheng Zhu to slaughter the eunuchs...
) on December 14, 835, The plot quickly failed, however, as the eunuchs seized Emperor Wenzong, and Li Xun's troops collapsed. Li Xun fled out of Chang'an, while Shu and fellow chancellors Wang Ya
Wang Ya
Wang Ya , courtesy name Guangjin , formally Duke of Dai , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wenzong...
and Jia Su
Jia Su
Jia Su , courtesy name Zimei , formally the Baron of Guzang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving briefly as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong...
returned to the Office of the Chancellors, believing that Emperor Wenzong would soon summon them to deal with the aftermaths, and they ordered the imperial officials under them to continue working normally. S oon thereafter, however, the eunuch-commanded Shence Army (神策軍) soldiers began attacking the governmental buildings, as the eunuchs believed the officials to be complicit with the plot. As the chancellors were about to have lunch, this was reported to them, and they fled. Shu changed into civilian clothes and rode out of Anhua Gate (安化門), but was chased down by Shence Army soldiers and arrested. Meanwhile, the eunuchs submitted a confession that Wang Ya wrote after being tortured, in which he claimed that he and the other imperial officials had intended to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and replace him with Zheng, and Emperor Wenzong subsequently accepted the confession as true
On December 17, the Shence Army soldiers escorted Shu, along with Wang Ya, Wang Fan (王璠), Luo Liyan (羅立言), Guo Xingyu (郭行餘), Jia, and Li Xiaoben (李孝本), along with Li Xun's head, to the imperial ancestral shrine, to be presented like sacrifices. They then were escorted to the execution field and executed by being cut in halves at the waist. Their families were slaughtered. His brothers Shu Yuangong and Shu Yuanjiong were also killed. Shu had written an ode to peonies that was considered well-written, and after Shu's death, there was an occasion when Emperor Wenzong viewed peonies and recited the ode; he wept and mourned Shu.