Xiahou Zi
Encyclopedia
Xiahou Zi courtesy name Haoxue (好學), formally the Duke of Qiao Commandery (譙郡公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving two terms as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuānzong
and Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
.
, Anhui
) and claimed ancestry from the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi
, but little is known about his traceable ancestry except for his father Xiahou Shenfeng (夏侯審封), who served as a supervisory official at the ministry of rites. Xiahou Zi had at least two older brothers, Xiahou Min (夏侯敏) and Xiahou Jing (夏侯敬), and at least two younger brothers, Xiahou Pei (夏侯裴) and Xiahou Ao (夏侯敖).
Xiahou Zi passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class in 826
, during the reign of Emperor Jingzong
. He subsequently served on staffs of various regional governors, before later successively serving as the prefect of Wu Prefecture (婺州, in modern Jinhua
, Zhejiang
) and the prefect of Jiang Prefecture (絳州, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). He was later recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as an advisory official with the title Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫), and later as an imperial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong). In 856
, by which time Emperor Jingzong's uncle Emperor Xuānzong
was emperor, Xiahou was made the deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang). In 857
, he made Shangshu You Cheng (尚書右丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and given the honorific title of Shang Zhuguo (上柱國). Soon thereafter, he was also made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and the director of taxation — after Emperor Xuānzong had initially offered the position to the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Wei Ao (韋澳) but Wei declined.
, by which time Xiahou Zi was referred to as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and the director of the salt and iron monopolies, Emperor Xuānzong gave Xiahou the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. After Emperor Xuānzong died in 859
and was succeeded by his son Emperor Yizong
, Emperor Yizong continued to have Xiahou serve as chancellor, and made him Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng); he also created Xiahou the Marquess of Qiao. In 860
, when agrarian rebel Qiu Fu (裘甫) overran Zhedong Circuit (浙東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing
, Zhejiang
), it was at Xiahou's recommendation that Emperor Yizong commissioned the general Wang Shi
to suppress Qiu's rebellion, and it was said that it was with Xiahou's full support that Wang was fully supplied and was able to defeat Qiu. In late 860, after the end of the Qiu rebellion, Xiahou was made the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
), continuing to keep the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.
, by which time Xiahou Zi was referred to as the former military governor of Xichuan, he was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau, and chancellor again, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. It was at Xiahou's recommendation that, in 864
, the general Gao Pian
was commissioned to recapture Annan (安南, in modern Hanoi
, Vietnam
) from Dali forces. Late in 864, Xiahou was again removed from his chancellor position and made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng).
, when Xiahou Zi was apparently still governing Hezhong, and by which time he was referred to by the title of Duke of Qiao Commandery, Dali forces making a major incursion into Xichuan Circuit. Emperor Yizong, blaming Xiahou for not having fortified Xichuan's defenses while governing Xichuan, issued an edict rebuking Xiahou and relieving Xiahou from his post as military governor of Hezhong. Xiahou was made an advisor to the Crown Prince
, with his office at the eastern capital Luoyang
. It was said that Xiahou died soon thereafter, but the date is not known.
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 two terms as a chancellor during the reigns of 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...
and Emperor Xuānzong's son 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...
.
Background and early career
It is not known when Xiahou Zi was born. His family was from Qiao (譙, in modern BozhouBozhou
Bozhou is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Anhui province, People's Republic of China. It borders Huaibei to the northeast, Bengbu to the southeast, Huainan to the south, Fuyang to the southwest, and the province of Henan to the north.-Administration:...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) and claimed ancestry from the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi
Qi (Henan)
Qi was a minor feudal state that appears in Chinese history from the beginning of the Shang Dynasty until the beginning of the Warring States Period, circa 445 BCE.-History:...
, but little is known about his traceable ancestry except for his father Xiahou Shenfeng (夏侯審封), who served as a supervisory official at the ministry of rites. Xiahou Zi had at least two older brothers, Xiahou Min (夏侯敏) and Xiahou Jing (夏侯敬), and at least two younger brothers, Xiahou Pei (夏侯裴) and Xiahou Ao (夏侯敖).
Xiahou Zi passed 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 in 826
826
Year 826 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Religion :* June 24 – The Danish king Harald Klak accepts Christianity.- Deaths :...
, during the reign of Emperor Jingzong
Emperor Jingzong of Tang
Emperor Jingzong of Tang , personal name Li Zhan , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 824 to 827...
. He subsequently served on staffs of various regional governors, before later successively serving as the prefect of Wu Prefecture (婺州, in modern Jinhua
Jinhua
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...
) and the prefect of Jiang Prefecture (絳州, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). He 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 an advisory official with the title Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫), and later as an imperial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong). In 856
856
Year 856 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* December 22 – Another deadly earthquake strikes Damghan, Iran, killing 200,000 people.- Europe :...
, by which time Emperor Jingzong's 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...
was emperor, Xiahou was made the deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang). In 857
857
Year 857 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Michael III of Byzantium, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora...
, he made Shangshu You Cheng (尚書右丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and given the honorific title of Shang Zhuguo (上柱國). Soon thereafter, he was also made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and the director of taxation — after Emperor Xuānzong had initially offered the position to the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Wei Ao (韋澳) but Wei declined.
First chancellorship
In 858858
Year 858 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails....
, by which time Xiahou Zi was referred to as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and the director of the salt and iron monopolies, Emperor Xuānzong gave Xiahou the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. After Emperor Xuānzong died in 859
859
Year 859 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* January 15 – Battle of Saint-Quentin, Aisne: Humfrid defeats Louis the German....
and was succeeded by his son 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...
, Emperor Yizong continued to have Xiahou serve as chancellor, and made him Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng); he also created Xiahou the Marquess of Qiao. In 860
860
Year 860 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ethelbert succeeds as king of Wessex.* The later Harald I of Norway becomes king.- Art :...
, when agrarian rebel Qiu Fu (裘甫) overran Zhedong Circuit (浙東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, 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...
), it was at Xiahou's recommendation that Emperor Yizong commissioned the general Wang Shi
Wang Shi (Tang Dynasty)
Wang Shi was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, known for his campaign against Nanzhao forces to retain the control of the Annan region, and his campaign against the agrarian rebel Qiu Fu ....
to suppress Qiu's rebellion, and it was said that it was with Xiahou's full support that Wang was fully supplied and was able to defeat Qiu. In late 860, after the end of the Qiu rebellion, Xiahou was made 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 Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
), continuing to keep the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.
Second chancellorship
In 862862
Year 862 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ashot I becomes the first king of Armenia's Bagratuni dynasty.* Aed Finliath is crowned High King of Ireland....
, by which time Xiahou Zi was referred to as the former military governor of Xichuan, he was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau, and chancellor again, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. It was at Xiahou's recommendation that, in 864
864
Year 864 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* July 25 – Edict of Pistres: Charles the Bald orders defensive measures against the Vikings....
, 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...
was commissioned to recapture Annan (安南, in modern Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
) from Dali forces. Late in 864, Xiahou was again removed from his chancellor position and made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng).
After second chancellorship
In 868868
Year 868 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* Ahmad ibn Tulun, a Turkish mameluk general in Arab army founds Tulunid dynasty in Egypt....
, when Xiahou Zi was apparently still governing Hezhong, and by which time he was referred to by the title of Duke of Qiao Commandery, Dali forces making a major incursion into Xichuan Circuit. Emperor Yizong, blaming Xiahou for not having fortified Xichuan's defenses while governing Xichuan, issued an edict rebuking Xiahou and relieving Xiahou from his post as military governor of Hezhong. Xiahou was made an advisor to the 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....
, with his office 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...
. It was said that Xiahou died soon thereafter, but the date is not known.