151:." Emperor Gaozong then asked, "But are there faults?" Wei responded, "Yes. Wang Yifang was allowed to die in a remote location. Commentators believed that Your Imperial Majesty was unable to use someone who was able." Emperor Gaozong stated, "I was going to use him when I heard of his death. It was already too late." Wei then responded, "Liu Cangqi has abilities that had few rivals in the empire, and Your Imperial Majesty knows that. He is now past 70 years old and yet still serves as a minor official at the executive bureau . You sigh at the death of one and yet ignored another." Emperor Gaozong was much embarrassed by Wei's frankness.
273:), on a fast horse, to head to the execution field to yell, "An imperial edict is here sparing them!" When Wang's voice was heard, the other prisoners were happy and jumping in joy, but only Wei remained sitting quietly, stating, "I do not yet know whether this is true or not." Once Wang arrived, he told Wang to rise, but Wei said, "I will wait until the edict is read." Once Wang read the edict, Wei got up and bowed in thanksgiving, without expression of sorrow or joy. This much impressed the witnesses to the event.
124:, where Emperor Gaozong was at the time, and submitted a secret petition, making suggestions as to what to do with the Tufan threat—pointing out that at the time, the generals were largely past generals' sons who were not necessarily militarily talented; the reward and punishment system was not being utilized properly; and that the army was being crippled by a then-existent regulation prohibiting the people from keeping horses. Emperor Gaozong was impressed by Wei's petition and made him a secretary at the
537:) wrote a letter to Wei, pointing out that there was much expectation the people had for him, and that it was not proper for him, as a senior chancellor, to be standing by and doing nothing while Wu Sansi and several other officials were leading Emperor Zhongzong astray in his reign. After Wei read Yuan's letter, he was much ashamed, but did little, although he did begin to consider whether there was something he could do to Wu Sansi. Later that year, when the sorcerer Zheng Pusi (
520:) and also a post considered one for a chancellor. There was much expectation by the people that he would help reform government, but it was said that after he became chancellor again, he did not have any particularly good suggestions for Emperor Zhongzong but was instead only going with the flow in the political arena, and the people were disappointed, those in hopes that he would serve as a counterbalance to Wu Zetian's nephew
528:. Late in 705, when Wu Zetian died, Wu Sansi altered her will to include the grant of 100 households to serve as Wei Yuanzhong's fief—to which Wei was seen thankfully grieving, leading people to comment that he could no longer serve as a counterbalance to Wu Sansi. During the mourning period that Emperor Zhongzong observed for Wu Zetian, he had Wei Yuanzhong serve as regent for three days, and also created Wei the Duke of Qi.
211:) challenged Li Jingye's forces to a battle but was defeated, and Li Xiaoyi, in fear, defended just his camp and did not dare to battle Li Jingye's forces. Wei warned him that by failing to advance, he would cause insecurity in the people's minds, and that he himself might be punished for not advancing. Li Xiaoyi thus advanced, and, under Wei's suggestion, first attacked Li Jingye's brother Li Jingyou (
420:, of having said that she was too old and that it would be better for them to support the Crown Prince (Li Zhe, who had by now been recalled from exile to serve in that role and renamed Li Xian and then Wu Xian, and on whose staff Wei also served). Wu Zetian, in anger, arrested Wei and Gao, and was ready to interrogate them before her. The Zhangs persuaded Wei's subordinate
451:. There is less than a 10% chance that I will survive, but Your Imperial Majesty will think of me one day." When she asked why, he pointed to Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong and said, "These two boys will create a disaster." The Zhangs quickly kneeled and claimed that Wei's accusation was false, to which Wu Zetian merely stated, "Wei Yuanzhong, you may go now."
329:
the torture and thank him for teaching him to speak properly. Meanwhile, Di was able to hide a secret petition inside clothes that were given back to his family members to be changed, and when the petition reached Wu Zetian, she released them, but exiled them—in Wei's case, to be the magistrate of Fuling County (涪陵, in modern
547:
of
Emperor Zhongzong's, was accused of treason, Wei spoke in favor of Zheng's execution, even though Emperor Zhongzong wanted to spare Zheng. Emperor Zhongzong, while sparing Zheng's life, was forced to exile him and execute his associates. Also around this time, when Emperor Zhongzong's and Empress
328:
and being dragged by the beast." Hou, in anger, increased the speed of the dragging, and Wei responded, "Hou Sizhi, if you want my head, just cut it off. Do not ask me to admit treason." He further criticized Hou for using vulgar speech unfit for an imperial official—which, oddly, caused Hou to stop
568:
Despite the rebuff, Li Guo'er and Wu
Chongxun continued to try to have Li Guo'er made crown princess, and also repeatedly insulted Li Chongjun. In 707, Li Chongjun, in anger, started a rebellion and killed Wu Sansi and Wu Chongxun and tried to arrest Li Guo'er, Empress Wei, and Emperor Zhongzong's
340:
While Wei was in exile, many people spoke on his behalf, and in 697, Wu Zetian recalled him to serve again as censor. On one occasion, she asked him, "Why do you often get attacked by others?" Wei's response was, "Your subject is just like a deer. The false accusers are just like hunters who want
438:
that he needed to speak the truth, when reaching Wu Zetian's presence, instead revealed that he had never heard Wei say anything of that nature and that he had been asked by Zhang Yizhi and Zhang
Changzong to testify that he had. As a result, Wei escaped death, but was exiled to be the sheriff of
646:
era of
Zhongzong's reign, which corresponds to 9 Oct 707 in the Julian calendar. (九月，...宗楚客等引右卫郎将姚廷筠为御史中丞，使劾奏魏元忠，以为：“侯君集社稷元勋，及其谋反，太宗就群臣乞其命而不得，竟流涕斩之。其后房遗爱、薛万彻、齐王祐等为逆，虽复懿亲，皆从国法。元忠功不逮君集，身又非国戚，与李多祚等谋反，男入逆徒，是宜赤族污宫。但有朋党饰辞营救，以惑圣听，陛下仁恩，欲掩其过。臣所以犯龙鳞、忤圣意者，正以事关宗社耳。”上颇然之。元忠坐系大理，贬渠州司马。....甲辰，又贬元忠务川尉。) The year
94:(later known as Wu Zetian). He was a student at the imperial university in his youth, and was said to be unrestrained in his behavior, and did not receive a commission as an official for a long time. During that time, he also learned various military strategies from Jiang Rong (
610:) on 9 October. When Zong and Ji insisted on Wei's execution, however, Emperor Zhongzong stopped further investigation. While on the way to Wuchuan, however, when Wei reached Fuling (where he had once served as magistrate), he died, and was said to be in his 70s at death.
593:
accuse Wei of being complicit in Li
Chongjun's rebellion as well and request his execution. Emperor Zhongzong initially only had Wei retire and return to his mansion, but then had him demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Qu Prefecture (渠州, roughly modern
556:, born of a concubine), Wei opposed it, pointing out that no woman had ever become the heir to an emperor, and also pointed out that there would be no appropriate title for her husband Wu Chongxun (武崇訓, Wu Sansi's son). In anger, Li Guo'er commented rather irreverently:
281:
In 690, Empress
Dowager Wu had Emperor Ruizong yield the throne to her, and she took the throne as "emperor," establishing a new Zhou dynasty and interrupting Tang. She recalled Wei Yuanzhong from exile, to again serve as a censor. In 692, however, he, along with the
386:
incursions, Wei would often be put in command of armies to defend against them. It was said that he was careful as a commander and did not have great gains, but also did not have great losses. He was also known for not being apprehensive of Wu Zetian's powerful lover
617:
the Prince of Linzi, the son of Li Dan the Prince of Xiang (the former
Emperor Ruizong) overthrew Empress Wei and Li Guo'er and restored Emperor Ruizong to the throne. Emperor Ruizong had Wei's titles restored and had him reburied near Emperor Zhongzong's tomb.
323:
in charge of interrogating Wei. Wei refused to admit to treason, and Hou reacted by having him dragged on the ground feet-first. Wei sarcastically stated, "I am so unlucky that it is like having fallen from a donkey with my feet stuck to the
459:
In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup, and Zhang Yizhi and Zhang
Changzong were killed. Emperor Zhongzong was restored to the throne, and he immediately recalled Wei Yuanzhong and made him the minister of military supplies (衛尉卿,
410:), Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were angry at him. At that time, Wu Zetian happened to be somewhat ill, and the Zhangs were fearful that if she died, Wei would kill them, and therefore falsely accused Wei and Gao Jian (
633:
The traditional historical sources were unanimous in asserting that Wei
Yuanzhong died on the way to exile, implying, but not establishing to a certainty, that he died the same year he was exiled. According to vol.208 of
579:) was forced to participate, and at the end of the rebellion, Wei Sheng was also killed. Wei Yuanzhong commented to others, "The prime evil is dead, and even if I were to be cooked in a
659:
Wei
Yuanzhong was said to be "in his 70s" when he died in 707 – and based on the traditional Chinese age nomenclature, could thus be anywhere from 69 to 78 at the time of his death.
135:
Later during Emperor Gaozong's reign, Wei became an imperial censor. On one occasion, Emperor Gaozong asked him, "Which past rulers do the people think I am like?" Wei responded, "
755:
560:
Wei Yuanzhong is simply a carpenter from east of the mountain , and he has black feet. What does he know about the affairs of state? If the son of that Wu woman could become
613:
After Emperor Zhongzong's death in 710—a death traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by Empress Wei and Li Guo'er—a coup led by Princess Taiping and
447:), while Gao and Zhang Shuo were reduced to commoner rank and exiled as well. Before Wei departed, he said to Wu Zetian, "I am old now, and now I am going to
750:
760:
602:). Zong and Ji continued their accusations, however, and Emperor Zhongzong then demoted Wei further to be the sheriff of Wuchuan County (務川, in modern
223:), counterattacked and set the grassland on fire. Li Jingye's forces collapsed; he fled and was killed in flight. For his contributions, Wei was made
391:, and on one occasion, when Zhang Yizhi's servant attacked others, he whipped the servant to death, causing much fear in other people's minds for him.
237:), and then the magistrate of Luoyang County. In 689, when a number of officials were accused by Empress Dowager Wu's secret police official
217:). After defeating Li Jingyou, Li Xiaoyi then engaged Li Jingye, but was initially defeated, but under suggestion from Wei and Liu Zhirou (
585:, what would be the harm? I only lament that the Crown Prince has fallen." When these words were reported, Li Guo'er had the chancellors
668:
Lady Yang's name is not recorded in history, and therefore it is unclear which character of the name "Zhenzai" conflicted with her name.
573:, also Wu Sansi's lover, before he was defeated and killed in flight. During Li Chongjun's rebellion, Wei Yuanzhong's son Wei Sheng (
795:
175:. In 684, when Emperor Zhongzong displayed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with his younger brother
745:
790:
729:
725:
721:
717:
713:
709:
705:
341:
to cut off my flesh for stew. They want to kill me in order to advance in government; it has nothing to do with me."
267:
region. It was said that when they were about to be executed, Empress Dowager Wu sent the official Wang Yinke (
283:
59:
197:) against Li Jingye. Wei Yuanzhong served as the army auditor. When Li Xiaoyi reached LInhuai (臨淮, in modern
780:
693:
191:), claiming as his goal Emperor Zhongzong's restoration, and Empress Dowager Wu sent the general Li Xiaoyi (
785:
681:
770:
179:
the Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong), but thereafter wielded power even more securely. Later that year,
524:, who had become powerful as a trusted advisor for Emperor Zhongzong and the lover of his powerful wife
525:
160:
63:
614:
421:
238:
765:
176:
120:
attacks, and Emperor Gaozong was concerned about them. Wei Yuanzhong went to the eastern capital
87:
75:
183:
the Duke of Ying rebelled against Empress Dowager Wu at Yang Prefecture (揚州, roughly modern
247:) in his flight, a number of them were executed, and several, including Wei, Zhang Chujin (
424:
to corroborate their accusations, but Zhang Shuo, having been persuaded by his colleagues
394:
By 703, because Wei's unwillingness to yield to the wishes of Zhang Yizhi and his brother
8:
775:
570:
148:
603:
144:
136:
140:
132:) and permitted him to meet the emperor periodically with officials of higher ranks.
688:
676:
561:
417:
398:, also Wu Zetian's lover, including his punishment of their brother Zhang Changyi (
319:
of treason. They were arrested and interrogated by torture, with Lai's subordinate
48:
395:
168:
24:
154:
700:
383:
125:
117:
739:
581:
549:
379:
198:
82:. He was originally named Wei Zhenzai, but later changed his name to observe
29:
167:(as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands of Empress Wu, as
164:
83:
51:
20:
553:
388:
316:
294:
254:
128:, but gave him an office at the more important legislative bureau (中書省,
586:
544:
444:
435:
425:
320:
290:
286:
180:
91:
55:
590:
521:
440:
330:
184:
101:
79:
159:
Emperor Gaozong died in December 683 and was succeeded by his son
607:
599:
448:
334:
325:
264:
263:), were spared of death at the execution field but exiled to the
188:
121:
105:
474:) designation. He was soon made the minister of defense (兵部尚書,
595:
172:
638:, the order to exile him to Wuchuan County was issued on the
202:
155:
During Emperor Zhongzong's and Emperor Ruizong's first reigns
543:), whom Emperor Zhongzong trusted and whose daughter was a
454:
354:), the deputy head of the legislative bureau (now renamed
404:) and refusal to promote another brother, Zhang Changqi (
552:
asked to become crown princess (to displace her brother
516:), the head of the legislative bureau (now again named
506:) and a post considered one for a chancellor, and then
315:), were falsely accused by the secret police official
378:. Throughout the next few years, whenever there were
756:Tang dynasty generals at war against the Göktürks
111:
737:
416:), a favorite official of Wu Zetian's daughter
241:of protecting Li Jingye's brother Li Jingzhen (
574:
538:
532:
511:
497:
487:
469:
429:
411:
405:
399:
369:
359:
349:
310:
304:
298:
268:
258:
248:
242:
228:
218:
212:
206:
192:
95:
655:
653:
642:day of the 9th month of the 1st year of the
502:), the head of the examination bureau (門下省,
78:, probably in the 630s. His family was from
751:Chancellors under Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
564:, why cannot a daughter of a Son of Heaven?
276:
74:Wei Yuanzhong was born during the reign of
62:during the reigns of Wu Zetian and her son
761:Tang dynasty generals at war against Tibet
647:ends on 27 Jan 708 in the Julian calendar.
650:
621:
455:During Emperor Zhongzong's second reign
738:
548:Wei's favorite daughter Li Guo'er the
233:), a judge at the supreme court (司刑寺,
531:In 706, a sheriff named Yuan Chuke (
492:). Later in the year, he was made
13:
297:, and other officials Cui Xuanli (
14:
807:
466:Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi
796:Tang dynasty generals from Henan
366:Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi
364:), and gave him the designation
116:Around 678, there were repeated
205:), his subordinate Lei Renzhi (
662:
627:
539:
488:
478:) with the greater chancellor
470:
430:
406:
400:
249:
219:
112:During Emperor Gaozong's reign
100:) from Zhouzhi (盩厔, in modern
47:(齊貞公), was an official of the
1:
439:Gaoyao County (高要, in modern
86:for Lady Yang, the mother of
69:
39:(魏元忠) (630s - late 707?), né
58:'s Zhou dynasty, serving as
7:
746:Chancellors under Wu Zetian
484:Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin
374:), making him a chancellor
344:In 699, Wu Zetian made Wei
10:
812:
464:) and chancellor with the
18:
791:Politicians from Shangqiu
575:
533:
512:
498:
412:
370:
360:
350:
311:
305:
299:
269:
259:
243:
229:
213:
207:
193:
96:
277:During Wu Zetian's reign
16:Tang government official
76:Emperor Taizong of Tang
566:
558:
781:Tang dynasty regents
622:Notes and references
257:, and Yuan Wanqing (
786:8th-century regents
149:Emperor Jing of Han
771:7th-century births
604:Tongren Prefecture
569:concubine Consort
309:), and Li Sizhen (
428:, Zhang Tinggui (
141:King Kang of Zhou
64:Emperor Zhongzong
803:
689:New Book of Tang
677:Old Book of Tang
669:
666:
660:
657:
648:
631:
578:
577:
571:Shangguan Wan'er
542:
541:
536:
535:
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514:
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418:Princess Taiping
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98:
43:(魏真宰), formally
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810:
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804:
802:
801:
800:
736:
735:
672:
667:
663:
658:
651:
632:
628:
624:
482:designation of
476:Bingbu Shangshu
457:
396:Zhang Changzong
279:
169:empress dowager
157:
114:
90:'s second wife
88:Emperor Gaozong
72:
45:Duke Zhen of Qi
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
809:
799:
798:
793:
788:
783:
778:
773:
768:
766:Chinese judges
763:
758:
753:
748:
734:
733:
701:Zizhi Tongjian
697:
685:
671:
670:
661:
649:
636:Zizhi Tongjian
625:
623:
620:
518:Zhongshu Sheng
456:
453:
346:Fengge Shilang
278:
275:
156:
153:
130:Zhongshu Sheng
126:Palace Library
113:
110:
71:
68:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
808:
797:
794:
792:
789:
787:
784:
782:
779:
777:
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764:
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731:
727:
723:
719:
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707:
703:
702:
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686:
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678:
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654:
645:
641:
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630:
626:
619:
616:
611:
609:
605:
601:
597:
592:
588:
584:
583:
572:
565:
563:
562:Son of Heaven
557:
555:
551:
550:Princess Anle
546:
529:
527:
523:
519:
509:
508:Zhongshu Ling
505:
495:
485:
481:
477:
467:
463:
452:
450:
446:
442:
437:
427:
423:
419:
397:
392:
390:
385:
381:
380:Eastern Tujue
377:
367:
357:
347:
342:
338:
336:
332:
327:
322:
318:
296:
292:
288:
285:
274:
266:
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236:
226:
204:
200:
190:
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182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
152:
150:
146:
143:, as well as
142:
138:
133:
131:
127:
123:
119:
109:
107:
103:
93:
89:
85:
81:
77:
67:
65:
61:
57:
53:
50:
46:
42:
38:
37:Wei Yuanzhong
32:
31:
26:
22:
699:
687:
675:
664:
643:
639:
635:
629:
612:
580:
567:
559:
530:
517:
507:
504:Menxia Sheng
503:
493:
483:
479:
475:
465:
461:
458:
393:
375:
365:
355:
345:
343:
339:
303:), Lu Xian (
280:
234:
225:Sixing Zheng
224:
165:Crown Prince
158:
134:
129:
115:
84:naming taboo
73:
52:Tang dynasty
44:
40:
36:
35:
28:
21:Chinese name
554:Li Chongjun
526:Empress Wei
462:Weiwei Qing
389:Zhang Yizhi
317:Lai Junchen
295:Pei Xingben
284:chancellors
255:Guo Zhengyi
145:Emperor Wen
41:Wei Zhenzai
25:family name
776:707 deaths
740:Categories
587:Zong Chuke
422:Zhang Shuo
137:King Cheng
92:Empress Wu
70:Background
60:chancellor
644:Jing'long
615:Li Longji
545:concubine
445:Guangdong
436:Liu Zhiji
426:Song Jing
321:Hou Sizhi
291:Di Renjie
287:Ren Zhigu
239:Zhou Xing
235:Sixing Si
181:Li Jingye
56:Wu Zetian
704:, vols.
640:jia'chen
591:Ji Chuna
522:Wu Sansi
480:de facto
471:同中書門下平章事
441:Zhaoqing
376:de facto
371:同鳳閣鸞臺平章事
331:Mianyang
185:Yangzhou
80:Songzhou
19:In this
694:vol.122
608:Guizhou
600:Sichuan
494:Shizong
489:同中書門下三品
449:Lingnan
434:), and
335:Sichuan
326:stirrup
265:Lingnan
189:Jiangsu
122:Luoyang
106:Shaanxi
49:Chinese
682:vol.92
596:Dazhou
356:Fengge
293:, and
199:Suzhou
177:Li Dan
173:regent
161:Li Zhe
23:, the
384:Tufan
203:Anhui
118:Tufan
102:Xi'an
589:and
582:ding
382:and
351:鳳閣侍郎
171:and
163:the
147:and
139:and
54:and
730:208
726:207
722:206
718:205
714:204
710:203
706:202
540:鄭普思
534:袁楚客
513:中書令
431:張廷珪
407:張昌期
401:張昌儀
361:鳳閣)
337:).
312:李嗣真
300:崔宣禮
270:王隱客
260:元萬頃
253:),
250:張楚金
244:李敬真
230:司刑正
220:劉知柔
214:李敬猷
208:雷仁智
194:李孝逸
108:).
30:Wei
27:is
742::
728:,
724:,
720:,
716:,
712:,
708:,
692:,
680:,
652:^
606:,
598:,
576:魏升
499:侍中
443:,
413:高戩
333:,
306:盧獻
289:,
201:,
187:,
104:,
97:江融
66:.
732:.
696:.
684:.
510:(
496:(
486:(
468:(
368:(
358:(
348:(
227:(
33:.
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