Wei Anshi

Wei Anshi

Wei Anshi (651-714), whose real name is Wei An, was born in jingzhaowannian (now Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province). The Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, the great grandson of Wei Xiaokuan, the great Sikong of the Northern Zhou Dynasty.

Wei Anshi was born in Jingzhao Wei's yungongfang. He became an official in the Ming Dynasty and became a county magistrate in Qianfeng. He successively served as Yongzhou secretary, member of the catering department wailang, Bingzhou Sima, Zhengzhou governor, Youcheng, Yangzhou governor, and Minister of the Ministry of punishment. After the period of Empress Wu, Zhongzong and Ruizong, he paid homage to the prime minister four times. He moved to tejin, Zuo pushe and the Duke of the state of Chu. During the period of Empress Wu, Zhang Yizhi's brother was humiliated several times and praised as "real Prime Minister" by Lu Yuanfang. Tang Ruizong reset, refused to attach Princess Taiping, to protect Prince Li Longji, demoted to Puzhou governor, demoted to Mianyang do not drive.

In the second year of Kaiyuan (714), he died and was demoted. During the reign of Tianbao, Kaifu Yitong was granted the title of Wenzhen.

Life of the characters

Early experience

In his early years, Wei Anshi took part in the imperial examination and was granted the title of Qianfeng County Lieutenant by the Ming Scripture. In the first year of Yongchang (689), Wei Anshi was promoted to Yongzhou department and joined the army. Later, he successively served as a member of the catering department, wailang, Yongchang County Magistrate, Bingzhou Sima, Bingzhou governor, Dezhou governor, Zhengzhou governor, etc. He is a serious, unsophisticated and honest man, and deeply respected by the officials and the people.

As prime minister

In the first year of Jiushi (700), Wei Anshi was appointed Youcheng of Wenchang. In October of that year, Wei Anshi paid homage to the prime minister and served as the Minister of luantai, Zhang Shi of Tongping, and the prince Zuo Shuzi. In the third year of Chang'an (703), Wei Anshi stayed at Shendu and was also in charge of the clerical affairs of the Ministry of officials and the Ministry of punishment. Later, together with Cui Shenqing, he served as the servant of the Crown Prince Li Xian. In the fourth year of Chang'an (704), Wei Anshi acted as the agent of Nayan, and later as the minister Zuo Cheng. At that time, Wu Zetian's male favorites Zhang Yizhi and Zhang changzong relied on their autocracy. However, Wei Anshi humiliated two of them several times, and even reported his crime on the table. Wu Zetian had no choice but to order Wei Anshi and Tang Xiujing, the official Secretary of Xia Dynasty, to be interrogated, but before the trial was over, she transferred him from the imperial court and released him as the governor of Yangzhou. in the first year of Shenlong (705), Li Xian was restored, known as emperor Zhongzong of Tang Dynasty. Wei Anshi was worshipped as Minister of the Ministry of punishment, and later changed to minister of the Ministry of officials. In May of that year, Wei Anshi took over the post of Zhongshu Ling from Zhang Cambodian, and was worshipped as Prime Minister for the second time. He also served as the chief historian of Prince Xiang's residence, and was granted the title of Duke Yun and 300 households of Shishi. in the second year of Shenlong (706), Wei Anshi dismissed the prime minister again and became the Minister of the Ministry of household affairs. In the third year of Jinglong (709), Wei Anshi was promoted to Prime Minister for the third time, serving as a servant, supervising the revision of national history. In the fourth year of Jinglong (710), Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty collapsed and ordered his younger brother Li Dan to assist in politics. Empress Wei summoned the prime minister, cronies and other 19 people to join the ban, and discussed how to tamper with the imperial edict and remove Li Dan's responsibility of assistant politics. Among the prime ministers, only Su GUI objected, while Wei Anshi and others did not say a word. Soon after, Li Longji launched the Tang Long coup, killing empress Wei and her party members, and supporting his father, Li Dan, to ascend the throne, known as Tang Ruizong in history. Wei Anshi was removed from the post of prime minister, granted the crown prince Shaobao, and was granted the title of Duke of the state of Ying.

Demotion after conviction

In the second year of Jingyun (711), Wei Anshi was promoted to Prime Minister for the fourth time. He successively served as the Minister of the central government and the Secretary of the central government. He also received the Kaifu instrument and the third division. At that time, Princess Taiping planned to encourage Ruizong to depose Prince Li Longji (that is, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty). When she wanted to get Wei Anshi to take part in her affairs, she ordered her son-in-law Tang Yao to invite Wei Anshi to the house for discussion, but Wei Anshi refused. Later, Emperor Ruizong called Wei Anshi secretly, saying that "the imperial court was in love with the East Palace" and asked him to pay attention to the east palace. Wei Anshi, however, said that what Ruizong said was "the words of national subjugation" and told him not to be confused by the slander of Princess Taiping, so he angered Princess Taiping. The princess ordered people to spread rumors, framed Wei Anshi, and wanted to put him in prison. Wei Anshi was lucky to be protected by Prime Minister Guo Yuanzhen, so he was spared. In August of that year, Wei Anshi was appointed as the minister Zuo pushe and the minister tongzhongshu Sanpin, and concurrently as the prince's guest. Although he was still the prime minister, he was deprived of real power. In October, Wei Anshi was removed from the post of prime minister, and jiabeitejin served as the eastern capital. Later, Wei Anshi's daughter died of illness. His wife, Xue Shi, suspected that her son-in-law's Witchcraft curse had caused her to be arrested and beaten to death. As a result, Wei Anshi was impeached by Yang Maoqian, the Prime Minister of the imperial censor, and demoted to be the governor of Puzhou. In Puzhou, because he refused to ask for help, he offended Jiang Jiao, the favorite Minister of Xuanzong.

Anger and death

In the second year of Kaiyuan (714), Jiang Hui, the younger brother of Jiang Jiao, was promoted to Zhongcheng, the censor. He ordered Guo Zhen, the censor, to impeach Wei Anshi, saying that he was the prime minister during the Wei empress rebellion, but he could not correct it. Wei Anshi was the governor of Qingzhou at that time, so he was demoted to Mianyang. Then, Jiang Hui went to the imperial court and said that Wei Anshi had been greedy of government property when he supervised the construction of the Dingling mausoleum. Xuanzong ordered the state officials to recover the stolen goods. Wei Anshi sighed, "it's just that I want to die." Angry, he soon died in Mianyang, aged 64. In the 17th year of Kaiyuan (729), Wei Anshi was posthumously presented as the governor of Puzhou. In the first year of Tianbao (742), Wei Anshi was once again awarded Wenzhen posthumous title for his son Wei Zhi.

Main achievements

During the reign of Empress Wu, Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, Wei Anshi was worshipped as Prime Minister four times. Because of his serious nature, he humiliated Zhang Yizhi's brother several times, and was praised as "real Prime Minister" by Lu Yuanfang. When he was in the power of Princess Taiping, he refused to be solicited by Princess Taiping, and tried his best to protect the crown prince of Tang Xuanzong, so that Tang Xuanzong finally ascended the throne smoothly.

Anecdotes and allusions

Great material and great use

In his early years, Wei Anshi served as a county captain and a soldier in Yongzhou, and was highly valued by Su Liangsi, the elder of Yongzhou. Su Liangsi worshiped the prime minister and said to Wei Anshi, "a great talent must be used in a great way. How can it be in vain in the prefecture and county?" He recommended Wei Anshi in front of Wu Zetian and transferred him to Shangshu Province as Lang Guan.

Prime Minister

Zhang Yizhi once introduced Shu Shang, song Bazi and others into the palace to attend the banquet set by Wu Zetian. Wei Anshi said: "businessmen have a low status and should not participate in court banquets." After that, he ordered the bodyguard to drive him out, and the whole room was disgraced. Lu Yuanfang, the servant of Fengge, sighed: "this is the real prime minister, not what we can match."

Uncle nephew discord

Wei Anshi is Wei Juyuan's family uncle. They are all descendants of Wei Xiaokuan and belong to Jingzhao Wei's yungongfang. Li Yong criticized Wei Juyuan in his refutation of Wei Juyuan's posthumous address, saying that Wei Juyuan's family is ugly and upright, and that he excluded his family. Because they took turns as prime ministers during the reign of Empress Wu and Emperor Zhongzong, they knew politics from different perspectives. When Wei Anshi worships the prime minister, Wei Juyuan must be dismissed; when Wei Juyuan worships the prime minister, Wei Anshi must also be dismissed, which leads to rumors of discord between uncle and nephew.

Character evaluation

Wu Zetian: when you hear that Qing is there, you have a heart for common affairs. Good governance depends on your ability to be an official, and benevolence and wisdom depend on the governor. So competent, I feel deeply relieved. Lu Yuanfang: the real prime minister is beyond our reach. Liu Xu: in the reign of the great emperor and filial piety and harmony, the government could not be ruled by itself. In the reign of the empress Zetian, there was no royal Diao. In the reign of empress Wei, Si Chen, there was a mistake. At that time, there are evil parties, and the chief executive insists on tolerance. If he is obedient, he will be ill named. If he is rebellious, he will worry about the harm. If he wants to survive, he will not be able to do so. Kuang Yuanzhong, Anshi, Juyuan, Zhizhong, Yanzhao and others are not pure. They know the existence of ignorance, and they are greedy for profit and honor. They have a beginning but no death, so they can't die! Song Qi: Wei and Wei both felt that they were all ready to fight. It is despicable that there are different conspiracies among the top ministers at the opportune moment. However, she refused to follow her example. I'm sorry for the so-called official in ancient times! Chao Buzhi: in the reign of emperor Ruizong, Anshi turned his back on the inner hall and expelled song's overlord. In the reign of emperor Ruizong, he refused Princess Taiping and made great contributions to protect the crown prince, but he could not believe slander. Both of them were braver than Meng Ben, and they were not allowed to die in the evil party. These two gongs (Wei Yuanzhong and Wei Anshi) were not responsible, but were separated from Juyuan and yanzhaojuan. What a paradox it is to say that one's actions are not pure and that one is greedy for profit and glory. Wang Fuzhi: Li Rizhi, Wei Yuanzhong, Tang Xiujing and Wei Anshi were Wu's family. They broke the authority of cruel officials, denounced the spirit of publicizing immortality, restrained the evil and made persistent efforts, cherished the ambition of rejuvenating and reviving, and made great achievements in criticizing. They all claimed to be great men, and they were also the people who were expected by the world. In his twilight years, he was down and out in the age of Wei Shi's lust and faintness. He was in charge of three things, namely, walking in and out of the night, and corpse. He was in need of feeding and was almost like my husband.

personal works

Three poems by Wei Anshi are included in the whole Tang poetry, namely, the word "Zhi" is used to serve Lin Wei Pavilion on the ninth day of Fenghe, the word "Xijie" is used to serve banquet, and the word "Feng" is used to serve banquet in Liang Wangzhai.

member of family

patriarchal clan

According to the records in the new book of Tang Dynasty, Wei Anshi was born in Jingzhao Wei's yungongfang, and is the descendant of Wei Xian and Wei Xuancheng, the two famous prime ministers in the Western Han Dynasty. Wei Xuancheng, the eighth grandson of Wei Xuancheng, was named Wei family. Wei Shuyu (Wei Xiaokuan), the grandson of Wei Mu VIII, became an official of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and was granted the title of Yun Guogong, so the house branch number was Yun Gongfang. Wei Jin, the fifth son, became a governor of Lingzhou after entering the Tang Dynasty. Wei Wan, the second son of Wei Jin, was the governor of Chengzhou. < I > table reference: < / I >

relatives

Wife: Xue. daughter: Wei Shi, married to Li Yuancheng, the director of Taichang.

Historical records

The old book of Tang, volume 92, biography 42; the new book of Tang, Volume 122, biography 47

Chinese PinYin : Wei An Shi