Yu Zhining

Yu Zhining

Yu Zhining (588-665) was born in Gaoling, Yongzhou (now Gaoling District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province), Xianbei nationality, Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, great grandson of Yu Jin, Grand Master of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and second son of Yu xuandao.

At the beginning of the Sui Dynasty, he was granted the county magistrate of Guanshi. After Jinyang set up troops, he defected to the king of Qin, Li Shimin, and gave advice. He was ranked among the 18 bachelors in the palace of the king of Qin. After Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he worshipped the Minister of Zhongshu and granted the title of Duke of Liyang county. He served as a standing servant and Prince Zhan Shi, and taught the Crown Prince Li Chengqian to speak out and not be moved. Li Zhi, the king of Jin Dynasty, became the crown prince and granted the crown prince Zuo Shuzi. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne. He successively served as a servant, Zuo pushe, Prince Taizi, and tongzhongshu, and was granted the title of the Duke of Yan. He was the prime minister and supervised the revision of national history. In the sixth year of Yonghui (655), after Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi dethroned empress Wang and established Empress Wu Zetian as Empress Wu, Yu Zhining was dismissed because of his unclear position. Soon after that, Xu Jingzong was captured as the leader of Taiwei, sun Wuji was a party member. He moved to Rongzhou as a governor and then changed to Huazhou as a governor. In the first year of Linde (664), Yu Zhining asked to retire.

In the second year of Linde (665), Yu Zhining died of illness at the age of 78. He was awarded to the grand master, doctor Zuo Guanglu and governor of Youzhou. His posthumous title is fixed. He has 40 volumes of Yu Zhining Ji and 20 volumes of Jian Yuan.

Life of the characters

Early experience

Yu Zhining is the great grandson of Yu Jin, the Grand Master of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. At the end of Sui Dynasty, he once served as the head of Guanshi county. Later, because of the chaos in Shandong Province, he abandoned his official and returned to his hometown.

In 617 (the 13th year of Daye), Li Yuan, the Duke of Tang Dynasty, set up troops in Jinyang and invaded Guanzhong. Yu Zhining went to Changchun palace to meet Li Yuan, and was appointed as the record room of Yuan Shuai's mansion of Weibei Taoist army. Together with Yin Kaishan and others, he assisted Li Shimin. The next year, Li Yuan became emperor for emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty and granted Li Shimin the title of king of Qin.

In 621 (the fourth year of Wude), Li Shimin was appointed general Tiance and opened a literature museum. Yu Zhining was awarded the title of Zhonglang in Tiance Prefecture and a Bachelor of literature. In 626 (the ninth year of Wude), Li Shimin launched the change of Xuanwumen and was established as the crown prince. He soon inherited the throne as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

Number theory of government

In 629 (the third year of Zhenguan), Yu Zhining served as the Minister of Zhongshu. At that time, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty entertained his officials in the inner hall and asked, "where is Zhining?" A secretary replied: "imperial edicts summon officials above grade three, but Yu Zhining is only a grade four official." Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty appointed Yu Zhining to attend the banquet and conferred him the title of Sanqi Changshi, Prince Zuo Shuzi and Liyang county magistrate.

In 635 (the ninth year of Zhenguan), the imperial court wanted to set up the seven temples of the son of heaven. All the officials suggested that Li Luo, the king of Wu Zhao in Xiliang, should be the ancestor. However, Yu Zhining objected to Li's failure to create the foundation of the Tang Dynasty.

In 639 (the 13th year of Zhenguan), Emperor Taizong wanted to appoint meritorious officials as hereditary assassins. Yu Zhining remonstrated: "this will cause endless trouble, not a long-term solution." Emperor Taizong adopted his suggestion.

Admonish the prince

In 640 (the 14th year of Zhenguan), the Crown Prince Li Chengqian became more and more extravagant and indulgent. Yu Zhining wrote twenty volumes of remonstrance garden to remonstrate. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was very happy and gave him ten jin of gold and 300 pieces of silk. He was also appointed Prince Zhan.

In 641 (the 15th year of Zhenguan), Yu Zhining resigned as a dutiful official because of his mother's death. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty took him back and wrote to minister Cen Wenwen: "since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety can not be perfected. The prince needs instruction. Please put state affairs first." Yu Zhining had to be reinstated.

At that time, Li Chengqian ordered people to build a music studio during the busy farming season. He did not stop work for several months, but also indulged in singing and dancing. Yu Zhining remonstrated: "today's East Palace was built in the Sui Dynasty. At that time, people said it was luxurious. How could it be carved and decorated again. Craftsmen, officials and slaves were outlaws. They went in and out with pliers, chisels and other things. The palace guards could not cross examine them. Why is it not worrying that the guards are outside the palace and the slaves are in the palace? There are drums in the east palace for many times, and the musicians are often kept in the palace. The emperor told me a few years ago, can you not think about it? ".

Li Chengqian not only did not listen to advice, but also appointed many eunuchs to play together. Yu Zhining also admonished: "eunuchs are not sound in body and mind. They are good at flattering and flattering. They rely on their masters to be favored and domineering, and they create disasters by uploading and sending orders. Therefore, there are eunuchs' disasters in all dynasties, leading to the collapse of the country. Nowadays, his highness is surrounded by eunuchs, who despise high officials and bully courtiers, which leads to confusion of rank and dereliction of laws. Even passers-by find it strange. " The prince was even more unhappy.

Later, Li Chengqian invited Turks to have sex with each other, and he did not allow the servants to take turns. Yu Zhining once again remonstrated: "the servants of the East Palace all have parents and children. They are not allowed to rest. They are not generous. The Turks, such as dagozhi, have a human face and a beast's heart, so it's hard to educate them. It's very inappropriate to introduce them into the inner chamber. " Angry, Li Chengqian secretly sent an assassin to kill Yu Zhining. The assassin couldn't bear to attack, so Yu Zhining was spared.

In 643 (the 17th year of Zhenguan), Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty abolished Li Chengqian as a common man. All the officials of the east palace except Yu Zhining were convicted. Emperor Taizong also comforted him and said, "I heard that you have repeatedly admonished Cheng Qian, but he didn't listen to you, so he came to this point." Soon after, Emperor Taizong appointed Li Zhi, king of Jin Dynasty, as the crown prince, and Yu Zhining as the prince Zuo Shuzi.

As prime minister

In 649 (the 23rd year of Zhenguan), Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty passed away, and Prince Lizhi succeeded to the throne for Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty. Yu Zhining changed his post as a servant, and was granted the title of Guanglu doctor and the Duke of Yan. He became the prime minister and supervised the compilation of national history.

In 651 (the second year of Yonghui), Li Hongtai, a citizen of Luoyang, falsely accused sun Wuji, the chief of Taiwei, of treason. Emperor Gaozong of Tang ordered him to be beheaded immediately. Yu Zhining advised: "it's not suitable to be executed in spring, and it's not a heinous crime to frame a rebellion. Please wait for the autumnal equinox according to the law before sentencing." Gao Zong adopted it. Soon, Yu Zhining was appointed as the minister Zuo pushe, the Minister of tongzhongshu, and the prince Shaoshi.

In 655 (the sixth year of Yonghui), Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty dethroned queen Wang and established Empress Wu Zetian as empress. At that time, sun Wuji, the commander of Taiwei, and Chu suiliang, the right servant, strongly opposed it. Sikong and Li Ji secretly supported it, while Yu Zhining did not say a word.

In 656 (the first year of Xianqing), Yu Zhining was renamed Prince Taifu. In 659 (the fourth year of Xianqing), Yu Zhining asked to retire. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty dismissed Zuo pushe, his minister, and appointed him as the prince, the grand master, and the junior member of tongzhongshu.

He was demoted in his later years

Soon after, Xu Jingzong falsely accused sun Wuji, the leader of Zhining party attached to Taiwei, and demoted him to Rongzhou governor.

In 664 (the first year of Linde), he was appointed governor of Huazhou. He asked to retire when he was old and was approved.

In 665 (the second year of Linde), he died of illness and died at the age of 78. He was awarded to the governor of Youzhou with the posthumous title.

In 676 (the third year of Shangyuan Dynasty), Yu Zhining was restored to be doctor Zuo Guanglu and crown prince.

Please refer to the old book of Tang, volume 78, biography 28, new book of Tang, volume 104, biography 29 and Yu Zhining tablet

Character evaluation

Liu Xu: Yu Yangong counsels Chu Huang, Gao Shizhong explains Li Xing, and Zhang Beiping criticizes Yin, which is hard to say. Gou is not Jin Yuzhen's degree, and Song Yun's attitude is very strong. An Neng is willing to be the master of the people and offer his loyalty to them? It is appropriate to talk about daoyanlang, which will be prosperous in the end. In ancient times, it was said that the three emperors were able to rectify the loss of the LORD with righteousness.

Song Qi: Yu Zhining admonished the prince Chengqian. He was killed several times by thieves, but he was not afraid. He knew the wisdom of the emperor, even though he was worthy of the dagger. As for Wu Houli, he did not dare to say a word. He knew that the ignorance of Emperor Gaozong was useless even though he died. Ji Fu, the line into a number of remonstrations, but graceful and polite, are long thick gentleman!

Anecdotes and allusions

Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty once rewarded Yu Zhining, Zhang Xingcheng and Gao Jifu with farm property. Yu Zhining declined: "since the Northern Wei Dynasty, my family has lived in Guanzhong for generations, and my family has a lot of property. Zhang Xingcheng and Gao Jifu have just started to manage their land and hope to give them the land they have given me. " Gaozong was very appreciative, so he gave his land to Zhang Xingcheng and Gao Jifu.

Relative members

Yu Zhining was born in the Yu family of Henan Province and from the wanniuyu family of Xianbei. During the reform of Emperor Xiaowen, he changed the Han surname to Yu and moved to Luoyang, Henan Province. Then he took Henan as Yu's Prefecture, a large family of Dai Bei and a senior official of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The first ancestor passed down from Liyuan to Yujin, entered the pass and moved to Chang'an, ranking among the eight pillar states of the Western Wei Dynasty, becoming the top gate of the Guanlong group. Yu Jinsheng had nine sons, and the third was Yu Yi. He served as governor of Tongzhou and governor of Yuzhou in Sui Dynasty.

personal works

Yu Zhining has written 40 volumes of anthology and 20 volumes of Jianyuan, and participated in the compilation of Sui Shu, Lushu, Yili of Tang Dynasty, Zhengyi of Zhouyi, Zhengyi of Shangshu and Xingge of liuben.

Memorial of tombs

Yu Zhining's tomb is located in the east of Xinglong Village, Lingqian Town, Sanyuan County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. In 2003, it was designated as a key cultural relics protection unit at the provincial level.

Chinese PinYin : Yu Zhi Ning