Li Huaiyuan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Li Huaiyuan (Chinese: 李懷遠) (died 706), courtesy name Guangde (廣德), formally Duke Cheng of Zhao Commandery (趙郡成公), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty, serving twice as chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian and her son Emperor Zhongzong.
It is not known when Li Huaiyuan was born, but it is known that he was from Xing Prefecture (邢州, roughly modern Xingtai, Hebei). He lost his parents early in his life and was poor but was diligent in his studies and capable in literary matters. There was a clansman of his who had high status who wished to adopt him so that he could receive the benefit of that high status when seeking to advance in civil service, but Li Huaiyuan declined, believing doing so would be dishonorable. He eventually passed the imperial examination and entered civil service and was eventually promoted to be the deputy minister of ceremonies (司禮少卿, Sili Shaoqing).[1]