Wei Anshi
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Wei Anshi (Chinese: 韋安石; 651–714), posthumous name Duke Wenzhen of Xun (郇文貞公), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Wu Zhou dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian, her sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, and her grandson Emperor Shang.
Wei Anshi was born in 651, early in the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His family was from the Tang dynasty capital Chang'an, and his great-grandfather Wei Xiaokuan was a renowned general for Western Wei and Northern Zhou. His grandfather Wei Jin (韋津) was an official for Northern Zhou's successor and Tang's predecessor Sui dynasty and, after Sui's destruction in 619, served one of the competing claimants for the throne, Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, before eventually surrendering to and serving Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu. Wei Anshi's father Wei Wan (韋琬) and uncles Wei Kun (韋琨) and Wei Sui (韋璲) also served as officials during Tang.
It is not known when it occurred, but at some point Wei Anshi passed the imperial examination and served as the sheriff of Qianfeng County (乾封, in modern Tai'an, Shandong). The high-level official Su Liangsi favored his talent. In 689, by which time Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor Ruizong was emperor (albeit with actual powers in the hands of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian), as empress dowager and regent), Wei was serving as military recruiter at the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) and Su was serving as chancellor. Su told him, "You have great talent and should be used for great things. For you to work in local government is a waste." Su then recommended him to Empress Dowager Wu, and Empress Dowager Wu made him a reserve official at the ministry of rites and magistrate of Yongchang County (永昌, one of the two counties making up the eastern capital Luoyang, where Empress Dowager Wu and Emperor Ruizong were at the time), as well as military advisor to the prefect of Bing Prefecture (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). It was said that Empress Dowager Wu personally issued an edict, "I heard that when you are at your post, you are deliberate in your handling of important matters. I also heard that your good governance was greater than even capable officials, and that your kindness and understanding were renowned among the officials. Your capability greatly comforts me." He was soon made the prefect of Bing Prefecture, and he later served as prefect of De Prefecture (德州, roughly modern Dezhou, Shandong) and then Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, roughly modern Zhengzhou, Henan). He was known for his seriousness, and he rarely laughed. He was also said to be honest and strict, and wherever he was, the people and the subordinates respected and feared him.[1]
During Wu Zetian's reign
In 700, by which time Wu Zetian was carrying the title of "emperor" (after having had Emperor Ruizong yield the throne to her in 690, establishing a new Zhou dynasty and interrupting Tang), Wei Anshi was recalled to then-capital Luoyang to serve as Wenchang You Cheng (文昌右丞), one of the secretaries general at the executive bureau of government (文昌臺, Wenchang Tai), but was soon made Luantai Shilang (鸞臺侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau (鸞臺, Luantai) and given the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. (As part of the commission, a distant relative of Wei Anshi's, Wei Juyuan, was removed from his post as chancellor, as Wu Zetian did not like to have multiple members of the same clan serving as chancellors at the same time.) At that time, Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi and lovers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were powerful, and Wei Anshi several times publicly tried to rebuke them. There was an occasion when, at an imperial feast that Wei was attending, Zhang Yizhi brought in several merchants (who were considered of low status under traditional Chinese thinking of the time), led by one Song Bazi (宋霸子), and began gambling with them. Wei kneeled down to Wu Zetian and stated, "Merchants are low in status and should not be allowed to attend imperial gatherings." He then had the guards expel the merchants, and this shocked the people who attended, who were fearful for Wei. However, Wu Zetian, because Wei was being honest and forthright, praised him.
In 703, while Wu Zetian was at Chang'an, she made Wei the official in charge of Luoyang. In 704, she made Wei acting Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. In the fall of that year, he filed an indictment against Zhang Yizhi, and Wu Zetian ordered that he and another chancellor, Tang Xiujing, investigate the case, but before their investigation was complete, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup in 705, and Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were killed in the coup, mooting the investigation.
During Emperor Zhongzong's second reign
After Wu Zetian was overthrown, her son Li Xian the Crown Prince, also a former emperor, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). Soon after Emperor Zhongzong's restoration, Wei Anshi was made the minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu), but was no longer a chancellor. Two months later, however, as part of a government reorganization, he was made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), again making him chancellor de facto. A month later, he was made Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng) and a post also considered one for a chancellor. He was also created the Duke of Xun and made the secretary general of Emperor Zhongzong's brother Li Dan (the former Emperor Ruizong) the Prince of Xiang.
In spring 706, Wei was made the minister of the treasury (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu), no longer a chancellor. In 709, he was made Shizhong (侍中, the new title for the head of the examination bureau (now named Menxia Sheng (門下省)) and was therefore chancellor again.