Zhao Guangyi (Southern Han)
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Zhao Guangyi (Chinese: 趙光裔; died 940[1][2]), courtesy name Huanye (煥業), was an official of the Chinese Southern Han dynasty, serving as chancellor for over two decades.
It is not known when Zhao Guangyi was born. His family was originally from Fengtian (奉天, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), but had later relocated to the Tang dynasty eastern capital Luoyang, although it is not clear whether he himself was born in Luoyang. His great-grandfather Zhao Zhi (趙植) was said to have served as the military governor (jiedushi) of Lingnan East Circuit (嶺南東道, headquartered in modern Guangzhou, Guangdong).[1][3] Zhao Guangyi's grandfather Zhao Cunyue (趙存約) was an assistant to Li Jiang, the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), when Li and a large number of his staff members, including Zhao Cunyue, were killed in a mutiny in 830.[1][4] Zhao Guangyi's father, Zhao Yin, was a prominent official who eventually became a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong.[5]
During Tang
Zhao Guangyi was said to be a hard studier in his youth. He passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 887;[1] his older brother Zhao Guangfeng had done so earlier, and his younger brother Zhao Guangyin would do so later.[5] During the middle of the Qianning era (894–898) of Emperor Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Zhaozong, Zhao Guangyi was made a Sixun Langzhong (司勳郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu), as well as a scholar at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館).[1] He was later made Shanbu Langzhong (膳部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Lǐbu, note different tone than the ministry of civil service affairs) and was in charge of drafting edicts. As Zhao Guangfeng was then at the more prestigious post of the chief imperial scholar and also drafting edicts, the brothers' elevation were considered an honor.[5] Zhao Guangyi remained at those posts after Tang's destruction in 907 and succession by Later Tang.[1]