From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Xue Ji
Xue Ji
Xue Ji (薛稷) (649 – July 29, 713[1]), courtesy name Sitong ried his daughter Princess Xianyuan to Xue’s son Xue
(嗣通), was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, Boyang (薛伯陽).
briefly serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor
Ruizong. He was considered one of the four greatest cal-
ligraphers of early Tang, along with Yu Shinan, Ouyang
During Emperor Shang’s reign
Xun, and Chu Suiliang.[2] and Emperor Ruizong’s second
Background reign
In 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death tra-
Xue Ji was born in 649, the same year that Emperor Gao- ditional historians believed to be a poisoning carried out
zong’s reign began. He was a great-grandson of Xue Dao- by his powerful wife Empress Wei and her daughter Li
heng (薛道衡), an important official of the Tang Dy- Guo’er the Princess Anle, so that Empress Wei could be-
nasty’s preceding Sui Dynasty, and Xue Yuanchao – a come "emperor" like Wu Zetian, and Li Guo’er could be-
chancellor during Emperor Gaozong’s reign – was a come crown princess. Meanwhile, Emperor Zhongzong’s
cousin to his grandfather Xue Xingcheng (薛行成). Xue son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen, was
Xingcheng was a county magistrate, and Xue Ji’s father named emperor (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei re-
Xue Renwei (薛仁偉) was not recorded with any official tained power as empress dowager and regent. Less than
titles.[3] However, it is known that Xue Ji’s mother was a month later, Emperor Zhongzong’s sister Princess Taip-
a daughter of the famed chancellor Wei Zheng. Xue Ji ing and nephew Li Longji the Prince of Linzi (Li Dan’s son)
passed the imperial examinations at one point, although rose in rebellion and killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li
the date is not known. Late in the reign of Emperor Gao- Guo’er. Li Dan, himself a former emperor, was restored
zong’s wife Wu Zetian, he served as an imperial atten- to the throne (as Emperor Ruizong), displacing Emper-
dant, along with her lovers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang or Shang. One of the chancellors that Emperor Ruizong
Changzong and several officials with literary talents, in- commissioned was Zhong Shaojing, whose support to Li
cluding Ji Xu, Tian Guidao (田歸道), Li Jiongxiu, and Yuan Longji was instrumental during the coup. However,
Banqian (員半千). Zhong was not from a prominent clan and had been a low
level official previously, and this drew resentment from
During Emperor Zhongzong’s officials from established clans.
Xue, who had been made deputy minister of worship
second reign (太常少卿, Taichang Shaoqing) and had been in charge of
As of the second reign of Emperor Gaozong’s and Wu Zet- drafting imperial edicts, along with Su Ting, suggested to
ian’s son Emperor Zhongzong (705-710), Xue Ji was serv- Zhong that he demonstrate modesty by offering to re-
ing as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at sign—something often done when high level officials are
the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu commissioned and mostly done ceremonially—and when
Sheng). At that time, his second cousin Xue Yao (薛曜) Zhong did, Xue entered the palace and persuaded Emper-
was serving at the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia or Ruizong to accept the resignation. Subsequently, Xue
Sheng), and both of them were known for their literary was made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head
talent. Later in Emperor Zhongzong’s reign, he served of the legislative bureau, given the designation Canzhi
as Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫), an imperial advisor, and also Zhengshi (參知政事), making him a chancellor de facto.
served as an imperial scholar at Zhaowen Pavilion (昭 Soon, however, he repeatedly argued with another chan-
文館). As his grandfather Wei Zheng’s household held cellor, Cui Riyong -- with Xue accusing Cui of flattering
many important literary and artistic works, he had access Wu Sansi, and Cui accusing Xue of flattering Zhang Yizhi
to many calligraphic works of Yu Shinan and Chu Suil- and Zong Chuke. Emperor Ruizong, tired of their bicker-
iang, and he, following their style, was a well-known cal- ing, removed both of them from their chancellor posts,
ligrapher himself. He was also an accomplished painter. with Xue becoming Zuo Sanqi Changshi (左散騎常侍), a
At that time, Emperor Zhongzong’s brother Li Dan the senior advisor at the examination bureau.
Prince of Xiang was also a calligrapher, and he became
acquainted with Xue. As part of this relationship, he mar-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Xue Ji
During Emperor Xuanzong’s 守德) — and decided to act first. On July 29,[1] Emperor
Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the
reign imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia,
Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well.
Meanwhile, the government became divided between the
Dou and Princess Taiping committed suicide. Emperor
parties of Princess Taiping and Li Longji, to whom Em-
Ruizong yielded powers to Emperor Xuanzong and no
peror Ruizong passed the throne in 712 and who took the
longer actively participated in policy decisions thereaf-
throne as Emperor Xuanzong. After Emperor Xuanzong’s
ter. Xue was arrested and imprisoned at the jail of Wann-
enthronement, however, his struggles with Princess
ian County (萬年, one of the counties making up the cap-
Taiping continued, as she continued to influence politics
ital Chang’an) and ordered to commit suicide. His son
through Emperor Ruizong, who retained power as Tais-
Xue Boyang was spared on the basis that he was the em-
hang Huang (retired emperor).
peror’s brother-in-law, but was exiled, and he committed
By 713, it was said that Princess Taiping, Dou
suicide in exile.
Huaizhen, Cen Xi, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi, Xue; along with
other officials Li Jin (李晉) the Prince of Xinxing (a
grandson of Li Deliang (李德良), a cousin of Tang’s Notes and references
founder Emperor Gaozu), Li You (李猷), Jia Yingfu (賈膺 [1] ^ 兩千年中西曆轉換
福), Tang Jun (唐晙); the generals Chang Yuankai (常元 [2] chap11-03
楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin (李欽); and the monk Huifan [3] New Book of Tang, vol. 73, part 2.[1]
(惠範), were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. • Book of Tang, vol. 73.[2]
It was further said that they discussed, with the lady in • New Book of Tang, vol. 98.[3]
waiting Lady Yuan, poisoning the gastrodia elata that Em- • Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 206, 209, 210.
peror Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When
Persondata
this alleged plot was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by
Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong – who had already re- Name Xue Ji
ceived advice from Wang Ju (王琚), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Alternative names
Riyong to act first – did so. He convened a meeting with Short description Chinese chancellor
his brothers Li Fan (李範) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (李業)
Date of birth 649
the Prince of Xue, Guo Yuanzhen, along with a number
of his associates — the general Wang Maozhong (王毛 Place of birth
仲), the officials Jiang Jiao (姜皎) and Li Lingwen (李令 Date of death 713
問), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi (王守一), the eu- Place of death
nuch Gao Lishi, and the military officer Li Shoude (李
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xue_Ji&oldid=464361217"
Categories:
• Chancellors under Emperor Ruizong of Tang
• Chinese calligraphers
• Tang Dynasty painters
• 649 births
• 713 deaths
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