Xiao Fang
Encyclopedia
Xiao Fang (796
–875
), courtesy name Sidao (思道), formally the Marquess of Lanling (蘭陵侯), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
.
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong
. He came from a prominent clan, descended from the imperial line of Liang Dynasty
. Xiao Fang's great-grandfather Xiao Song
and grandfather Xiao Hua
both served as chancellors, as did his cousin Xiao Mian
. Xiao Fang's father Xiao Wu (蕭悟) served as a judge at the supreme court. Xiao Fang himself passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class in 827
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's great-great-grandson Emperor Wenzong
, and he entered governmental service thereafter.
-860
) of Emperor Wenzong's uncle Emperor Xuānzong
, Xiao Fang served successively as Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫, an imperial consultant) and imperial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong). In 858
, there was an occasion when Emperor Xuānzong was set to commission the imperial guard general Li Sui (李燧) as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Lingnan Circuit (嶺南, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong
), and had already sent an eunuch to Li Sui's mansion to bestow Li Sui with a staff signifying imperial authority. However, when Xiao received the edict commissioning Li Sui, he, per his authority as imperial attendant, sealed and returned the edict to Emperor Xuānzong, signifying his disagreement. (The reason for Xiao's disagreement is not stated in historical accounts.) Emperor Xuānzong, when he received the returned edict, was watching a play, but respecting Xiao's disagreement with the commission, he tried to send another eunuch to intercept the eunuch sent to Li Sui's mansion; he could not find one, so instead he sent an actor in the play that he was watching, and the actor was able to stop the eunuch right in front of Li Sui's mansion. Instead of Li Sui, Emperor Xuānzong ultimately commissioned another general, Li Chengxun (李承勳), and Li Chengxun was able to suppression the rebellions that were then affecting Lingnan.
However, on a later occasion, Xiao Fang was accused of having improperly returned an edict to Emperor Xuānzong and was set to be punished. The assistant imperial scholar Kong Wenyu (孔溫裕) argued that Xiao should be encouraged for his review of edicts, and should not be punished; Emperor Xuānzong agreed and did not punish Xiao. Subsequently, there was a time when the powerful chancellor Linghu Tao
recommended Li Zhuo (李涿) as the commandant of Annan (安南, i.e., modern northern Vietnam
). Li Zhuo was subsequently removed for harshness, and Linghu then wanted to commission Li Zhuo as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng
, Anhui
). Xiao, not fearing offending Linghu, submitted a petition opposing Li Zhuo's commission, and thus was much admired for his honesty. Later, Xiao was himself commissioned to be the military governor of Lingnan, and it was said that while there was much opportunity to collect valuable objects due to Lingnan's being a key post for commerce, he refused to do so. On one occasion, when a family member was ill, and the physician ordered that plum be used in the medication; Xiao's attendants took plums that were in the government storage for this purpose, but when Xiao found out, he ordered that the plums be returned.
-874
) of Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
, Xiao Fang was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as Zuo Sanqi Changshi (左散騎常侍), a high-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). As he considered Emperor Yizong overly devout in Buddhism
, in 862
, he submitted a petition urging Emperor Yizong to cut back on his display of devotion. Emperor Yizong praised him for his advice, but did not follow it. In 863
, he was put in charge of the imperial examinations for that year, and subsequently served successively as the deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Libu Shilang) and deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). He later served for four years as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
, Henan
) and the prefect of Yicheng's capital Hua Prefecture (滑州). As Hua Prefecture was situated on the Yellow River
, it often suffered from flooding. Xiao carried out a major project moving the course of the Yellow River to an old, more stable course. Emperor Yizong praised him for the project. He was then recalled to be the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and the director of finances. He then served some time as the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and in that capacity selected officials for commissions; he was said to be fair and capable in that capacity. At the end of the Xiantong era, he again became minister of defense and director of finances.
, Xiao Fang, who was then referred to as Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), was made Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau, and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. He was subsequently given the honorific title of Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies
) and created the Marquess of Lanling. He died in 875
.
796
Year 796 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 796 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* December – Coenwulf becomes king of...
–875
875
Year 875 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* December 29 – Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, is crowned emperor....
), courtesy name Sidao (思道), formally the Marquess of Lanling (蘭陵侯), was an official of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
.
Background
Xiao Fang was born in 796796
Year 796 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 796 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* December – Coenwulf becomes king of...
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
. He came from a prominent clan, descended from the imperial line of Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
. Xiao Fang's great-grandfather Xiao Song
Xiao Song
Xiao Song , formally the Duke of Xu , was an official and general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.- Background :...
and grandfather Xiao Hua
Xiao Hua
Xiao Hua , formally the Duke of Xu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong.- Background :It is not known when Xiao Hua was born...
both served as chancellors, as did his cousin Xiao Mian
Xiao Mian
Xiao Mian , courtesy name Siqian , formally the Duke of Xu , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Muzong...
. Xiao Fang's father Xiao Wu (蕭悟) served as a judge at the supreme court. Xiao Fang himself passed the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in the Jinshi class in 827
827
Year 827 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Beginning of the invasion of Sicily by the Aghlabid dynasty of Ifriqiya . The campaign in the island against Byzantium will take 51 years...
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's great-great-grandson Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
, and he entered governmental service thereafter.
During Emperor Xuānzong's reign
During the Dazhong era (847847
Year 847 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Bari is captured by the Saracens....
-860
860
Year 860 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ethelbert succeeds as king of Wessex.* The later Harald I of Norway becomes king.- Art :...
) of Emperor Wenzong's uncle Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
, Xiao Fang served successively as Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫, an imperial consultant) and imperial attendant (給事中, Geishizhong). In 858
858
Year 858 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails....
, there was an occasion when Emperor Xuānzong was set to commission the imperial guard general Li Sui (李燧) as the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Lingnan Circuit (嶺南, headquartered in modern Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
), and had already sent an eunuch to Li Sui's mansion to bestow Li Sui with a staff signifying imperial authority. However, when Xiao received the edict commissioning Li Sui, he, per his authority as imperial attendant, sealed and returned the edict to Emperor Xuānzong, signifying his disagreement. (The reason for Xiao's disagreement is not stated in historical accounts.) Emperor Xuānzong, when he received the returned edict, was watching a play, but respecting Xiao's disagreement with the commission, he tried to send another eunuch to intercept the eunuch sent to Li Sui's mansion; he could not find one, so instead he sent an actor in the play that he was watching, and the actor was able to stop the eunuch right in front of Li Sui's mansion. Instead of Li Sui, Emperor Xuānzong ultimately commissioned another general, Li Chengxun (李承勳), and Li Chengxun was able to suppression the rebellions that were then affecting Lingnan.
However, on a later occasion, Xiao Fang was accused of having improperly returned an edict to Emperor Xuānzong and was set to be punished. The assistant imperial scholar Kong Wenyu (孔溫裕) argued that Xiao should be encouraged for his review of edicts, and should not be punished; Emperor Xuānzong agreed and did not punish Xiao. Subsequently, there was a time when the powerful chancellor Linghu Tao
Linghu Tao
Linghu Tao , courtesy name Zizhi , formally the Duke of Zhao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the leading chancellor during the last nine years of the reign of Emperor Xuānzong, but was removed from his chancellor position after Emperor Xuānzong's death, subsequently...
recommended Li Zhuo (李涿) as the commandant of Annan (安南, i.e., modern northern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
). Li Zhuo was subsequently removed for harshness, and Linghu then wanted to commission Li Zhuo as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng
Xuancheng
Xuancheng is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Anhui province of Eastern China. It borders Wuhu to the northwest, Chizhou to the west, Huangshan to the southwest, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu to the southeast and northeast respectively....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
). Xiao, not fearing offending Linghu, submitted a petition opposing Li Zhuo's commission, and thus was much admired for his honesty. Later, Xiao was himself commissioned to be the military governor of Lingnan, and it was said that while there was much opportunity to collect valuable objects due to Lingnan's being a key post for commerce, he refused to do so. On one occasion, when a family member was ill, and the physician ordered that plum be used in the medication; Xiao's attendants took plums that were in the government storage for this purpose, but when Xiao found out, he ordered that the plums be returned.
During Emperor Yizong's reign
Early in the Xiantong era (860860
Year 860 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ethelbert succeeds as king of Wessex.* The later Harald I of Norway becomes king.- Art :...
-874
874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
) of Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
, Xiao Fang was recalled to the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to serve as Zuo Sanqi Changshi (左散騎常侍), a high-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng). As he considered Emperor Yizong overly devout in Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, in 862
862
Year 862 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ashot I becomes the first king of Armenia's Bagratuni dynasty.* Aed Finliath is crowned High King of Ireland....
, he submitted a petition urging Emperor Yizong to cut back on his display of devotion. Emperor Yizong praised him for his advice, but did not follow it. In 863
863
Year 863 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Constantine I succeeds as king of Scotland ....
, he was put in charge of the imperial examinations for that year, and subsequently served successively as the deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Libu Shilang) and deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang). He later served for four years as the military governor of Yicheng Circuit (義成, headquartered in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) and the prefect of Yicheng's capital Hua Prefecture (滑州). As Hua Prefecture was situated on the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
, it often suffered from flooding. Xiao carried out a major project moving the course of the Yellow River to an old, more stable course. Emperor Yizong praised him for the project. He was then recalled to be the minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and the director of finances. He then served some time as the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and in that capacity selected officials for commissions; he was said to be fair and capable in that capacity. At the end of the Xiantong era, he again became minister of defense and director of finances.
During Emperor Xizong's reign
In 874, by which time Emperor Yizong had died and been succeeded by his young son Emperor XizongEmperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
, Xiao Fang, who was then referred to as Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), was made Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau, and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. He was subsequently given the honorific title of Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies
Three Excellencies
The Three Ducal Ministers , also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in ancient China...
) and created the Marquess of Lanling. He died in 875
875
Year 875 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* December 29 – Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, is crowned emperor....
.