Xiao Ye
Encyclopedia
Xiao Ye courtesy name Qizhi (啟之), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuānzong
and (briefly) Emperor Xuānzong's son Emperor Yizong
.
— which in turn traced its ancestry to the great Han Dynasty
prime minister Xiao He
, whose ancestry was purportedly from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period
state Song
(and thus from the imperial house of Shang Dynasty
, as well as a line of officials of Han, Jin Dynasty (265-420)
, Liu Song, and Southern Qi
(whose imperial house was distantly related to the Liang imperial house). Xiao Ye's eighth-generation ancestry was the brief-reigning Liang emperor Xiao Yuanming
, a son of Xiao Yi (蕭懿), an older brother to Liang's founder Emperor Wu of Liang
. For several generations prior to him, Xiao Ye's male-line ancestors served as officials of Tang Dynasty
, including Xiao Ye's grandfather Xiao Zhi (蕭直), who served as an imperial attendant, and his father Xiao Ge (蕭革), who served as a prefectural prefect. Xiao Ye had at least one older brother, Xiao Jie (蕭嶰), and one younger brother, Xiao Xian (蕭峴).
It is known that Xiao Ye passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class, but it is not known when that occurred. He successively served as an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史); an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi); and the prefect of Heng Prefecture (near modern Hengyang
, Hunan
).
-860
) of Emperor Xuānzong
, Xiao Ye was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to again serve as imperial scholar; he then successively served as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); and then the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang), serving also as the director of taxation. As of 856
, Xiao Ye was serving as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) as well as the director of finances, when Emperor Xuānzong was set to make him chancellor, even readying the imperial scholars to draft an edict to that effect. However, after he delivered that direction to the imperial scholars, the eunuchs who delivered the order, Wang Guichang (王歸長) and Ma Gongru (馬公儒), asked him whether Xiao should remain as director of taxation as well — causing Emperor Xuānzong to suspect Wang and Ma of associating with Xiao. Emperor Xuānzong therefore commissioned Cui Shenyou
as chancellor instead. This merely delayed Xiao's commission, however, as in 857
, Xiao was nevertheless made chancellor as well, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), and also remained the director of finances briefly, although he was relieved of that responsibility late in 857. He would remain chancellor for the rest of Emperor Xuānzong's reign.
and was succeeded by his son Emperor Yizong
. Late that year, Xiao Ye was removed from his chancellor position and made the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou
, Hubei
), continuing to carry the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title. He was later transferred to Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
), but was said to be powerless in stopping Nanzhao incursions. In 864
, he was transferred to Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
, Shaanxi
). He later served as the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), and was said to be undistinguished in his service there, before dying. HIs death year is not known.
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 reigns of 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...
and (briefly) 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...
.
Background and early career
It is not known when Xiao Ye was born. His ancestry came from the imperial house of Liang DynastyLiang 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...
— which in turn traced its ancestry to the great Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
prime minister Xiao He
Xiao He
Xiao He was a Chinese statesman who lived during the early Han Dynasty. He served Liu Bang during the insurrection against the Qin Dynasty, and fought on Liu's side in the Chu–Han contention against Xiang Yu. After the founding of the Han Dynasty, Xiao He became chancellor and held office until...
, whose ancestry was purportedly from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
state Song
Song (state)
Sòng was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period . Its capital was Shangqiu . In 701 BC, a political marriage between Lady Yong of Song and Duke Zhuang of Zheng empowered Song to manipulate the management of Zheng.- Origin :After King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang,...
(and thus from the imperial house of Shang Dynasty
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty or Yin Dynasty was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as "China proper" in the Yellow River valley...
, as well as a line of officials of Han, Jin Dynasty (265-420)
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
, Liu Song, and Southern Qi
Southern Qi
The Southern Qi Dynasty was the second of the Southern dynasties in China, followed by the Liang Dynasty. During its 23-year history, the dynasty was largely filled with instability, as after the death of the capable Emperor Gao and Emperor Wu, Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Zhaoye was assassinated...
(whose imperial house was distantly related to the Liang imperial house). Xiao Ye's eighth-generation ancestry was the brief-reigning Liang emperor Xiao Yuanming
Xiao Yuanming
Xiao Yuanming , courtesy name Jingtong , often known by his pre-ascension title of Marquess of Zhenyang , at times known by his post-removal title Duke of Jian'an , honored Emperor Min by Xiao Zhuang, was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty. He was the nephew of the founding emperor...
, a son of Xiao Yi (蕭懿), an older brother to Liang's founder Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang , personal name Xiao Yan , courtesy name Shuda , nickname Lian'er , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
. For several generations prior to him, Xiao Ye's male-line ancestors served as officials of 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...
, including Xiao Ye's grandfather Xiao Zhi (蕭直), who served as an imperial attendant, and his father Xiao Ge (蕭革), who served as a prefectural prefect. Xiao Ye had at least one older brother, Xiao Jie (蕭嶰), and one younger brother, Xiao Xian (蕭峴).
It is known that Xiao Ye 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, but it is not known when that occurred. He successively served as an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史); an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi); and the prefect of Heng Prefecture (near modern Hengyang
Hengyang
Hengyang is the second largest city of China's Hunan Province. It straddles the Xiang River about 160 km south of Changsha.-History:Its former name was Hengzhou . This was the capital of a prefecture in the Tang Dynasty's Jiangnan and West Jiangnan circuits...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
).
During Emperor Xuānzong's reign
In the middle of 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 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 Ye 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 again serve as imperial scholar; he then successively served as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); and then the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang), serving also as the director of taxation. As of 856
856
Year 856 was a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* December 22 – Another deadly earthquake strikes Damghan, Iran, killing 200,000 people.- Europe :...
, Xiao Ye was serving as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) as well as the director of finances, when Emperor Xuānzong was set to make him chancellor, even readying the imperial scholars to draft an edict to that effect. However, after he delivered that direction to the imperial scholars, the eunuchs who delivered the order, Wang Guichang (王歸長) and Ma Gongru (馬公儒), asked him whether Xiao should remain as director of taxation as well — causing Emperor Xuānzong to suspect Wang and Ma of associating with Xiao. Emperor Xuānzong therefore commissioned Cui Shenyou
Cui Shenyou
Cui Shenyou , courtesy name Jingzhi , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong.- Background and early career :It is not known when Cui Shenyou was born...
as chancellor instead. This merely delayed Xiao's commission, however, as in 857
857
Year 857 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Michael III of Byzantium, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora...
, Xiao was nevertheless made chancellor as well, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), and also remained the director of finances briefly, although he was relieved of that responsibility late in 857. He would remain chancellor for the rest of Emperor Xuānzong's reign.
After Emperor Xuānzong's reign
Emperor Xuānzong died in 859859
Year 859 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* January 15 – Battle of Saint-Quentin, Aisne: Humfrid defeats Louis the German....
and was succeeded by his 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...
. Late that year, Xiao Ye was removed from his chancellor position and made 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 Jingnan Circuit (荊南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou
Jingzhou
Jingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...
, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
), continuing to carry the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title. He was later transferred to Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
), but was said to be powerless in stopping Nanzhao incursions. In 864
864
Year 864 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* July 25 – Edict of Pistres: Charles the Bald orders defensive measures against the Vikings....
, he was transferred to Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). He later served as the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), and was said to be undistinguished in his service there, before dying. HIs death year is not known.