Zhao Renben
Encyclopedia
Zhao Renben was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
, Henan
) -- but from Hebei County (河北) -- the part of Shan Prefecture that was north of the Yellow River
(i.e., in modern Shanxi
). It is not known when he was born, other than that it was during Sui Dynasty
. It was said that he served as a low level official ever since Emperor Gong of Sui
(r. 617-618), and that during that time as well as the subsequent Tang Dynasty
, he often hand-copied imperial edicts and also made records of important events, and that people were impressed that he was keeping such good record.
's reign (626-649), Zhao served as an imperial auditor, and on one occasion, when there was an edict for an imperial auditor to travel a long distance on official business. Zhao's colleagues, wanting to avoid this labor, all found excuses, but Zhao volunteered for the trip, noting to his superior Ma Zhou
, "I eat because of the salary that the emperor gives me, and I need to be willing to die for the emperor. Even though the journey may be tiring and dangerous, I will not find an excuse." Upon his return, because he handled the matters appropriately, he was promoted to be a mid-low level official at the ministry of civil service.
, Zhao was serving as deputy minister of civil service as well as an advisor at the examination bureau of government (東臺, Dong Tai), when he was given the designation Tong Dong Xi Tai Sanpin (同東西臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. At that time, one of the other chancellors, Xu Jingzong
, was very powerful, and he often asked for inappropriate favors from the other chancellors. Zhao refused, and in 670, when Zhao had also been given a position on the staff of Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Li Hong
, he was made a secretary general of the executive bureau (中臺, Zhong Tai) and no longer a chancellor. He died while still serving in that role early in Emperor Gaozong's Xianheng era (670-674). His great-grandson Zhao Jing
later served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong
.
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 chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
.
Background
Zhao Renben was from Shan Prefecture (陝州, roughly modern SanmenxiaSanmenxia
-Administration:The prefecture-level city of Sanmenxia administers one district, two county-level cities and three counties.*Hubin District*Lingbao City*Yima City*Lushi County*Shan County*Mianchi County*Sanmenxia Development Zone...
, 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...
) -- but from Hebei County (河北) -- the part of Shan Prefecture that was north of 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...
(i.e., in modern 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....
). It is not known when he was born, other than that it was during Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
. It was said that he served as a low level official ever since Emperor Gong of Sui
Emperor Gong of Sui
Emperor Gong of Sui , personal name Yang You , was an emperor of the Chinese Sui Dynasty. Traditionally, he was considered the last emperor of the dynasty because he was the one who formally yielded the throne to the founding emperor to the succeeding Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu of Tang ,...
(r. 617-618), and that during that time as well as the subsequent 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...
, he often hand-copied imperial edicts and also made records of important events, and that people were impressed that he was keeping such good record.
During Emperor Taizong's reign
During the Emperor Taizong of TangEmperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
's reign (626-649), Zhao served as an imperial auditor, and on one occasion, when there was an edict for an imperial auditor to travel a long distance on official business. Zhao's colleagues, wanting to avoid this labor, all found excuses, but Zhao volunteered for the trip, noting to his superior Ma Zhou
Ma Zhou
Ma Zhou , courtesy name Binwang , was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. He was initially a commoner and a guest of the general Chang He , and after Chang submitted suggestions that Ma drafted, Emperor Taizong was impressed and retained Ma as an imperial official,...
, "I eat because of the salary that the emperor gives me, and I need to be willing to die for the emperor. Even though the journey may be tiring and dangerous, I will not find an excuse." Upon his return, because he handled the matters appropriately, he was promoted to be a mid-low level official at the ministry of civil service.
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
As of 667, during the reign of Emperor Taizong's son and successor Emperor GaozongEmperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
, Zhao was serving as deputy minister of civil service as well as an advisor at the examination bureau of government (東臺, Dong Tai), when he was given the designation Tong Dong Xi Tai Sanpin (同東西臺三品), making him a chancellor de facto. At that time, one of the other chancellors, Xu Jingzong
Xu Jingzong
Xu Jingzong , courtesy name Yanzu , formally Duke Gong of Gaoyang , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, was very powerful, and he often asked for inappropriate favors from the other chancellors. Zhao refused, and in 670, when Zhao had also been given a position on the staff of Emperor Gaozong's crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Li Hong
Li Hong
Li Hong , formally Emperor Xiaojing with the temple name of Yizong , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, he was made a secretary general of the executive bureau (中臺, Zhong Tai) and no longer a chancellor. He died while still serving in that role early in Emperor Gaozong's Xianheng era (670-674). His great-grandson Zhao Jing
Zhao Jing (Tang Dynasty)
Zhao Jing , courtesy name Tuiweng , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong.- Background :...
later served as a chancellor 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...
.