Yuwen Shiji

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisYuwen.

Yuwen Shiji Vũ Văn sĩ cập
Born	Unknown Xi'an,Shaanxi
Died	11 November 642
Other names	Renren ( nhân người ) Duke Zong of Ying ( dĩnh túng công )
Occupation(s)	Monarch, politician
Spouses	Princess Nanyang Princess of Shouguang County
Children	Yuwen Chanshi Yuwen Chongsi Yuwen Xiuduoluo two other sons
Father	Yuwen Shu
Relatives	Yuwen Huaji(brother) Yuwen Zhiji(brother) Yuwen Huiji (brother) Consort Yuwen (sister)

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisYuwen.

Yuwen Shiji(died 11 November 642),courtesy nameRenren,formallyDuke Zong of Ying,was a Chinese statesman and politician of theSuiandTangdynasties, serving as achancellor,asShizhong( hầu trung ) (625–626) andZhongshu Ling( trung thư lệnh ) (626–627), during the reigns of EmperorsGaozuandTaizong of Tang.He was previously an imperial prince in the short-lived state of Xu ( hứa ), which was ruled by his brotherYuwen Huaji.

During Emperor Wen's reign

It is not known when Yuwen Shiji was born. He was a son of theSui dynastygeneral and officialYuwen Shu,and he had at least two older brothers,Yuwen Huajiand Yuwen Zhiji ( Vũ Văn trí cập ). During the reign of Sui's founderEmperor Wen,Yuwen Shiji was, on account of his father's contributions to Sui, created the Duke of Xincheng County ( tân thành huyện công ). On one occasion, Emperor Wen took Yuwen Shiji into his bedroom to converse with him privately, and he was impressed by Yuwen Shiji sufficiently that he gave his granddaughter the Princess Nanyang ( Nam Dương công chúa ) (the daughter of his sonYang GuangtheCrown Prince) to Yuwen Shiji in marriage. They had one son, Yuwen Chanshi ( Vũ Văn thiền sư ). Because he married a princess, he looked down at his brother Yuwen Zhiji, but appeared to have a cordial relationship with Yuwen Huaji.

During Emperor Yang's reign

In 604, Emperor Wen died and was succeeded by Yang Guang (asEmperor Yang). Yuwen Shiji's activities early in Emperor Yang's reign were unclear. He was friendly with the generalLi Yuanthe Duke of Tang, and was said to have discussed much about military matters with Li Yuan.

By the middle of Emperor Yang's reign, Yuwen Shiji was the director of imperial transportation. When Emperor Yang went from the eastern capitalLuoyangto Jiangdu ( Giang Đô, in modernYangzhou,Jiangsu) in 616, Yuwen Shiji followed him there. When Yuwen Shu, who also followed Emperor Yang to Jiangdu, fell ill and died later in the year, Yuwen Shiji briefly resigned to observe a mourning period for his father, but was soon returned to imperial service as the deputy minister of imperial supplies.

In spring 618, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji, along with a number of high-level officers in Emperor Yang's elite Xiaoguo Army ( kiêu quả ), were plotting a coup, but they, fearing that Yuwen Shiji, as Emperor Yang's son-in-law, would reveal the plot, did not inform Yuwen Shiji their plan. They soon launched the coup and killed Emperor Yang, declaring Emperor Yang's nephewYang Haothe Prince of Qin emperor.

Under Yuwen Huaji's command

Yuwen Huaji retained power asregent,and he made Yuwen ShijiNeishi Ling( nội sử lệnh ), the head of the legislative bureau of the government. Yuwen Huaji soon abandoned Jiangdu and led the Xiaoguo Army back north, toward Luoyang. His army battled those of another rebel leader,Li Mithe Duke of Wei, but was repeatedly defeated by Li Mi. During this time, Li Yuan, who has himself taken the throne atChang'an,establishing theTang dynastyas its Emperor Gaozu, sent secret messengers to Yuwen Shiji, then at Liyang ( lê dương, in modernHebi,Henan), and Yuwen Shiji secretly sent messengers to him as well, offering him golden bracelets—using bracelets ( hoàn,huan,ahomophoneto còn, meaning "return" ) to show that he intended to support Tang at some point. Later, Yuwen Huaji, unable to prevail over Li Mi, crossed theYellow Rivernorth to Wei ( Ngụy huyện, in modernHandan), Yuwen Shiji suggested that he head west and submit to Tang. Yuwen Huaji refused, and instead poisoned Yang Hao and declared himself emperor of a new state of Xu. He created Yuwen Shiji the Prince of Shu ( Thục Vương ).

Subsequently, when Yuwen Huaji was further forced to retreat to Liaocheng ( liêu thành, in modernLiaocheng,Shandong), Yuwen Shiji andFeng Deyirequested permission to leave Liaocheng to collect food supplies, and the supplies he obtained allowed Yuwen Huaji to withstand attacks from the Tang general Li Shentong ( Lý thần thông, Emperor Gaozu's cousin). Later, however, Yuwen Huaji was attacked by another rebel ruler,Dou Jiandethe Prince of Xia, and Dou captured Liaocheng in spring 619, executing Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji. (Initially, Dou offered to spare Yuwen Shiji's son Yuwen Chanshi, but the Princess Nanyang, reasoning that the Sui laws required that the nephews of treasonous individuals, allowed Yuwen Chanshi to be executed.)

At the time Liaocheng fell, Yuwen Shiji and Feng were at Jibei ( tế bắc, also in modern Liaocheng). Some of Yuwen Shiji's followers suggested that he gather his troops and attack Dou and try to take over the land north of the Yellow River. Yuwen Shiji refused, but instead headed to Chang'an with Feng and surrendered to Tang.

During Emperor Gaozu's reign

When Emperor Gaozu received Yuwen Shiji, he initially rebuked him, but Yuwen Shiji was able to point out that they had previously been friends and that he had offered to submit earlier. Further, Yuwen Shiji's sister was by this point Emperor Gaozu'sconcubine,and so Emperor Gaozu made Yuwen Shiji an official. He later served under Emperor Gaozu's sonLi Shiminthe Prince of Qin in defeatingLiu Wuzhouthe Dingyang Khan, and as a result was created his old title of Duke of Xincheng County, and was given the Princess of Shouguang County ( thọ quang huyện chúa, a relative of Emperor Gaozu, although the relationship is not clear) as his wife. Later, in 620 and 621, he followed Li Shimin in his campaign againstWang Shichongthe Emperor of Zheng, at the end of which Li Shimin defeated not only Wang, but Dou Jiande as well. After Dou's defeat, the Princess Nanyang, who had become aBuddhistnun, headed back from the Xia capital Ming Prefecture ( Minh Châu, in modern Handan) to Chang'an, and she happened to encounter Yuwen Shiji at Luoyang. Yuwen Shiji wanted her back as his wife, but she refused, stating to him, "My clan and yours have great enmity. The only reason why I am not killing you by my own hand is that you did not participate in the treasonous plot." She nevertheless ordered Yuwen Shiji to leave. Yuwen Shiji initially persisted, but she then stated, "You can see me again if you want death." Yuwen Shiji knew that she would not yield, and therefore left her.

For Yuwen Shiji's contributions in the campaign against Zheng and Xia, he was created the Duke of Ying. He was also made theZhongshu Shilang( trung thư thị lang ), the deputy head of the legislative bureau ( Trung Thư Tỉnh,Zhongshu Sheng). In 625, he was made actingShizhong( hầu trung ), the head of the examination bureau ( môn hạ tỉnh,Menxia Sheng), a post considered one for achancellor,as well as the head of the household at the palace of Emperor Gaozu'scrown princeLi Jiancheng.(By this point, there was an intense rivalry between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, although whether Yuwen Shiji participated in either of their factions is not known.)

During Emperor Taizong's reign

In summer 626, Li Shimin, fearful that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, laid an ambush for Li Jiancheng and another brother,Li Yuanjithe Prince of Qi, who had supported Li Jiancheng, atXuanwu Gateand killed them. He then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to first create him crown prince and then yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). He reorganized the government, and as part of the reorganization, Yuwen Shiji was made theZhongshu Ling( trung thư lệnh ), the head of the legislative bureau and clearly a chancellor.

In 627, while Yuwen Shiji retained the title ofZhongshu Ling,he was no longer actually chancellor, as he was made the commandant at Liang Prefecture ( Lương Châu, roughly modernWuwei, Gansu). It was said that he impressed the people of Liang Prefecture with his dignity and grace, and was able to fend off attacks from EasternTujue.Subsequently, he was recalled to Chang'an to serve asDianzhong Jian( trong điện giam ), the head of the palace affairs bureau ( Điện Trung Tỉnh ) – a high-level post, but one not bestowed with great powers. Later, on account of illness, he was made the prefect of Pu Prefecture ( Bồ Châu, roughly modernYuncheng,Shanxi), but was then recalled back to Chang'an to be a minor general. He was often invited to attend Emperor Taizong's feasts, but rarely spoke of what were happening at the feasts, not even to his wife. When Emperor Taizong reviewed the contributions of the officials to the founding of the Tang dynasty, he rewarded Yuwen Shiji by creating his son the Duke of Xincheng County. In or around 635, he was againDianzhong Jian.He died in 642 and was bestowed posthumous honors and buried near the tomb of Emperor Taizong's wifeEmpress Zhangsun,which later would become Emperor Taizong's tomb as well.

Yuwen Shiji was praised for his kindness and care for his younger brother or brothers, and his nephews. He was also generous to his relatives, particularly the ones who were poor. However, he was also said to live luxuriously and wastefully. There was also an incident in which Emperor Taizong showed his favor for a tree, and subsequently, Yuwen repeatedly praised the tree, drawing a rebuke from Emperor Taizong:

Wei Zhengoften told me to stay away from flatterers. I did not know whom he was referring to, and I thought it might be you. This proves it.

Yuwen Shiji apologized, but defended his position by stating that emperors did not often have people who would agree with them, and that he only wanted to make the emperor happy. Emperor Taizong did not punish him.

Initially, the officials in charge of consideringposthumous namesrecommended that he be given the posthumous name Gong ( cung, "alert" ). The officialLiu Ji,citing Yuwen's wastefulness, rejected "Gong," instead suggesting "Zong" ( túng, "unvirtuous" ), and that became Yuwen's posthumous name.

Relatives

Immediate family

• Father:Yuwen Shu( Vũ Văn thuật ), general ofNorthern Zhou,and laterSui
• Known spouses:
  • Princess Nanyang( Nam Dương công chúa ), daughter ofEmperor Yang of Sui,separated after thecoup d'étatof his brothers in 616
  • Princess of Shouguang County ( thọ quang huyện chúa ), cousin ofEmperor Gaozu of Tang
• Siblings:
  • Yuwen Huaji( Vũ Văn hóa cập ), older half-brother
  • Yuwen Zhiji( Vũ Văn trí cập ), older half-brother
  • Consort Yuwen (Vũ Văn chiêu nghi), azhaoyiofTang Gaozu's

Descendants

• Yuwen Shiji( Vũ Văn sĩ cập ), Duke Zong of Ying ( dĩnh túng công )
  • Yuwen Chanshi ( Vũ Văn thiền sư ), son with Princess Nanyang, executed byDou Jiandein 619
  • Yuwen Chongsi ( Vũ Văn sùng tự ),Zhongyu dafu( trung ngự đại phu ), Imperial Duke Ying ( dĩnh quốc công )
    • Yuwen Miao (Vũ Văn mạc)
      • Yuwen Ding (Vũ Văn đỉnh)
        • Yuwen Yang ( Vũ Văn dương )
        • Yuwen Zong ( Vũ Văn tổng )
  • Unnamed son, Duke of Fengcheng County ( phong thành huyện công )
  • Unnamed son, Duke of Xincheng County ( tân thành huyện công )
  • Yuwen Xiuduoluo ( Vũ Văn tu nhiều la ), consort ofLi Fu(Lý phúc), the Prince of Zhao, 13th son ofEmperor Taizong of Tang
    • Li Yin ( Lý dận ), Prince of Jianping ( kiến bình vương ), died young
    • Li Mu ( Lý mục ), Prince of Zhao ( Triệu vương ), adopted Li Sishun ( Lý tư thuận )as his heir
    • Li Ze ( Lý trạch ), Duke of Xindou Commandery ( tin đều quận công )
    • Li Gong ( Lý cung ), Duke of Handan ( Hàm Đan công )

Sources

• Old Book of Tang,vol. 63.[1]
• New Book of Tang,vol. 100.[2]
• Zizhi Tong gian,vols.181,183,185,187,188,189,191,192,194,196.