Fang Guan
Fang Guan (Chinese: 房琯; pinyin: Fáng Guǎn; Wade–Giles: Fang Kuan; 697 – September 15, 763[1]), courtesy name Cilü (次律), formally the Duke of Qinghe (清河公), was a Chinese politician during the Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong.
Background
Fang Guan was born in 697, during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong. His family was from the Tang dynasty eastern capital Luoyang. His father Fang Rong served as a chancellor during the subsequent reign of Emperor Ruizong's mother Wu Zetian, but was exiled and died in exile in 705 when Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup. Fang Guan himself was said to be studious and collected in his youth, and he was able to be an imperial university student on account of his father's position. However, he favored the life of a hermit, and he and one Lü Xiang (呂向) both became hermits in Mount Luhun (陸渾山, near Luoyang) and studied together, for more than a decade.
During Emperor Xuanzong's reign
In 725, during the reign of Emperor Ruizong's son
Counties, and was said to rule benevolently and reasonably.In 742, Fang was made Zhuke Yuanwailang (主客員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Libu), and in 744 was promoted to the higher post of Zhuke Langzhong (主客郎中). In 746, he was made Jishizhong (給事中), an imperial attendant, and was created the Baron of Zhangnan. At that time, Emperor Xuanzong was expanding Huaqing Palace (華清宮), known for
Later in 755, the military governor (
During Emperor Suzong's reign
Meanwhile, Li Heng, who did not follow Emperor Xuanzong, declared himself emperor at Lingwu, and when the news reached Emperor Xuanzong, Emperor Xuanzong recognized Emperor Suzong as emperor and took the title Taishang Huang (retired emperor) himself. He sent Fang and fellow chancellors Wei Jiansu and Cui Huan to Lingwu to official invest Emperor Suzong as emperor and gave them the imperial seal and the edict officially passing the throne. They encountered Emperor Suzong, who was then launching a counterattack, at Shunhua (順化, in modern Qingyang, Gansu), and they offered the seal and the edict to Emperor Suzong. Emperor Suzong declined, stating that with empire still in turmoil, it was not an appropriate time for him to officially take the throne, instead putting the seal and the edict aside and paying them daily respects, as they represented Emperor Xuanzong.
Emperor Suzong was impressed with Fang's fervor for the restoration of Tang authority and gave him the most responsibility, and he followed Fang's recommendations in not executing the generals Wang Sili (王思禮) and Lü Chongbi (呂崇賁), who were part of the Tang army defeated at
Despite the defeat, though, Fang was still spending most of his day discussing
In winter 757, after Tang forces recaptured Chang'an, he returned to Chang'an with Emperor Suzong, and was given the honorific title Jinzi Guanglu Daifu (金紫光祿大夫) and created the Duke of Qinghe. Meanwhile, with him not having any real authorities, his associates were creating public sentiment that he should be restored to power due to his abilities. Emperor Suzong, displeased, issued a sternly-worded edict rebuking Fang and sending him out of Chang'an to serve as the prefect of Bin Prefecture (邠州, roughly modern Xianyang, Shaanxi). It was said that, at the time, after all of the military action, Bin Prefecture was in a state of confusion and disrepair. Once Fang arrived there, he did what he could to comfort the people, repair the buildings, and put officials in their proper places. In 759, Emperor Suzong issued an edict praising him and recalling him to serve on the staff of the new crown prince Li Yu. In 760, he was made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu), but was soon sent out of the capital to serve as the prefect of Jin Prefecture (晉州, in modern Linfen, Shanxi) and then the prefect of Han Prefecture (漢州, in modern Deyang, Sichuan). While he was at Han Prefecture, he paid a large bride price to the official Li Rui (李銳) to get Li Rui to give his nephew Lady Lu to be the wife of Fang's oldest son Fang Cheng (房乘), who was blind in both eyes from birth. This use of bride price drew severe criticism against Fang Guan.
During Emperor Daizong's reign
In 762, Emperor Suzong died, and Li Yu became emperor (as Emperor Daizong). In summer 763, he recalled Fang Guan to serve as the minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu). While Fang was on the way back to Chang'an, though, he became ill. He died in fall 763, while still on the way, at Lang Prefecture (閬州, in modern Nanchong, Sichuan). He was given posthumous honors, but historical records did not record a posthumous name.
Christian identity
According to a local tradition in Guanghan (Hanchow, lit. 'Han Prefecture'), Fang Guan was an East Syriac Christian. The tradition says that he worshipped the One God alone.[5] At his daily worship, Fang used to kneel on a stone which later came to be known as the Duke Fang Stone.[6] According to local testimonies, his name was carved on the no-longer-extant Nestorian stele at Wangxiangtai (Wang Hsiang T'ai) Temple.[7] The earlier name for the temple was Jingfu Yuan (Ching Fu Yuan), as in Jingjiao (Ching Chiao, i.e., East Syriac Church in China).[8]
Notes and references
- ^ 兩千年中西曆轉換
- ^ Old Book of Tang, vol. 111 Archived 2008-04-19 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ New Book of Tang, vol. 139 Archived 2007-12-26 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ However, as there was no crown prince at that time, the post was entirely honorary.
- JSTOR 40702954.
- ^ Donnithorne 1933–1934, p. 211.
- ^ Donnithorne 1933–1934, p. 212.
- ^ Donnithorne 1933–1934, pp. 215–216.
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 111.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 139.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 215, 217, 218, 219, 220.