Han Huang
Han Huang (Chinese: 韓滉) (723 – March 17, 787[1]), courtesy name Taichong (太沖), formally Duke Zhongsu of Jin (晉忠肅公), was a Chinese economist and politician of the Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of the Emperor Dezong. He was praised by traditional historians for his frugality and personal integrity, but blamed for being overly harsh and cruel in his governance.
Background
Han Huang was born in 723, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from the Tang dynasty capital Chang'an and traced its ancestry to the royal house of the Warring States period state Han. It also claimed, as ancestors, a line of officials during the Han dynasty, Jin dynasty (266–420), Northern Wei, Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, Sui dynasty, and Tang.[2] His father Han Xiu was an important official early during the middle of Emperor Xuanzong's reign and briefly served as chancellor in 733.[3] He had at least five older brothers – Han Hao (韓浩), Han Qia (韓洽), Han Hong (韓洪), Han Huan (韓澣), and Han Hong (韓汯, note different character than his other brother) – and at least three younger brothers – among whom were Han Hun (韓渾) and Han Hui (韓洄).[2][4] Han Huang himself was said to be firm and studious in his youth. Because of his heritage, he was made an officer in the imperial guards early.[5]
In 755, the general
During Emperor Suzong's reign
Early in the Zhide era (756–758) of Emperor Suzong, Deng Jingshan (鄧景山) the military governor (Jiedushi) of Qingqi Circuit (青齊, headquartered in modern Weifang, Shandong) invited Han Huang to be his secretary and the military commander of the militia of Qingqi's capital Beihai Commandery. However, with the realm engulfed in warfare at the time, Han was not able to report to Qingqi, and he fled to Shannan Circuit (山南, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi). The surveyor of Shannan, Li Chengzhao (李承昭), had Han serve as his secretary. Subsequently, when Deng was moved to Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), he again asked for Han to serve on his staff, but before Han could report to Huainan, he was recalled to Chang'an, then again under Tang control, to serve as Dianzhong Shiyushi (殿中侍御史), a low-level imperial censor. However, Han Hong (韓汯) had offended the chancellor Wang Yu by failing to praise Wang with grand words when drafting the edict promoting Wang, and therefore, after Wang became chancellor in 758,[6] he retaliated by putting the Han brothers in positions with no power. After Wang was removed from his chancellor position in 759,[7] the popular opinion was that they had been unfairly treated, and Han Huang thereafter successively served as Sibu Yuanwailang (祠部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (禮部, Lǐbu); Kaogong Yuanwailang (考功員外郎), and then Lìbu Yuanwailang (吏部員外郎), both low-level officials at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu, note different tone than the ministry of rites). It was said that Han Huang was capable at evaluating officials and strong in character, and during the five years he served as Libu Yuanwailang, he paid great attention to detail and knew the records well.[3][5]
During Emperor Daizong's reign
During the Dali era (766–779) of Emperor Suzong's son
In fall 777, major rainstorms fell on the western parts of the empire. Many of the salt pools at Hezhong Municipality (河中, in modern
During Emperor Dezong's reign
In 779, Emperor Daizong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Dezong. Emperor Dezong had heard about Han Huang's harshness, and therefore stripped him of his financially related responsibilities and made him the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing), transferring his responsibilities to Liu Yan. He then sent Han out of Chang'an to serve as the prefect of Jin Prefecture (晉州, in modern Linfen, Shanxi).[11] Later in the year, he made Han the prefect of Su Prefecture (蘇州, in modern Suzhou, Jiangsu) and governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Zhejiang Circuit (浙江東西道).[12] In 781, he made Han the prefect of Run Prefecture (潤州, in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) and military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, i.e., same area as Zhejiang Circuit).[13] It was said that Han was an effective governor, and that he comforted the people and balanced the taxes.[5] However, it was also said that he was harsh, and that whenever local minor officials – often members of strong local clans – committed crimes, he would execute them without mercy, believing that by doing so he would be stamping out potential rebellions against his rule. For the same reason, eh also banned the slaughtering of cattle, under the rationale that beef and wine were often used at feasts that were preludes to rebellions. He also executed large numbers of people due to allegations of crimes without certainty of their guilt, leading to much terror in the region.[3]
In 783, due to
In 786, Han headed to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Dezong – and ultimately, he would remain there until his death, even though he retained the title of military governor of Zhenhai as well. As he went through Bian Prefecture, he also persuaded Liu Qia, whose name had been changed to Liu Xuanzuo (劉玄佐), to go to Chang'an to pay homage to the emperor as well, by means of making large payments to both Liu and his army. Once he arrived at Chang'an, he began to exercise actual chancellor authorities, and he attacked the official Yuan Xiu (元琇), whom the chancellor Cui Zao had put in charge of financial affairs for improprieties.[16] With Emperor Dezong particularly happy about the large shipments of supplies that Han was shipping from Zhenhai to Chang'an, he put Han again in charge of the financial affairs. In late 786, he tried to defuse the tension between the major general Li Sheng, with him he was friendly, and Zhang Yanshang, by holding feasts (along with Liu Xuanzuo) for them and asking them to be sworn brothers. He also supported Li Sheng's advocacy for military action against Tufan.[17]
Meanwhile, it was said that Han was so trusted by Emperor Dezong that he had the greatest authority among chancellors. He was also described to be so harsh that he would even batter minor officials to death within the office of the chancellors. Fellow chancellor Liu Hun, whom he had recommended, sternly spoke to him about this, and thereafter, it was said that Han was embarrassed and curbed his ways slightly. He died in spring 787 and was buried with great honors.[17]
Notes and references
- ^ "中央研究院網站". www.sinica.edu.tw.
- ^ a b New Book of Tang, vol. 73."漢川草廬-二十四史-新唐書-卷七十三‧表第十三". Archived from the original on 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2009-04-08."新唐書-宰相世系三(韓氏)". Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
- ^ a b c d e f New Book of Tang, vol. 126 Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Another younger brother's name is apparently not in Unicode and therefore unavailable from online sources.
- ^ a b c d e Old Book of Tang, vol. 129.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 220.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 221.
- ^ As Yu was executed in 770, this incident must have occurred before then. See Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 224.
- ^ Old Book of Tang, vol. 123 Archived 2013-01-12 at archive.today.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 224.
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 225.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 226.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 227.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 229.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 231.
- ^ Han's biography in the Old Book of Tang and the account in the Zizhi Tongjian appear to largely suggest that his criticism of Yuan was proper, although Han's biography in the New Book of Tang explicitly stated that his accusations against Yuan were unjustified. Compare Old Book of Tang, vol. 129 and Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 232 with New Book of Tang, vol. 126.
- ^ a b Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 232.
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 129.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 126.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 224, 225, 226, 227, 229, 230, 231, 232.