Zhao Zongru
Zhao Zongru (趙宗儒; 746 – October 18, 832[1][2]), courtesy name Bingwen (秉文), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty who served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong—and then served under five more descendants of Emperor Dezong's: his son Emperor Shunzong, his grandson Emperor Xianzong, his great-grandson Emperor Muzong, his great-great-grandsons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong.
Background
Zhao Zongru was born in 746, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from Deng Prefecture (鄧州, in modern Nanyang, Henan) and traced its ancestry to the Northern Wei general Zhao Tong (趙彤).[3] Other male-line ancestors of Zhao Zongru's served as officials under the Northern Wei, Sui dynasty, and Tang dynasty, including his father Zhao Hua (趙驊).[4]
Service under Emperor Dezong
Zhao Zongru passed the imperial examinations and was made a scribe at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). He served there for over a year, and, because his writing skills were considered excellent, was made the treasurer at Luhun County (陸渾, in modern Luoyang, Henan). Just several months later, he was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as You Shiyi (右拾遺), a low-level consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), as well as an imperial scholar.[3] On the same day that the received these commissions, his father Zhao Hua was promoted to be the deputy director of the Palace Library, and it was said that their commissions were named the same day because Emperor Xuanzong's great-grandson Emperor Dezong, who was then emperor, wanted to honor their household.[5] In 783, Zhao Zongru was made Tuntian Yuanwailang (屯田員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of public works (工部, Gongbu), and continued to serve as imperial scholar as well.[3] After his father Zhao Hua died later that year or shortly thereafter when fleeing Chang'an in light of Zhu Ci's rebellion (which also caused Emperor Dezong to flee),[5][6] Zhao Zongru left public service to observe a mourning period for his father. After the mourning period was over, he returned to public service and successively served as Simen Yuanwailang (司門員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu) and Sixun Yuanwailang (司勳員外廊), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu).[3]
In 790, Emperor Dezong put Zhao in charge of evaluating the officials' performance, and it was said that Zhao carried out this task diligently and fairly. Emperor Dezong approved of his actions and made him Kaogong Langzhong (考功郎中), a supervisorial official at the ministry of civil service affairs. He later left public service again to observe a mourning period for his mother, and after the mourning period was over was made Libu Langzhong (吏部郎中), also a supervisorial post at the ministry of civil service affairs. In 795, he was made an imperial attendant (給事中, Jishizhong).[3] In 796, he was made chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), along with Cui Sun. Virtually nothing is recorded in history about his acts as chancellor, however, and in 798 he was removed from the post and made a staff member of Emperor Dezong's crown prince Li Song.[7]
After Zhao's removal as chancellor, it was said that he was careful in his action and all he did was attend imperial meetings when called. Emperor Dezong approved of his carefulness, and in 804 made him the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang). When he met Zhao, he stated: "I know that you, Lord, have closed your doors for six years, and therefore decided to give you this office. Do you still remember how you were given commissions on the same day as my old subject ([i.e., Zhao Hua])?" Zhao was so touched that he wept prostrate.[3]
Service under Emperors Shunzong and Xianzong
In 805, Emperor Dezong died, and Li Song succeeded him (as Emperor Shunzong).[8] Emperor Shunzong put Zhao Zongru in charge of drafting the mourning text for Emperor Dezong.[3]
Early in the Yuanhe (806–820) era of Emperor Shunzong's son
Service under Emperors Muzong, Jingzong, and Wenzong
After Emperor Xianzong died in 820 and Li Heng succeeded him (as Emperor Muzong), Emperor Muzong, as he was still in the mourning period for Emperor Xianzong, requested that the officials from the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) be in charge presiding over the imperial examinations, rather than having him personally do so. Zhao Zongru opposed on the basis that this was against tradition and that there was no time to revise the examination method before the examinees would be forced to leave the capital. Emperor Muzong agreed. Thereafter, Zhao was again made an advisor to the crown prince, but also was acting as minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing).
In 825, when Emperor Muzong's son
Notes and references
- ^ Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter
- ^ Old Book of Tang, vol. 17, part 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Old Book of Tang, vol. 167.
- ^ 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 February 2, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2009."新唐書-宰相世系三(趙氏)". Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2008..
- ^ a b New Book of Tang, vol. 151.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 228.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 235.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 236.
- ^ a b However, as there was no crown prince at the time, the post of advisor to the crown prince was entirely honorary.