Overview
Li Chuwen was an official and Statesman.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Death
Attested activity
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
Places and affiliations
- Polity Id liao · Relation Served
- At Xijin 析津
Works and attributed material
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment corrupt and sycophantic · Mode historian-judgment
- Assessment usurpation aide and traitor in contact with Song · Mode historian-judgment
References in the histories
No matching passages.
History of Liao, Chapter 102Volume 102 Biographies 32: Xiao Fengxian, Li Chuwen, Zhang Lin, Yelu Yudu · 16 passages
蕭奉先李處溫張琳耶律余睹
Xiao Fengxian, Li Chuwen, Zhang Lin, and Yelu Yudu
李處溫，析津人。
Li Chuwen was a native of Xijin.
儼卒，奉先薦處溫為相。
When Yan died, Fengxian recommended Chuwen for the chief ministership.
處溫因奉先有援已力，傾心阿附，以固權位，而貪汙尤甚，凡所接引，類多小人。
Because Fengxian had backed him with his own influence, Chuwen devoted himself to fawning on him to secure his position. His corruption was especially flagrant, and nearly everyone he advanced was a petty schemer.
處溫與族弟處能、子奭，外假怨軍聲援，結都統蕭幹謀立魏國王淳，召番、漢官屬詣魏王府勸進。
Chuwen, together with his clansman Chuneng and his son Shi, outwardly invoked the support of the Resentful Army and joined commander-in-chief Xiao Gan in a plot to install Prince Chun of Wei. They summoned Khitan and Han officials to the prince's mansion to urge him to take the throne.
以處溫守太尉，處能直樞密院，奭為少府少監，左企弓以下及親舊與其事者，賜官有差。
Chuwen was appointed acting grand marshal, Chuneng director of the privy council, and Shi vice director of the palace workshops. Zuo Qigong and those below him, along with kinsmen and allies who had taken part in the affair, received offices of varying rank.
會魏國王病，自知不起，密授處溫番漢馬步軍都元帥，意將屬以後事。
When the Prince of Wei fell ill and knew he would not recover, he secretly appointed Chuwen overall commander of Khitan and Han forces, intending to entrust him with what followed.
及病亟，蕭幹等矯詔南面宰執入議，獨處溫稱疾不對，陰聚勇士為備，紿雲奉密旨防他變。
As the illness grew critical, Xiao Gan and others forged an edict summoning the southern chief ministers to council. Chuwen alone pleaded illness and stayed away, while secretly gathering fighting men as a precaution, claiming he held a secret order to guard against any sudden move.
幹以後命，召處溫至，時方多難，未欲即誅，但追毀元帥劄子。
At the dowager's order, Gan summoned Chuwen. With troubles pressing on every side, he was not yet ready to have him killed, but only demanded that the commander-in-chief's commission be surrendered and destroyed.
尋有永清人傅遵說隨郭藥師入燕，被擒，具言處溫嘗遺易州富民趙履仁書達宋將童貫，欲挾蕭後納土歸宋。
Soon afterward a man of Yongqing named Fu Zunshuo, who had followed Guo Yaoshi into Yan, was captured and testified in full that Chuwen had once sent Zhao Lüren, a wealthy man of Yizhou, with a letter to the Song general Tong Guan, proposing to deliver the Xiao empress dowager and surrender the territory to Song.
後執處溫問之，處溫曰：「臣父子於宣宗有定策功，宜世蒙宥容，可使因讒獲罪？」
The empress dowager had Chuwen seized and questioned him. Chuwen said, "My father and I earned merit by settling the succession for Emperor Xuanzong. Our house ought to enjoy pardon from generation to generation. How can we be condemned on the strength of slander?"
處溫無以對，乃賜死，奭亦伏誅。
Chuwen had no reply and was ordered to take his own life. Shi was executed as well.
及中京陷，天祚幸雲中，留琳與李處溫佐魏國王淳守南京。
When Central Capital fell, Tianzuo moved to Yunzhong and left Lin and Li Chuwen behind to assist Prince Chun of Wei in holding Nanjing.
處溫父子召琳，欲立淳為帝，琳曰：「王雖帝胄，初無上命；
Chuwen and his son summoned Lin, intending to install Chun as emperor. Lin said, "Though the prince is of imperial blood, there has been no order from above;
處溫曰：「今日之事，天人所與，豈可易也！」
Chuwen replied, "What is happening today has the mandate of Heaven and the people. How can it be undone!"
處溫副魏王以僭號，結宋將以賣國，跡其奸佞，如出一軌。
Chuwen backed the Prince of Wei in seizing an unlawful title and conspired with Song generals to betray the realm. Tracing his treachery and sycophancy, the pattern is all of a piece.