Li Wei (李蔚) | 24 Histories

Overview

Li Wei was an official and Statesman.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Maoxiu	茂休	Maoxiu

Life and dates

Death

AD 874 乾符初
died three days after reaching his Hedong post 至鎮三日，卒
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passages 205-206

Attested activity

AD 874 僖宗乾符初
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 203
AD 870 懿宗惑浮屠
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 181, passages 197-198

Key source chapters

New Book of Tang, Chapter 181 Volume 181 Biographies 106: Chen, Three Li's, Cao, Liu 5 passages
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 24 Volume 24 Book of Later Liang 24: Biographies 14: Li Ting, Lu Ceng, Sun Zhi, Zhang Jun, Zhang Yan, Du Xunhe, Luo Yin, Chou Yin, Duan Shen 1 passage

Origins and identity

Longxi descent 系本隴西
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 194

Career and standing

Investigating Censor 監察御史
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 196
metropolitan prefect of Jingzhao 京兆尹
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 200
military commissioner of Hedong with chief ministerial rank 河東節度使，同平章事
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 205
military commissioner of Xuanwu 宣武節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 201
Minister of Imperial Sacrifices 太常卿
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 200
Minister of Personnel and Chief Minister 吏部尚書同中書門下平章事
Appointed · From Source Date: Text: 僖宗乾符初 · Western Year: AD 874
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 203

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Tang chancellor 唐宰相
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 24, passage 114
Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs 尚書右丞
Promoted
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 196
defender of the Eastern Capital 東都留守
Transferred
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 204
military commissioner of Huainan 淮南節度使
Transferred
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 201

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Associated
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 181, passage 4
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passages 196, 203
At Longxi 隴西
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 194
At Eastern Capital 東都 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 204
At Hedong 河東 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 205
At Huainan 淮南 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 201

Show 2 more source-backed claims

At Taiyuan 太原 · Relation Formerly served at
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 205
At Xuanwu 宣武 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 201

Learning and skills

Earned
Credential distinguished document examination 書判拔萃
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 195
Earned
Credential Presented Scholar 進士
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 195

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · Paraphrased
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 198

Events and relationships

People petitioned to retain him one more year
Administrative · Incumbent
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 202
Remonstrated against Yizong Buddhist excess
Political · Remonstrator · With Yizong (懿宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passages 198-199

Assessments and attributes

Assessment benevolent-administration-remembered-in-Taiyuan · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 205
Assessment many-remonstrated-like-Wei-but-could-not-save-the-ruler · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 221

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 4

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 24Volume 24 Book of Later Liang 24: Biographies 14: Li Ting, Lu Ceng, Sun Zhi, Zhang Jun, Zhang Yan, Du Xunhe, Luo Yin, Chou Yin, Duan Shen · 1 passage

Open chapter

詩名於天下，尤長於詠史，然多所譏諷，以故不中第，大為唐宰相鄭畋、李蔚所知。 His verse was known everywhere; he excelled at historical poems but often mocked his betters, failed the examinations for it, and was nevertheless prized by chancellors Zheng Tian and Li Wei.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 181Volume 181 Biographies 106: Chen, Three Li's, Cao, Liu · 5 passages

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李蔚 Li Wei

李蔚，字茂休，系本隴西。 Li Wei, courtesy name Maoxiu, was of Longxi descent.

蔚上疏切諫，引狄仁傑、姚元崇、辛替否所言，譏病時弊。 Wei memorialized sharply, citing Di Renjie, Yao Chong, and Xin Tifen and attacking the abuses of the day.

河東亂，殺其帥崔季康，用邠寧李侃代之，士不附，以蔚嘗在太原府有惠政，為人所懷，拜河東節度使，同平章事。 Hedong mutinied and killed its commander Cui Jikang; Li Kan of Binning replaced him but the troops would not follow. Because Wei had once governed well in Taiyuan and was still beloved, he was made military commissioner of Hedong with chief ministerial rank.

方人主甘心篤向，如蔚言者甚多，皆不能救。 While the ruler devoted himself to the cult, many had remonstrated as Wei did, yet none could save him.