Li Wei (李瑋) | 24 Histories

Overview

Li Wei was an Imperial Son-in-law Commandant.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1039 寶元二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 248, passages 45, 50
AD 1057 嘉祐二年尚兗國公主
Strongly inferred · History of Song 115, passages 188, 195

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Empress Dowager Zhangyi (章懿太后)
nephew 兄子 · Through Elder brother of Empress Dowager Zhangyi
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 50
Spouse of Grand Princess of Zhou and Chen (周陳國大長公主)
consort 尚主 · Imperial princess marriage
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 50
Child of Elder brother of Empress Dowager Zhangyi
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Song 248, passage 50
Spouse of Princess of Yan State (兗國公主)
married 下嫁 · Marriage
Directly stated · History of Song 115, passage 195

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Imperial Son-in-law Commandant 駙馬都尉
Held
Strongly inferred · History of Song 115, passages 180, 195
Commandant-escort / imperial son-in-law 駙馬都尉
Restored
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 55
Sent from court
AD 1039 to AD 1063 後數年 · Exile
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 54
Banished
Demotion · At Chenzhou 陳州
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 350

Places and affiliations

Polity Song 宋 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 50
Polity Song 宋 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Song 115, passage 195
At Chenzhou 陳州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 350

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · Paraphrased
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 52

Events and relationships

Married
AD 1057 嘉祐二年 · Personal · Groom · With Princess of Yan State (兗國公主)
Directly stated · History of Song 115, passage 195
Memorialized against himself
Legal · Self accuser
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 52
Recalled to court
Career · Subject
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 55

Assessments and attributes

Assessment coarse and unrefined · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Song 248, passage 51

References in the histories

History of Song, Chapter 115Volume 115 Treatises 68: Rites 18 · 1 passage

Open chapter

時兗國公主下嫁李瑋，詔賜出降日，令夫家主婚者具合用雁、幣、玉、馬等物，陳於內東門外，以授內謁者，進入內侍掌事者受，唯馬不入。 At that time, when the Princess of Yan State married Li Wei, an edict fixed the day of her departure from the palace. The groom's family was ordered to prepare the prescribed wild geese, silks, jade, horses, and other gifts, display them outside the Inner Eastern Gate, and have its officiating host present them to the inner ushers for delivery to the chief palace attendant. Only the horses remained outside.

History of Song, Chapter 248Volume 248 Biographies 7: Princesses, Dachang Princess of the State of Qin, Six Daughters of Taizu, Two Daughters of Zhenzong, Thirteen Daughters of Renzong, Four Daughters of Yingzong, Ten Daughters of Shenzong, Four Daughters of Zhezong, Thirty Three Daughters of Huizong, Two Daughters of Xiaozong, Three Daughters of Guangzong, Daughter of Weihui Xianwang, Daughter of Ningzong, Daughter of Lizong · 6 passages

Open chapter

帝念章懿太后不及享天下養，故擇其兄子李瑋使尚主。 Because Empress Dowager Zhangyi had died before enjoying the honors of the throne, the emperor chose her nephew Li Wei as the princess's consort.

瑋樸陋，與主積不相能。 Li Wei was coarse and unrefined, and the couple grew increasingly incompatible.

主中夜扣皇城門入訴，瑋皇懼自劾。 She knocked on the imperial city gate in the middle of the night to plead her case at court; Li Wei, terrified, submitted a confession of his own faults.

後數年不復協，詔出瑋於外，主降封沂，屏居內廷。 After several more years of discord, an edict banished Li Wei from court, demoted her to Princess of Yi, and confined her within the inner palace.

久之，復召瑋，使為附馬都尉如初。 After a long interval Li Wei was recalled and restored to his post as imperial son-in-law.

以瑋奉主無狀，貶陳州。 Because Li Wei's conduct toward the princess was unseemly, he was banished to Chenzhou.