Sui and Tang · Royal Family Member

Princess Taiping 太平公主

Tàipíng Gōngzhǔ

Attested AD 705 - AD 713

Passages: 9
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Princess Taiping was a Royal Family Member.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 705 to AD 710 中宗時
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 45, passage 136
AD 713 太平公主誅
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 32
AD 712 to AD 713 附太平公主
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 25

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (唐玄宗)
full sister 元妹 · Full siblings
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 121
Child of Emperor Ruizong (睿宗)
sister 妹
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 121, passage 121

Key source chapters

Places and affiliations

Tang 唐
Relation Served
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 45, passage 136

Events and relationships

Issued slanted seal appointments
Political · Power holder
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 45, passage 136
Relation Patron of · Person Cui Li (崔涖)
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 45, passage 142
Relation Patron of · Person Xue Zhao (薛昭)
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 45, passage 142

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 45, passage 136

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

New Book of Tang, Chapter 45Volume 45 Treatises 40: Selecting and Appointing Officials 2 · 2 passages

中宗時，韋後及太平、安樂公主等用事，於側門降墨敕斜封授官，號「斜封官」，凡數千員。 Under Zhongzong, Empress Wei and the Princesses Taiping and Anle ruled through side-gate edicts with slanted seals, creating thousands of "slanted-seal" appointees.

未幾，璟、元之等罷，殿中侍御史崔涖、太子中允薛昭希太平公主意，上言：「罷斜封官，人失其所，而怨積於下，必有非常之變。」 Soon Song and Yao were dismissed; Cui Li and Xue Zhao, courting Princess Taiping, warned: "Abolishing slanted-seal posts leaves men displaced, resentment builds below, and disaster will follow."

New Book of Tang, Chapter 121Volume 121 Biographies 46: Liu, Zhong, Cui, and the Two Kings · 7 passages

已而湜等附太平公主，有逆計。 Soon Shi and his circle aligned with Princess Taiping and plotted rebellion.

幽求與右羽林將軍張暐定計，使暐說玄宗曰：「湜等皆太平黨與，日夜陰計，若不早圖，且產大害，太上不得高枕矣。 Youqiu and Zhang Wei of the Right Imperial Insignia Army laid a plan whereby Wei urged Xuanzong: "Shi and his allies are Princess Taiping's faction, scheming night and day; unless you strike first, grave harm will follow and your father will never sleep in peace.

明年，太平公主誅，即日召復舊官，知軍國事，還封戶，賜錦衣一襲。 The following year, after Princess Taiping was killed, he was recalled the same day to his old post, entrusted with military and civil affairs, had his fief restored, and received a brocade robe.

由荊州長史入奏計，因言：「太平公主逆節有萌，陛下往以宮府討有罪，臣、子勢須謀與力，今據大位，一下制書定矣。」 Coming in from Jingzhou to report revenues, he said, "Princess Taiping's treason is already showing. You once relied on the palace guard to punish criminals; as prince you needed allies. Now that you sit on the throne, a single edict can finish her."

琚怒曰：「在外惟聞太平公主，不聞有太子。 Ju snapped, "Out there people talk only of Princess Taiping, not of a crown prince.

今天下已定，太平專思立功，左右大臣多為其用，天子以元妹，能忍其過，臣竊為殿下寒心。」 Today the realm is settled, but Taiping still schemes for power, many ministers serve her, and the emperor indulges her as his sister—I fear for you."

太平之誅，張暐召還為大理卿，封鄧國公，實封戶三百，進京兆尹，入侍宴樂，出主京邑，時人以為寵，然自以幹治稱。 After Princess Taiping's death Zhang Wei returned as director of judicial review, was made Duke of Deng with three hundred households, became metropolitan governor of Jingzhao, feasted in the palace and ruled the capital—an honor, though he was known as an able administrator.