Sui and Tang · Tang Official and Transport Commissioner

Wei Jian 韋堅

Attested AD 734 - AD 746

Passages: 7
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Wei Jian was a Tang Official and Transport Commissioner.

Life and dates

Death

Cause Judicial murder
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 180

Attested activity

AD 742 to AD 746 天寶初
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 112
AD 734 to AD 746 李林甫用事
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 180
AD 741 to AD 746 開元二十九年後至天寶五載
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 53, passages 38, 49

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Fell and was ruined
AD 742 to AD 746 天寶初 · Disgrace
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 112

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 112
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 53, passage 38

Events and relationships

Expanded canal transport and created the Guangyun complex near Chang’an
Administrative · Official
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 53, passages 38, 49
Killed through framed charges
Legal · Victim
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 180

Assessments and attributes

Assessment leading-minister · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 180

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 180

References in the histories

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 127Volume 123 Biographies 73: Liu Yan, Di Wuqi, Ban Hong, Ban Shao, Li Xun · 1 passage

天寶初，事韋堅，堅敗貶官。 In the early Tianbao years he entered the service of Wei Jian, and when Wei was ruined and disgraced, Di Wuqi was demoted as well.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 53Volume 53 Treatises 43: Finance and Economics 3 · 5 passages

齊物入為鴻臚卿，以長安令韋堅代之，兼水陸運使。 Qiwu was promoted to minister of ceremonial; Wei Jian, magistrate of Chang'an, replaced him as combined water-and-land transport commissioner.

堅治漢、隋運渠，起關門，抵長安，通山東租賦。 Wei Jian restored the Han and Sui canals from Tong Pass to Chang'an to bring Shandong grain and taxes to the capital.

堅因使諸舟各揭其郡名，陳其土地所產寶貨諸奇物於栿上。 Each vessel flew its home commandery's name and displayed local treasures and curios on deck beams.

堅命舟人為吳、楚服，大笠、廣袖、芒屩以歌之。 Jian dressed the boatmen in Wu-Chu costume—wide hats, flowing sleeves, straw sandals—to perform the song.

自裴耀卿言漕事，進用者常兼轉運之職，而韋堅為最。 After Pei Yaoqing's reforms, favored officials usually held transport portfolios as well; Wei Jian stood at the peak.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 56Volume 56 Treatises 52: Punishment and Law · 1 passage

然而李林甫用事矣，自來俊臣誅後，至此始復起大獄，以誣陷所殺數十百人，如韋堅、李邕等皆一時名臣，天下冤之。 Yet Li Linfu was already in power. Since Lai Junchen's execution, major cases were raised again for the first time; dozens and hundreds were killed through framed charges. Men like Wei Jian and Li Yong were leading ministers of their day, and the realm deemed it unjust.