Wu Yuanheng (武元衡)

Overview

Wu Yuanheng was a statesman and Official.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

Assassinated · Authority Li Shidao (李師道)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 213, passage 75
Cause Assassination · Murdered by assassins planted by Wang Chengzong and Li Shidao
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 173, passage 23
AD 815 元和十年
Assassination
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 213, passage 84

Attested activity

AD 815 元和十年
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 213, passages 75, 84
AD 811 to AD 817 元和間
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 173, passages 6, 14, 23
AD 807 to AD 813 及武元衡為宰相
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 277
AD 808 及武元衡為宰相
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 250
AD 807 to AD 814 始，吉甫當國／及再輔政
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 146, passage 191
AD 805 to AD 814 憲宗即位
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 160, passages 135, 137

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AD 805 to AD 820 憲宗時
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 175, passage 22

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Chancellor 宰相
AD 807 to AD 813 及武元衡為宰相 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 277
Chancellor 宰相
AD 808 及武元衡為宰相 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 250
military commissioner of Jiannan 節度劍南
AD 807 to AD 814 始，吉甫當國／及再輔政 · Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 146, passage 191
chief minister 宰相
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 173, passages 14, 23; New Book of Tang 213, passage 74
Chief Minister 宰臣
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 137

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 250; Old Book of Tang 160, passage 137; New Book of Tang 173, passage 6
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 277
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 146, passage 191
AD 807 to AD 814 始，吉甫當國／及再輔政
At Jiannan 劍南 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 146, passage 191

Works and attributed material

Letter · Addressee · With Han Hong (韓弘)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 137

Events and relationships

Remonstrated
Political · Advocate · With Pei Huan (裴寰)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 173, passage 14
Relation Recommender of · Person Pei Du (裴度)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 173, passage 6
Relation Patron of · Person Lu Tan (盧坦)
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 153, passage 250

Assessments and attributes

Assessment had the emperor's ear · Mode named-source-report
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 213, passage 74

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 173, passage 6
Value historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 157, passage 277

References in the histories

Search passages

History

11 passages

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 157Volume 153 Biographies 103: Yao Nanzhong, Liu Nai, Yuan Gao, Duan Pingzhong, Xue Cuncheng, Lu Tan · 1 passage

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及武元衡為宰相，以坦為中丞，李元素為大夫，命坦分司東都，未幾歸臺。 When Wu Yuanheng became chancellor, Tan was made vice censor-in-chief under chief censor Li Yuansu. Tan was posted separately to the eastern capital and soon returned to the Censorate.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 160Volume 156 Biographies 106: Yu Di, Han Hong, Wang Zhixing · 1 passage

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致書於宰臣武元衡，恥在王鍔之下。 He wrote to chief minister Wu Yuanheng, protesting that he should not rank below Wang E.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 146Volume 146 Biographies 71: Two Li's · 1 passage

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與武元衡連位，未幾節度劍南，屢言元衡材，宜還為相。 He served in succession with Wu Yuanheng; before long Yuanheng was posted military commissioner of Jiannan; Jifu repeatedly said Yuanheng had the talent to return as chancellor.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 173Volume 173 Biographies 98: Pei Du · 3 passages

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武元衡帥西川，表掌節度府書記。 When Wu Yuanheng took command of Xichuan, he recommended Du to head the secretariat of his headquarters.

宰相武元衡婉辭諍，帝怒未置。 Chief minister Wu Yuanheng pleaded gently on Huan's behalf, but the emperor was furious and would not relent.

王承宗、李師道謀緩蔡兵，乃伏盜京師，刺用事大臣，已害宰相元衡，又擊度，刃三進，斷靴，刜背裂中單，又傷首，度冒氈，得不死。 Wang Chengzong and Li Shidao, hoping to ease pressure on Cai, planted assassins in the capital to kill leading ministers. They had already murdered Chief Minister Wu Yuanheng and now attacked Du. The blade struck three times, cutting through his boot, slashing his back and tearing his under-robe, and wounding his head. Du survived only because he was wearing a thick felt cloak.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 175Volume 175 Biographies 100: Dou, Liu, Two Zhangs, Yang, Xiong, Bai · 2 passages

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武元衡、李吉甫皆所厚善，故召拜吏部郎中。 Wu Yuanheng and Li Jifu both favored him, and he was recalled as Director in the Ministry of Personnel.

元衡輔政，薦群代為中丞。 Yuanheng, as chief minister, recommended Qun to replace him as censor-in-chief.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 213Volume 213 Biographies 138: Buffer Regions: the Black, Green, and Yellow Seas · 3 passages

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又有說師道曰：「上雖志討蔡，謀皆出宰相，而武元衡得君，願為袁盎事，後宰相必懼，請罷兵，是不用師，蔡圍解矣。」 Another adviser told Shidao: "The emperor means to crush Cai, but strategy rests with the chief ministers, and Wu Yuanheng has his ear. Do as Yuan Ang did—strike down the minister the emperor trusts; the court will panic and sue for peace, the armies will stand down, and Cai will be saved."

乃使人殺元衡，傷裴度。 He sent assassins who killed Wu Yuanheng and wounded Pei Du.

及窮治，嘉珍、察乃害武元衡者。 Under full investigation it emerged that Jiazhen and Cha were Yuanheng's assassins.