Li Deyu (李德裕) | 24 Histories

Overview

Li Deyu was an official and Writer.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 841 to AD 846 stele inscription composition
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 264
AD 827 to AD 835 太和中
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 98
AD 846 宣宗嗣位
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 184, passages 12-13
AD 846 宣宗立
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passages 117, 125, 127
AD 833 to AD 835 德裕之相
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 175, passage 136
AD 841 會昌初
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passages 95, 100; New Book of Tang 22, passage 112

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AD 841 to AD 846 會昌時
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 116
AD 820 to AD 835 李德裕
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 114, passage 73
AD 833 李德裕
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 445, passage 199
AD 833 to AD 849 李德裕平泉醒酒石
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 44
AD 821 to AD 846 李德裕謗牛僧孺 (Niu–Li factional strife)
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 16
AD 840 武宗初
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 144
AD 840 武宗即位
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passage 191
AD 840 to AD 846 武宗朝
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 245
AD 835 甘露之變
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 172, passage 110
AD 820 to AD 824 穆宗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passages 72, 75

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Grandfather of Li Deyu (李德裕之祖)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Sources vary in certainty · New Book of Tang 44, passage 207
Ancestor of Yan'gu (延古)
grandson 孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 44
Parent of Child of Li Deyu (李德裕之子)
child 子
Strongly inferred · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 44

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Confucian minister 儒臣
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 264
observation commissioner of Zhexi 浙西觀察使
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 75
chief minister holding power 當國
AD 827 to AD 835 太和中 · Held
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 98
Chancellor 宰相
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passage 112
chancellor 宰臣
Held
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 100
Chief Minister 宰相
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passage 191; New Book of Tang 184, passage 12

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Entered
AD 840 武宗初 · Returned to power
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 144
Left office
AD 846 宣宗立 · Dismissed from power
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 117
Demoted
AD 846 宣宗立 · Demotion
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 127

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 100; New Book of Tang 44, passage 191; New Book of Tang 56, passage 245; New Book of Tang 181, passages 98, 117, 144

Works and attributed material

Record of Sacred Merit inscription 紀聖功銘
Relation Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 118
Record of Sacred Merit stele inscription 紀聖功銘
Relation Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 264
Record of Sacred Merit 紀聖功銘
Relation Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passages 118, 237-240
Ten Thousand Years Tune 萬斯年曲
Relation Commissioner
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 22, passage 112
Record of Sacred Merit 紀聖功銘
Inscription · Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passages 241-264
Memorial · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passages 100-101

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Memorial · Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passages 200-201
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passages 205-213

Events and relationships

Abolished jinshi banquet customs
Administrative · Proposer
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passages 200-201
Carved stele inscription
Scholarly · Author
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 180, passage 264
Memorialized demotion
AD 841 to AD 846 會昌時 · Legal · Accuser · With Cui Yuanzao (崔元藻)
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 116
Returned to power
Political · Minister
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 144
Styled one of three talents
Political · Member · With Yuan Zhen (元稹)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 72
Used to execute Liu Zhen
Military judicial · Agent · With Liu Zhen (劉稹)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 56, passage 245

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Vilified
Political · Accuser · With Niu Sengru (牛僧孺)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 16
Relation Vilified · Person Niu Sengru (牛僧孺)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 16
Relation Patron of · Person Shen (紳)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 98

Assessments and attributes

Assessment blocked censors from reporting Xiang case findings to the emperor and relied on Shen's memorial to execute Xiang · Mode allegation Speaker Cui Yuanzao (崔元藻)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 124
Assessment partial-and-eccentric-argument · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 44, passage 214
Item Pingquan sobering stone 平泉醒酒石 · Relation Owned
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 44

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 3, passage 16; New Book of Tang 44, passage 191; New Book of Tang 56, passage 245; New Book of Tang 172, passage 110; New Book of Tang 181, passage 98

References in the histories

Search passages

History

28 passages

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 180Volume 176 Biographies 126: Li Zongmin, Yang Sifu, Yang Yuqing, Ma Zhi, Li Rangyi, Weipi, Zhou Chi, Cui Guicong, Zhengsu, Lu Shang · 3 passages

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李德裕因奏：「陳行泰、張絳皆令大將上奏，邀求節旄，所以必不可與。 Li Deyu then memorialized, "Both Chen Xingtai and Zhang Jiang had their generals petition the throne demanding commissions — for that reason they must on no account be granted.

仲武由是威加北狄，表請於薊北立《紀聖功銘》，敕李德裕為之文，其銘曰：太和之初，赤氣宵興； Zhongwu's prestige over the northern peoples was now supreme. He memorialized asking that a Record of Sacred Merit stele be erected north of Ji, and the court ordered Li Deyu to compose the inscription, which reads: In early Taihe crimson vapors rose at night;

儒臣篆美，刊石垂鴻。 a Confucian minister praised the deed in elegant script, carving stone to leave a lasting monument.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 3Volume 3 Book of Later Liang 3: Taizu Annals 3 · 1 passage

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故周子諒彈牛仙客，李德裕謗牛僧孺，皆以應圖讖為辭。 Hence Zhou Ziliang attacked Niu Senke and Li Deyu vilified Niu Sengru—each invoking the prophecy as proof.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 445Volume 445 Biographies 232: Wu Kedu, Zhu Yixin, Tu Keshou, An Weijun, Wen Ti, Jiang Chunlin · 1 passage

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窺竊神器之徒，姑置勿論，即功在社稷，如霍光、李德裕、張居正，亦以權寵太盛，傾覆相尋。 Those who stole the sacred vessel may be set aside; even those who served the altars of state, such as Huo Guang, Li Deyu, and Zhang Juzheng, because favor and power grew too great, downfall followed in turn.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 22Volume 22 Treatises 12: Rites and Music 12 · 1 passage

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會昌初，宰相李德裕命樂工制《萬斯年曲》以獻。 Early Huichang saw Li Deyu commission Ten Thousand Years for presentation.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 44Volume 44 Treatises 39: Selecting and Appointing Officials 1 · 5 passages

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武宗即位，宰相李德裕尤惡進士。 When Wuzong ascended the throne, Chief Minister Li Deyu especially despised Jinshi degree-holders.

至是，德裕奏：「國家設科取士，而附黨背公，自為門生。 At this point Li Deyu memorialized: "The state established examinations to select officials, yet candidates form factions, betray the public interest, and style themselves the examiner's personal disciples.

德裕嘗論公卿子弟艱于科舉，武宗曰：「向聞楊虞卿兄弟朋比貴勢，妨平進之路。 Li Deyu once argued that sons of high ministers struggled in the civil examinations. Wuzong replied: "I have heard that the Yang Yuqing brothers formed factions with the powerful and blocked the path of fair advancement.

德裕曰：「鄭肅、封敖子弟皆有才，不敢應舉。 Li Deyu said: "The sons of Zheng Su and Feng Ao are all talented, yet they dare not sit for the examinations.

德裕之論，偏異蓋如此。 Li Deyu's argument was partial and eccentric in roughly this fashion.

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

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武宗用李德裕誅劉稹等，大刑舉矣，而性嚴刻。 Wuzong, relying on Li Deyu, executed Liu Zhen and others; harsh punishments were fully applied, and his nature was stern and harsh.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 114Volume 114 Biographies 39: Cui Rong and Descendent Cong, Descendent Neng, Neng's Nephew: Shen You, Neng's Nephew an Qian, Neng's Son: Yan Ceng, Xu Yanbo, Su Weidao, Dou Lu Qin Wang · 1 passage

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宰相李宗閔以從裴度、李德裕所善，內不喜。 Chief Minister Li Zongmin disliked Cong inwardly because he was close to Pei Du and Li Deyu.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 172Volume 172 Biographies 97: Yu, Wang, Two Du's, Fan · 2 passages

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宰相李德裕建言：「河陽兵寡，以忠武為援，既以捍洛，則並制魏博。」 The chief minister Li Deyu argued: "Heyang's garrison is thin; Zhongwu should reinforce it—protect Luoyang and Weibo falls into our grip as well."

德裕以宰乘破竹勢不遂取澤州，以其子晏實守磁，為顧望計，帝有詔切責。 Zai had the momentum of a bamboo split wide open yet stalled before Zezhou while his son Yan Shi guarded Cizhou—a feint of hesitation—and the emperor sent down a stern rebuke.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 175Volume 175 Biographies 100: Dou, Liu, Two Zhangs, Yang, Xiong, Bai · 1 passage

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德裕之相，出為常州刺史。 When Deyu took the chancellorship, Yuqing was posted to Changzhou as prefect.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 181Volume 181 Biographies 106: Chen, Three Li's, Cao, Liu · 9 passages

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穆宗召為右拾遺、翰林學士，與李德裕、元稹同時，號「三俊」。 Muzong made him right remonstrance official and Hanlin academician; with Li Deyu and Yuan Zhen he was called one of the 'Three Talents.'

欲引牛僧孺，懼紳等在禁近沮解，乃授德裕浙西觀察使。 wishing to bring in Niu Sengru, he feared Shen and others near the throne would block him, and sent Deyu to Zhexi as observation commissioner.

太和中，李德裕當國，擢紳浙東觀察使。 During the Taihe reign, with Li Deyu in power, Shen was made observation commissioner of Zhedong.

德裕惡元藻持兩端，奏貶崖州司戶參軍。 Deyu despised Yuanzao's wavering and had him demoted to army adjutant of Yazhou.

宣宗立，德裕去位，紳已卒。 When Xuanzong succeeded, Deyu fell from power and Shen was already dead.

崔元藻銜德裕斥己，即翻其辭，因言：「御史覆獄還，皆對天子別白是非，德裕權軋天下，使不得對，具獄不付有司，但用紳奏而寘湘死。」 Cui Yuanzao, bitter at Deyu's demotion of him, reversed his story and said: "When censors return from reinvestigating cases they report findings directly to the emperor, but Deyu blocked this, withheld the full dossier from the courts, and relied solely on Shen's memorial to execute Xiang."

是時，德裕已失權，而宗閔故黨令狐、崔鉉、白敏中皆當路，因是逞憾，以利誘動元藻等，使三司結紳杖鉞作藩，虐殺良平，準神龍詔書，酷吏歿者官爵皆奪，子孫不得進宦，紳雖亡，請從《春秋》戮死者之比。 Deyu was already out of power, but Zongmin's allies Linghu, Cui Xuan, and Bai Minzhong controlled the government; they vented old grudges, bribed Yuanzao to change his story, and had the Three Offices find that Shen, as a frontier commissioner wielding the axe, had murdered the innocent; citing the Shenlong edict stripping dead cruel officials and barring their descendants, they demanded posthumous punishment of Shen under the Spring and Autumn precedent.

貶德裕等，擢汝納左拾遺，元藻武功令。 Deyu and others were demoted; Runa was made left remonstrance official and Yuanzao magistrate of Wugong.

武宗初，李德裕復入，三遷至尚書右丞，拜中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 Early in Wuzong's reign Li Deyu returned; after three promotions he became right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, then vice chancellor.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 184Volume 184 Biographies 109: Ma, Yang, Lu, Lu · 2 passages

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植自以譽望在當時諸公右，久補外，還朝不得要官，為宰相李德裕所抑，內怨望。 Zhi believed his renown outranked the other leading men of the day; after long provincial service, he returned to court without receiving a key post and was held down by Chief Minister Li Deyu, nursing resentment inwardly.

宣宗嗣位，白敏中當國，凡德裕所不善，悉不次用之，故植以刑部侍郎領諸道鹽鐵轉運使，遷戶部，俄同中書門下平章事，進中書侍郎。 After Emperor Xuanzong took the throne, Bai Minzhong directed the state; everyone Li Deyu had disliked was promoted out of turn, so Zhi served as Vice Minister of Justice while heading the salt-and-iron transport commissioners of all circuits, moved to the Ministry of Revenue, and soon became Grand Councillor, rising to Vice Director of the Secretariat.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 45Volume 45 Miscellaneous Biographies 25: Zhang Quanyi, Zhu Youqian, Yuan Xiangxian, Zhu Hanbin, Duan Ning, Liu Qi, Zhou Zhiyu, Lu Siduo · 1 passage

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全義監軍嘗得李德裕平泉醒酒石，德裕孫延古，因托全義復求之。 His army supervisor had taken Li Deyu’s Pingquan sobering stone. Deyu’s grandson Yan’gu asked Quanyi to get it back.