Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠)

Overview

Xiao Zhizhong was a statesman and Official.

Life and dates

Death

AD 713 先天二年
Execution
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 278-279

Attested activity

AD 705 to AD 713 friend of Zhao Yanzhao
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 123, passage 230
AD 705 to AD 710 中宗朝為宰相
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 123, passages 128-130
AD 713 先天二年
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 278-279
AD 710 唐隆元年
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 274
AD 705 神龍初
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 95
AD 707 節湣太子以兵誅武三思而敗
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 102-103

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AD 698 to AD 705 聖曆後劾蘇味道
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 114, passages 215, 217
AD 705 to AD 710 蕭至忠…中宗神龍初
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 88, 95
AD 713 蕭至忠等誅
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 123, passage 241
AD 713 誅蕭至忠
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 137

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Xiao Deyan (蕭德言)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations · Through Father of Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠之父)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 89
Parent of Deceased daughter of Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠殤女)
daughter 女
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 131
Parent of Daughter of Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠女)
daughter 女
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 132
Child of Father of Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠之父)
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 123, passage 89
Parent of Xiao Ren (蕭任)
son 子
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 276
Sibling of Xiao Yuanjia (蕭元嘉)
younger brother 弟
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 150
Sibling of Xiao Guangwei (蕭廣微)
younger brother 弟
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 123, passages 150-151
Sibling of Younger sister of Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠娣)
younger sister 娣
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 143

family destroyed
Kinship Role family · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 266

Key source chapters

Career and standing

prefect of Jin Prefecture 晉州刺史
AD 710 唐隆元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 274
Vice Censor-in-Chief 御史中丞
AD 705 神龍初 · Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 95
Associate Grand Councilor 同中書門下平章事
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 107
censor 御史
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 136
chancellor 宰相
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 137
Director of the Secretariat 中書令
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 128, 277

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Minister of Justice 刑部尚書
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 277
Palace Attendant 侍中
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 128
Vice Censor-in-chief 中丞
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 137
Vice Director of the Secretariat 中書侍郎
Appointed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 107
Assistant of Yi Prefecture 沂州丞
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 88
censor 御史
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 96
magistrate of Luoyang 洛陽尉
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 92
magistrate of Yique 伊闕尉
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 92
investigating censor 監察御史
Promoted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 93
Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel 吏部侍郎
Promoted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 101
Vice Censor-in-Chief 中丞
Retained concurrently
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 101
Vice Director in the Ministry of Personnel 吏部員外郎
Specially promoted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 93
Duke of Zan 酂國公
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 277
Liable to punishment
AD 710 唐隆元年 · Implicated with Wei faction
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 274
Executed
AD 713 蕭至忠等誅 · Execution
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 123, passages 241, 266
confiscation of household property 籍其家
Suffered
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 279
property confiscation 籍沒
Suffered
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 145

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 88, 95, 128, 265, 277
AD 713 先天二年
At southern hills 南山 · Relation Fled to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 278
AD 710 唐隆元年
At Jin Prefecture 晉州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 274
At Luoyang 洛陽 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 92
At Yique 伊闕 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 92

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · With Emperor Zhongzong (中宗) · Mode quotation Speaker Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 108-116
Memorial · Author · Speaker Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 117-126
Speech · Speaker · With Emperor Zhongzong (中宗) · Mode quotation Speaker Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 103-105
Speech · Speaker · Speaker Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠) · With Song Jing (宋璟)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 141
Speech · Speaker · With Li Chengjia (李承嘉) · Mode quotation Speaker Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 97-98
Speech · Speaker · Mode quotation Speaker Xiao Zhizhong (蕭至忠)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 90

Events and relationships

Attached himself and begged to return
Political · Client · With Princess Taiping (太平公主)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 276
Could not turn back from Taiping attachment
Personal · Subject
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 142
Defended direct memorial right against chief censor
Political · Censor · With Li Chengjia (李承嘉)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 96-99
Fled captured executed
AD 713 先天二年 · Political · Fugitive
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 278-279
Impeached Su Weidao for corruption
Legal · Prosecutor · With Su Weidao (蘇味道)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 93
Impeached Zhu Qinming Dou Xijie Chengjia and others
Legal · Prosecutor
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 100

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Impeached
Legal · Impeacher · With Su Weidao (蘇味道)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 217
Joined treasonous plot
Political · Conspirator · With Princess Taiping (太平公主)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 277
Kept appointment in rain and snow until friend arrived
Personal · Subject
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 90-91
Married daughter to
Marriage · Father of bride · With Wu Bi (無诐)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 132
Obtained vice censorate through
Political · Protege · With Wu Sansi (武三思)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 137
Opened tomb and retrieved daughter coffin
Ritual · Actor · With Wei Xun (韋洵)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 138
Refused to bend with the current
Political · Chancellor
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 129
Seized chancellorship and plotted against the royal house
Political · Plotter
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 266
Submitted memorial on appointments
Remonstrance · Author
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 117-126
Wept and dissuaded Zhongzong from investigating Prince of Xiang
Political · Advisor · With Emperor Zhongzong (中宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 103-106
favored mistress 寵主
Relation Relied on · Person Favored mistress of Xiao Zhizhong (寵主)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 266
Relation Client of · Person Princess Anle (安樂公主)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 137
Relation Client of · Person Princess Taiping (太平公主)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 139
Relation Married into kin of · Person The Empress (後)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 266

Assessments and attributes

Assessment early reputation as famed minister; outwardly upright but inwardly inconstant · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passages 134-135
Assessment famed for decisive judgment; renown in his day · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 94
Assessment governance as prefect won renown · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 274
Assessment never worthy; pretended worth for treacherous gain; infamy endless · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 266
Assessment onlookers marveled at his faithfulness · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 91
Assessment ought to serve as the emperor's minister—why stationed outside? · Mode hearsay
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 275

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Assessment public esteem converged upon him for refusing to bend · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 129
disliked receiving guests and prided himself on frugality, yet amassed countless treasures
Character
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 145
Item countless treasures 珍寶 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 145

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 88

References in the histories

Search passages

History

31 passages

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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味道因役庸過程，遂侵毀鄉人墓田，蕭至忠劾之，貶坊州刺史。 Weidao's corvée work ran over schedule and he damaged a neighbor's grave land; Xiao Zhizhong impeached him and he was demoted to prefect of Fangzhou.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 121Volume 121 Biographies 46: Liu, Zhong, Cui, and the Two Kings · 2 passages

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少選，琚從帝至樓下，誅蕭至忠、岑義、竇懷貞，斬常元楷李慈北闕下、賈膺福李猷於內客省。 Soon Ju followed the emperor below the tower; Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Yi, and Dou Huaizhen were killed, Chang Yuankai and Li Ci beheaded at the northern gate, Jia Yingfu and Li You in the inner service office.

與誅蕭至忠等，以功進輔國大將軍，檢校內外閑廄，知監牧使，進封霍國公，實封戶五百。 For helping kill Xiao Zhizhong and others, he was promoted for merit to General Who Assists the State, oversaw the inner and outer imperial stud parks, supervised the commissioner of herds, and was made Duke of Huo with five hundred substantive households.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 123Volume 123 Biographies 48: Li, Xiao, Lu, Wei, Zhao, He · 28 passages

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蕭至忠，沂州丞人。 Xiao Zhizhong was a native of Cheng in Yi Prefecture.

至忠少與友期諸路，會雨雪，人引避，至忠曰：「寧有與人期可以失信？」 As a youth Zhizhong arranged to meet a friend at a crossroads; when snow and rain came, others urged him to take shelter. He said, "How can one keep an appointment and break faith"?

至忠長擊斷，譽聞當時。 Zhizhong was famed for decisive judgment and won renown in his day.

始，至忠為御史，而李承嘉為大夫，嘗讓諸御史曰：「彈事有不咨大夫，可乎？」 Earlier, when Zhizhong was a censor and Li Chengjia was chief censor, Li once rebuked the censors: "In impeachment matters, is it permissible not to consult the chief censor"?