Five Dynasties · Official and Statesman

Yao Yi 姚顗

Attested AD 920

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Yao Yi was an official and Statesman.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Baizhen	百真

Life and dates

Death

Age Value: 75 · Reckoning: Sui
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 109

Age

Value: 75 · Reckoning: Sui
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 109

Attested activity

AD 920 事梁至晉
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passages 95, 97, 99, 108

Career and standing

chancellor 宰相
AD 934 廢帝 · Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 99
minister of revenue 戶部尚書
AD 936 晉高祖 · Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 108
Hanlin academician 翰林學士
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 97

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 97
At Chang'an in Jingzhao 京兆長安
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 95

Learning and skills

Earned
Credential Presented Scholar 進士
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 97

Events and relationships

Restored three boards
Administrative · Chancellor · With Lu Wenji (盧文紀)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 55, passage 105

References in the histories

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 55Volume 55 Miscellaneous Biographies 35: Liu Xu, Lu Wenji, Ma Yinxun, Yao Yi, Liu Yue, Ma Gao, Cui Jujian, Cui Zhuo, Li Yi · 7 passages

姚顗，字百真，京兆長安人也。 Yao Yi, courtesy name Baizhen, was a native of Chang'an in Jingzhao.

唐莊宗滅梁，貶復州司馬，已而以為左散騎常侍兼吏部侍郎、尚書左丞。 When Zhuangzong of Tang destroyed Later Liang, Yi was demoted to military adjutant of Fuzhou, but was soon restored as left regular attendant with concurrent posts as vice minister of personnel and left assistant director in the Ministry of State Affairs.

廢帝欲擇宰相，選當時清望官知名於世者，得盧文紀及顗，乃拜顗中書侍郎、同中書門下平章事。 When Emperor Fei wished to choose a chancellor, he looked among the most eminent officials of the day and settled on Lu Wenji and Yi. Yi was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and grand councilor.

顗為人仁恕，不知錢陌銖兩之數，禦家無法，在相位齪齪無所為。 Yi was kindly and forgiving but knew nothing of money down to the last cash or ounce. He kept no order in his household. As chancellor he fussed over trifles and achieved nothing.

至顗與盧文紀為相，復奏分銓為三。 When Yi and Lu Wenji became chancellors, they memorialized to divide the boards into three once again.

選人多不便之，往往邀遮宰相，喧訴不遜，顗等無如之何，廢帝為下詔書禁止。 Candidates were displeased and often waylaid the chancellors with loud, insolent protests. Yi and his colleagues could do nothing, until Emperor Fei issued an edict forbidding such behavior.

晉高祖立，罷顗為戶部尚書。 When Gaozu of Later Jin took the throne, Yi was removed to minister of revenue.