Sui and Tang · Official and Statesman

Yuan Zai 元載

Attested AD 762 - AD 777

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Yuan Zai was an official and Statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 762 to AD 777 元載秉政
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 150, passages 41, 43

Career and standing

Suffered
Executed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 150, passage 43

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 150Volume 150 Biographies 75: Li, Chang, Zhao, Cui, Qi, Lu · 5 passages

初，苗晉卿數薦元載，揆輕載地寒，謂晉卿曰：「龍章鳳姿士不見用，獐頭鼠目子乃求官邪？」 Earlier Miao Jinqing had repeatedly recommended Yuan Zai. Kui looked down on Zai's humble origins and said to Jinqing: "Men of dragon bearing and phoenix grace go unused, yet a weasel-headed, rat-eyed fellow seeks office?"

載聞，銜之。 When Zai heard this he bore a grudge.

載誅，始拜睦州刺史。 After Zai was executed he was at last appointed prefect of Mu Prefecture.

元載死，拜門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事，弘文、崇文館大學士，與楊綰同執政。 When Yuan Zai died he was appointed Vice President of the Secretariat and Co-Chancellor, made Grand Academician of the Hongwen and Chongwen halls, and governed together with Yang Guan.

懲元載敗，窒賣官之路，然一切以公議格之，非文詞者皆擯不用，故世謂之「濌伯」，以其濌々無賢不肖之辨雲。 Punishing Yuan Zai's fall, he blocked the sale of offices, yet he rejected everything by public discussion. Those without literary skill were all cast aside unused. The age therefore called him "Sloppy Uncle," because he sloppily made no distinction between the worthy and the unworthy.