Ming · Grand Secretary and Historian

Zhang Wei 張位

Attested AD 1568 - AD 1599

Passages
13
Chapters
1
Histories
1

Overview

Zhang Wei was a Grand Secretary and Historian.

PeriodMing
IdentityHistorical

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Courtesy name Mingcheng 明成
Posthumous name Wenzhuang 文莊

Life and dates

Death

Attested activity

Career and standing

  • Held
    Progression Hanlin bachelor, Compiler
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 37
  • Held
    Progression Lecturer, Vice Director of Studies, Assistant Prefect of Xuzhou, Assistant Director in the Nanjing Court of Imperial Seals, Chancellor of the National University, Vice Minister of Rites, Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 39
  • Held
    Progression Minister of Rites, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuange, Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, Junior Guardian, Minister of Personnel, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 41
  • Posthumous Honors Office restored; Grand Guardian; posthumous name Wenzhuang
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 45

Places and affiliations

Learning and skills

Works and attributed material

Events and relationships

Assessments and attributes

References in the histories

13 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 219Volume 219 Biographies 107: Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Xu Guo, Zhao Zhigao, Zhang Wei, Zhu Geng · 13 passages
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趙志臯，字汝邁，蘭谿人．隆慶二年進士及第，授編修．萬曆初，進侍讀．張居正奪情，將廷杖吳中行、趙用賢．志臯偕張位、習孔教等疏救，格不上，則請以中行等疏宣付史館，居正恚．會星變考察京朝官，遂出志臯為廣東副使．居三年，再以京察謫其官．居正歿，言者交薦，起解州同知．旋改南京太僕丞，歷國子監司業、祭酒，再遷吏部右侍郎，並在南京．尋召為吏部左侍郎． Zhao Zhigao, styled Rumai, came from Lanxi. He topped the jinshi in the second year of Longqing and was appointed compiler. At the start of Wanli he became reader. When Zhang Juzheng resumed mourning while still in office and was about to have Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian beaten at court, Zhigao joined Zhang Wei, Xi Kongjiao, and others in memorializing for them. The memorials were blocked; they then asked that Wu and Zhao's memorials be proclaimed and sent to the Historiography Office. Juzheng was furious. During the stellar-portent review of capital officials Zhigao was sent to Guangdong as vice commissioner. After three years he was demoted again in the capital review. After Juzheng's death, censorate officials recommended him and he was appointed assistant prefect of Jiezhou, then Nanjing assistant director of the Ministry of Works, vice director and chancellor of the National University, and twice Right Vice Minister of Personnel—all in Nanjing. He was soon recalled as Left Vice Minister of Personnel.
十九年秋，申時行謝政，薦志臯及張位自代．遂進禮部尚書兼東閣大學士，入參機務．明年春，王家屏罷，王錫爵召未至，志臯暫居首輔．會寧夏變起，兵事多所咨決．主事岳元聲疏論錫爵，中言當事者變亂傾危，為主事諸壽賢、給事中許弘綱所駁．志臯再辨，帝皆不問． In the autumn of the nineteenth year Shen Shixing resigned and recommended Zhigao and Zhang Wei as successors. Zhigao was promoted to Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion. The next spring Wang Jiaping was dismissed; Wang Xijue had been summoned but had not arrived, and Zhigao temporarily served as chief grand secretary. When the Ningxia revolt broke out, many military matters were referred to him. Director Yue Yuansheng memorialized against Xijue, saying those in charge were stirring turmoil and endangering the state; Director Zhu Shouxian and Supervising Secretary Xu Honggang rebutted him. Zhigao defended himself again; the emperor made no inquiry in either case.
初，日本封貢議起，石星力主之．志臯亦冀無事，相與應和．及封事敗，議者蜂起，凡劾星者必及志臯．志臯每被言，輒疏辨求退，帝悉勉留．先嘗譴言者以謝之，後言者益切，則多寢不下，而留志臯益堅．迨封事大壞，星坐欺罔下獄論死，位亦以楊鎬故褫官，而志臯終不問．然志臯已病不能視事，乞休疏累上，御史于永清、給事中桂有根復疏論之．志臯身在牀褥，於罷礦、建儲諸大政，數力疾草疏爭，帝歲時恩賜亦如故． When debate over Japan's enfeoffment and tribute arose, Shi Xing strongly advocated it; Zhigao too hoped for peace and joined in assent. When enfeoffment failed, critics swarmed; whoever attacked Xing also implicated Zhigao. Whenever Zhigao was attacked he defended himself and asked to retire; the emperor always urged him to stay. At first he sometimes rebuked censorate officials to mollify Zhigao; later, as attacks grew fiercer, many memorials were shelved while Zhigao was retained all the more firmly. When the enfeoffment collapsed entirely, Xing was imprisoned for deception and sentenced to death; Wei was stripped of office over Yang Hao, while Zhigao was never questioned. Yet Zhigao was already ill and unable to conduct affairs; retirement memorials piled up, and Censor Yu Yongqing and Supervising Secretary Gui Yougen attacked him again. Confined to his sickbed, he repeatedly forced himself to draft memorials on great policies such as abolishing mining and establishing the heir; the emperor's seasonal gifts continued as before.
萬曆元年，位以前代皆有起居注，而本朝獨無，疏言：「臣備員纂修，竊見先朝政事，自非出於詔令，形諸章疏，悉湮沒無考．鴻猷茂烈，鬱而未章，徒使野史流傳，用偽亂真．今史官充位，無以自効．宜日分數人入直，凡詔旨起居，朝端政務，皆據見聞書之，待內閣裁定，為他年實錄之助．」張居正善其議，奏行焉． In the first year of Wanli, Wei noted that earlier dynasties all kept diaries of activity and presence while the present dynasty alone had none, and submitted a memorial: 'Your servant serves among the compilers and sees that affairs of former reigns, unless they issued as edicts or appeared in memorials, are lost without trace. Great achievements remain unrecorded, and unofficial histories spread falsity. Historiographers today hold empty posts with no way to do useful service. Several men should attend duty each day and record all edicts, conduct, and court governance as witnessed, for the Grand Secretariat to approve, as material for future Veritable Records.' Zhang Juzheng approved and had it implemented.
王錫爵還朝，帝適降諭三王並封，以待嫡為辭．而志臯、位遽請帝篤修交泰，早兆高禖，議者竊哂之．趙南星以考察事褫官，朝士詆錫爵者多及位．錫爵去，志臯為首輔．位與志臯相厚善．志臯衰，位精悍敢任，政事多所裁決．時黜陟權盡還吏部，政府不得侵撓．位深憾之，事多掣其肘．以故孫鑨、陳有年、孫丕揚、蔡國珍皆不安其位而去． When Wang Xijue returned to court the emperor had just issued an edict enfeoffing all three princes, using the wait for a legitimate heir as pretext. Zhigao and Wei hastily asked the emperor to cultivate harmony between heaven and earth and pray early at the Gao Mei altar; critics privately laughed. Zhao Nanxing was stripped of office in the review affair; many who denounced Xijue also implicated Wei. When Xijue left, Zhigao became chief secretary. Wei was close to Zhigao; as Zhigao declined, Wei was sharp and bold and decided much of the business of government. Appointment and dismissal had returned entirely to the Ministry of Personnel, and the secretariat could not interfere. Wei deeply resented this and often checked its hand, so Sun Long, Chen Younian, Sun Piyang, and Cai Guozhen all left their posts in discomfort.
二十四年，兩宮災，礦稅議起，位等不能沮．及奸人請稅煤炭，開臨清皇店，位與沈一貫乃執奏不可，不報．明年春，偕一貫陳經理朝鮮事宜．請於開城、平壤建置重鎮，練兵屯田，通商惠工，省中國輸輓．且擇人為長帥，分署朝鮮八道，為持久計．事下朝鮮議．其國君臣慮中國遂幷其土，疏陳非便，乃寢．頃之，日本封事壞，位力薦參政楊鎬才，請付以朝鮮軍務．鎬遭父喪，又請奪情視事，且薦邢玠為總督．帝皆從之．位已進禮部尚書，改文淵閣，以甘肅破賊叙功，加太子太保，復以延鎮功，進少保、吏部尚書，改武英殿． In the twenty-fourth year both palaces burned and debate over mining taxes arose; Wei and the others could not stop it. When schemers asked to tax coal and open an imperial shop at Linqing, Wei and Shen Yiguan firmly memorialized that this could not be allowed; no reply came. The next spring, together with Yiguan, he set forth plans for administering Korean affairs: strong garrisons at Kaesong and Pyongyang, trained troops and garrison fields, open commerce and favored crafts, and reduced transport from China; men should be chosen as chief commanders over Korea's eight circuits as a long-term plan. The matter was sent to Korea for deliberation; its ruler and ministers feared annexation, stated the disadvantage, and the plan was shelved. When the Japanese enfeoffment failed, Wei strongly recommended Vice Commissioner Yang Hao and asked that Korean military affairs be entrusted to him. Hao met his father's death; Wei asked that mourning be set aside so he could serve, and recommended Xing Jie as supreme commander. The emperor agreed to all. Wei had risen to Minister of Rites and the Wenyuange; for crushing bandits in Gansu he was made Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince; for merit on the Yan frontier he became Junior Guardian and Minister of Personnel and moved to the Wuying Hall.
三殿災，志臯適在告，位偕同列請面慰，不許．乃請帝引咎頒赦，勤朝講，發章奏，躬郊廟，建皇儲，錄廢棄，容狂直，宥細過，補缺官，減織造，停礦使，徹稅監，釋繫囚．帝優詔報之，不能盡行．位又言：「臣等請停礦稅，非遽停之也，蓋欲責成撫按，使上不虧國，下不累民耳．」於是給事中張正學劾位逢迎遷就，宜斥．帝亦不省． When the three halls burned, Zhigao happened to be on leave; Wei and his colleagues asked for an audience of consolation and were refused. He then asked the emperor to acknowledge guilt and issue a general amnesty, attend court diligently, hold lectures, release memorials, visit suburban altars in person, establish the imperial heir, recall the discarded, tolerate blunt speech, pardon minor faults, fill vacant posts, reduce weaving, halt mining envoys, withdraw tax supervisors, and release prisoners. The emperor replied favorably but could not carry out everything. Wei added: 'When we asked to halt mining taxes, we did not mean to halt them at once; we wished to hold governors and grand coordinators responsible so the state would not lose revenue and the people would not be burdened.' Supervising Secretary Zhang Zhengxue then impeached Wei for fawning and trimming his sails and said he should be dismissed; the emperor took no notice.
位初官翰林，聲望甚重，朝士冀其大用．及入政府，招權示威，素望漸衰．給事中劉道亨劾位奸貪數十事．位憤，力辨，遂落道亨三官．呂坤、張養蒙與孫丕揚交好，而沈思孝、徐作、劉應秋、劉楚先、戴士衡、楊廷蘭則與位善，各有所左右．丕揚嘗劾位，指道亨為其黨．道亨恥之，劾位以自解．已而贊畫主事丁應泰劾楊鎬喪師，言位與鎬密書往來，朋黨欺罔，鎬拔擢由賄位得之．帝怒下廷議．位惶恐奏辨，帝猶慰留．給事中趙完璧、徐觀瀾復交章論．位窘，亟奏：「羣言交攻，孤忠可憫．臣心無纖毫愧，惟上矜察．」帝怒曰：「鎬由卿密揭屢薦，故奪哀授任．今乃朋欺隱慝，辱國損威，猶云無愧．」遂奪職閒住． When Wei first served in the Hanlin Academy his reputation was very high and court officials hoped for great things from him. Once in government he wielded power to awe others and his standing gradually waned. Supervising Secretary Liu Daohang impeached him on dozens of counts of wickedness and greed; Wei, enraged, defended himself and had Daohang stripped of three ranks. Lü Kun and Zhang Yangmeng were friendly with Sun Piyang, while Shen Sixiao, Xu Zuo, Liu Yingqiu, Liu Chuxian, Dai Shiheng, and Yang Tinglan were friendly with Wei; each side had its partisans. Piyang once impeached Wei and identified Daohang as his partisan; shamed, Daohang impeached Wei to clear himself. Planning Secretary Ding Yingtai then impeached Yang Hao for losing the army, saying Wei exchanged secret letters with Hao, that their faction deceived and concealed wrongdoing, and that Hao's promotion came through bribing Wei. The emperor angrily sent the matter to court deliberation. Wei fearfully defended himself; the emperor still kept him in office. Supervising Secretaries Zhao Wanbi and Xu Guanlan attacked him again. Cornered, Wei submitted: 'Denunciations attack from every side; lone loyalty deserves pity. Your servant's heart has not the slightest shame—may Your Majesty examine and show mercy.' The emperor angrily said: 'Hao was repeatedly recommended through your secret memorials, therefore mourning was set aside and he was appointed. Now you conspire in deceit and conceal wickedness, disgracing the state and diminishing authority, yet still say you have no shame.' He was stripped of office and sent into retirement.
無何，有獲妖書名憂危竑議者，御史趙之翰言位實主謀．帝亦疑位怨望有他志，詔除名為民，遇赦不宥．其親故右都御史徐作、侍郎劉楚先、祭酒劉應秋、給事中楊廷蘭、主事萬建崑皆貶黜有差． Before long a sorcerous book called the Proposal of Worry for the Heir was seized; Censor Zhao Zhihan said Wei was the real ringleader. The emperor also suspected Wei of resentment and other designs; an edict removed his name and made him a commoner, not to be pardoned even in amnesty. His friends and associates—Right Censor-in-Chief Xu Zuo, Vice Minister Liu Chuxian, Chancellor Liu Yingqiu, Supervising Secretary Yang Tinglan, and Director Wan Jiankun—were all demoted to various degrees.
三十四年，一貫、鯉去位，賡獨當國，年七十有二矣．朝政日弛，中外解體．賡疏揭月數上，十不能一下．御史宋燾首諷切賡，給事中汪若霖繼之．賡緣二人言，力請帝更新庶政，於增閣臣、補大僚、充言路三事語尤切．帝優詔答之而不行．賡乃素服詣文華門懇請，終不得命．賡以老，屢引疾，閣中空無人．帝諭簡閣臣，而廷臣慮帝出中旨如往年趙志臯、張位故事．賡力疾請付廷推，乃用于慎行、李廷機、葉向高，而召王錫爵於家，以為首輔．給事中王元翰、胡忻以廷機之用，賡實主之，疏詆廷機並侵賡．賡疏辭，帝為切責言者．既而姜士昌及燾被謫，言路謂出賡意，益不平．禮部主事鄭振先遂劾賡十二大罪，且言賡與一貫、錫爵為過去、見在、未來三身．帝怒，貶振先三秩．俄以言官論救，再貶二秩． In the thirty-fourth year Yiguan and Shen Li left office; Geng alone held the government at seventy-two. Court governance slackened daily and the state fell apart inside and out. Geng submitted memorials month after month; nine out of ten received no response. Censor Song Tao was first to criticize him sharply; Supervising Secretary Wang Ruolin followed. On their words Geng strongly asked the emperor to renew governance, speaking with especial force on adding Grand Secretaries, filling high posts, and staffing the censorate. The emperor replied favorably but did not act. Geng then went in plain dress to the Gate of Literary Glory to plead and received no order. Old and repeatedly pleading illness, he left the Grand Secretariat empty. The emperor ordered selection of Grand Secretaries, but court officials feared edicts from the inner court as in the days of Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei. Geng, forcing himself despite illness, asked that selection be entrusted to court recommendation; Yu Shenxing, Li Tingji, and Ye Xianggao were appointed, and Wang Xijue was recalled from home as chief secretary. Supervising Secretaries Wang Yuanhan and Hu Xin, saying Tingji's appointment was Geng's doing, denounced Tingji and attacked Geng. Geng declined; the emperor sharply rebuked the censorate. Jiang Shichang and Song Tao were then demoted; the censorate believed this came from Geng and grew more resentful. Rites Director Zheng Zhenxian impeached Geng on twelve major counts and said Geng with Yiguan and Xijue formed the three bodies of past, present, and future. The emperor demoted Zhenxian three ranks; when censorate officials pleaded for him he was demoted two ranks more.