Ming · Chief Grand Secretary

Zhao Zhigao 趙志臯

First attested AD 1568; died AD 1601

Passages
14
Chapters
1
Histories
1

Overview

Zhao Zhigao was a Chief Grand Secretary.

PeriodMing
IdentityHistorical

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Courtesy name Rumai 汝邁
Posthumous name Wenyi 文懿

Life and dates

Death

Attested activity

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Career and standing

Places and affiliations

Learning and skills

Events and relationships

  • Argued that civil officials were punished unfairly after the Liaodong disaster and repeatedly remonstrated on court policy.
    Biographical event · Participant
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 32
  • Passed the jinshi in 1568, endured demotions for opposing Zhang Juzheng, and later served as chief grand secretary until his death in 1601.
    Biographical event · Participant
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 1
  • Requested a self-reproach edict, a settled succession, an end to mining taxes, and rites for the eldest imperial son.
    Biographical event · Participant
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 33
  • Type political-alliance · Person Zhang Wei (張位)
    Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 34

Assessments and attributes

References in the histories

14 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 219Volume 219 Biographies 107: Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Xu Guo, Zhao Zhigao, Zhang Wei, Zhu Geng · 14 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.
二十一年，錫爵還朝，明年五月遂歸，志臯始當國．遼東失事，詔褫巡撫韓取善職，逮副使馮時泰詔獄，而總兵官楊紹勳止下御史問．給事中吳文梓等論其失平，志臯亦言：「封疆被寇，武臣罪也．今寬紹勳而深罪文吏，武臣益恣，文吏益喪氣．」帝不從，時泰竟謫戍．皇太后誕辰，帝受賀畢，召見輔臣暖閣，志臯論宥御史彭應參．言官乞減織造，志臯等因合詞請．尋極論章奏留中之弊，請盡付諸曹議行．帝惡中官張誠黨霍文炳，以言官不舉發，貶黜者三十餘人．志臯等連疏諫，皆不納．累坐少傅，加太子太傅，改建極殿． In the twenty-first year Xijue returned to court; the next May he went home, and Zhigao at last took charge of the government. After the Liaodong disaster an edict stripped Grand Coordinator Han Qushan and sent Vice Commissioner Feng Shitai to prison, while supreme commander Yang Shaoxun was only referred to the censorate. Supervising Secretaries Wu Wenzi and others called this unfair; Zhigao said: 'When the frontier is invaded, military officers bear the guilt. Lenience toward Shaoxun and harsh punishment of civil officials will embolden the military and dishearten the civil service.' The emperor did not agree; Shitai was banished to border garrison duty. On the empress dowager's birthday the emperor summoned the assisting ministers to the warm pavilion; Zhigao spoke of pardoning Censor Peng Yingcan. Censorate officials asked to reduce imperial weaving, and Zhigao jointly petitioned. He then strongly criticized memorials held in the inner court and asked that all be sent to the ministries for action. The emperor hated the eunuch Zhang Cheng and his partisan Huo Wenbing; because censorate officials did not expose them, more than thirty were demoted. Zhigao remonstrated repeatedly, but none was accepted. He rose to Junior Tutor, then Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and moved to the Jijidian.
時兩宮災，彗星見，日食九分有奇，三殿又災，連歲間變異迭出．志臯請下罪己詔，因累疏陳時政缺失．而其大者定國本、罷礦稅諸事，凡十一條．優詔報聞而已．皇長子年十六時，志臯嘗請舉冠婚禮．帝命禮官具儀．及儀上，不果行．二十六年三月，志臯等復以為言，終不允． Both palaces burned, a comet appeared, a solar eclipse covered more than nine-tenths of the sun, and the three main halls burned—calamities piled up year after year. Zhigao asked for a self-reproach edict and submitted successive memorials on policy failures, chief among them fixing the succession and abolishing mining taxes, eleven items in all. He received only favorable acknowledgments. When the eldest imperial son was sixteen Zhigao asked that his coming-of-age and wedding rites be held; the emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the ritual, but when it was submitted it was not carried out. In the third month of the twenty-sixth year Zhigao raised it again; in the end the emperor refused.
張居正柄國，權震主．申時行繼之，勢猶盛．王錫爵性剛負氣，人亦畏之．志臯為首輔，年七十餘，耄矣，柔而懦，為朝士所輕，詬誶四起．其始為首輔也，值西華門災，御史趙文炳論之．無何，南京御史柳佐、給事中章守誠言，吏部郎顧憲成等空司而逐志臯，實激帝怒．已而給事中張濤、楊洵，御史冀體、況上進，南京評事龍起雷相繼披詆．而巡按御史吳崇禮劾其子兩淮運副鳳威，鳳威坐停俸．未幾，工部郎中岳元聲極言志臯宜放，給事中劉道亨詆尤力．志臯憤，言：「同一閣臣也，往日勢重而權有所歸，則相率附之以媒進．今日勢輕而權有所分，則相率擊之以博名．」因求退益切．帝慰諭之． When Zhang Juzheng held power his authority overshadowed the throne; Shen Shixing succeeded him with influence still strong; Wang Xijue was proud and formidable. Zhigao as chief grand secretary was over seventy, aged, gentle and timid, looked down on by court officials, and abuse erupted on every side. When he first became chief secretary, fire struck the Gate of Western Splendor and Censor Zhao Wenbing criticized him. Nanjing Censor Liu Zuo and Supervising Secretary Zhang Shoucheng said Personnel Director Gu Xiancheng and others had emptied the bureau and, in driving out Zhigao, had truly stirred the emperor's anger. Supervising Secretaries Zhang Tao and Yang Xun, Censors Ji Ti and Kuang Shangjin, and Nanjing Reviewer Long Qilei then launched fierce attacks in succession. Touring censor Wu Chongli impeached his son Fengwei, salt transport vice commissioner of the Two Huai, who was suspended from salary. Bureau Director Yue Yuansheng said Zhigao should be dismissed; Supervising Secretary Liu Daohang denounced him with especial force. Zhigao, angered, said: 'They are all Grand Secretaries alike. When power was heavy and authority had a center, they flocked to attach themselves for advancement. Now power is light and authority divided, and they flock to attack for renown.' He asked to withdraw all the more urgently; the emperor comforted him.
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.
後以救吳中行、趙用賢忤居正意．時已遷侍講，抑授南京司業．未行，復以京察，謫徐州同知．居正卒之明年，用給事中馮景隆、御史孫維城薦，[二]擢南京尚寶丞．俄召為左中允，管司業事，進祭酒．疏陳六事，多議行．以禮部右侍郎，教習庶吉士，引疾歸．詔起故官，協理詹事府，辭不赴．久之，以申時行薦，拜吏部左侍郎兼東閣大學士，與趙志臯並命． Later, for pleading for Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian he offended Juzheng. Though already promoted to lecturer, he was demoted to vice director of studies in Nanjing. Before he left he was demoted again in the capital review to assistant prefect of Xuzhou. The year after Juzheng died, on recommendation of Supervising Secretary Feng Jinglong and Censor Sun Weicheng, [2] he was promoted to assistant director in the Nanjing Court of Imperial Seals. Soon he was recalled as left middle submitter, managed the duties of vice director of studies, and rose to chancellor. He memorialized on six matters, many of which were adopted. As Right Vice Minister of Rites and instructor of Hanlin bachelors he pleaded illness and went home. An edict recalled him to assist in the Household of the Heir Apparent; he declined. Long afterward, on Shen Shixing's recommendation, he was appointed Left Vice Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, together with Zhao Zhigao.
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.
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.
二十九年秋，趙志臯卒，沈一貫獨當國，請增置閣臣．帝素慮大臣植黨，欲用林居及久廢者．詔賡以故官兼東閣大學士參預機務，遣行人召之．再辭，不允．明年四月詣闕，即捐一歲俸助殿工．其秋極陳礦稅之害，帝不能用．既而與一貫及沈鯉共獻守成、遣使、權宜三論，大指為礦稅發，賡手筆也．賡於己邸門獲妖書，而書辭誣賡動搖國本，大懼．立以疏聞，乞避位．帝慰諭有加．一貫倡羣小窮治不已．賡在告，再貽書一貫，請速具獄無株連，事乃得解． In the autumn of the twenty-ninth year Zhao Zhigao died; Shen Yiguan alone held the government and asked to add Grand Secretaries. The emperor had long feared faction among grand ministers and wished to use men in retirement and those long out of office. An edict appointed Geng to his former post as Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion; a courier was sent to summon him. He declined twice and was refused. The next April he came to court and immediately donated one year's salary to aid hall construction. That autumn he strongly set forth the harm of mining taxes; the emperor could not adopt it. Then together with Yiguan and Shen Li he submitted the three treatises On Maintaining the Achievement, On Dispatching Envoys, and On Expedient Measures—prompted chiefly by mining taxes and written in Geng's own hand. Geng found a sorcerous book at his own gate slandering him as shaking the foundation of the state and was greatly afraid; he immediately reported it and asked to step aside. The emperor comforted him warmly. Yiguan led his petty partisans in pressing the investigation without end. Geng, on leave, wrote Yiguan again asking that the case be quickly concluded without implicating others, and the affair was resolved.
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.