顯 Xiǎn

In the sixth month, on renzi, Pei Siliang, Grand General of the Left Courageous Guard, was made Grand Field Commander-in-chief of the Lingwu Circuit, to guard against the Turks. On guihai Wei Anshi was made Director of the Secretariat, Wei Yuanzhong Director of the Chancellery, Yang Zaisi acting Director of the Secretariat, and Doulu Qinwang Manager of Important Military and State Affairs. Edit

In the seventh month, on xinsi, Wei Juyuan, Adviser to the Heir Apparent, was made Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. On jiachen the Luo River flooded. Edit

In the eighth month, on wushen, the two counties of Henan and Luoyang were exempted from service for one year. On renxu the emperor's consort of the Zhao clan was posthumously invested as empress. On yihai Emperor Xiaojing was placed in the Ancestral Temple at the Eastern Capital. The empress presented herself at the temple. On dingchou the emperor went to the south gate of the city of Luoyang to watch an elephant fight. Edit

In the ninth month, on renwu, sacrifice was offered to Heaven and Earth at the Hall of Light. There was a general amnesty; civil and military officials were granted merit ranks and noble titles, commoners who were their fathers' heirs were granted one degree of the ancient noble rank, and there were three days of public feasting. On guisi Wei Juyuan was dismissed. Edit

In the tenth month, on guihai, the emperor went to Longmen. On yichou he hunted at Xin'an. On xinwei Wei Yuanzhong was made Director of the Secretariat and Yang Zaisi Director of the Chancellery. Edit

In the eleventh month, on wuyin, the emperor was given the honorific title Yingtian Huangdi [Emperor Responding to Heaven], and the empress Shuntian Huanghou [Empress Obedient to Heaven]. On renwu, with the empress, he sacrificed at the Ancestral Temple; there was a general amnesty, civil and military officials were granted ranks, merit ranks and noble titles, and the people were given three days of public feasting. On jichou he went to the south gate of the city of Luoyang to watch the foreign water-splashing game. On renyin the Empress Dowager died, and the Chong'en Temple was abolished. Edit

Second year of Shenlong (706)

In the second year, in the first month, on wuxu, Li Jiao, Minister of Personnel, was made Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery, and Yu Weiqian, Vice Director of the Secretariat, Joint Manager of Affairs with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Edit

In the intercalary month, on bingwu, the princesses were allowed to open offices and appoint staff. Edit

In the second month, on yiwei, Wei Juyuan, Minister of Rites, was made Minister of Justice and Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. On bingshen inspecting commissioners were sent out to the ten circuits. Edit

In the third month, on jiachen, Wei Anshi was dismissed. Su Gui, Minister of Revenue, became acting Director of the Chancellery. On wushen Tang Xiujing was dismissed. On gengxu Wang Tongjiao, Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and Commandant-escort, was put to death. In this month supernumerary offices were created. Edit

In the fourth month, on jichou, Li Huaiyuan was dismissed. On jihai hair rained down in Mao County. On xinchou the Luo River flooded. Edit

In the fifth month, on gengshen, Empress Zetian Dasheng was buried. Edit

In the sixth month, on wuyin, Jing Hui was demoted to Administrator of Ya Prefecture, Huan Yanfan to Administrator of Shuang Prefecture, Yuan Shuji to Administrator of Dou Prefecture, Cui Xuanwei to Administrator of Bai Prefecture, and Zhang Jianzhi to Administrator of Xin Prefecture. Edit

In the seventh month, on wushen, Chongjun, Prince of Wei, was made Heir Apparent. On bingyin Wei Yuanzhong was made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrently Director of the Secretariat, and Li Jiao became acting Director of the Secretariat. On xinwei Li Huaiyuan, retired Left Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary, was made Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Jing Hui was exiled to Jia Prefecture, Huan Yanfan to Rang Prefecture, Yuan Shuji to Huan Prefecture, Cui Xuanwei to Gu Prefecture, and Zhang Jianzhi to Shuang Prefecture. Edit

In the eighth month, on bingzi, Zhu Qinming was demoted to Prefect of Shenzhou. Edit

In the ninth month, on wuwu, Li Huaiyuan died. Edit

In the tenth month, on guisi, Su Gui was made Director of the Chancellery. On wuxu the emperor returned from the Eastern Capital. Edit

In the eleventh month, on yisi, there was a general amnesty, and the officials who had accompanied the emperor were granted one step in merit rank. Edit

In the twelfth month, on jimao, Shazha Zhongyi, Grand Commander-in-chief of the Lingwu Army, fought the Turks at Mingsha and was defeated. On bingxu, because the Turks were raiding the frontier, the capital was in drought and Hebei was flooded, the emperor reduced his meals and stopped building works. Su Gui was sent to comfort and pacify Hebei. On bingshen Wei Yuanzhong was made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Edit

First year of Jinglong (707)

In the first year of Jinglong, in the first month, on bingchen, because of drought the cases of prisoners were reviewed. Edit

In the second month, on bingxu, the temple and tombs of the Wu clan were restored, with directors, assistant directors and guardian households as at the Zhao Tomb. On jiawu directors and assistant directors were appointed for the Baode Temple and the Rongxian Tomb. Edit

In the fourth month, on gengyin, Yong Prefecture was granted an amnesty. Edit

In the fifth month, on wuxu, Zhang Rendan, Grand General of the Right Encampment Guard, was made Grand Field Commander-in-chief of the Shuofang Circuit, to guard against the Turks. On bingwu Zang Siyan, acting Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, went as envoy to the Turks and died there. Because of drought the emperor kept away from the main hall and reduced his meals. Edit

In the sixth month, on dingmao, the first day of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. On gengwu dust rained down in Shan Prefecture. On wuzi the Tibetans and the Man tribes of Yao Prefecture raided the frontier; Tang Jiuzheng, Commissioner for Punitive Attack of the Yao-Xi Circuit, defeated them. Edit

In the seventh month, on xinchou, the Heir Apparent led the Thousand Horsemen of the Yulin Guard to kill Wu Sansi; he failed, and died for it. On guimao there was a general amnesty. On renxu Li Jiao was made Director of the Secretariat. Edit

In the eighth month, on bingxu, the emperor was given the honorific title Yingtian Shenlong Huangdi [Divine Dragon Emperor Responding to Heaven], and the empress Shuntian Yisheng Huanghou [Empress Obedient to Heaven and Aiding the Sage]. Wei Yuanzhong was dismissed. Edit

In the ninth month, on dingyou, Xiao Zhizhong, Vice Minister of Personnel, made Vice Director of the Chancellery; Zong Chuke, Minister of War; and Ji Chuna, General of the Left Guard and concurrently Chief Minister of the Court of the Treasury: all were made Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Yu Weiqian was dismissed. On gengzi there was a general amnesty and the era name was changed. Civil and military officials were granted ranks, merit ranks and noble titles. On xinhai Yang Zaisi was made Director of the Secretariat, and Wei Juyuan and Ji Chuna Directors of the Chancellery. Su Gui was dismissed. Edit

In the tenth month, on wuyin, Su Anheng, Palace Instructor of the Institute of Arts, was put to death. On renwu a comet appeared in the west. Edit

In the twelfth month, on yichou, the first day of the month, there was an eclipse of the sun. On dingchou dust rained down. Edit

Second year of Jinglong (708)

In the second year, in the second month, on guiwei, a star fell in the southwest. On gengyin there was a general amnesty; the mothers and wives of officials of the fifth rank and above were raised one degree in their titles, and those who had no wife had the title given to their daughter; women of eighty and over were granted by register the titles of Lady of a Commandery, of a County or of a Township. Edit

In the seventh month, on guisi, Zhang Rendan, Grand Field Commander-in-chief of the Shuofang Circuit, was made Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. On dingyou a bushy star appeared in the lunar lodges Wei [Stomach] and Mao. Edit

In the eleventh month, on gengshen, the Western Turks raided the frontier; Feng Jiabin, Vice Censor-in-Chief, went as envoy to the Turks and died there. On jimao there was a general amnesty and three days of public feasting were granted. On guiwei Niu Shijiang, Protector-General of Anxi, fought the Western Turks at Huoshao City and died there. Edit

In this year the empress, the consorts, the princesses and the Lady of Bright Deportment sold offices, issuing appointments by edicts written in ink and sealed slantwise. Edit

Third year of Jinglong (709)

In the third year, in the second month, on jichou, the emperor and the empress went to the Xuanwu Gate to watch the palace women at a tug-of-war, and set up a palace market for amusement. On renyin Wei Juyuan was made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Yang Zaisi Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs: both Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. On renzi the emperor and the empress went to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Edit

In the third month, on wuwu, Zong Chuke was made Director of the Secretariat, Xiao Zhizhong became acting Director of the Chancellery, and Wei Sili, Chief Minister of the Court of the Treasury, became acting Minister of War and Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Cui Shi, Vice Director of the Secretariat and concurrently acting Vice Minister of Personnel, and Zhao Yanzhao, acting Vice Minister of War, made Vice Director of the Secretariat: both were made Joint Manager of Affairs with the Secretariat-Chancellery. On wuyin Wei Wen, Minister of Rites, was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Zheng Yin, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, became acting Vice Minister of Personnel and Joint Manager of Affairs with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Edit

In the fifth month, on bingxu, Cui Shi was demoted to Prefect of Xiang Prefecture, and Zheng Yin to Administrator of Jiang Prefecture. Edit

In the sixth month, on guisi, Venus was seen in daylight. On gengzi, because of drought, the emperor kept away from the main hall, reduced his meals and stopped music. An edict ordered the books and records of the empire to be collected. On renyin the cases of prisoners were reviewed. On guimao Yang Zaisi died. Edit

In the seventh month, on bingchen, Suoge of the Western Turks surrendered. On xinyou women whose titles did not come through a husband or a son were allowed to pass inherited privileges to their sons and grandsons. On guihai the cases of prisoners were reviewed. On gengchen the Li River flooded. Edit

In the eighth month, on yiyou, Li Jiao was made Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery, and Wei Anshi, Specially Advanced, Director of the Chancellery. On renchen a bushy star appeared in the Purple Palace. Edit

In the ninth month, on wuchen, Su Gui, Minister of Personnel, was made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. Edit

In the eleventh month, on yichou, the emperor sacrificed at the southern suburb, with the empress making the second offering; there was a general amnesty, civil and military officials were granted ranks and noble titles, those who had entered the ranked service had their terms of evaluation shortened, this year's taxes within the Pass were remitted, and three days of public feasting were granted. On jiaxu Doulu Qinwang died. Edit

In the twelfth month, on renchen, Tang Xiujing, former Duke of the State of Song, retired, was made Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Jointly of the Third Rank with the Secretariat-Chancellery. On jiawu the emperor went to the hot springs at Xinfeng. On jiachen Xinfeng was granted an amnesty and exempted from service for one year, and the officials accompanying him were granted one step in merit rank. On yisi he returned from Xinfeng. Edit

Fourth year of Jinglong (710)

In the fourth year, in the first month, on bingyin, the emperor and the empress went out incognito to see the lanterns, and then visited the residence of Xiao Zhizhong. On dingmao he went out incognito to see the lanterns and visited the residences of Wei Anshi and the Princess of Changning. On jimao he went to Shiping. Edit

In the second month, on renwu, Xianyang and Shiping were granted an amnesty and exempted from service for one year. On guiwei he returned from Shiping. On gengxu, with the empress, the consorts and the princesses, he watched officials of the third rank and above at a tug-of-war. Edit

In the third month the Nine Bends of the Heyuan region were given to the Tibetans. On gengshen rain froze on the trees, and the wells overflowed. Edit

In the fifth month, on xinyou, Yong, Prince of Guo by Succession, was enfeoffed as Prince of Bian. On dingmao Yan Qinrong, Adjutant of the Military Section of Xu Prefecture, was put to death. On dingchou there was an earthquake in Shan County. Edit

In the sixth month the empress, the Princess of Anle and the Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary Ma Qinke rebelled. On renwu the emperor died, aged fifty-five, and was given the posthumous title Emperor Xiaohe. In the thirteenth year of Tianbao his posthumous title was extended to Emperor Dahe Dasheng Dazhao Xiao. Edit

Appraisal

The appraisal says: In the past, when Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, rebellious ministers and wicked sons were afraid. Rulers who had murdered their lord and usurped the state he did not strike out or cut off from the record. Was this not because seizing a state by theft is the greatest of crimes, and by not hiding the facts he made the great evil plain and did not conceal it? Since Sima Qian and Ban Gu both wrote annals of Empress Gao, although the Lü clan did not usurp the Han, they stole and held its government, so the historians did not dare to hide the fact. Did they grasp the intention of the sage? Or did they merely happen to agree with the method of the Spring and Autumn Annals? The old history of the Tang followed this, placing Empress Wu among the basic annals; the practice, it seems, goes back a long way. Edit

Good and ill fortune follow a man as shadow follows form and echo follows sound. Those who do good most often meet good fortune, though some are unlucky and meet disaster; those who do evil have never failed to meet disaster, though at times some are lucky and escape it. So the petty man reasons that the way of Heaven is hard to know, that doing good does not always bring blessing and doing evil does not always bring calamity. Empress Wu's wickedness did not end in the great punishment of death: she is what is called one who was lucky and escaped. But when it came to Zhongzong and the Wei clan, calamity came on their heels. He himself had suffered the troubles brought by his mother the empress, and yet he walked the same road himself: is this not what is meant by "the most foolish do not change"! Edit