生涯

諴幼年丧父，孤苦力学，燃薪读书，遂通经史，不杂交游。文宗大和中，进士及第，又以书判拔萃。大和8年（834年）6月，检校户部尚书杜悰镇武昌，举任为从事。开成2年（837年）12月，悰领度支，諴为巡官。悰镇扬州亦从之，及悰入相，諴历监察、侍御史。武宗朝，李德裕与杜悰不协，会昌6年（846年）改悰为东蜀节度使，旧属莫敢饯别馈送，独諴无所忌避，通问不绝，德裕不喜，出諴磁州刺史。

宣宗之初，为李德裕所逐者皆徵还，諴入为户部员外郎、分司东都，历驾部员外郎、仓部郎中，驾部、仓部事简权轻，势家子弟素不乐任此，惟諴恬然受命，如居美职。宰相异之，改职方郎中兼侍御史知杂，大中4年2月13日（850年3月30日）召为翰林学士、中书舍人。

大中6年，党项侵扰河西，宣宗召学士询边事，諴奏对方略得旨。帝欲重諴资履，同年7月7日（852年7月27日）授权知刑部侍郎，7月8日（852年7月28日）命为邠宁节度使、河西供军安抚等使。諴至镇，招安党项诸部，并于沿边募军士开辟屯田，岁收谷30万石，省度支钱数百万。诏书嘉勉，加检校工部尚书，大中10年（856年）10月移镇泽潞，充昭义节度使。大中11年（857年）12月改太原尹、北都留守、河东节度使，諴明赏罚，谨斥候，就加检校尚书左仆射。

懿宗即位，大中13年（859年）10月移授汴州刺史，充宣武军节度使、宋毫汴观察等使。大中14年，入为户部尚书、判度支，同年10月23日（860年11月9日）改礼部尚书、同平章事，咸通3年2月1日（862年3月5日）迁中书侍郎、兵部尚书、集贤大学士。居相位三年，咸通4年4月1日（863年4月22日），以同列多任情不法，称疾固辞相位，罢为兵部尚书出镇河中，同年12月23日（864年2月4日）卒于镇，享年62岁。

家族

毕諴家系，详见于《新唐书》卷75下 宰相世系表五下：

;曾祖

• 栩：丰王府司马。

;祖

• 浚：汾州长史。

;父

• 匀：协律郎。

;子

• 绍颜：渭南尉、直史馆。

• 知颜：千牛备身。

备考

• 《宝刻丛编》卷十《集古录目》：「《唐赠太尉白敏中碑》，唐中书侍郎平章事毕諴撰、中书舍人王铎书。……碑以咸通三年立，在下邽。」，此碑近年出土，残文见《碑林集刊》第十辑孙芬惠《渭南发现唐〈白敏中神道碑〉》。

• 《中兴馆阁续录》卷三·储藏，著录毕諴啓状一，是毕諴书迹南宋时尚有存者，今则无考矣。

Background

Bi Xian was born in 802, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. His family was originally from Yun Prefecture (郓州, in modern Tai'an, Shandong) and originally claimed ancestry from Ji Gao (姬高), a son of King Wen of Zhou, who was created the Lord of Bi, although his traceable ancestry only went back to his fifth-generation ancestor, Bi Jing (毕憬), who served as a prefectural prefect during Tang Dynasty. Bi Xian's grandfather Bi Jun (毕浚) served as a prefectural secretary general, while his father Bi Yun (毕匀) served as a musical scholar in the ministry of worship.

Bi Xian lost his father early in life, and was poor in his childhood. However, he was said to be diligent, and he studied by burning wood and reading by the fire. After he was grown, he was well-studied in the Confucian classics and the histories, but was particularly capable in writing poetry.

During Emperors Wenzongs and Wuzongs reigns

Bi Xian passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in the middle of the Taihe era (827-835) of Emperor Dezong's great-great-grandson Emperor Wenzong, and he later passed a special imperial examination for those who made good rulings. Thereafter, when the official Du Cong served as the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit (忠武, headquartered in modern Xuchang, Henan), Du invited Bi to serve as an assistant. When Du later served as the director of finances, Bi served as a traveling reviewer under him. Later, when Du served as the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), he continued to serve on Du's staff. When Du was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as chancellor in 844 by then-reigning Emperor Wuzong (Emperor Wenzong's younger brother), Bi returned to Chang'an as well and was made an imperial censor, initially with the title of Jiancha Yushi (监察御史), then as Shi Yushi (侍御史).

At that time, however, another chancellor, Li Deyu, was the leading figure at court, and Li did not get along with Du. In 845, Du was therefore sent out of Chang'an to serve as the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (东川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan). Because Du had offended Li, his former subordinates largely did not dare to send Du off, but Bi did. Li, hearing this, was displeased, and sent Bi out of the capital to serve as the prefect of Ci Prefecture (磁州, in modern Handan, Hebei).

During Emperor Xuānzongs reign

After Emperor Wuzong died in 846 and was succeeded by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong, Li Deyu lost power, and many of those whom Li had demoted were promoted. Bi Xian was thereafter made Hubu Yuanwailang (户部员外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of census (户部, Hubu), with his office at the eastern capital Luoyang. He was then recalled to Chang'an to serve as Jiabu Yuanwailang (驾部员外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu) in charge of imperial messengers' horses and wagons, and then as Cangbu Langzhong (仓部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of census in charge of imperial money and food storages. During those times, the Jiabu and Cangbu assignments were not considered honored assignments, and officials who were from prominent clans would be displeased if assigned to them, but Bi accepted them happily and respectfully, impressing the chancellors who assigned him. He was thereafter made Zhifang Langzhong (职方郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of defense in charge of military maps, as well as supervisory censor (侍御史知杂, Shi Yushi Zhiza). He was soon made an imperial scholar (翰林学士, Hanlin Xueshi) and Zhongshu Sheren (中书舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中书省, Zhongshu Sheng).

As of 852, Emperor Xuānzong had to deal with frequent Dangxiang incursions on the northwest borders, and he was hoping to find a suitable military governor (Jiedushi) for Binning Circuit (邠宁, headquartered in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), but could not find one. On one occasion, when he discussed with Bi what proper border policies should be, Bi discussed the history and listed a number of suggestions that he had. Emperor Xuānzong was impressed, compared him to the prominent Zhao generals Lian Po and Li Mu, and asked him whether he would be willing to accept the Binning assignment. Bi agreed cheerfully. Emperor Xuānzong, in order to increase his prominence before sending him out on assignment, first made him the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), then made him the military governor of Binning. Later that year, he reported that the Dangxiang troubling Binning had all been pacified. That allowed Binning's headquarters, which had been temporarily moved from Bin Prefecture (邠州) to Ning Prefecture (宁州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu) due to the Dangxiang incursions, to be returned to Bin Prefecture in spring 855. It was said that while at Binning, Bi encouraged the soldiers to tend the fields and grow crops for the military food supplies, allowing them to be supplied adequately at a reduced cost to the imperial treasury. He was later transferred to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭义, headquartered in modern Changzhi, Shanxi) and then Hedong Circuit (河东, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). As Hedong was on the border, Bi established 70 watch posts to defend against attacks. However, while it was said that Emperor Xuānzong had previously promised him that he would be recalled to serve as chancellor, then-lead chancellor Linghu Tao was fearful of him, and therefore he was never recalled during that timespan.

During Emperor Yizongs reign

Emperor Xuānzong died in 859 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Yizong. Thereafter, Bi Xian was transferred to Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), and yet later recalled to Chang'an to serve as the minister of census (户部尚书, Hubu Shangshu) as well as the director of finances. In 860, Emperor Yizong made him the minister of rites (礼部尚书, Libu Shangshu) and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, making him a chancellor de facto. As chancellor, he was said to be a capable administrator and talented in his writing. He served as a chancellor until 863, when he resigned his chancellor post, ostensibly due to illness, but was said to have actually resigned because he was unhappy that his chancellor colleagues did not uphold the law properly. He was thereafter made the minister of defense (兵部尚书, Bingbu Shangshu). He was thereafter made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), and died two months later, in early 864.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 177.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 183.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 249, 250.