Background

Wei Juyuan was born in 631, during the reign of Emperor Taizong. He was a fourth generation descendant of the great Western Wei and Northern Zhou general Wei Xiaokuan, and his grandfather Wei Kuangbo (韋匡伯) was a duke during Tang Dynasty's predecessor and Northern Zhou's successor Sui Dynasty, based on Wei Xiaokuan's achievements. Wei Juyuan's father Wei Siren (韋思仁) was an imperial attendant during Tang.

During Wu Zetians reign

Wei Juyuan himself had become deputy minister of vassal affairs (司賓少卿) during the reign of Emperor Taizong's daughter-in-law (and one-time concubine) Wu Zetian. As of 693, he was serving as Wenchang Zuo Cheng (文昌左丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (文昌臺, Wenchang Tai), when Wu Zetian gave him the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. In 694, he was made the assistant minister of defense (夏官侍郎, Xiaguan Shilang) and still chancellor with the Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi designation. He was said to be meticulous in matters of reviewing subordinates' actions and correcting them that his subordinates complained, but he was able to correct a number of problems that they were having.

In late 694, Wu Zetian, displeased with the powerful chancellor Li Zhaode, exiled Li, and fellow chancellor Zhou Yunyuan and the assistant chief judge of the supreme court, Huangfu Wenbei (皇甫文備), then submitted articles of impeachment against Wei and several fellow chancellors -- Doulu Qinwang, Du Jingjian, Su Weidao, and Lu Yuanfang—for not being able to curb Li Zhaode's power. The five chancellors so accused were all demoted to be prefectural prefect—in Wei's case, to be the prefect of Fu Prefecture (鄜州, roughly modern Yan'an, Shaanxi). However, he was soon recalled to be the minister of treasury (地官尚書, Diguan Shangshu). By 700, he was again Wenchang Zuo Cheng, when he was made Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau (鳳閣, Fengge) and a post considered one for a chancellor. In 701, he was removed from that post, as his clansman Wei Anshi was becoming a chancellor at the time, and Wu Zetian did not like having multiple members of the same clan serving together as chancellors. He was subsequently put in charge of the capital Luoyang when Wu Zetian visited the western capital Chang'an, apparently to oversee a construction project at her mother Lady Yang's tomb. While she was still at Chang'an, in 702, she summoned Wei Juyuan to Chang'an and had his deputy Li Jiao put in charge of Luoyang. Subsequently, when she returned to Luoyang, he was put in charge of Chang'an.

During Emperor Zhongzongs reign

In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup, and her son Li Xian, who had previously been briefly emperor in 684, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). Wei Juyuan was made the minister of public works (工部尚書, Gongbu Shangshu) and created the Viscount of Tong'an. In the fall of that year, Wei Juyuan was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), again making him a chancellor de facto; he was also created the Count of Xun. However, he was soon made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and no longer chancellor, as Wei Anshi was still chancellor at the time.

In 706, Wei Juyuan was the minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu), when he was again given the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin designation—and further, Emperor Zhongzong had Wei Juyuan formally considered part of the clan of his wife Empress Wei. He was created the Duke of Shu. He thereafter appeared to become part of Empress Wei's faction at court. When Emperor Zhongzong's son-in-law Wang Tongjiao (王同皎) was accused of a treasonous plot with Zhang Zhongzhi (張仲之), Zu Yanqing (祖延慶), and Zhou Jing (周璟), in 706, of plotting to kill Empress Wei's lover Wu Sansi the Prince of Dejing (Wu Zetian's nephew) and then depose her, Zhang, while being interrogated, openly accused Empress Wei and Wu Sansi of adultery. Wei Juyuan and another chancellor aligned with Empress Wei, Yang Zaisi, who were conducting the interrogation, were said to have simply ignored the accusations as if they did not hear them.

In 707, Wei Juyuan was again the head of the examination bureau (now renamed Menxia Sheng (門下省)), now with the title Shizhong (侍中). In spring 708, when there were rumors coming out of the palace that there was a five-colored cloud—a sign of holiness—that was coming out of Empress Wei's skirt, Wei advocated that this incident be publicized, and Emperor Zhongzong agreed.

In 709, Wei Juyuan and Yang were both was made Pushe (僕射), heads of the executive bureau (now renamed Shangshu Sheng (尚書省)), and they both continued to serve as chancellor with the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin designation. Later that year, when Emperor Zhongzong was set to make sacrifices to heaven to the south of Chang'an (now capital again), Zhu Qinming the principal of the imperial university and Zhu's deputy Guo Shanyun (郭山惲), in order to flatter Empress Wei, suggested that she be allowed to serve as the second-stage sacrificer after Emperor Zhongzong, against the opposition of several other scholars, Tang Shao (唐紹), Jiang Qinxu (蔣欽緒), and Chu Wuliang (褚無量). Wei Juyuan ruled that Zhu's proposal be accepted, and so Empress Wei served as the second sacrificer. Zhu initially proposed that Emperor Zhongzong's powerful daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle be made the third sacrificer, but Tang and Jiang sternly opposed it, and so Emperor Zhongzong had Wei Juyuan serve as the third sacrificer.

In spring 710, there was an occasion when Emperor Zhongzong had the high level officials play games of cuju and tug of war. It was said that Wei Juyuan and fellow chancellor Tang Xiujing, due to their old age, fell and could not get up, drawing much laughs from the imperial household.

During Emperor Shangs reign

In summer 710, Emperor Zhongzong suddenly died—a death that traditional historians believe to be a poisoning by Empress Wei and Li Guo'er, so that Empress Wei could eventually become emperor like Wu Zetian and Li Guo'er could be crown princess. Empress Wei made Emperor Zhongzong's son, by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen emperor (as Emperor Shang), but retained actual power as empress dowager and regent. Less than month later, Emperor Zhongzong's sister Princess Taiping and nephew Li Longji the Prince of Linzi led a coup that killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. When the news of the coup broke, Wei Juyuan's family members advised him to hide due to his connections with Empress Dowager Wei. Wei Juyuan responded, "I am an important official. How can I stay away when the government is suffering such disaster?" He set out to go to the imperial government buildings, but on the way was intercepted by the troops participating in the coup, and he was killed.

Soon thereafter, Li Longji's father Li Dan the Prince of Xiang, himself a former emperor, displaced Emperor Shang and retook the throne (as Emperor Ruizong). He awarded Wei Juyuan posthumous honors, and initially the imperial scholar Li Chuzhi (李處直) proposed that Wei Juyuan be given the posthumous name Zhao (昭, "accomplished"). Another official, Li Yong (李邕), vehemently opposed, stating:

Li Yong later submitted a lengthy written opposition to the "Zhao" posthumous name, which popular opinion agreed was good argument, but Emperor Ruizong still bestowed the posthumous name of Zhao.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 92.http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/tan11.htm

• New Book of Tang, vol. 123.http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan16.htm

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 205, 206, 207, 208, 209.

家世

韋巨源出自京兆韋氏鄖公房，北周大司空、鄖國公韋孝寬的玄孫，北周京兆尹韋總的曾孫，韋巨源祖父韋匡伯襲封韋孝寬的爵位鄖國公，隋朝時改封舒國公。韋巨源父韋思仁在唐朝年間官居尚衣奉御。

武則天年間

武則天年間，韋巨源累遷司賓少卿，轉司府卿、文昌右丞。長壽二年（693年）在文昌左丞（《舊唐書·則天皇后紀》《新唐書·則天皇后紀》仍作文昌右丞）任上被授同鳳閣鸞台平章事，為實質宰相。三年（694年），轉夏官侍郎，仍同平章事。韋巨源有吏才，謹慎複查省內文案並予以糾正，雖然為下屬所怨，還是糾正了他們的不少錯誤。

韋巨源、豆盧欽望、陸元方、蘇味道、杜景儉五位宰相等曲從權相內史李昭德。延載元年（695年），武則天不滿李昭德，貶之。另一宰相檢校鳳閣侍郎周允元與司刑少卿皇甫文備上表彈劾韋巨源等五宰相不能匡正李昭德。五人都被貶為刺史，其中韋巨源被貶為鄜州刺史。久視元年（700年）十一月，又被召回拜地官尚書，十二月又在文昌左丞任上被拜為宰相之職納言。年末，因韋巨源堂叔文昌右丞韋安石被拜為鸞台侍郎、同平章事，武則天不喜歡同一家族有多名宰相，罷韋巨源相位。武則天幸西京長安監造母楊氏陵墓，任韋巨源為神都洛陽留守。長安二年（702年），武則天召韋巨源赴長安，以副留守李嶠代之。轉刑部尚書，加太子賓客。武則天回洛陽，以韋巨源為西京留守。

唐中宗年間

神龍元年（705年），武則天被政變推翻，其子曾在嗣聖元年（684年）短暫為帝的李顯複位，即唐中宗。韋巨源入拜工部尚書，封同安縣子。七月，遷吏部尚書，授同中書門下三品，拜相，進封郇縣伯。當時朝廷缺乏要員，韋巨源主事除十人官職，其一為檢校中書令楊再思，楊再思問其餘官職授何人，得知都是宰相們的近支親屬。楊再思深嘆：「我們真是負了天下。」韋巨源卻說這是時下之計。當時有賢德的人終不能進身，士大夫莫不離心。九月，因韋安石任宰相職中書令，韋巨源又被罷為禮部尚書。

二年（706年）二月，韋巨源改任刑部尚書，再授同中書門下三品，中宗命他和韋皇后敘宗親。進封舒國公。從此在朝中成為韋後黨羽。三月，中宗婿光祿卿駙馬都尉王同皎被控與洛陽人張仲之、祖延慶、武當丞周憬等謀反，計劃殺韋後情人、武則天侄德靜王武三思、廢韋後。張仲之被訊問時，說武三思罪狀，直稱武三思和韋後通姦。負責參驗其事的韋巨源和另一結連韋後的宰相侍中楊再思假裝睡覺，不予理睬，與吏部尚書李嶠故意將王同皎斷為死罪，眾以為冤。七月，改吏部尚書。

景龍元年（707年）九月，韋巨源為侍中、中書令。奉詔與唐休璟、李懷遠、祝欽明、蘇瑰等定《垂拱格》及《格後敕》，前後計二十卷，頒下施行。又與太子中允劉知幾、同僚紀處訥、中書令楊再思、兵部尚書宗楚客、中書侍郎蕭至忠並監修國史。武三思先有實封數千戶在貝州，當時遇到大水，刺史宋璟請求免租庸及封丁，韋巨源卻以為莊稼雖然被淹沒，還有蠶桑業可輸租稅，于是河朔戶口頗多流散。武三思構陷神龍政變功臣敬暉、桓彥范等，大理卿裴談判其處斬、抄家，大理丞李朝隱忤旨，中宗令貶李朝隱于嶺南惡處，韋巨源和中書令李嶠奏稱李朝隱素有清正之名，斷獄也得當，一旦遠貶嶺南，天下會懷疑其罪。中宗意解後，即出李朝隱為聞喜令。二年（708年）二月，傳言韋後衣笥裙上有五色雲，是吉兆，韋巨源請公布天下，中宗從之，並大赦。當時星墜如雷、野雉同叫之類的凶兆，韋巨源卻不說，又見中宗昏惑，與左衛將軍同中書門下三品宗楚客、吏部尚書同平章事鄭愔、諫議大夫趙延禧等傳播妖言祥瑞，秘密引導韋後效法武則天。同年，罷侍中。與楊再思、李嶠唯諾自全，無所匡正。

三年（709年）二月，韋巨源、楊再思分別被任為左、右僕射，並加同中書門下三品。又拜尚書令、同中書門下三品，仍舊監修國史。八月，中宗將祭祀長安南郊，國子祭酒祝欽明和國子司業郭山惲為奉承韋後，提議韋後為亞獻，而太常博士唐紹、蔣欽緒、國子司業鹽官褚無量則反對。韋巨源詳定儀注，希旨認可祝欽明所議，于是韋後為亞獻。祝欽明起初建議中宗有權勢的女兒安樂公主李裹兒為終獻，但唐紹、蔣欽緒堅決反對，中宗最終以韋巨源為終獻。

四年二月，中宗駕幸梨園毬場，命文武三品以上蹴鞠、拔河。韋巨源和同僚宰相太子少師同中書門下三品唐休璟因年老摔倒在地，長久不能起來。中宗、皇后、皇妃、公主們看了，大笑。

唐殤帝年間

六月，中宗暴崩，傳統史家認為是韋後和李裹兒所毒殺，這樣韋後能如武則天一樣稱帝，李裹兒能成為皇太女。韋後秘不發喪，召諸宰相韋安石、韋巨源、蕭至忠、宗楚客、紀處訥、韋溫、李嶠、韋嗣立、唐休璟、趙彥昭及蘇瑰等十九人入禁中會議，立中宗庶子溫王李重茂為皇帝，即殤帝，本人作為攝政皇太后維持實權。不足一月，中宗妹太平公主和侄子臨淄王李隆基發動政變，殺韋太后、李裹兒。消息傳出，韋巨源家人建議其躲避。韋巨源答：「我是大臣，有難豈能不赴？」出門到都街，被亂兵所殺。

不久，李隆基擁其父親，曾為皇帝的相王李旦復闢，即唐睿宗。睿宗追贈韋巨源特進、荊州大都督。太常博士李處直建議謚韋巨源為「昭」。戶部員外郎李邕堅決反對，說：「武三思引薦他為宰相，阿韋（即韋後）以他為宗親。無功受封，無德受祿。他誹謗同族韋安石，卻阿附外人宗楚客。謚號『昭』是不合適的。」後來又上了一篇更長的表文《又駁韋巨源謚議》反對此謚，雖然世人同意，此文也被文士所推重，但睿宗仍然謚韋巨源為「昭」。

子

• 韋明揚，華州刺史

注釋及參考文獻

• 《舊唐書》卷九十二

• 《新唐書》卷一百二十三