Li Xian

Family background

Li Xian belonged to the Tang imperial clan and descended from Li Ke, the third son of Emperor Taizong and Prince of Wu; the relationship is described either as grandson or great-grandson. His father is named as either Prince of Xin'an Li Yi (李禕) or Li Wei (李緯); more specific accounts call him Li Yi's third or youngest son.

His only son was Li Xiaosun (李孝孫); his son-in-law was Lu Hao (盧浩), and his father-in-law was Dugu Ji (獨孤藉).

Career

In 732, the twentieth year of the Kaiyuan era under Emperor Xuanzong, Li Xian entered government service through hereditary privilege and first held the office of taizi tongshi sheren (太子通事舍人). His subsequent career included Honglu qing (鴻臚卿), county magistrate, shaoyin of Jingzhao and Henan, Jinwu jiangjun (金吾將軍), Jiangzuo jian (將作監), Jingzhao yin (京兆尹), and the governorships of Weizhou, Wei commandery, and Yongzhou. Accounts describe five transfers from his first office to the governorship of Weizhou, followed by service as prefect of Lingling and Changsha.

During the Tianbao era, Yang Guozhong disliked Li Xian, and he was sent from the capital as prefect of Changsha. After the An Lushan rebellion began, he was appointed prefect of Fengxiang and concurrently Censor-in-Chief in 756; he also held the posts of Vice Censor and Deputy Marshal. He then rose to Left Vice Director, a title also appearing as 尚書左丞相, and Minister of Rites; after the recovery of the two capitals, he additionally became Jingzhao yin and was enfeoffed as Duke of Liang.

Prince Li Lin of Yong invited Li Xian to serve as chief administrator of the princely household. Recognizing that Li Lin intended rebellion, Li Xian claimed illness and withdrew.

Chancellorship and later years

In the second year of the Qianyuan era (759), Li Xian entered the chancellery as Zhongshu shilang (中書侍郎) with the designation tong Zhongshu menxia pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). One account places his standing highest among officials and says that he alone decided military and state affairs. He was demoted to governor of Shu after remarks angered Emperor Suzong; another account attributes the demotion to the hostility of Li Fuguo.

After Emperor Daizong's accession in 762, Li Xian returned as Minister of Rites and Superintendent of the Imperial Clan, then resumed the offices of Menxia shilang and tong Zhongshu menxia pingzhangshi; the former title also appears as Huangmen shilang (黃門侍郎). In the same year he served as prefect of Jiangling, military governor of Jingnan, and supervisor of appointments, and returned to the chancellery.

In 764 he was removed from direction of government and made Grand Steward of the Crown Prince (太子詹事). Soon afterward he became Minister of Rites and Minister of Personnel, and also held the offices of Censor-in-Chief, Superintendent of Coinage, Director of Selection Affairs, and Agricultural Pacification Commissioner. The scope of his selection duties is variously given as Jiangnan East and West with Fujian, or Jianghuai.

In 765 he was transferred to Minister of War and concurrently appointed governor of Quzhou. He died in 766 while serving as governor there, at the age of fifty-eight; a date of 21 August is also given. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince.

Poetry and associations

Li Xian was recognized as a poet and accomplished in prose; one poem survives in the Complete Tang Poetry. He received poems and prose presented by Gao Shi, Wang Wei, and Huangfu Che. Li Hua composed his epitaph, with the association dated 766.