Li Deyu

Life

Li Deyu was the grandson of Li Qiyun and the son of the chancellor Li Jifu. In youth he showed strong ambition, studied with great diligence, and disliked the civil examinations; on reaching adulthood he was noted for exceptional ability and principle. Through his father’s protection he entered office as a Secretariat Proofreader and subsequently served in staff positions.

Early in the Yuanhe era, he sought an appointment outside the capital to avoid suspicion and served in a regional commander's staff. In 817, when Zhang Hongjing was stationed at Taiyuan, Zhang appointed him as secretary; in 819 he entered the court as Investigating Censor. Li Deyu was a friend of Yuan Zhen and was valued by Emperor Muzong, who summoned him into the Hanlin Academy.

Under Muzong, many of the emperor’s inner-court edicts were drafted by him. He subsequently held the posts of Director of Merit Evaluation, Drafter of Edicts, and Secretariat Aide, among others; during the reign of Emperor Jingzong he was sent out as military commissioner of Zhejiang West.

After Wenzong’s accession, he was made a Collation Officer of the Ministry of Rites and summoned as Vice Minister of War. In 833, the seventh year of Dahe, he entered the court as chancellor, was ennobled as Count of Zanhuang, and served as Vice Director of the Secretariat and Academician of the Jixian Hall. His later career included commands in Yicheng, Xichuan, Zhejiang West, and Huainan, prefectural appointments at Yuanzhou and Chuzhou, service as an attendant to the heir in the Eastern Capital, and an appointment as an envoy for persuasion in 840; he was also made military commissioner at Xingyuan and transferred to Zhenhai.

During the Niu–Li factional conflict, Li Deyu became the leader of the Li faction, opposed by the Niu faction headed by Niu Sengru and Li Zongmin. After Emperor Wuzong came to the throne, he returned to the chancellery from the Huainan military command and was appointed Vice Director of the Menxia, concurrently Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi and Left Servant of State. He held the rank of Situ and was repeatedly promoted to Grand Commandant; in 844 he was enfeoffed as Duke of Wei. His administration was credited with curbing the power of regional military governors and winning through strategic decisions.

After Emperor Xuanzong’s accession, he was sent out as military commissioner of Jingnan, transferred to the Eastern Capital as its resident official, demoted to military adviser of Chaozhou, and demoted again to household registrar of Yazhou (also given as military adviser of Yazhou). He died in office in the twelfth month of the third year of Dazhong, in 850, at the age of sixty-three. Posthumously he was granted Left Servant of State, Junior Guardian of the Heir, and Duke of Wei.

His wives included Xu Pan (807–829) and an unidentified woman surnamed Liu (788–849). His sons were Li Ye (826–860), Li Yi, Li Hun, Li Ju, and Li Nian; the latter four are each recorded as having died in 883. His descendants included his granddaughter Li Xuanli (859–871), the ninth-generation descendant Li Xijing (1075–1127), and the eleventh-generation descendant Li Hao.

Literature and works

Li Deyu wrote extensively and continued reading even after reaching the highest ministerial offices; he was also known for poetry, prose, and calligraphy. Later poetry criticism judged his regulated verse superior to older verse and his five-character lines superior to seven-character lines; another judgment placed his poetry below Bai Juyi but alongside Quan Deyu and Wu Yuanheng.

The collection *Huichang yipinji* is reported in both a 34-juan and a 20-juan version; the Sibu congkan edition was the standard one, and ten juan of its collected works consist of poetry, rhapsodies, and miscellaneous prose. He also wrote the notebook-fiction work *Ciliushi jiuwen*.

The *Complete Tang Poems* preserves one juan of his poetry; the *Supplement to the Complete Tang Poems* and the *Continuation of the Supplement* add nine poems and eighteen fragmentary lines.

Other titles associated with his writings include *Minghuang shiqishi*, *Pingquan caomu ji*, *Li Wenrao wenji*, *Shangdang jipan*, *Fa pan zhi*, *Wu Shu ji*, *Dahe bianbang lüe*, *Yuchen yaolüe*, *Wenwu liangchao xian tiji*, *Wenji (Li Jian)*, *Huichang fa pan ji*, *Xiantilu*, *Yiyu guizhong zhuan*, *Qiongchou zhi*, *Xinan beibian lu*, and *Wangchuan tu ba*; apart from the principal surviving works, most of the other writings have been lost.

Legacy

Li Deyu served under six reigns, alternated between civil office and military command, and had a reputation for effective administration in his own time. Later generations also referred to him as Li Zanhuang, Li Weigong, and Li Yazhou.