Guo Ziyi

Life and career

Near the end of Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era, Guo passed the military examination, entered service, and by the Tianbao era had risen to governor of Jiuyuan and right military commander of Shuofang. When An Lushan rebelled in 755, he was appointed military governor of Shuofang and led his troops east; he defeated Shi Siming in Hebei, was later made Weiwei qing and governor of Lingwu Commandery, and received the rank of Yushi daifu for his service.

After Emperor Suzong's accession, he became Minister of War and a chancellor; in the second year of Zhide he was appointed vice marshal of Guannei and Hedong, cooperated with Uyghur forces to recover Chang'an and Luoyang, and was rewarded with the offices of Sikong and Situ and the title Duke of Dai. In the first year of Qianyuan (758), he became Zhongshu Ling, but lost his military command in the second year.

Under Emperor Daizong, in the first year of Baoying (762), Guo was ennobled as Prince of Fenyang Commandery and stationed at Jiangzhou. When Tibetan forces occupied the capital in the first year of Guangde (763), he was appointed vice marshal of Guannei and led the army in driving them out; he also received an iron certificate and a portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion. He later held military commands at Hezhong, Binning, and elsewhere.

During Pugu Huai'en's rebellion, Guo rode with several dozen horsemen to persuade a Uyghur leader, joined forces with the Tang army against Tibet, and thereby helped secure the court. On Dezong's accession, he was recalled to court, relieved of military command, made acting chief minister, granted the honorific Shangfu, and promoted to Taiwei and Zhongshu Ling. In 781, the second year of Jianzhong, he died at the age of eighty-five; he was posthumously made Grand Preceptor and named Zhongwu, and was enshrined in Daizong's temple.

Family and associations

His father was Guo Jingzhi (郭敬之), and his wife was Wang (王氏). His sons included 郭曜, 郭旰, 郭晞, 郭朏, 郭晤, 郭曙, 郭映, 郭昢, 郭暎, and 郭某. His sons-in-law included 盧讓金, 吳仲孺, 張浚, 李洞清, 鄭渾, 張邕, 趙縱, and 王宰. His granddaughter 郭氏 was identified as Empress Yi'an; 郭葵 and 郭甫 are listed as direct descendants, while 郭輝照 claimed descent from him.

When Li Bai visited Bingzhou, he met Guo Ziyi, who had previously been prosecuted and was helped by Li Bai; after the An Lushan rebellion, Guo offered to surrender his office to redeem Li Bai, who was subsequently sentenced by imperial order to permanent exile at Yelang.

Literary work

Although known as a military commander, Guo Ziyi was also described as skilled in literary composition; two of his poems are preserved in the Complete Tang Poems.