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Periods of Chinese History
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Xue Xuan 薛宣, courtesy name Xue Ganjun 薛贛君, was a high minister of the late Former Han period 前漢 (206 BCE-8 CE). He came from Donghai 東海 (modern Tancheng 郯城, Shandong) and was a scribe in several positions in the local administration. Later on he rose to the post of magistrate (ling 令) of Wanju 宛句. Xue Xuan was recommended to General-in-chief (da jiangjun 大將軍) Wang Feng 王鳳 who had him appointed magistrate of Chang'an 長安. Emperor Cheng promoted him to lieutenant (zhongcheng 中丞) of the Censor-in-chief (yushi dafu 御史大夫) because Xue was an expert in administrative and jurisdictional matters. In this position Xue Xuan regularly submitted memorials to the emperor, giving advice for a better administration. He was later appointed governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Linhuai 臨淮, then of Chenliu 陳留, and finally of Youfengyi 右風翊 close to the capital. Xue Xuan had became famous for his fight against corruption and was therefore made Chamberlain for the palace revenues (shaofu 少府). In 20 BCE he rose to the office of Censor-in-chief and in the same year succeeded Zhang Yu 張禹 in the post of Counsellor-in-chief (chengxiang 丞相), concurrently being given the title of Marquis of Gaoyang 高陽侯. In 15 BCE he was forced to retreat because of malfunction of the apparatus subordinated to him, yet was allowed to retain the title of Marquis upon the intercession of Censor-in-chief Zhai Fangjin 翟方進, and was made Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshuling 尚書令). During the reign of Emperor Ping 漢平帝 (r. 1 BCE-5 CE) he was again forced to retire because his son had commited a crime.
Source: Cang Xiuliang 倉修良 (ed. 1996), Hanshu cidian 漢書辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), p. 1006.
February 28, 2012 © Ulrich Theobald · Mail
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Important Chinese of the...
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