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Li Yifu李义府
A treacherous minister of the Tang Dynasty, hiding a knife behind a smile, selling offices and titles.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 14
- RELATION RECORDS
- 17
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Li Yifu, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
9 figures · 9 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Li Yifu→Emperor Gaozong of Tangoffer strategy
Li Shimin→Li Yifuconfer title
Wu Zetian→Li Yifuposthumous honor
Emperor Gaozong→Li Yifupardon
Xu Shiji—Li Yifucolleague
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
5 figures · 6 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Du Zhenglun→Li Yifudiscord
Li Yifu→Zhangsun Wujiframe
Xu Shiji→Li Yifusupervise trial
Li Yifu→Chu Suiliangframe
Li Yifu→Liu Renguiloathe
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Wu Hou→Li Yifusupport
Xue Yuanchao→Li Yifuplead
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Old Book of Tang
A treacherous minister of the Tang Dynasty, hiding a knife behind a smile, selling offices and titles. He was the Right Chancellor, but was stripped of his title and exiled to Xi Prefecture, where he died of grief and anger. He was a minister under Emperor Gaozong of Tang, who advised the deposition of Empress Wang.
In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang
A Tang minister, who requested the establishment of Consort Wu as Empress.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Official history14 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
6 relations6 verified quotations- Wu Zetian→ posthumous honor →Li Yifu
- Li Yifu→ offer strategy →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
- Xu Shiji→ supervise trial →Li Yifu
- Emperor Gaozong→ pardon →Li Yifu
Verified original text · 6
则天以义府与许敬宗
posthumous honor · Old Book of Tang, ch. 82
仍令司空李𪟝监焉
supervise trial · Old Book of Tang, ch. 82
4 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Romance of Sui and Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history15 profile notes
New Book of Tang
13 relations13 verified quotations- Li Shimin→ confer title →Li Yifu
- Li Yifu→ offer strategy →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
- Xu Shiji→ colleague →Li Yifu
- Li Yifu→ frame →Zhangsun Wuji
Verified original text · 13
中书舍人李义府守中书侍郎，参知政事。
confer title · New Book of Tang, 宰相表上
中书令李义府、侍中许敬宗既用事
in power · New Book of Tang, 食货志一
11 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
In the official history, Li Yifu catered to the emperor's wishes and knocked on the palace gate to request the establishment of Empress Wu, and people called him a knife hidden in a smile. The novel vividly portrays his sycophancy and tyranny.
The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Empresses and Consorts, Part 1, records that when Emperor Gaozong wanted to establish Empress Wu, the ministers strongly protested, and 'soon he adopted Li Yifu's strategy' to depose Empress Wang and establish Empress Wu. In the Romance of Sui and Tang, Chapter 71, it is written that 'Li Yifu, the Secretariat Drafter, knocked on the palace gate and submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of Consort Wu Zhaoyi.' He gained the favor of Empress Wu, was appointed prime minister, and wielded power arbitrarily. His insidious and harmful behavior was called 'a knife hidden in a smile,' which is consistent with the official history.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
中书舍人李义府守中书侍郎，参知政事。
Original text (1)
则天以义府与许敬宗
- offer strategyLi Yifu → Emperor Gaozong of Tanghist × litNew Book of Tang, 食货志一Old Book of Tang, 后妃上
Original text (1)
中书令李义府、侍中许敬宗既用事
Original relation: in power · New Book of Tang, 食货志一
Original text (1)
仍令司空李𪟝监焉
Original text (1)
李义府、许敬宗又请废王皇后
- frameLi Yifu → Zhangsun WujilitNew Book of Tang, 奸臣传上New Book of Tang, 长孙无忌从父 敞从父弟 操子 诠族叔 顺德褚遂良曾 孙璆韩瑗来济异母兄 恒李义琰等传
Original text (1)
为长孙无忌所恶
Original relation: hated · New Book of Tang, 奸臣传上
Original text (1)
请废后立昭仪
Original text (1)
中书舍人李义府、卫尉卿许敬宗素险侧，狙势即表请昭仪为后
Original text (2)
高宗特原义府之罪
召李义府、任雅相、许敬宗、许圉师、张延师、苏定方、阿史那忠、于阗王伏阇、上官仪等，赴洛城门观乐
Original relation: summoned to view · Old Book of Tang, 音乐志一
Original text (1)
为李义府所恶，出为青州刺史
Original text (1)
刘洎、马周更荐之
- discord← Du Zhenglun → Li Yifuhist × litNew Book of Tang, 奸臣传上New Book of Tang, 杜正伦从子 求仁从孙 咸崔知温兄 知悌高智周附 石仲览郭正一赵弘智来章崔敦礼等传Old Book of Tang, 王珪戴胄岑文本杜正伦传
Original text (3)
坐与中书令李义府不协
密与中书侍郎李友益图去义府
Original relation: struggle for power · New Book of Tang, 奸臣传上
不能下
Original relation: discord · New Book of Tang, 杜正伦从子 求仁从孙 咸崔知温兄 知悌高智周附 石仲览郭正一赵弘智来章崔敦礼等传
Original text (1)
正伦与义府讼于上前
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
李大亮巡察剑南，表义府才