家世

• 高祖：赵德言，贞观中为主客员外郎。

• 曾祖：赵景，好畤令。

• 祖：赵敭先，应制高等，历监察御史，迁殿中侍御史，至醴泉令。

• 父：赵骅，官秘书少监。累赠太保。

生平

父赵骅，官秘书少监。德宗大历进士，初授弘文馆校书郎，一年后又以书判入高等，补陆浑主簿。数月，征拜右拾遗，充翰林学士，时其父赵骅被任为秘书少监，他与父亲同日任命，一时传为佳话。建中年间，历官屯田、司门、司勋员外郎。贞元六年（790年），主持考功司事务，裁定官吏考核成绩，黜陟公当，无所畏避。升为考功郎中，母忧去职。终丧，迁吏部郎中。十一年（795），迁给事中。贞元十二年，与谏议大夫崔损同日以本官（给事中）同中书门下平章事。贞元十四年罢相后，为右庶子。二十年，迁吏部侍郎。

唐宪宗元和年间历任东都留守、礼部、户部二尚书、荆南节度使，进封天水郡公。元和六年，又入为刑部尚书。八年，转山南西道节度使。九年，召拜御史大夫，俄迁河中节度使。十一年七月，入为兵部尚书。九月，改太子少傅，权知吏部尚书铨事。十四年九月，拜吏部尚书。

唐穆宗即位，复拜太子少傅，判太常卿事。改太子少师，迁太子太保。

唐文宗即位，拜检校司空、兼太子太傅。大和六年以司空致仕，为四朝元老。九月卒，年八十七，诏赠司徒。

赵宗儒前后三任方镇节度使，八次主持吏部选事，忽略礼仪规矩，切于治生，时论因此较为不好。他著有《广成菀》，《幽居》二赋，及《孝安哀册文》，较为著名。

夫人京兆韦氏，长安丞韦单之女。先赵宗儒九年去世。嗣子赵真龄，字元宾，官至吏部郎中。长女适检校司门员外郎卢并，幼女适秘书郎韦昶。

延伸阅读

参考书目

• 《旧唐书》卷一六七

• 《唐故金紫光禄大夫守司空致仕赠司徒相国赵公墓志铭并序》，正议大夫行尚书兵部侍郎上柱国阳武县开国男赐紫金鱼袋郑浣撰

Background

Zhao Zongru was born in 746, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from Deng Prefecture (邓州, in modern Nanyang, Henan) and traced its ancestry to the Northern Wei general Zhao Tong. Other male-line ancestors of Zhao Zongru's served as officials under the Northern Wei, Sui dynasty, and Tang dynasty, including his father Zhao Hua.

Service under Emperor Dezong

Zhao Zongru passed the imperial examinations and was made a scribe at Hongwen Pavilion (弘文馆). He served there for over a year, and, because his writing skills were considered excellent, was made the treasurer at Luhun County (陆浑, in modern Luoyang, Henan). Just several months later, he was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as You Shiyi (右拾遗), a low-level consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中书省, Zhongshu Sheng), as well as an imperial scholar. On the same day that the received these commissions, his father Zhao Hua was promoted to be the deputy director of the Palace Library, and it was said that their commissions were named the same day because Emperor Xuanzong's great-grandson Emperor Dezong, who was then emperor, wanted to honor their household. In 783, Zhao Zongru was made Tuntian Yuanwailang (屯田员外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of public works (工部, Gongbu), and continued to serve as imperial scholar as well. After his father Zhao Hua died later that year or shortly thereafter when fleeing Chang'an in light of Zhu Ci's rebellion (which also caused Emperor Dezong to flee), Zhao Zongru left public service to observe a mourning period for his father. After the mourning period was over, he returned to public service and successively served as Simen Yuanwailang, a low-level official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu) and Sixun Yuanwailang (司勋员外廊), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu).

In 790, Emperor Dezong put Zhao in charge of evaluating the officials' performance, and it was said that Zhao carried out this task diligently and fairly. Emperor Dezong approved of his actions and made him Kaogong Langzhong (考功郎中), a supervisorial official at the ministry of civil service affairs. He later left public service again to observe a mourning period for his mother, and after the mourning period was over was made Libu Langzhong (吏部郎中), also a supervisorial post at the ministry of civil service affairs. In 795, he was made an imperial attendant (给事中, Jishizhong). In 796, he was made chancellor with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, along with Cui Sun. Virtually nothing is recorded in history about his acts as chancellor, however, and in 798 he was removed from the post and made a staff member of Emperor Dezong's crown prince Li Song.

After Zhao's removal as chancellor, it was said that he was careful in his action and all he did was attend imperial meetings when called. Emperor Dezong approved of his carefulness, and in 804 made him the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang). When he met Zhao, he stated: "I know that you, Lord, have closed your doors for six years, and therefore decided to give you this office. Do you still remember how you were given commissions on the same day as my old subject (Zhao Hua)?" Zhao was so touched that he wept prostrate.

Service under Emperors Shunzong and Xianzong

In 805, Emperor Dezong died, and Li Song succeeded him (as Emperor Shunzong). Emperor Shunzong put Zhao Zongru in charge of drafting the mourning text for Emperor Dezong.

Early in the Yuanhe (806–820) era of Emperor Shunzong's son Emperor Xianzong, Zhao was made the defender of the eastern capital Luoyang. He was later recalled to serve, successively, as the minister of rites (礼部尚书, Lǐbu Shangshu) and then minister of census (户部尚书, Hubu Shangshu). He was thereafter made the military governor (Jiedushi) of Jingnan Circuit (荆南, headquartered in modern Jingzhou, Hubei) as well as the mayor of its capital Jiangling Municipality (江陵). While serving there, he released 2,000 soldiers who were not needed from their commissions. In 811, he was recalled serving as the minister of justice (刑部尚书, Xingbu Shangshu). In 813, he was made the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) as well as the mayor of its capital Xingyuan Municipality (兴元). In 814, he was recalled to serve as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu), but soon was made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) as well as the mayor of its capital Hezhong Municipality. While there, there was an occasion when he was accused of wrongly spending money allocated for soldiers' salaries, and he was fined one month's worth of his own salary. In 816, he was recalled serving as the minister of defense (兵部尚书, Bingbu Shangshu). Shortly after, he was made an advisor to Emperor Xianzong's crown prince Li Heng but was also acting minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚书, Lìbu Shangshu, note different tone than the minister of rites). In 819, he became full minister of civil service affairs.

Service under Emperors Muzong, Jingzong, and Wenzong

After Emperor Xianzong died in 820 and Li Heng succeeded him (as Emperor Muzong), Emperor Muzong, as he was still in the mourning period for Emperor Xianzong, requested that the officials from the executive bureau (尚书省, Shangshu Sheng) be in charge presiding over the imperial examinations, rather than having him personally do so. Zhao Zongru opposed on the basis that this was against tradition and that there was no time to revise the examination method before the examinees would be forced to leave the capital. Emperor Muzong agreed. Thereafter, Zhao was again made an advisor to the crown prince, but also was acting as minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing). In 821, he was made acting You Pushe (右仆射), one of the heads of the executive bureau, as well as minister of worship. Part of his responsibilities included supervising a musical corps known as the Lion Orchestra (师子乐, Shizi Yue), which was ordinarily not used except for the solemn imperial meetings, and which used decorations of five different colors, representing the five directions (including center). With Emperor Muzong being young and frivolous, giving many authorities to his musicians, the eunuchs who directed the palace musical corps demanded that the five-colored decorations be given to the palace musical corps. Zhao did not dare to refuse, but reported this to the chancellors. The chancellors, however, felt that it was Zhao's responsibility to refuse this improper demand, and believing Zhao to be cowardly, had him removed and serve only as advisor to the crown prince.

In 825, when Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong was emperor, Zhao was made a senior advisor to the crown prince. When Emperor Jingzong died in 826 and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wenzong, Zhao was made the director of Daming Palace. In 830, Emperor Wenzong made him acting Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies) and senior advisor to the crown prince. Emperor Wenzong summoned him and asked him for advice, and he responded, "The way of Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun mythical emperors known for their benevolent rule) were based on kindness and frugality. I wish that Your Imperial Majesty would keep that in mind." Emperor Wenzong appreciated the advice. In 831, when the chancellor Song Shenxi was falsely accused of treason, Emperor Wenzong convened a group of senior officials to discuss potential punishments. Zhao was one of the senior officials summoned, but on account of his old age, Emperor Wenzong ordered that he not be required to bow. Soon thereafter, Zhao requested to retire, and in 832, Emperor Wenzong approved of the retirement after conferring on him the full Sikong status. Zhao died in the fall of 832 and was posthumously honored. He was remembered for having come to prominence due to his literary abilities, having served three terms as military governor, and having been in charge of selecting officials eight times. However, he was criticized for being not careful in the rites and paying too much unnecessary attention to details of life.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 167.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 151.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 235.