Li Rangyi

Li Rangyi (; died 847? ), courtesy name Daxin , was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wuzong and (briefly) Emperor Wuzong's uncle Emperor Xuānzong.

Background and early career It is not known when Li Rangyi was born, and his family background was not clearly stated in traditional historical accounts other than that, according to his biographies in the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang, his family was from the Li clan of Longxi (隴西, in modern Tianshui, Gansu) —although the New Book of Tang did not list him among the chancellors from the Longxi Li clan. His grandfather was named Li Yue and his father was named Li Yinggui , although, if they carried any official titles, those titles were lost to history.

Li Rangyi passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 819, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong. He thereafter served on staffs of regional governors.

During Emperor Xuānzong's reign After Emperor Wuzong died in 846 and was succeeded by his uncle Emperor Xuānzong, Li Rangyi was given the title of Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies) and put in charge of overseeing construction of Emperor Wuzong's tomb. and both he and Li Rangyi were removed from their chancellor posts. Li Rangyi, even before the tomb was complete, was made the military governor (jiedushi) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu). He soon grew ill and requested a return to Chang'an, and he died on the way back to Chang'an. He was given posthumous honors.

It was said that Li Rangyi was frugal and did not make improper associations, and was praised for it.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 176. New Book of Tang, vol. 181. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 246, 248.