Quan Deyu

Quan Deyu (; 759 – September 30, 818 ), courtesy name Zaizhi , formally Duke Wen of Fufeng , was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xianzong.

Biography Ancestry, birth and early life Quan Deyu was born in 759, during the reign of Emperor Suzong. His family was from Tianshui. His family claimed descendance from the Later Qin official Quan Yi, although the traceable part of his family tree was from the Sui dynasty official Quan Rong . Quan Deyu's male-line ancestors, after Quan Rong, served as officials for the Tang dynasty, although Quan Deyu's grandfather Quan Chui was not listed with any official titles. Quan Deyu's father Quan Gao was well known for his avoidance of being involved in the rebellions of An Lushan and Li Lin. In 794, Quan became Imperial Archivist (起居舍人, Qiju Sheren), and was soon also put in charge of drafting edicts. Whilst serving in that capacity, he received several successive promotions in title — to Jiabu Yuanwailang , a low-level official at the Ministry of Rites; Sixun Langzhong , a supervisorial official at the Ministry of Personnel and Zhongshu Sheren , a mid-level official at the Imperial Secretariat (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). When Quan started serving as the drafter of edicts, he shared the responsibilities with Xu Dai and Gao Ying, but as Xu and Gao were later transferred to other responsibilities, Quan ended up with sole responsibility for drafting edicts. In the winter of 801, Quan became responsible for the Imperial examinations at the Ministry of Rites. The next year, he was made deputy Minister of Rites (禮部侍郎, Libu Shilang). and thus responsible for imperial examination for three straight years. Records show that he was a good selector of talented examinees. He was later made Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang).

In 810, after the chancellor Pei Ji suffered a stroke, Emperor Xianzong made Quan the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi . In 816, Quan was made the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi). In fall 818, he fell ill, and Emperor Xianzong issued an edict allowing him to return to his own mansion in Chang'an to recuperate. On the way, Quan died. He was given posthumous honors.

Names His courtesy name was Zaizhi.