Background and early career

It is not known when Xiahou Zi was born. His family was from Qiao (譙, in modern Bozhou, Anhui) and claimed ancestry from the Spring and Autumn period state Qi, but little is known about his traceable ancestry except for his father Xiahou Shenfeng (夏侯審封), who served as a supervisory official at the ministry of rites. Xiahou Zi had at least two older brothers, Xiahou Min (夏侯敏) and Xiahou Jing (夏侯敬), and at least two younger brothers, Xiahou Fei (夏侯斐) and Xiahou Ao (夏侯敖).

Xiahou Zi passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 826, during the reign of Emperor Jingzong. He subsequently served on staffs of various regional governors, before later successively serving as the prefect of Wu Prefecture (婺州, in modern Jinhua, Zhejiang) and the prefect of Jiang Prefecture (絳州, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). He was later recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as an advisory official with the title Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫), and later as an imperial attendant (給事中, Jishizhong). In 856, by which time Emperor Jingzong's uncle Emperor Xuānzong was emperor, Xiahou was made the deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang). In 857, he made Shangshu You Cheng (尚書右丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and given the honorific title of Shang Zhuguo (上柱國). Soon thereafter, he was also made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and the director of taxation — after Emperor Xuānzong had initially offered the position to the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Wei Ao (韋澳) but Wei declined.

First chancellorship

In 858, by which time Xiahou Zi was referred to as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and the director of the salt and iron monopolies, Emperor Xuānzong gave Xiahou the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. After Emperor Xuānzong died in 859 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Yizong, Emperor Yizong continued to have Xiahou serve as chancellor, and made him Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng); he also created Xiahou the Marquess of Qiao. In 860, when agrarian rebel Qiu Fu (裘甫) overran Zhedong Circuit (浙東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang), it was at Xiahou's recommendation that Emperor Yizong commissioned the general Wang Shi to suppress Qiu's rebellion, and it was said that it was with Xiahou's full support that Wang was fully supplied and was able to defeat Qiu. In late 860, after the end of the Qiu rebellion, Xiahou was made the military governor (Jiedushi) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), continuing to keep the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title.

Second chancellorship

In 862, by which time Xiahou Zi was referred to as the former military governor of Xichuan, he was made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau, and chancellor again, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. It was at Xiahou's recommendation that, in 864, the general Gao Pian was commissioned to recapture Annan (安南, in modern Hanoi, Vietnam) from Dali forces. Late in 864, Xiahou was again removed from his chancellor position and made the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng).

After second chancellorship

In 868, when Xiahou Zi was apparently still governing Hezhong, and by which time he was referred to by the title of Duke of Qiao Commandery, Dali forces made a major incursion into Xichuan Circuit. Emperor Yizong, blaming Xiahou for not having fortified Xichuan's defenses while governing Xichuan, issued an edict rebuking Xiahou and relieving Xiahou from his post as military governor of Hezhong. Xiahou was made an advisor to the Crown Prince, with his office at the eastern capital Luoyang. It was said that Xiahou died soon thereafter, but the date is not known.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 177.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 182.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 249, 250.

背景和早期仕途

夏侯孜生年不詳。出自譙郡夏侯氏。父庫部郎中夏侯審。

唐穆宗長慶二年（822年）五月前後，夏侯孜為鄉貢進士。唐敬宗寶曆二年（826年），夏侯孜進士及第，歷任山南東道節度使柳公綽等人的藩鎮幕僚。曾將舅父李絳生前論事萬餘字授予蔣偕，編為七篇。開成年間，曾任殿中侍御史。會昌年間，任滁州刺史。唐宣宗大中初年，累遷婺州刺史，約三年（849年）、四年（850年），任絳州刺史，任上曾褒揚令狐紞的德行以鼓勵治下屬邑。五年（851年）至七年（853年）間，任陝虢觀察使。七年七月尚在任，十月守喪去職。後被召入京城長安為諫議大夫，轉給事中。十年（856年），改刑部侍郎。十一年（857年）正月，以朝請大夫兼守御史中丞遷朝議大夫、兼尚書右丞，加上柱國，賜紫金魚袋，守戶部侍郎，判戶部事。之前，宣宗想讓京兆尹韋澳判戶部，但韋澳辭讓，所以才任命了夏侯孜。

初次拜相

大中十二年（858年）二月，夏侯孜再加兵部侍郎，充諸道鹽鐵轉運等使。四月，夏侯孜加宰相銜同平章事，守本官，仍領使職，與同僚宰相劉瑑一同執政，兼領度支事，用分司東都洛陽的職方員外郎楊收為判官。又授集賢殿大學士。十三年（859年）八月，唐宣宗崩，唐懿宗即位，仍任夏侯孜為宰相，兼兵部尚書。夏侯孜的官爵曾為銀青光祿大夫、守中書侍郎、兼刑部尚書、同中書門下平章事、充集賢殿大學士、上柱國、譙縣開國男、食邑三百戶，後進封門下侍郎、譙郡侯。懿宗追封母晁氏為元昭皇太后，九月，夏侯孜作其冊文。十月，夏侯孜在工部尚書任上。咸通元年（860年），時值裘甫率領的農民變軍席捲浙東，二月，夏侯孜說：「浙東有山海相隔，可以計取，難以力攻。」並推薦前安南都護王式雖出身儒家，但在安南任上威服中外，名聞遠近，可當討伐裘甫之任。宰相們也都以為然。于是王式被任為浙東觀察使。懿宗常擔心裘甫之亂，夏侯孜說：「王式之才有餘，不日就告捷了。」還給王式寫信，要他專心擒拿裘甫。因夏侯孜的支持，王式所奏請要求的沒有不被聽從的，他最終成功于六月擒獲裘甫。九月，夏侯孜被任為檢校司空、兼成都尹、劍南西川節度等副大使、知節度事，仍加同平章事為榮銜。

楊收任吏部員外郎時，夏侯孜與同為楊收前上司的杜悰都在洛陽，二人聯名向宰相推薦楊收。夏侯孜在宰相任上提拔考功郎中王凝為中書舍人。

再次拜相

咸通三年（862年）七月，夏侯孜以劍南西川節度副大使知節度使事、管內度支營田觀察處置統押近界諸蠻及西山八國雲南安撫等使、光祿大夫、檢校尚書右僕射、同中書門下平章事、兼成都尹、上柱國、譙郡開國公、食邑三千戶的官爵被召回拜為左僕射、同平章事，再度拜為宰相，散官勛封如故。五年（864年）四月，在右僕射任上被加封五百戶。七月，指出奉命經略安南的容管經略使張茵懦弱，薦驍衛將軍高駢代任為安南都護、本管經略招討使，全部接收張茵的兵馬，承擔從南詔手中收複安南之任，獲准。當月，夏侯孜又以延資庫使身份奏明賬目，並提出建議，懿宗下詔准其奏。八月，又進為司空，充宣宗貞陵山陵使。夏侯孜與同僚宰相路岩、楊收一同輔政。十一月，因貞陵地道損壞，夏侯孜獲罪，再罷相，充河中節度使，仍加同平章事為榮銜。先前堂吏（中書省辦事吏員）寫詔書，撲在夏侯孜懷裡就死了。沒幾天，夏侯孜就被罷相了。

罷相後

咸通八年（867年）九月，時任延資庫使曹確在奏請令將應該上交的錢絹直接交給延資庫時引用了夏侯孜之前的上奏。

九年（868年），南詔軍大舉入侵西川，西川守軍缺糧，巂州被攻陷，整個川蜀地區都陷入紛擾。懿宗指責當時官爵為河中晉絳礠隰節度使、開府儀同三司、檢校司徒、同中書門下平章事、河中尹、上柱國、譙郡開國公、食邑二千戶的夏侯孜管治西川期間沒有鞏固西川的防禦設施，下詔斥責，十年（869年）正月罷免其河中節度使職，改任太子少保，分司東都。不久去世，但時間不詳。

軼聞

《北夢瑣言》記載了與夏侯孜有關的三件事：

1.夏侯孜未發達時，流離失所，曾遇到跛腳驢無故墜井；每每登朝士之門，住客店，都多不順，被時人呼為「不利市秀才」。

2.名家子弟薛保遜喜歡品評人物，被士子作為褒貶人物的標準，本人被時人號為「浮薄相國」。夏侯孜尤其厭惡他。薛保遜被貶為澧州司馬，長達七年得不到代任。夏侯孜罷相出鎮，改由魏謨拜相後，薛保遜才得到徵用，但已在任所去世。（考：魏謨並未在夏侯孜之後拜相，疑誤。

）

3.夏侯孜拜相後，習得房中術，出任河中節度使後，喜愛一個娼妓，與她行房時，體力不支消耗過度而死。夏侯孜門下曾有一還俗僧人「夏侯長官」，可能是教授夏侯孜房中術之人。俞琬《席上腐談》也有類似記載，且提到自己年過七十的外祖父閭丘某為大理評事時習得房中術，兩臉如桃而死，死狀與夏侯孜相似。

《太平廣記》引《玉泉子》記載：唐文宗開成年間，夏侯孜為左拾遺，曾穿桂管的布衫朝謁。文宗問夏侯孜的衣衫為何太粗澀，夏侯孜答桂管產此布，厚得可以禦寒。後來文宗問宰相：「朕觀察拾遺夏侯孜必是貞介之士。」宰相說：「他的行為就是當今的顏回、冉有。」文宗嗟嘆，也效仿他穿桂管布，最後滿朝都效仿，桂管布的價格因此突然變貴了。

《玉泉子》及《唐語林》又載：有一位王生曾和夏侯孜一同科考，王生在當時有名望，夏侯孜不及他。王生落第後，和夏侯孜一起去鳳翔府遊玩，鳳翔節度使王承元設館招待。一日，鳳翔從事約他們喝酒，酒酣，拿骰子祝道：「二秀才明年如果都能登第，當擲堂印（擲出雙重四）。」王生以才情自鳴得意，怒道：「我糟糕到了與夏侯孜同年進士的地步嗎？」不悅而去。夏侯孜進士及第，累官至宰相，而王生最終湮沒無聞。夏侯孜出為河中節度使後，王生之子對父親和夏侯孜的來往一無所知，偶然得到夏侯孜與父親平時來往的禮札十數幅，都是夏侯孜的手跡，欣然帶去謁見夏侯孜，夏侯孜當即見了他，問了他想要的東西，全部給了，並且召來各位從事說了這件事。

《唐語林》還記載其他一些夏侯孜故事：

1.崔郢以中丞為京兆尹，三司使在永達亭子為丞郎設宴，崔郢乘醉飲酒。時夏侯孜為戶部使，問：「京兆尹曾任給事中、中書舍人嗎？」崔郢說：「沒有。」夏侯孜說：「若不歷任給事中、中書舍人（都是正五品上），京兆尹（從三品）沒有資格參加丞郎（正四品下）宴。」命酒糾（勸酒、監酒令的人）罰崔郢酒，罰了他滿滿三大杯，他很久才起身。

2.大中十二年（858年）七月十四日退朝，宰相夏侯孜獨自到衙門，以御史大夫李景讓為檢校吏部尚書，充劍南西川節度使。當時正值中元節休假，通事舍人都不在崗。聖旨已下，夏侯孜接受聖旨，召當值舍人馮圖宣旨，兩省胥吏奉旨。從此朝廷有令，通事舍人即使休假也要在館舍。

3.唐宣宗崩去，宦官商議立唐懿宗繼位，入中書省命宰相們署名。有宰相成員不同意，夏侯孜說：「三十年前，外大臣（指朝臣）還能參與宮禁之事；這三十年以來，外大臣不能得知宮禁之事了。只要是確定李氏皇室子孫，內大臣（指宦官）立了，外大臣就北面朝拜新君就好了，哪能論甚麼是非？」于是率同僚們聯署。

4.咸通十年（869年），因一年前日者說「己丑年（咸通十年正是己丑年）無文柄，值『至仁』必當重振」，科舉暫停。同年，懿宗加尊號，其中有「至仁」兩字，補闕韓褒上疏請複科舉。夏侯孜對宦官楊玄翼說：「李九丈行不得事，我行之。」李九丈即唐武宗宰相李德裕，會昌年間曾建議罷進士試，未果。

宋朝僧人惠洪撰《禪林僧寶傳》，其中有《瑞龍璋禪師傳》，傳主瑞龍璋禪師為夏侯孜弟弟之子。大中初年，禪師伯父夏侯孜以司空出為淮南節度使，禪師時年才七歲，游慧照寺，聽到誦《妙法蓮華經》，就跪在夏侯孜面前請求剃髮出家。夏侯孜不肯，禪師不飲食，夏侯孜不得已同意了。（考：夏侯孜為司空並非在大中初年，也沒有夏侯姓人士擔任過淮南節度使，疑有誤。）

作品

• 《前華州華陰縣尉夏侯君夫人博陵崔氏墓誌銘並序》，志主為夏侯孜兄夏侯敏繼妻，也是夏侯敏原配之妹。作于長慶二年（822年）五月廿四日。

• 《唐故尚書庫部郎中贈工部尚書譙郡夏侯府君夫人趙郡太夫人李氏歸祔志》，志主為夏侯孜母。

• 《郊廟歌辭·享太廟樂章·宣宗室舞》，作于門下侍郎任上：

• 《唐懿宗元昭皇太后謚冊文》

• 《戶部積欠奏》

子孫

• 夏侯潭，禮部侍郎

　• 夏侯坦

　　• 夏侯映

• 夏侯澤，進士

注釋及參考文獻