Background

Yuan Qianyao was from Xiang Prefecture (相州, in modern Handan, Hebei). His family traced its ancestry to the Northern Wei official Yuan He, who was a prince of the Xianbei state Southern Liang. His ancestors later served as officials of Northern Zhou and Sui Dynasty. Yuan Qianyao's grandfather Yuan Shimin (源師民) served as deputy minister of justice during Sui, while his father Yuan Zhixin (源直心) served as the minister of justice under Emperor Gaozong of Tang, but was, for offenses lost to history, exiled to the Lingnan region and died there. Yuan Qianyao passed the imperial examinations, although it is not known when that occurred.

During Emperor Zhongzongs and Emperor Ruizongs second reigns

During the second reign of Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor Zhongzong (who reigned twice and whose second reign was from 705 to 710), Yuan Qianyao served as Dianzhong Shi Yushi (殿中侍御史), a low-level imperial censor, and his responsibility was to examine the matters of the Jiangdong region (江東, i.e., modern southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang, south of the Yangtze River). He was considered capable in his duties, and was eventually promoted to the higher office of Jianyi Daifu (諫議大夫). After Emperor Zhongzong's brother Li Dan the Prince of Xiang, himself a former emperor, took the throne again (as Emperor Ruizong) in 710, there was an occasion when it was proposed that the shooting ceremony—a traditional ceremony in which the emperor led the officials in firing arrows from bows—be abolished. Yuan opposed the abolition, arguing that it was a traditional ceremony required by Confucian regulations. It is not known whether his opposition was well received by Emperor Ruizong, although it was said that he was soon made the commandant at Liang Prefecture (梁州, roughly modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi).

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

In 712, Emperor Ruizong yielded the throne to his son and crown prince, Li Longji, who took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. Early in Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era (713-741), a number of staff members of Emperor Xuanzong's cousin Li Shouli the Prince of Bin committed offenses. Emperor Xuanzong wanted a secretary general for Li Shouli who could lead by example, and Emperor Xuanzong's close associate, the minister of ceremonies Jiang Jiao (姜皎), recommended Yuan Qianyao. Emperor Xuanzong summoned Yuan for a meeting, and at the meeting, Yuan impressed Emperor Xuanzong with his energy and ability to answer difficult questions. He thus made Yuan secretary general for Li Shouli, as well as the deputy minister of palace supplies (少府少監, Shaofu Shaojian). He soon promoted Yuan to be deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) and deputy chief censor (御史中丞, Yushi Zhongcheng). Eventually, he was promoted to be Shangshu Zuo Cheng (尚書左丞), one of the secretaries general for the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).

In winter 716, Emperor Xuanzong promoted Yuan to be Huangmen Shilang, the deputy head of the examination bureau (黃門省, Huangmen Sheng), and gave him the designation Tong Ziwei Huangmen Sanpin, making him a chancellor de facto. However, Emperor Xuanzong still entrusted more responsibilities to the more senior chancellor Yao Chong, despite Yao's suffering from malaria at the time. As Yao did not have a mansion in the capital Chang'an, he was staying at Wangji Temple (罔極寺), and Emperor Xuanzong often had Yuan consult Yao at Wangji Temple. It was said that when Yuan made suggestions to Emperor Xuanzong that satisfied Emperor Xuanzong, Emperor Xuanzong would state, "This must be the will of Yao Chong," and that whenever Yuan made suggestions that Emperor Xuanzong was dissatisfied about, Emperor Xuanzong would state, "Go consult with Yao Chong first." However, Yao himself would soon draw the displeasure from Emperor Xuanzong due to allegations that his sons and associate Zhao Hui were corrupt. Yao thus offered to resign and recommended Song Jing to succeed him. Just two months after Yuan was made chancellor, both he and Yao were removed from their chancellor positions, to be replaced by Song and Su Ting. With Emperor Xuanzong then at the eastern capital Luoyang, Emperor Xuanzong made Yuan the mayor of Chang'an, to be in charge of the city in his absence. Yao served as the mayor of Chang'an for three years and governed the capital capably. On one occasion, when Emperor Xuanzong lost his white eagle while hunting, he sent out an order that the eagle be recaptured. When Yuan's subordinates located the eagle, the eagle was dead and stuck to thorns—leading Yuan's subordinates to be fearful of imperial wrath. However, Yuan explained to them that the emperor would not punish them for fortuity of the eagle's death, and then personally submitted a petition in which he claimed that he erred and should be punished. As he predicted, Emperor Xuanzong did not take offense and did not punish him or his subordinates.

In 720, Yuan was again made Huangmen Shilang and chancellor de facto, along with Zhang Jiazhen, replacing Song and Su. He was soon made Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. He submitted a petition pointing out that at that time, the powerful officials' sons and brothers were generally given posts in the capital region, thus forcing junior officials without such connections to take positions far from the capital. He suggested that those powerful officials' sons and brothers be sent out of the capital—offering to have two of his three sons, all of whom were serving in the capital region at the time, be sent out. Emperor Xuanzong issued an edict praising him and implementing his suggestion—that no family of officials is allowed to have three members all serving in the capital region.

In 722, under suggestions that the chancellors should be given an adequate supply of revenue so that they could concentrate on state matters, Emperor Xuanzong ordered that each chancellor be given tax revenues from 300 households, and Yuan and Zhang became the first chancellors to benefit from the order.

In 725, under the suggestion of Zhang Shuo, who had become chancellor by that point, Emperor Xuanzong prepared to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth at Mount Tai—a suggestion that Yuan disagreed with, and it was said that Yuan and Zhang began to have discord from that point on. After Emperor Xuanzong offered sacrifices at Mount Tai in 726, Yuan was given the additional office of Zuo Chengxiang (左丞相) -- one of the heads of the executive bureau—but also remained Shizhong. Later in 726, after Zhang Shuo was accused of corruption, Yuan was one of the officials that Emperor Xuanzong put in charge of interrogating Zhang, although subsequently Zhang was largely spared, stripped only of his chancellor status.

It was said that throughout the time that Yuan served as chancellor with Zhang Jiazhen and Zhang Shuo, he largely acted carefully and simply deferred to them on important matters—and he was much criticized when, at Zhang Jiazhen's suggestion, Jiang was exiled in 722, and he failed to try to intercede on Jiang's behalf, despite Jiang's having recommended him years before. By 729, when he was serving with Li Yuanhong and Du Xian, Li and Du often disagreed with each other, and Yuan was not doing anything to moderate them. This drew Emperor Xuanzong's displeasure with all three and, in summer 729, he removed all three from chancellor posts, replacing them with Yuwen Rong and Pei Guangting, while retaining fellow chancellor Xiao Song. Yuan kept his position as Zuo Chengxiang and continued to serve in that office briefly. In fall 729, he was made an advisor to Li Hong the Crown Prince, with the title Taizi Shaoshi (太子少師) -- but declined on the basis that his grandfather Yuan Shimin had the character "Shi" in his name, and therefore he could not accept the office due to naming taboo. In response, Emperor Xuanzong renamed the office Taizi Shaofu (太子少傅) to allow Yuan to be able to serve. The day that Yuan was to take office, Song and Zhang Shuo were to take new offices as well, Emperor Xuanzong set up a grand ceremony for their inauguration, including an elaborate tent, music, and food from the imperial kitchen. Emperor Xuanzong personally wrote a poem commemorating the contributions of the three. He also created Yuan the Duke of Anyang.

In 731, Emperor Xuanzong was set to visit Luoyang again. Yuan was said to be old and ill at the time, and was unable to accompany Emperor Xuanzong, and he remained at Chang'an. He died winter that year, and was buried with honor.

Sons

• Yuan Fu (源復), prefect of Hua

• Yuan Bi (源弼), Gongbu Langzhong (工部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of public works

• Yuan Jie (源潔), county magistrate of Henan (one of the two counties making up Luoyang)

• Yuan Qing (源清), married Princess Zhenyang (真陽公主) daughter of Xuanzong

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 98.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 127.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 208, 211, 212, 213.

家庭背景

源乾曜來自相州（今邯鄲）。他的家族可以追溯到鮮卑政權南涼後裔，後來在北魏受封為隴西宣王的源賀。他的先祖後來在北周和隋朝為臣。源乾曜的祖父源師民在隋朝任刑部侍郎，父親源直心則擔任唐高宗的司刑太常伯，但因事被流配嶺南而死。源乾曜舉進士，入仕時已四十多歲。曾任夔州參軍，其馬廄在城東北約三百步，後為孔子廟。

唐中宗、唐睿宗第二次登基年間

唐高宗之子唐中宗第二次登基時（705年 - 710年），源乾曜任殿中侍御史，神龍二年（706年）二月黜陟江東道，為朝散大夫行度支員外郎攝右台侍御史。他被認為是一位稱職的官員。唐隆元年（710年），中宗的弟弟相王、先前的唐睿宗李旦也再次登基。景雲年間，累遷諫議大夫。此時，公卿百官三九射禮不行已久。二年（711年）二月，源乾曜引用孔子的話上疏：「爾愛其羊，我愛其禮。」主張複興。歷史上並未記載睿宗是否採納了他的意見，但不久他就被任為梁州（大約在今漢中）都督。太極元年（712年），詔舉文可以經邦國者，源乾曜時任宣勞使，推薦獨孤通理作賦，獨孤通理從數百人中奪魁。

唐玄宗年間

延和元年（712年），唐睿宗禪位給太子李隆基，後者即位為唐玄宗。玄宗在位早期的開元（713年 - 741年）年間，玄宗的堂兄、故章懷太子李賢之子邠王李守禮的屬下官吏犯法，玄宗希望給邠王任命一位長史，玄宗近臣太常卿姜皎推薦源乾曜公正清明有吏幹。玄宗召見源乾曜，深為他的神氣清爽和對答有序所打動，于是拜行少府少監，兼邠王府長史，不久以正議大夫、行少府監、上柱國、安陽縣開國男遷行尚書戶部侍郎，散官勛封如故，兼御史中丞，未幾又轉尚書左丞。唐玄宗對宦官高力士說自己速度提拔源乾曜是因為源乾曜的相貌和言辭像先前因太平公主謀反案伏誅、但為人得到玄宗認可的蕭至忠。但歐陽修認為蕭至忠不賢，評價「帝以乾曜似之，遽使當國，是帝舉不知至忠之不可用，又不知乾曜之所可用也」。

開元四年（716年）十一月，源乾曜擢拜黃門侍郎，授同紫微黃門平章事，為實質宰相，勛封如故。但玄宗更倚重身患瘧疾的宰相姚崇，軍國大事都問他，其他宰相源乾曜、盧懷慎等唯唯諾諾而已。姚崇在長安沒有住所，寓居罔極寺養病，玄宗經常讓源乾曜去那裡諮詢姚崇。當源乾曜提出的建議讓玄宗滿意時，玄宗總說：「這一定是姚崇的意思。」而當源乾曜提出的建議與玄宗不合時，玄宗則說：「你應該先去諮詢姚崇。」源乾曜也只得謝罪，承認確實沒有諮詢過。源乾曜奏稱姚崇氣力虛弱，不能走路，希望令他移居四方館，特許家人視疾，玄宗准奏。但姚崇很快因為兒子們光祿少卿姚彞、宗正少卿姚異及親信中書主書趙誨受賄事發而失寵，姚崇因此辭職，推薦宋璟接替自己。源乾曜拜相才兩個月，閏十二月就以黃門侍郎、安陽男的官爵和姚崇一同罷相，由宋璟和蘇頲替代。玄宗行幸東都洛陽時，任源乾曜守京兆尹管理長安。源乾曜任京兆尹三年，把長安管理得很好。他認為富平主簿宇文融賢能，以禮厚待之。一次，玄宗打獵時不慎放走了一隻白鷹，命手下抓回。當源乾曜的手下發現白鷹時，它已經挂在荊棘叢里死了。這些手下害怕獲罪，但源乾曜認為皇帝不會怪罪，即使怪罪，他自己也會一力承擔，于是上表請罪。玄宗果然沒有處罰源乾曜和他的手下。

八年（720年）正月，源乾曜以尚書左丞、上柱國、安陽縣開國男的身份再次任黃門侍郎、同中書門下三品，一同拜相的還有張嘉貞，取代了宋璟和蘇頲。不久，他又加銀青光祿大夫，五月遷侍中。姜皎外甥太子中允李林甫通過源乾曜之子源潔請求為司門郎中，源乾曜說：「郎官須是有素行且才望高的人，哥奴（李林甫小字）豈是郎官？」數日後，除其為諭德。源乾曜上表指出有權勢的官員的兒子和兄弟都在京城任職，迫使沒有這層關係的初級官吏只能到邊遠地區任職，提議把這些官家的兒子、兄弟都遣離京城，並且要求把自己在京城任職的三個兒子中的兩個也遣出京城。玄宗表揚了他，同意了他的建議，下令每個官員家不得同時有三人在京城任職。公卿子弟做京官的因此出外者百餘人。源乾曜子河南府參軍源弼出為絳州司功，太祝源潔出為鄭縣尉。

兵部員外郎兼侍御史宇文融奏置勸農判官十人，並攝御史，為括客之法，陽翟尉皇甫憬、左拾遺楊相如、戶部侍郎楊瑒上疏反對，而源乾曜和中書舍人陸堅都贊成，于是皇甫憬被貶為盈川尉，楊瑒也被貶。

十年（722年）四月，與張嘉貞、兵部尚書張說奉敕去赤帝壇祈雨。夏，伊、汝鬧水災，在中書舍人知制誥許景先建議下，源乾曜奏報玄宗，玄宗下詔遣戶部尚書陸象先賑災。十一月，玄宗採納建議，敕宰相食實封三百戶，源乾曜和張嘉貞、張說成為首批受益者。

十一年（723年）十一月，玄宗親祠南郊，大赦天下，賜源乾曜、張說、兵部尚書同中書門下三品王晙物五百匹。冬，許州刺史王喬家奴告王喬與王晙潛謀構逆，源乾曜和時任中書令的張說奉命審案，查出王晙無反狀，但王晙仍以他罪被貶。十二年（724年），新拜戶部尚書兼益州長史判都督事的張嘉貞恨張說排擠自己，奉敕在中書省與宰相會宴時挽起袖子大罵，源乾曜、王晙一起為他們和解。同年，玄宗為源乾曜、張說親作褒獎之詞，稱源乾曜「謇謇匪躬，謙謙自牧，正身率下，直道事人，無聞伐己之功，每立致君之節，顧問則出納斯允，左右則啟沃居多。德行可稱，自宜升擢。」

十三年（725年），玄宗採納時任宰相的張說建議，準備封禪泰山，源乾曜不同意，從此與張說不合。同年，賀知章遷禮部侍郎，兼集賢院學士，入內謝恩。源乾曜對張說說：「賀公兩命之榮，足為光寵，然學士、侍郎孰為美？」張說答二者相去甚遠。十一月，封禪結束，源乾曜隨同封禪，撰《社首壇頌》，作迎神音樂《靈具醉》，以正議大夫、行尚書戶部侍郎、上柱國、安陽縣開國男、兼御史中丞拜尚書左丞相，仍兼侍中，勛封如故。封禪後，張說奏吐蕃悔過請和事，玄宗說要和河西隴右節度使、右羽林軍將軍判涼州都督事王君㚟商議，張說出去後，玄宗又對源乾曜說：「王君㚟勇而無謀，常思僥倖，一旦兩國和好，他怎麼立功？如果他進來說他的謀劃，我的計劃就不成了。」不久王君㚟即入朝奏事請求率兵深入討吐蕃。十四年（726年）四月，張說被御史中丞宇文融、御史大夫崔隱甫、中丞李林甫彈劾受賄，玄宗命源乾曜與刑部尚書韋抗、大理少卿胡珪、崔隱甫去尚書省審理，最後張說雖然獲得了寬大處理，但被罷中書令。

在和張嘉貞、張說共事期間，源乾曜往往處事謹慎，在重大問題上附和他們。玄宗曾考其為中上。十年（722年），由于張嘉貞排擠，當年舉薦源乾曜、又是源乾曜侄孫源光乘妻兄的姜皎被流放，源乾曜卻不相救，因此廣受批評。源乾曜以子求婚于李令一，李令一堅拒，言辭有所冒犯，被貶為黔州彭水尉。

十五年（727年）五月，詔中書門下引文武舉人就中策試，藍田縣尉蕭諒、右衛胄曹梁涉、邠州柱國子張玘等對策稍優，錄奏時，玄宗對源乾曜及其同僚宰相李元紘、杜暹等說：「朕宵衣旰食，側席求賢，所以每念搜揚者，恐草澤遺才無繇自達。至如畿尉衛佐，未經推擇，更與褐衣爭進，非朕本意。」于是唯以張玘為下第放選，其餘都罷去。

源乾曜和李元紘、杜暹共事，唯唯諾諾署名而已，李、杜政見不合，他也不作調停。這讓玄宗對他們三人都不滿，十七年（729年）六月，將他們一併罷相，改任裴光庭、宇文融，另一位宰相蕭嵩留任。此後短期內，源乾曜仍任左丞相。他與張說都請求以玄宗生日八月五日為千秋節，休假一日，群臣獻甘露、玄宗酹酒，士庶村社宴樂，于是成為常例。八月，他被任命為太子李鴻的屬官太子少師，但因為官名犯了祖父源師民的諱，他堅持不肯就職，于是玄宗改太子少師為太子少傅。與此同時，宋璟任尚書右丞相，張說任左丞相，玄宗為他們三人舉行了盛大的就職典禮，提供御膳房飲食及命太常奏樂，親自作三傑詩賜給他們，並封源乾曜為安陽郡公。

十九年（731年），玄宗再次幸洛陽，此時的源乾曜已年老患病，無法隨行，留在長安。12月22日，源乾曜病逝，以禮安葬，贈幽州大都督。玄宗在洛陽南門為他舉哀，輟朝兩天以表哀悼。

後源乾曜得繪圖凌煙閣。

軼聞

郗昂性捷直，源乾曜曾戲言他：「謝安說『郗生（郗超）可謂入幕之賓矣』，莫非是你的遠祖？」郗昂說：「猶勝以氏為禿髮。若不遇後魏道武，稱之為同源，賜之姓源氏，豈可列于《姓苑》？」源乾曜于是折服。

作品

• 《先師閔損字子騫贊》

家庭

先代

• 曾祖：源彪，字文宗，隋莒州刺史、臨潁縣公

• 祖父：源師民，字踐言，隋比部侍郎

• 父親：源直心，唐司刑太常伯

兄

• 源乾珍

姐妹

• 源氏，嫁中散大夫并州盂縣令崔哲

夫人

• 天水趙氏，朝散大夫、行肅州司馬、上柱國趙因本之女，封天水郡夫人

子女

• 子：源複，華州刺史

• 子：源弼，工部郎中

• 子：源潔，河南縣縣令

• 子：源清，駙馬都尉，娶玄宗女真陽公主

• 子：源晉賓，字光國，兗州長史、鄭州別駕

　• 孫：源泌，相州臨河縣令

• 第十三女：源端，濟陰郡考城縣尉韋馧夫人

《唐故源夫人墓誌》作源乾曜有子源廣津，但又稱源廣津父卒于697年左右，與源乾曜開元年間去世矛盾，故不取。

評價

南宋洪邁《容齋隨筆》「漢唐八相」一條云：「姚（崇）以二子及親吏受賂，其罷猶有說，宋（璟）但以嚴禁惡錢及疾負罪而妄訴不已者，玄宗用優人戲言而罷之，二公終身不複用，宋公罷相時，年才五十八，後十七年乃薨。繼之者如張嘉貞、張說、源乾曜、王睃、宇文融、裴光庭、蕭嵩、牛仙客，其才可睹矣。……釋騏驥而不乘，焉皇皇而更索，可不惜哉！」指後來的宰相們都不足以與姚崇、宋璟相比。其「唐三傑」一條又說：「漢高祖以蕭何、張良、韓信為人傑。此三人者，真足以當之也。唐玄宗同日拜宋璟、張說、源乾曜三故相官，帝賦《三傑詩》，自寫以賜。其意蓋以比蕭、張等也。說與乾曜豈璟比哉！玄宗可謂不知臣矣。」仍指張說、源乾曜不足以與宋璟相比。

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