During Emperor Wens reign

It is not known when Yuwen Shiji was born. He was a son of the Sui Dynasty general and official Yuwen Shu, and he had at least two older brothers, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji (宇文智及). During the reign of Sui's founder Emperor Wen, Yuwen Shiji was, on account of his father's contributions to Sui, created the Duke of Xincheng County (新城县公). On one occasion, Emperor Wen took Yuwen Shiji into his bedroom to converse with him privately, and he was impressed by Yuwen Shiji sufficiently that he gave his granddaughter the Princess Nanyang (南陽公主) (the daughter of his son Yang Guang the Crown Prince) to Yuwen Shiji in marriage. They had one son, Yuwen Chanshi (宇文禪師). Because he married a princess, he looked down at his brother Yuwen Zhiji, but appeared to have a cordial relationship with Yuwen Huaji.

During Emperor Yangs reign

In 604, Emperor Wen died and was succeeded by Yang Guang (as Emperor Yang). Yuwen Shiji's activities early in Emperor Yang's reign were unclear. He was friendly with the general Li Yuan the Duke of Tang, and was said to have discussed much about military matters with Li Yuan.

By the middle of Emperor Yang's reign, Yuwen Shiji was the director of imperial transportation. When Emperor Yang went from the eastern capital Luoyang to Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) in 616, Yuwen Shiji followed him there. When Yuwen Shu, who also followed Emperor Yang to Jiangdu, fell ill and died later in the year, Yuwen Shiji briefly resigned to observe a mourning period for his father, but was soon returned to imperial service as the deputy minister of imperial supplies.

In spring 618, Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji, along with a number of high-level officers in Emperor Yang's elite Xiaoguo Army (驍果), were plotting a coup, but they, fearing that Yuwen Shiji, as Emperor Yang's son-in-law, would reveal the plot, did not inform Yuwen Shiji their plan. They soon launched the coup and killed Emperor Yang, declaring Emperor Yang's nephew Yang Hao the Prince of Qin emperor.

Under Yuwen Huajis command

Yuwen Huaji retained power as regent, and he made Yuwen Shiji Neishi Ling (內史令), the head of the legislative bureau of the government. Yuwen Huaji soon abandoned Jiangdu and led the Xiaoguo Army back north, toward Luoyang. His army battled those of another rebel leader, Li Mi the Duke of Wei, but was repeatedly defeated by Li Mi. During this time, Li Yuan, who has himself taken the throne at Chang'an, establishing Tang Dynasty as its Emperor Gaozu, sent secret messengers to Yuwen Shiji, then at Liyang (黎陽, in modern Hebi, Henan), and Yuwen Shiji secretly sent messengers to him as well, offering him golden bracelets—using bracelets (環, huan, a homophone to 還, meaning "return") to show that he intended to support Tang at some point. Later, Yuwen Huaji, unable to prevail over Li Mi, crossed the Yellow River north to Wei (魏縣, in modern Handan), Yuwen Shiji suggested that he head west and submit to Tang. Yuwen Huaji refused, and instead poisoned Yang Hao and declared himself emperor of a new state of Xu. He created Yuwen Shiji the Prince of Shu (蜀王).

Subsequently, when Yuwen Huaji was further forced to retreat to Liaocheng (聊城, in modern Liaocheng, Shandong), Yuwen Shiji and Feng Deyi requested permission to leave Liaocheng to collect food supplies, and the supplies he obtained allowed Yuwen Huaji to withstand attacks from the Tang general Li Shentong (李神通, Emperor Gaozu's cousin). Later, however, Yuwen Huaji was attacked by another rebel ruler, Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia, and Dou captured Liaocheng in spring 619, executing Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji. (Initially, Dou offered to spare Yuwen Shiji's son Yuwen Chanshi, but the Princess Nanyang, reasoning that the Sui laws required that the nephews of treasonous individuals, allowed Yuwen Chanshi to be executed.)

At the time Liaocheng fell, Yuwen Shiji and Feng were at Jibei (濟北, also in modern Liaocheng). Some of Yuwen Shiji's followers suggested that he gather his troops and attack Dou and try to take over the land north of the Yellow River. Yuwen Shiji refused, but instead headed to Chang'an with Feng and surrendered to Tang.

During Emperor Gaozus reign

When Emperor Gaozu received Yuwen Shiji, he initially rebuked him, but Yuwen Shiji was able to point out that they had previously been friends and that he had offered to submit earlier. Further, Yuwen Shiji's sister was by this point Emperor Gaozu's concubine, and so Emperor Gaozu made Yuwen Shiji an official. He later served under Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin the Prince of Qin in defeating Liu Wuzhou the Dingyang Khan, and as a result was created his old title of Duke of Xincheng County, and was given the Princess of Shouguang County (寿光县主, a relative of Emperor Gaozu, although the relationship is not clear) as his wife. Later, in 620 and 621, he followed Li Shimin in his campaign against Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, at the end of which Li Shimin defeated not only Wang, but Dou Jiande as well. After Dou's defeat, the Princess Nanyang, who had become a Buddhist nun, headed back from the Xia capital Ming Prefecture (洺州, in modern Handan) to Chang'an, and she happened to encounter Yuwen Shiji at Luoyang. Yuwen Shiji wanted her back as his wife, but she refused, stating to him, "My clan and yours have great enmity. The only reason why I am not killing you by my own hand is that you did not participate in the treasonous plot." She nevertheless ordered Yuwen Shiji to leave. Yuwen Shiji initially persisted, but she then stated, "You can see me again if you want death." Yuwen Shiji knew that she would not yield, and therefore left her.

For Yuwen Shiji's contributions in the campaign against Zheng and Xia, he was created the Duke of Ying. He was also made the Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). In 625, he was made acting Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng), a post considered one for a chancellor, as well as the head of the household at the palace of Emperor Gaozu's crown prince Li Jiancheng. (By this point, there was an intense rivalry between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, although whether Yuwen Shiji participated in either of their factions is not known.)

During Emperor Taizongs reign

In summer 626, Li Shimin, fearful that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, laid an ambush for Li Jiancheng and another brother, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, who had supported Li Jiancheng, at Xuanwu Gate and killed them. He then effectively forced Emperor Gaozu to first create him crown prince and then yield the throne to him (as Emperor Taizong). He reorganized the government, and as part of the reorganization, Yuwen Shiji was made the Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau and clearly a chancellor.

In 627, while Yuwen Shiji retained the title of Zhongshu Ling, he was no longer actually chancellor, as he was made the commandant at Liang Prefecture (涼州, roughly modern Wuwei, Gansu). It was said that he impressed the people of Liang Prefecture with his dignity and grace, and was able to fend off attacks from Eastern Tujue. Subsequently, he was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Dianzhong Jian (殿中監), the head of the palace affairs bureau (殿中省) – a high-level post, but one not bestowed with great powers. Later, on account of illness, he was made the prefect of Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), but was then recalled back to Chang'an to be a minor general. He was often invited to attend Emperor Taizong's feasts, but rarely spoke of what were happening at the feasts, not even to his wife. When Emperor Taizong reviewed the contributions of the officials to the founding of Tang Dynasty, he rewarded Yuwen Shiji by creating his son the Duke of Xincheng County. In or around 635, he was again Dianzhong Jian. He died in 642 and was bestowed posthumous honors and buried near the tomb of Emperor Taizong's wife Empress Zhangsun, which later would become Emperor Taizong's tomb as well.

Yuwen Shiji was praised for his kindness and care for his younger brother or brothers, and his nephews. He was also generous to his relatives, particularly the ones who were poor. However, he was also said to live luxuriously and wastefully. There was also an incident in which Emperor Taizong showed his favor for a tree, and subsequently, Yuwen repeatedly praised the tree, drawing a rebuke from Emperor Taizong:

:Wei Zheng often told me to stay away from flatterers. I did not know whom he was referring to, and I thought it might be you. This proves it.

Yuwen Shiji apologized, but defended his position by stating that emperors did not often have people who would agree with them, and that he only wanted to make the emperor happy. Emperor Taizong did not punish him.

Initially, the officials in charge of considering posthumous names recommended that he be given the posthumous name Gong (恭, "alert"). The official Liu Ji, citing Yuwen's wastefulness, rejected "Gong," instead suggesting "Zong" (縱, "unvirtuous"), and that became Yuwen's posthumous name.

Relatives

Immediate family

• Father: Yuwen Shu (宇文述), general of Northern Zhou, and later Sui

• Known spouses:

　• Princess Nanyang (南陽公主), daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui, separated after the coup d'état of his brothers in 616

　• Princess of Shouguang County (寿光县主), cousin of Emperor Gaozu of Tang

• Siblings:

　• Yuwen Huaji (宇文化及), older half-brother

　• Yuwen Zhiji (宇文智及), older half-brother

　• Consort Yuwen (宇文昭仪), a zhaoyi-ranked concubine of Tang Gaozu's

Descendants

• Yuwen Shiji (宇文士及), Duke Zong of Ying (郢縱公)

　• Yuwen Chanshi (宇文禅师), son with Princess Nanyang, executed by Dou Jiande in 619

　• Yuwen Chongsi (宇文崇嗣), Zhongyu dafu (中御大夫), Imperial Duke Ying (郢国公)

　　• Yuwen Miao (宇文邈)

　　　• Yuwen Ding (宇文鼎)

　　　　• Yuwen Yang (宇文杨)

　　　　• Yuwen Zong (宇文综)

　• Unnamed son, Duke of Fengcheng County (封城县公)

　• Unnamed son, Duke of Xincheng County (新城县公)

　• Yuwen Xiuduoluo (宇文修多羅), consort of Li Fu (李福), the Prince of Zhao, 13th son of Emperor Taizong of Tang

　　• Li Yin (李胤), Prince of Jianping (建平王), died young

　　• Li Mu (李穆), Prince of Zhao (赵王), adopted Li Sishun (李思順) as his heir

　　• Li Ze (李泽), Duke of Xindou Commandery (信都郡公)

　　• Li Gong (李恭), Duke of Handan (邯郸公)

Footnotes

Sources

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 63.https://web.archive.org/web/20080210041809/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/tan08.htm

• New Book of Tang, vol. 100.https://web.archive.org/web/20080210053058/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan14.htm

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 181, 183, 185, 187, 188, 189, 191, 192, 194, 196.

生平

隋朝大臣宇文述的第三子，其兄長為宇文化及、宇文智及。隋文帝開皇末年，宇文述被封新城縣公，且下詔宇文士及與楊廣的女兒南陽公主成婚，二人生有一子宇文禪師。

604年，隋文帝死後，太子楊廣即位，是為隋煬帝，宇文士及任尚輦局奉御，與唐國公李淵關係很好，常討論天下事情。616年，隋煬帝從東都洛陽出遊江都（今江蘇揚州），宇文述父子隨行，不久宇文述病死，為父守孝去職，後起複為鴻臚少卿。618年，宇文化及、宇文智及和驍果軍的統領發動政變殺死隋煬帝，擁立隋煬帝的侄子秦王楊浩為皇帝，由于宇文士及是隋煬帝的女婿故未邀他參與政變，後宇文化及任命宇文士及為內史令。

宇文化及帶領驍果軍北還洛陽，途中遭遇李密的瓦崗軍，被李密擊敗，宇文士及隨同遭李密擊敗的宇文化及北渡黃河至魏縣（今河北邯鄲）。這時，李淵在長安稱帝，派密使到黎陽（今河南鶴壁）見宇文士及，宇文士及讓密使捎給李淵一個金環表明願意還長安歸唐，眼見情勢越來越糟宇文士及建議宇文化及西歸長安但遭拒絕。宇文化及廢黜了楊浩自稱大許皇帝，封宇文士及為蜀王，宇文化及再遭李神通攻擊退至聊城，宇文士及和封德彞前去濟北征督軍糧，619年春，竇建德攻克聊城，擒斬宇文化及、宇文智及和宇文禪師。

宇文士及的屬下建議主帥趁虛奪取竇建德在河北的領地，但宇文士及未同意並和封德彞一起降唐。唐高祖李淵責備其不來早降，惟在涿郡、汾陰宮時宇文士及和李淵就是一起談論天下事的密友，且宇文士及的妹妹是唐高祖的寵妃宇文昭儀，故仍授宇文士及儀同。後宇文士及跟隨秦王李世民討伐劉武周，因戰功複封隋末爵位新城縣公，娶壽光縣主為妻。620年到621年，跟隨秦王李世民討伐王世充、竇建德，宇文士及進爵郢國公。

625年，宇文士及權檢校門下省侍中，成為宰相之一，兼太子詹事（當時的太子是李建成），同時又是秦王李世民的天策府司馬。626年，秦王李世民發動玄武門之變殺死李建成和齊王李元吉，李世民即位後任命宇文士及為中書省的主管—中書令。627年，宇文士及免除中書令，改為檢校涼州都督，盛陳兵衛、折節下士以防備突厥。後來回京為殿中省的主管殿中監，後因病改為蒲州（今山西運城）刺史，不久回京為右衛大將軍，其子被封為新城縣公。635年，再任殿中監。642年，宇文士及去世，贈左衛大將軍、涼州都督，陪葬唐昭陵。

軼事

• 竇建德事敗，南陽公主與宇文士及再次於洛陽相遇，宇文士欲和南陽公主復為夫婦。南陽公主：「你是我的仇人，未殺害你是因為當初政變時你並不知情（我與君仇家，今所以不手刃君者，但謀逆之日，察君不預知耳）」，宇文士及未被勸退仍然堅持和她見面，南陽公主：「必欲就死，可相見也！」後宇文士拜辭離去。

• 唐太宗讚美一棵樹，宇文士及隨聲附和。唐太宗責備他：「魏徵常勸我遠佞人，不識佞人是誰，至今知道了」（魏徵常勸我遠佞人，不識佞人為誰，乃今信然），宇文士及回覆：「官員們常在宮廷上爭吵，陛下都不願抬頭。今天臣有幸在陛下身邊，如果不稍微附和一下，雖貴為天子又如何能閒聊呢？」（南衙群臣面折廷爭，陛下不得舉手。今臣幸在左右，不少有將順，雖貴為天子，亦何聊？），唐太宗便沒有再怪罪他。

• 宇文士及對幼弟子侄以友愛見稱，但自己的生活奢侈，宇文士及的謚號原定為恭，但黃門侍郎劉洎認為生活奢侈不宜以恭為謚號，故改為縱。

家庭

父

• 宇文述

兄弟姊妹

• 宇文智及

• 宇文化及

• 宇文昭儀

夫人

• 南陽公主

• 壽光縣主

子女

• 宇文禪師，宇文化及遭竇建德擊敗後被俘虜，在其母南陽公主首肯下遭殺死。

•

• 宇文修多羅，趙王李福妃