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Biography of Di Renjie 112 12-04-2016 Translated by Piet Rombouts from the Old Tang History

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Biography of Di Renjie 112 12-04-2016 Translated by Piet Rombouts from the Old Tang History NEWS LETTER Biography of Di Renjie 112 12-04-2016 Translated by Piet Rombouts from the Old Tang History In the Old Tang History, compiled on imperial orders of the short-lived Later Jin dynasty in 941–945, Di Renjie (or Dee Jen-djieh in different spelling) has been given quite a long biography. It is the biography of a successful statesman, rather than that of a sleuth. The early part of his career is given little atten- tion; there is only one sentence that refers to Dee’s competent handling of court cases. Half the text is taken up by 狄 three memorials Dee presented to the emperor, giving advice on matters of state. 法 Old Tang History 舊唐書, 卷89, p. 2885– 2895: Di Renjie 狄仁傑 The literary name of Di Renjie was Huaiying 官 (‘Embracing Outstandingness’). He came from the town of Taiyuan, in the prefecture Bingzhou. His grandfather, Di Xiaoxu, had held the position of Aide of the Left to the Min- ister during the Zhenguan reign period (627– 649). His father was Di Zhixun, who had held the position of Administrator in Kuizhou pre- fecture. One day, when Renjie was in his childhood days, a gatekeeper of his family’s mansion was murdered. District officials came to the man- sion to conduct their investigation. Everyone in the household met the officials and replied to Di Renjie their inquiries, with the exception of Renjie who insisted on keeping to his studies. When tains. Looking towards the south, he saw a sin- the officials berated him for this, he replied: “I gle white cloud floating. He spoke to his atten- INFO am not yet able to reply to the sages and wor- dants: “The place under that cloud is where my . thy men that are in my books. Where would I parents live.” He stood there calmly for a long have the free time to meet simple officials? time, gazing, and did not leave until the cloud And yet I am berated!” had moved away. Later on, he passed the Classicist examinations Renjie surpassed all others in his devotion and care towards his friends. In Bingzhou there EE and was appointed Assistant Supervisor in Bianzhou. At that time, the Minister of the was a man called Zheng Chongzhi working in Board of Works, Yan Liben, held the post of the law section, whose mother was old and Personnel Evaluation Commissioner in the sick. He was to take up a post in a distant re- Henan circuit. When Renjie was falsely gion. Renjie spoke to him: “Your esteemed -D charged by another official, Yan Liben investi- mother has a serious illness and now you have gated this case. When he saw Renjie, he said been sent on an assignment in a faraway place. apologetically to him: “Confucius has said: ‘In How could one let a mother suffer the grief of a his errors a man is true to type. Observe the separation over thousands of miles!” He then errors and you will know the man.’ You can be went to visit the Administrator Lan Renji and called a bright pearl from a distant shore, a requested to take up the position, in the place bequeathed treasure from the south-east!” of Zheng Chongzhi. At that time, Lan Renji and Upon his recommendation, Renjie was ap- Adjutant Li Xiaolian were not on speaking pointed to the law section of the Area Com- terms. After Dee had approached him with his UDGE mand of Bingzhou. request, Lan Renji said: “Shouldn’t Li Xiaolian At that time, his parents were living in a retreat and I not feel ashamed about our disagree- J in Heyang. When he was on his way to ment?!” Hereafter, Lan Renji and Li Xiaolian © 2016 Bingzhou, Renjie traversed the Taihang Moun- restored their relationship. In the Yifeng period (676–678) Renjie became an even more severe punishment?’ If now Your Aide to the Chamberlain for Law Enforcement. Majesty would execute one general for having In the space of one year, he brought settlement cut down one cypress tree on the Zhaoling to suspended law cases that involved seven- mausoleum, how will Your Majesty be viewed teen-thousand people, and not one of those upon as a ruler one thousand years from now? involved filed a complaint of having been It is for this reason that I do not dare to receive wronged. your command and kill Zhang Shancai, be- At that time, the General of the Militant Guard, cause by doing so I would lead Your Majesty Quan Shancai, had been charged with the astray and onto a path that is not proper.” The crime of having wrongfully cut down a cypress emperor’s intention was somewhat softened, tree at the Zhaoling Imperial Mausoleum, the and because of this Zhang Shancai was spared tomb of Emperor Li Shimin. Renjie presented death. A few days later Renjie was appointed to a memorial in which he said that this crime the position of Attendant Censor. should be punished with dismissal. Emperor At that time, the Chief Minister of the Court of Gaozong, however, ordered the immediate ex- the National Granaries, Wei Ji, concurrently ecution of the general. Renjie again presented held positions in the Directorate for the Palace a memorial in which he stated that punishment Buildings and the Directorate for Imperial by death was not appropriate. The emperor Manufactories. Emperor Gaozong deemed that became angry and said: “Quan Shancai has cut the pit of the Gongling imperial mausoleum down a tree planted on the mausoleum, and by was narrow and small, and could not accom- doing so he made me fail in my duties towards modate the implements needed for burial. He my ancestors. He definitely must be executed!” sent Wei Ji to continue and complete this The court attendants gazed at Renjie, hinting work. Wei Ji built four auxiliary structures to he should leave court, but instead he said: ”I the left and right of the tomb-way. He also know that since olden times it is difficult to constructed the three palaces Suyu, Gaoshan stroke a dragon’s scales the wrong way and to and Shangyang, all of which were imposing defy one’s ruler. I modestly believe this is not and splendid. Renjie presented a memorial in so. When living during the times of the wicked which he stated that Wei Ji’s project expendi- kings Jie and Zhou, it would indeed be difficult tures were excessive. In the end, Wei was to perform such acts; during the times of the found guilty and relieved from his position. wise kings Yao and Shun, such deeds would be The Bureau Director of the Left Office of the easy to perform. This servant is now so fortu- Department of State Affairs, Wang Benli, nate to live in times like those of Yao and Shun, abused his favoured status to act wilfully, and and does not have to fear to meet the punish- he was feared at court. Renjie, however, pre- ment that befell Minister Bi Gan. In the past, sented a memorial against him and requested during the time of Han emperor Wen, a jade to have him handed over to the Judicial Office ring was stolen from the ancestral temple. The for investigation, but emperor Gaozong par- official Zhang Shizhi forcefully presented his doned him by special decree. Renjie then view at court that the punishment should be memorialised: “The state lacks men of courage execution of the offender and that would be the and talent, however, is there a shortage of the end of it. And also, when king Wen of the Wei likes of Wang Benli? Why would Your Majesty was about to resettle many families, the official be loath to part with a criminal and do injus- Xin Pi took hold of the emperor’s sleeves and tice to the law of the land? If Your Majesty in- made his remonstration, and also his advice sists on pardoning Wang Benli on special was heeded. From these two examples one can grounds, then I request that I be discarded in see that an enlightened ruler can be won over an unpopulated border region, as a warning to with reason, and that a devoted minister can- future devoted and upright officials!” In the not be made fearful of intimidation! If now end, Wang Benli was found guilty, and from Your Majesty would not heed my council then, then onwards the court observed discipline after my demise, I would be ashamed to meet rigorously. Zhang Shizhi and Xin Pi in the Netherworld. Soon after, Renjie received an additional ap- The emperor has made the laws and has these pointment as Grand Master for Closing Court, displayed on the tower outside the palace for and then transferred to the position of Director all to know; these laws stipulate gradations for of the Bureau of General Accounts. When Em- each of the punishments by imprisonment, peror Gaozong was about to grace the Fenyang banishment and death. How can one for an Palace with a visit, he named Renjie the Com- offence that is not a capital offence, issue an missioner of Arrangements. On this occasion, order to send someone to his death? When the Administrator Li Chongxuan of Bingzhou laws are not applied in a constant way, the dispatched several ten thousand men to build a populace will not know where to place their new imperial road, as otherwise the imperial hands and feet! If Your Majesty persists in entourage would pass by the Jealous Daughter changing the law, please do so as of today.
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