Wen Daya

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Wen Daya came from the Taiyuan Wen clan, a prominent gentry lineage from the Han through Tang periods. His father, Wen Junyou (also written Wen Junyou with a variant character), entered official service under Northern Qi as a scholar of the Wenlin Academy and, under the Sui, served as a military administrator of Si Prefecture. Near the end of the Daye era he retired because of illness and returned to his native place. Wen Daya and his younger brothers Wen Dalin (Wen Yanbo) and Wen Dayou were all renowned for literature. Contemporaries said that "the Wen brothers were cultivated, elegant, pure, and distinguished, and were celebrated in their time." Among gentry families known for literary learning and family education, the Yan and Wen families were regarded as foremost. Yan Zhitui likewise had three sons, and the expressions "the three heroes of the Yan family" and "the three heroes of the Wen family" circulated at the time. Xue Daoheng once said that the Wen brothers all possessed the ability to become high ministers.

Wen Daya's year of birth is not explicitly recorded in the historical sources. According to his biography in the Old Book of Tang, he died in 629, the third year of the Zhenguan era, at the age of fifty-seven, which would place his birth around 572. This conflicts with the record of "592 (the twelfth year of Kaihuang)." Scholars have offered differing views, and no final conclusion has been reached.

Entry into Office and Mourning for His Father

Near the end of Emperor Wen of Sui's Kaihuang era, Wen Daya was appointed Scholar of the Eastern Palace because of his outstanding literary ability, around 600, the twentieth year of Kaihuang, when he was about twenty-eight. During the Daye era he was appointed county commandant of Chang'an County. Before long his father died, and Wen left office to return home for mourning, living in Taiyuan with his third younger brother Wen Dayou. By then the Sui dynasty was in deep turmoil, popular rebellions were spreading, and Emperor Yang of Sui was trapped at Jiangdu with the dynasty's survival in doubt. Wen Daya therefore did not seek another post.

The Jinyang Uprising and the Founding of Tang

In 616, the twelfth year of Daye, Li Yuan, Duke of Tang, was appointed inspection commissioner of the Taiyuan circuit. Together with his sons Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, he recruited talented men from many quarters. Wen Daya, then living near Jinyang, became one of the important figures whom Li Yuan invited with particular courtesy. Wen entered Li's staff as a recording secretary at the garrison headquarters, managing confidential business. He also analyzed current affairs for Li Yuan and his sons, helped devise strategy, and participated in planning the uprising, becoming one of their most trusted aides.

In July 617, the thirteenth year of Daye, Li Yuan established the headquarters of the General-in-Chief. Wen Daya continued as recording secretary, remained responsible for confidential affairs, and took part in core deliberations. After Li Yuan swore his forces to the campaign at Jinyang, Wen accompanied the army and repeatedly offered strategic advice. In October of the same year, Li Yuan's forces captured Chang'an, enthroned Prince of Dai Yang You as emperor, and Li Yuan made himself Grand Councilor. Wen Daya, Dou Wei, Chen Shuda, and others were charged with planning the arrangements for the eventual transfer of the throne.

In 618, the first year of Wude, Li Yuan ascended the throne and established the Tang dynasty. Wen Daya became Vice Director of the Chancellery, placing him at the center of government. At the same time, his younger brother Wen Dalin held the office of Vice Director of the Secretariat, so the brothers served together at court in eminent positions, which contemporaries regarded as an honor. Wen Daya, however, believed that two brothers sharing confidential responsibilities, though admired at first, would eventually invite criticism. He therefore firmly requested to leave the Chancellery post and in April 619 was transferred to serve as Vice Minister of Works. Before long, because of his strong performance, and at the request of Qin Prince Li Shimin, he was transferred to posts including the Shandong Branch Department of State Affairs and Minister of Works.

The Xuanwu Gate Incident and Later Years

During the later reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the struggle for succession between Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Qin Prince Li Shimin became increasingly open. Luoyang held major strategic importance because it could support and balance the capital Chang'an, and Li Shimin also held authority as Prefect of the Masters of Writing at the branch administration. As Minister of Works, Wen Daya therefore became unavoidably involved in the political struggle. In June 626, the ninth year of Wude, he was ordered in a crisis to defend Luoyang and given full control over the Qin Prince's core forces in Henan. This stabilized the outer theater and created a strategic counterweight to the Qin Prince's forces in Chang'an. He also repeatedly submitted secret plans and participated in devising the strategy for the forceful seizure of power.

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Wen Daya was promoted for his contribution to Minister of the Ministry of Rites and enfeoffed as Duke of Li. In 629, the third year of Zhenguan, he fell ill from exhaustion and died in Chang'an at the age of fifty-seven. Emperor Taizong of Tang, mindful of his loyalty and filial conduct, specially bestowed the posthumous name "Xiao." In 654, the fifth year of Emperor Gaozong's Yonghui era, he was posthumously appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

Major Activities

Historical Writing

Wen Daya's most important contribution was his historical writing. From the uprising at Taiyuan through the establishment of the Tang dynasty, he devoted himself to discussions of ritual, confidential planning, and heavy administrative work. Between 620 and 625, the third through eighth years of Wude, he successively completed the two-volume Da Chengxiang Tang Wang Guanshu Ji, the six-volume Jinshang Wangye Ji, and the three-volume Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu, leaving valuable materials for later study of Tang history.

The three-volume Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu records the 357 days from Li Yuan's uprising at Taiyuan to his formal accession as emperor. The first volume covers the forty-eight days from the gathering of troops to the departure of the army; the second covers the march from Taiyuan to the capture of Chang'an; and the third records the period from Li Yuan's elevation to Prince Regent through his accession to the throne. Since Wen Daya served as recording secretary at the General-in-Chief's headquarters throughout this period, much of what he recorded came from events he personally saw, heard, or experienced, making the account relatively detailed. The work also preserves in full many edicts and official documents issued during Li Yuan's rise, in more complete form than later histories such as the Old Book of Tang, New Book of Tang, and Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance. The source therefore has considerable value for reconstructing the historical record.

Notably, Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu differs in many places from the later Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang. For example, it presents Li Yuan himself as the principal planner of the Taiyuan uprising, whereas the two later Tang histories attribute the initiative to Li Shimin. Many scholars have regarded Wen's account as more reliable and have argued that, where later sources differ from it, the earlier account should receive priority.

Political Activity

Wen Daya played an important role in politics during the transition from Sui to Tang. Before the Taiyuan uprising, he analyzed political conditions for Li Yuan and his sons, helped devise strategy, and participated in planning the rebellion. After Li Yuan established the General-in-Chief's headquarters, Wen served as recording secretary, handled confidential matters, and took part in core deliberations. After the Tang dynasty was founded, he successively held posts including Vice Director of the Chancellery, Vice Minister of Works, service in the Shandong Branch Department of State Affairs, Minister of Works, and Minister of the Ministry of Rites, placing him near the center of power.

During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Wen Daya played a key supporting role. He was entrusted with the defense of Luoyang and full control of the Qin Prince's core forces in Henan, creating a strategic counterpart to the Qin Prince's forces in Chang'an and providing important external support for Li Shimin's seizure of the throne.

Historical Thought

Wen Daya's political ideas and views of history are most clearly reflected in Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu. He held that transformations in human affairs were preceded by signs, especially major matters such as the rise and fall of states and changes of dynasty. Such signs, in his view, expressed Heaven's will: to follow them was to comply with the Mandate of Heaven, while to resist them was to oppose it. This conception of heavenly mandate runs through the entire work and presents Li Yuan's establishment of the Tang as an act in accord with Heaven and the people.

During the Kaihuang era, popular sayings circulated that Taiyuan was a place possessing "royal qi" and that "Li would become the dynastic surname." Wen Daya expressed agreement with this idea. He noted that Taiyuan was associated with ancient Tang, and that under the Western Zhou King Cheng had enfeoffed Shuyu there after the story of cutting a tung leaf, with the state taking the name Tang. Li Yuan happened to be serving as inspection commissioner of the Taiyuan circuit and held the title Duke of Tang; Wen therefore represented him as a "hidden dragon" who had received Heaven's mandate. He also used children's rhymes and prophetic portents to promote the religious and political legitimacy of Li Yuan's uprising.

Deference to rulers and elders, together with euphemistic praise, is another marked feature of Wen Daya's historical writing. A particularly clear example is the way Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu obscures Li Yuan's temporary change of banners and acknowledgment of Turkic overlordship. Li Yuan submitted to the Turks in order to remove a threat from his rear. Although this was a tactical expedient, it was naturally embarrassing for a Tang dynasty that claimed orthodox imperial status. Wen avoided the substance of the matter, mentioned it only briefly, and invoked the story of King Wu of Zhou carrying a white banner when taking the field at Muye, thereby presenting Li Yuan's politically awkward compromise as a righteous act in accord with Heaven and popular will.

Literary Achievement

Wen Daya and his younger brothers Wen Yanbo and Wen Dayou were all known for literary accomplishment. Contemporaries said that "the Wen brothers were cultivated, elegant, pure, and distinguished, and were celebrated in their time." The Old Book of Tang described him in terms that praised the literary brilliance of Wen and Chen and their contributions to ritual. Wen Daya's literary achievement is seen chiefly in his historical works. Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu is concise and clear in narrative, serving both as an important historical source and as a work of literary value.

Personal Relations

Family

• Father: Wen Junyou (also written Wen Junyou with a variant character), scholar of the Wenlin Academy under Northern Qi, military administrator of Si Prefecture under Sui, and an official of the Metropolitan Region
• Second younger brother: Wen Yanbo (574-637), courtesy name Dalin, early-Tang grand councilor, enfeoffed as Duke of Yu
• Third younger brother: Wen Dayou (Wen Yanjiang), Tang magistrate of Taiyuan County, recording secretary at the General-in-Chief's headquarters, Vice Director of the Secretariat, and Duke of Qinghe
• Eldest son: Wen Wuyin, Court Gentleman for Communication, Vice Minister of Works, and prefect of Ying Prefecture
• Second son: Wen Shiyun, prefect of Fang Prefecture
• Daughter: Lady of Jinyang County, married Zhao Benzhi, prefect of Si Prefecture
• Grandsons: Wen Jinchong (magistrate of Fanyang County), Wen Kerang, Wen Keming, and Wen Jinchang
• Great-grandson: Wen Renli, chief secretary of the Left Jinwu Guard
• Great-great-grandson: Wen Jingqian, magistrate of Nanzheng County

Ruler and Minister

• Li Yuan: Wen Daya assisted his Taiyuan uprising and the establishment of the Tang and subsequently held offices including Vice Director of the Chancellery and Vice Minister of Works
• Li Shimin: Wen Daya supported him in the succession struggle, held Luoyang in support of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and was later promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Rites and enfeoffed as Duke of Li
• Emperor Gaozong of Tang: posthumously appointed Wen Daya Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs in 654, the fifth year of Yonghui

Colleagues

• Dou Wei: a core adviser during Li Yuan's founding of the Tang and a participant in planning the transfer of the throne
• Chen Shuda: a core adviser during Li Yuan's founding of the Tang and a participant in planning the transfer of the throne
• Xue Daoheng: once said that the Wen brothers all had the talent to become high ministers

Historical Assessment

Tang and Contemporary Views

• The Old Book of Tang praised Wen's talent and status and associated him with distinguished literary and ritual accomplishment.
• Contemporaries said that "the Wen brothers were cultivated, elegant, pure, and distinguished, and were celebrated in their time," treating the brothers as outstanding figures of the age.
• Emperor Taizong of Tang, mindful of Wen Daya's loyalty and filial conduct, specially conferred the posthumous name "Xiao," reflecting a favorable assessment of his character.

Song and Yuan Periods

• Song scholars placed high value on the historical materials in Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu, regarding some of its accounts as more trustworthy than the official histories.
• Sima Guang used material from Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu in many places in the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, showing the importance he attached to it as a source.
• Song writers regarded Wen Daya's account of Li Yuan's Taiyuan uprising as more detailed and reliable than the accounts in the Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Late-Ming and early-Qing scholars such as Gu Yanwu valued Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu as a first-hand source for early Tang history.
• Qing evidential scholars closely examined differences between the work and the official histories, and many considered Wen's account relatively reliable.
• The Qing compilers of the Annotated Catalog of the Complete Imperial Library gave the work a favorable assessment, describing its narrative as detailed and abundant and noting that historians valued it.

Modern Period

• Modern historians such as Chen Yinke have treated Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu as an important source for the study of early Tang history and have regarded its evidentiary value as higher than that of later official histories in some respects.
• Modern scholars generally regard Wen Daya, as an eyewitness to the Jinyang uprising, and his Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu as among the most important original sources for the study of Li Yuan and Li Shimin.
• Some scholars have pointed out that although the work contains euphemistic writing intended to protect rulers, it is overall more objective than later official histories and argue that when later accounts conflict with it, Wen's account should be preferred.