[1]Identity and statusFang Guan lived from 697 to 763 and is identified as a Tang official and poet.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The biographical record gives Fang Guan's name, life dates, Tang affiliation, and status as a poet.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The person profile and literary entry confirm Fang Guan's name, dates, Tang identity, and poetic status.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority record names Fang Guan and gives his 697 birth, 763 death, and Tang affiliation.
WikidataFang Guan (Q1567139)The linked entity labels him Fang Guan, describes him as a Chinese chancellor, and gives 697 and 763 as his life years.
[2]Courtesy nameFang Guan's courtesy name was Cilu, written 次律.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The biographical record gives Cilü, written 次律, as his courtesy name.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The person profile and biographical entry identify 次律 as Fang Guan's courtesy name.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority record gives the alias 房次律 and its pronunciation fáng cì lǜ.
WikidataFang Guan (Q1567139)The linked entity lists 次律 as an alias and as the corresponding name claim.
[3]Native place and death dateHe was associated with Henan and Luoyang, while Yanshi and Goushi appear as alternative place designations; his death is dated to 19 September 763.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The biographical record lists Yanshi as the basic native-place address and gives 763 as the death year.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The person profile and biographical entry describe him as a man of Henan, now Luoyang, and date his death to 763.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority record gives Goushi as the birthplace and 19 September 763 as the death date.
WikidataFang Guan (Q1567139)The linked entity independently gives 763 as the death year.
[4]Family and early studyFang Guan was the son of Fang Rong, who was banished to Gaozhou and died in 705; Fang Guan was learned from youth and studied with Lü Xiang in seclusion on Mount Luhun.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The kinship record identifies Fang Rong as Fang Guan's father and gives Fang Rong's death year as 705.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The biographical entry identifies Fang Guan as Fang Rong's son and describes his early entry into the Hongwen institution.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority note states that Fang Rong died in Gaozhou after banishment in the first year of Shenlong and describes Fang Guan's early learning, broad knowledge, and study with Lü Xiang on Mount Luhun.
[5]Children and grandnieceThe recorded children were Fang Zongyan, Fang Cheng, and Fang Rufu, while Fang Jing was a grandniece; the listed dates are 778 for Fang Zongyan's death, 756–797 for Fang Rufu, and 800–822 for Fang Jing.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The kinship record lists Fang Zongyan, Fang Cheng, and Fang Rufu as sons and Fang Jing as a grandniece, with the stated birth and death years.
[6]Entry into office and Fengshan shuFang Guan entered the Hongwen institution through hereditary privilege, became a Palace Library proofreader in the Kaiyuan era, and presented the Fengshan shu in 724.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The biographical entries state that he entered as a Hongwen student through hereditary privilege and became a Palace Library proofreader; the authority note adds the 724 presentation of the Fengshan shu.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The office record gives the Palace Library proofreader post, beginning in 724 during Kaiyuan.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority note confirms the hereditary entry, Hongwen student status, and presentation of the Fengshan shu in 724.
[7]County and local officesHe passed the examination for capable county magistrates, served as magistrate of Lushi with a reputation for good administration, and later held censor, county, county-commandant, and Muzhou military posts.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The biographical and literary entries confirm the county-magistrate examination, Lushi appointment and reputation, and service as censor and magistrate of Jiande and Songcheng.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The examination and office records list the county examination, Lushi magistracy, censor service, and posts at Muzhou, Jiande, Cixi, Songcheng, Jiyuan, and Fengyi.
[8]Tianbao officesAt the beginning of Tianbao he advanced through the Office of State Guests, became jishizhong in 746, and later served as prefect of Yichun, Langya, Ye, and Fufeng and as inspector of Yizhou.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The literary entry describes his early Tianbao promotions, promotion to jishizhong in the fifth year, and subsequent prefectures.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The office record lists the Yizhou inspectorate, the two Office of State Guests posts, jishizhong, and the Yichun, Langya, Ye, and Fufeng prefectures.
[9]Late Tianbao officesIn 755 Fang Guan became Left Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and later held the listed provincial and court posts.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The literary entry dates the Left Junior Guardian and Assistant Minister appointments to the fourteenth year of Tianbao; the title profile also lists both offices.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The office record lists the Binzhou, Xinping, Pingyang, and Deyang inspectorates, as well as Left Junior Guardian, Assistant Minister, Grand Master of Palace Guests, and Minister of Rites.
[10]Entry into Shu and chancellorshipDuring the An Lushan Rebellion, Fang Guan followed Xuanzong into Shu, became Minister of the Board of Civil Office and Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and received the rank Yinqing Guanglu Daifu.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The two biographical entries describe his following Xuanzong into Shu and appointments as Minister of the Board of Civil Office and Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi; one also gives the Yinqing Guanglu Daifu rank.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The office and status records list the two offices and identify him with the chancellorship.
WikidataFang Guan (Q1567139)The linked entity describes him as a Chinese chancellor.
[11]Installation of Suzong and military commandIn 756 Fang Guan went to Lingwu to install Suzong, requested command of troops, became commander-in-chief in the tenth month, and received the commission to pacify the Western Capital and defend the Puto and Tong Passes.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The biographical entries describe the mission to install Suzong, the request for troops, and the subsequent military commission; one specifies Zhide 1 (756) and the tenth month.
[12]Defeat at Chentao XieAfter participating in the recovery of Chang'an, Fang Guan commanded the central army and used chariot tactics associated with the Spring and Autumn period; the accounts place his defeat at Chentao Xie or Xianyang, and state that Suzong pardoned him.
Souyun房琯 (15182)One account places the defeat at Xianyang after the recovery of Chang'an and mentions Spring and Autumn chariot tactics and imperial pardon; another names Chentao Xie and places it east of present-day Xianyang.
[13]Dong Tinglan and demotionDong Tinglan was a musician favored by Fang Guan; after Dong accepted bribes, Suzong became angry and Fang Guan was removed to the post of Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, while the authority note adds his late-life interest in Dong's qin playing.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The biographical entry identifies Dong Tinglan as Fang Guan's favored musician, records the bribery and Suzong's anger, and gives the demotion to Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority note adds Fang Guan's late-life interest in Dong Tinglan's qin playing and confirms the bribery and demotion.
[14]Return, ennoblement, and Du Fu's defenseAfter returning to the capital, Fang Guan received the Jinzi Guanglu Daifu rank and the title Duke of Qinghe; Du Fu spoke up in his defense.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The Complete Tang Prose entry records his return to the capital, grant of Jinzi Guanglu Daifu, and enfeoffment as Duke of Qinghe; the profile also lists that title.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority note states that Du Fu spoke up in Fang Guan's defense.
[15]Late provincial appointmentsIn 760 Fang Guan became inspector of Jinzhou and soon transferred to Hanzhou.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The literary entry dates the Jinzhou appointment and subsequent transfer to Hanzhou to the first year of Shangyuan (760).
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The office record lists the Jinzhou and Hanzhou inspectorates.
[16]Death and posthumous honorsIn 763 Fang Guan became Tejin and Minister of Justice, died at a monastic hostel in Langzhou at age sixty-seven, and was posthumously granted Grand Commandant.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The literary and Complete Tang Prose entries give the 763 appointment as Tejin and Minister of Justice, the Guangde death, the Langzhou monastic hostel, age sixty-seven, and posthumous title of Grand Commandant.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The office record lists Tejin, Minister of Justice, and Grand Commandant, with 763 as the end year for the Grand Commandant title.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database房琯 (A010069)The authority record gives the precise death date as 19 September 763.
[17]Literary status and surviving poemFang Guan was described as a poet skilled in prose, and one poem attributed to him survives in the Complete Tang Poems.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The status record calls Fang Guan a poet and describes him as skilled in prose.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The literary entry states that one poem by Fang Guan is preserved in the Complete Tang Poems.
[18]FriendshipsFang Guan was friendly with Du Fu, Wang Wei, Qiwu Qian, Jia Zhi, and Yan Wu.
Souyun房琯 (15182)The literary entry names Du Fu, Wang Wei, Qiwu Qian, Jia Zhi, and Yan Wu among Fang Guan's friends.
[19]Gift poems and proseFang Guan received gift poems and prose from Du Fu, Gao Shi, Meng Haoran, Chu Guangxi, Li Qi, and Zhang Chang.
CBDBFang Guan (17137)The association entries state that Fang Guan received gift poems or prose from Du Fu, Gao Shi, Li Qi, Zhang Chang, Meng Haoran, and Chu Guangxi.
CBDB
