Zhou Yunyuan

Who was Zhou Yunyuan?

Zhou Yunyuan, courtesy name Ruliang, was an official of Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, briefing serving as chancellor.

It is not known when Zhou Yunyuan was born, but it is known that he was from Yu Prefecture. He passed the imperial examination in his youth. He became deputy imperial censor reviewing central government affairs in early 694, and in winter 694 Wu Zetian made him acting Fengge Shilang, the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government. She also gave him the designation of Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi, making him a chancellor de facto. Soon thereafter, Zhou and the assistant chief judge of the supreme court Huangfu Wenbei submitted articles of impeachment against five chancellors -- Doulu Qinwang, Wei Juyuan, Du Jingjian, Su Weidao, and Lu Yuanfang, of being unable to curb the powerful chancellor Li Zhaode, whom Wu Zetian exiled in late 694. The five chancellors accused were demoted to be prefectural prefects.

On one occasion, when Wu Zetian held a feast for the chancellors, she asked them to quote good passages from books. The passage that Zhou selected was, "Be ashamed that your emperor is not as good as Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun." Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi believed that these words were hurtful and tried to rebuke Zhou, but Wu Zetian said, "These words are faithful and honest words. How can you treat them as wrong?"