Wei Anshi (; 651–714), formally Duke Wenzhen of Xun (), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty, serving as a chancellor several times, during the reigns of Wu Zetian, her sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, and her grandson Emperor Shang.
Background
Wei Anshi was born in 651, early in the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His family was from the Tang dynasty capital Chang'an, and his great-grandfather Wei Xiaokuan was a renowned general for Western Wei and Northern Zhou. His grandfather Wei Jin () was an official for Northern Zhou's successor and Tang's predecessor Sui dynasty and, after Sui's destruction in 619, served one of the competing claimants for the throne, Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, before eventually surrendering to and serving Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu. Wei Anshi's father Wei Wan () and uncles Wei Kun () and Wei Sui () also served as officials during Tang.
It is not known when it occurred, but at some point Wei Anshi passed the imperial examination and served as the sheriff of Qianfeng County (乾封, in modern Tai'an, Shandong). The high-level official Su Liangsi favored his talent. In 689, by which time Emperor Gaozong's son Emperor Ruizong was emperor (albeit with actual powers in the hands of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian), as empress dowager and regent), Wei was serving as military recruiter at the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) and Su was serving as chancellor. Su told him, "You have great talent and should be used for great things. For you to work in local government is a waste." Su then recommended him to Empress Dowager Wu, and Empress Dowager Wu made him a reserve official at the ministry of rites and magistrate of Yongchang County (永昌, one of the two counties making up the eastern capital Luoyang, where Empress Dowager Wu and Emperor Ruizong were at the time), as well as military advisor to the prefect of Bing Prefecture (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). It was said that Empress Dowager Wu personally issued an edict, "I heard that when you are at your post, you are deliberate in your handling of important matters. I also heard that your good governance was greater than even capable officials, and that your kindness and understanding were renowned among the officials. Your capability greatly comforts me." He was soon made the prefect of Bing Prefecture, and he later served as prefect of De Prefecture (德州, roughly modern Dezhou, Shandong) and then Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, roughly modern Zhengzhou, Henan). He was known for his seriousness, and he rarely laughed. He was also said to be honest and strict, and wherever he was, the people and the subordinates respected and feared him.
During Wu Zetian's reign
In 700, by which time Wu Zetian was carrying the title of "emperor" (after having had Emperor Ruizong yield the throne to her in 690, establishing a new Zhou dynasty and interrupting Tang), Wei Anshi was recalled to then-capital Luoyang to serve as Wenchang You Cheng (), one of the secretaries general at the executive bureau of government (文昌臺, Wenchang Tai), but was soon made Luantai Shilang (), the deputy head of the examination bureau (鸞臺, Luantai) and given the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (), making him a chancellor de facto. (As part of the commission, a distant relative of Wei Anshi's, Wei Juyuan, was removed from his post as chancellor, as Wu Zetian did not like to have multiple members of the same clan serving as chancellors at the same time.) At that time, Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi and lovers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were powerful, and Wei Anshi several times publicly tried to rebuke them. There was an occasion when, at an imperial feast that Wei was attending, Zhang Yizhi brought in several merchants (who were considered of low status under traditional Chinese thinking of the time), led by one Song Bazi (), and began gambling with them. Wei kneeled down to Wu Zetian and stated, "Merchants are low in status and should not be allowed to attend imperial gatherings." He then had the guards expel the merchants, and this shocked the people who attended, who were fearful for Wei. However, Wu Zetian, because Wei was being honest and forthright, praised him.