13 Facts About Gao Jifu

Gao Feng, courtesy name Jifu, better known as Gao Jifu, posthumously known as Duke Xian of Tiao, was a Chinese official who served as a chancellor during the reigns of the emperors Taizong and Gaozong in the Tang dynasty.

Gao Jifu was from the locale that would eventually be the Tang Empire's De Prefecture.

Gao Jifu's grandfather, Gao Biao, was a commandery governor during either the late Northern Wei dynasty or Northern Wei's branch successor state, Eastern Wei.

Gao Jifu's father, Gao Heng, was a county magistrate during the Sui dynasty.

Gao Jifu himself was said to be both studious and trained in martial arts when he was young, and was said to be particularly appropriate in his actions during the mourning period after his mother's death.

In 618 or 619, when the Sui Empire was on the verge of total collapse after the death of Emperor Yang, the people of Ji County surrendered to agrarian rebels, and Gao Yuandao was killed in the process.

Gao Jifu led his brother's followers in combat and was able to capture and execute those who killed his brother, taking their heads to his brother's tomb to be offered to his brother.

Gao Jifu soon submitted to the rule of the Tang dynasty, one of the regimes that rose out of the confusion of the Sui Empire's collapse, along with another rebel leader in the region, Li Yude, who had been a general of the rebel ruler Li Mi, and was made the military advisor to Li Yude, who was made the prefect of Zhi Prefecture.

Gao Jifu was eventually made a midlevel official at the legislative bureau of the government.

In 634, he was serving as such when, in response to Emperor Taizong's call for officials to offer suggestions, Gao Jifu offered five suggestions, in these areas:.

In 643, Gao Jifu was made an assistant head of household to the crown prince, Li Zhi.

In 645, during Emperor Taizong's campaign against Goguryeo, Emperor Taizong left Li Zhi at Ding Prefecture, to be in charge of logistics, assisted by a number of officials led by the chancellor Gao Shilian, and Gao Jifu was a member of Li Zhi's staff there.

In 651, Gao Jifu was made Shizhong, the head of the examination bureau of government, still a post considered for a chancellor.