Diwu Qi (第五琦) (712[1] or 713[2] – September 19, 782[3][4]), courtesy name Yugui (禹珪), formally the Duke of Fufeng (扶風公), was a Chinese economist and politician during the Tang dynasty who served briefly as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Suzong, but was more known for his influence on the economic policies that Suzong enacted throughout his career, including his advocacy for the state-run monopolies over salt and iron.
[5] He lost his parents early, and it was said that he respected and obeyed his older brother Diwu Hua (第五華) dearly.
Late in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, Diwu Qi served under an economics-minded official, Wei Jian (韋堅).
After Wei was removed from office in 746 (and later killed) due to the machinations of the chancellor Li Linfu, Diwu was demoted, and eventually served as the secretary general for Xujiang County (須江, in modern Quzhou, Zhejiang).
Diwu created an official monopoly over salt and iron and recruited people willing to work in those industries, using the profits to replenish the imperial treasury without increasing taxes.
In winter 759, Emperor Suzong demoted Diwu to be the secretary general of Zhong Prefecture (忠州, in modern Chongqing).
Diwu was removed from his official rank and exiled to Yi Prefecture (夷州, in modern Zunyi, Guizhou).
After Emperor Daizong returned to Chang'an, Diwu was put in charge of financial matters again and was created the Duke of Fufeng.
(This, however, brought a serious side effect — as the eunuchs were not required to handle detailed bookkeeping, it became impossible to account for the silk collected.