Cao Que
Encyclopedia
Cao Que courtesy name Gangzhong (剛中), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong
.
eastern capital Luoyang
. His traceable ancestry went back only to his grandfather Cao Zhou (曹周), and neither Cao Zhou nor his father Cao Jingbo (曹景伯) was listed with any offices, although Cao Jingbo was said to have passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class in 803
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong
. Cao Que had at least one younger brother, Cao Fen (曹汾), who would also eventually serve in the imperial government.
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's great-great-grandson Emperor Wenzong
, and subsequently served on the staffs of several regional governors. He was later recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as an imperial censor with the title Shi Yushi (侍御史), and later, he was given the office of Gongbu Yuanwailang (工部員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of public works (工部, Gongbu), and put in charge of drafting edicts. He was promoted to the supervisory position of Gongbu Langzhong (工部郎中), and also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). He was later made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). He went on to serve as the acting mayor of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the Luoyang region), before being recalled to serve as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang).
, by which time Cao Que was, in addition to being deputy minister of defense, the director of finances, then-reigning Emperor Yizong
(Emperor Wenzong's cousin) gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. It was said that Cao was well-learned in Confucian
regulations, was cautious, and followed the laws. In 867
, when Emperor Yizong made his favorite musician Li Keji (李可及) a general of the imperial guards, Cao pointed out that such a title was inappropriate for a musician, but Emperor Yizong did not listen to him.
, when he was sent out of Chang'an to serve as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang
, Jiangsu
), continuing to carry the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title. He later served as the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and died while at Hezhong, but it is not known when that occurred.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
.
Background
It is not known when Cao Que was born. His family was from the Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. His traceable ancestry went back only to his grandfather Cao Zhou (曹周), and neither Cao Zhou nor his father Cao Jingbo (曹景伯) was listed with any offices, although Cao Jingbo was said to have passed the imperial examination
Imperial examination
The Imperial examination was an examination system in Imperial China designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in Imperial China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of...
s in the Jinshi class in 803
803
Year 803 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Nicephorus I of the Byzantine Empire and Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire settle their imperial boundaries and sign Pax Nicephori.* Venice is recognized as independent by the Byzantine Empire.* Stiftskeller St...
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong
Emperor Dezong of Tang
Emperor Dezong of Tang , personally name Li Kuo , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and the oldest son of his father Emperor Daizong. His reign of 26 years was the third longest in the Tang dynasty...
. Cao Que had at least one younger brother, Cao Fen (曹汾), who would also eventually serve in the imperial government.
Early career
Cao Que himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 837837
Year 837 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pietro Tradonico is elected Doge of Venice.* Uen succeeds Drest IV as king of the Picts....
, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's great-great-grandson Emperor Wenzong
Emperor Wenzong of Tang
Emperor Wenzong of Tang , personal name Li Ang , né Li Han , was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 827 to 840. Emperor Wenzong was the second son of Emperor Muzong and younger brother of Emperor Jingzong...
, and subsequently served on the staffs of several regional governors. He was later recalled to the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to serve as an imperial censor with the title Shi Yushi (侍御史), and later, he was given the office of Gongbu Yuanwailang (工部員外郎), a low-level official at the minister of public works (工部, Gongbu), and put in charge of drafting edicts. He was promoted to the supervisory position of Gongbu Langzhong (工部郎中), and also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). He was later made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). He went on to serve as the acting mayor of Henan Municipality (河南, i.e., the Luoyang region), before being recalled to serve as the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang).
Chancellorship
In 863863
Year 863 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Constantine I succeeds as king of Scotland ....
, by which time Cao Que was, in addition to being deputy minister of defense, the director of finances, then-reigning Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
(Emperor Wenzong's cousin) gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. It was said that Cao was well-learned in Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
regulations, was cautious, and followed the laws. In 867
867
Year 867 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* September – Basil I becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.* Macedonian dynasty is started....
, when Emperor Yizong made his favorite musician Li Keji (李可及) a general of the imperial guards, Cao pointed out that such a title was inappropriate for a musician, but Emperor Yizong did not listen to him.
After chancellorship
Cao Que served as chancellor until 870870
Year 870 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Prague Castle is founded....
, when he was sent out of Chang'an to serve as the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang
Zhenjiang is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Jiangsu province in the eastern People's Republic of China . Sitting on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the west, Changzhou to the east, and Yangzhou across the river to the north.Once...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
), continuing to carry the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi title as an honorary title. He later served as the military governor of Hezhong Circuit (河中, headquartered in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) and died while at Hezhong, but it is not known when that occurred.