Chen Shen
Encyclopedia
Chen Shen courtesy name Chengyuan (承源), was a crown prince
of the Chinese
dynasty Chen Dynasty
.
Chen Shen was the fourth son of his father Chen Shubao
, but the oldest son of Chen Shubao's favorite concubine Consort Zhang Lihua
. His exact birth year is not known. At the time of Chen Shen's birth, Chen Shubao was crown prince under Chen Shen's grandfather Emperor Xuan
. On her account, Chen Shubao also greatly favored Chen Shen, but at the order of Emperor Xuan, Chen Shen's older brother Chen Yin, Chen Shubao's oldest son, was designated heir. (Chen Yin was also not born of Chen Shubao's wife Crown Princess Shen Wuhua
, but Crown Princess Shen raised him after Chen Yin's mother Consort Sun died in childbirth in 573).
Emperor Xuan died in 582, and Chen Shubao, after surviving a coup attempt, became emperor. He created Chen Yin crown prince, and in 583 created many of his sons, including Chen Shen, imperial princes (in Chen Shen's case, the Prince of Shi'an). Chen Shen was said to be composed and intelligent in his youth, and not even his attendants could tell his emotions easily. In 588, Chen Shubao, after believing in accusations against Chen Yin, deposed Chen Yin and created Chen Shen crown prince instead.
In 589, Sui Dynasty forces captured the Chen capital Jiankang
, ending Chen and unifying China. When soldiers under the command of the Sui general Han Qinhu (韓擒虎) entered the crown prince's palace, Chen Shen's staff largely fled, but Chen Shen, said to be then a teenager, himself solemnly sat within his hall to wait for the soldiers to enter, attended only by Kong Boyu (孔伯魚). When the Sui soldiers entered, Chen Shen greeted them, neither overly arrogantly nor overly self-deprecating, with, "You have marched a long way, and I can see that you are tired." The Sui soldiers, impressed, treated him with respect.
Chen Shen's mother Consort Zhang was executed by the Sui general Gao Jiong
, who blamed her for Chen's collapse. Chen Shubao, however, was not harmed, and was taken to the Sui capital Chang'an
as an honored guest of Emperor Wen of Sui
. Chen Shen followed his father to Chang'an. During the reign of Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang of Sui
, Chen Shen was made the governor of Fuhan Commandery (枹罕, roughly modern Linxia, Gansu
). By the time that Sui fell and was replaced by Tang Dynasty
, however, he was back in Chang'an, and he served as a mid-level official early in the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang
. He died early in Emperor Gaozu's reign (618-626), but the exact year is not known.
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
of the Chinese
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 Chen Dynasty
Chen Dynasty
The Chen Dynasty , also known as the Southern Chen Dynasty, was the fourth and last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui Dynasty....
.
Chen Shen was the fourth son of his father Chen Shubao
Chen Shubao
Chen Shubao , often known in history as Houzhu of Chen , posthumous name Duke Yang of Changcheng , courtesy name Yuanxiu , nickname Huangnu , was the last emperor of the Chinese Chen Dynasty...
, but the oldest son of Chen Shubao's favorite concubine Consort Zhang Lihua
Consort Zhang Lihua
Consort Zhang Lihua was an imperial consort of the Chinese dynasty Chen Dynasty. She was the favorite concubine of Chen's final emperor, Chen Shubao....
. His exact birth year is not known. At the time of Chen Shen's birth, Chen Shubao was crown prince under Chen Shen's grandfather Emperor Xuan
Emperor Xuan of Chen
Emperor Xuan of Chen , personal name Chen Xu , courtesy name Shaoshi , nickname Shili , was an emperor of the Chinese Chen Dynasty. He seized the throne from his nephew Emperor Fei in 569 and subsequently ruled the state for 13 years...
. On her account, Chen Shubao also greatly favored Chen Shen, but at the order of Emperor Xuan, Chen Shen's older brother Chen Yin, Chen Shubao's oldest son, was designated heir. (Chen Yin was also not born of Chen Shubao's wife Crown Princess Shen Wuhua
Empress Shen Wuhua
Empress Shen Wuhua , later Buddhist nun name Guanyin , was an empress of the Chinese dynasty Chen Dynasty. Her husband was Chen Shubao, the last emperor of the dynasty....
, but Crown Princess Shen raised him after Chen Yin's mother Consort Sun died in childbirth in 573).
Emperor Xuan died in 582, and Chen Shubao, after surviving a coup attempt, became emperor. He created Chen Yin crown prince, and in 583 created many of his sons, including Chen Shen, imperial princes (in Chen Shen's case, the Prince of Shi'an). Chen Shen was said to be composed and intelligent in his youth, and not even his attendants could tell his emotions easily. In 588, Chen Shubao, after believing in accusations against Chen Yin, deposed Chen Yin and created Chen Shen crown prince instead.
In 589, Sui Dynasty forces captured the Chen capital Jiankang
Jiankang
Jiankang was the capital city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties. Its walls are extant ruins in the modern municipal region of Nanjing.-History:...
, ending Chen and unifying China. When soldiers under the command of the Sui general Han Qinhu (韓擒虎) entered the crown prince's palace, Chen Shen's staff largely fled, but Chen Shen, said to be then a teenager, himself solemnly sat within his hall to wait for the soldiers to enter, attended only by Kong Boyu (孔伯魚). When the Sui soldiers entered, Chen Shen greeted them, neither overly arrogantly nor overly self-deprecating, with, "You have marched a long way, and I can see that you are tired." The Sui soldiers, impressed, treated him with respect.
Chen Shen's mother Consort Zhang was executed by the Sui general Gao Jiong
Gao Jiong
Gāo Jiǒng Gāo Jiǒng Gāo Jiǒng (d. August 27, 607 courtesy name Zhaoxuan (昭玄), alternative name Min (敏), known during the Northern Zhou period by the Xianbei name Dugu Jiong (独孤颎/獨孤熲), was a key official and general of the Chinese Sui Dynasty...
, who blamed her for Chen's collapse. Chen Shubao, however, was not harmed, and was taken to the Sui 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...
as an honored guest of Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui — personal name Yang Jian , Xianbei name Puliuru Jian , nickname Naluoyan — was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty . He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state...
. Chen Shen followed his father to Chang'an. During the reign of Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang of Sui
Emperor Yang of Sui
Emperor Yang of Sui , personal name Yang Guang , alternative name Ying , nickname Amo , known as Emperor Ming during the brief reign of his grandson Yang Tong), was the second son of Emperor Wen of Sui, and the second emperor of China's Sui Dynasty.Emperor Yang's original name was Yang Ying, but...
, Chen Shen was made the governor of Fuhan Commandery (枹罕, roughly modern Linxia, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
). By the time that Sui fell and was replaced by 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...
, however, he was back in Chang'an, and he served as a mid-level official early in the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
. He died early in Emperor Gaozu's reign (618-626), but the exact year is not known.