Chen Yan (Tang Dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Chen Yan (d. 891) was a warlord of the late Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Fujian Circuit (福建, headquartered in modern Fuzhou
, Fujian
).
, Fujian
). In or around 878
, when the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
was pillaging the Fujian
region on his way south toward Guang Prefecture (廣州, in modern Guangzhou
, Guangdong
), Chen gathered several thousand men around him to protect their home territory, and named the army Jiulong Army (九龍軍). Then-governor of Fujian, Zheng Yi (鄭鎰) thus made Chen his deputy in his position as the military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Fujian's capital Fu Prefecture (福州).
While Chen was serving as deputy military prefect, there was an occasion when Li Lian (李連) the prefect of Quan Prefecture (泉州, in modern Quanzhou
, Fujian
) was found guilty of a crime. Fearful of punishment, Li hid in mountainous caves and gathered troops to attack Fu Prefecture. Chen led his army and repelled Li's attack. Zheng became apprehensive of Chen's hold on the army, and he made a recommendation to then-reigning Emperor Xizong
that Chen be made the governor instead. In 884, Emperor Xizong approved of the request, and Chen became governor. It was said that Chen ruled with authority and grace, and that the people of the region were pacified. (However, his rule might not have been over the entire Fujian region, as such places as Ting Prefecture (汀州, in modern Longyan
, Fujian
) and Jian Prefecture were not described to have fallen into line under the command of the circuit government until after Chen's death.) At some point, his family and that of Dong Chang
the military governor (Jiedushi
) of neighboring Weisheng Circuit (威勝, headquartered in modern Shaoxing
, Zhejiang
) entered into a marriage relationship.
In 886, Wang Chao
, the leader of a roving army that had originated from Guang Prefecture (光州, in modern Xinyang
, Henan
), captured Quan Prefecture and killed its then-prefect Liao Yanrou (廖彥若). However, hearing of Chen's might, Wang did not dare to attack Fu Prefecture, and sent messengers to submit to Chen. Chen made Wang the prefect of Quan Prefecture.
, Fu Prefecture fell to the siege by Wang's cousin Wang Yanfu (王彥復) and brother Wang Shenzhi
, and Fan was killed in flight. Wang took over the circuit governorship. He buried Chen with respect, and gave a daughter in marriage to Chen's son Chen Yanhui (陳延晦).
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 the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Fujian Circuit (福建, headquartered in modern Fuzhou
Fuzhou
Fuzhou is the capital and one of the largest cities in Fujian Province, People's Republic of China. Along with the many counties of Ningde, those of Fuzhou are considered to constitute the Mindong linguistic and cultural area....
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
).
Rise to power and governance of Fujian
It is not known when Chen Yan was born, but it is known that he was from Jian Prefecture (建州, in modern NanpingNanping
Nanping is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders Ningde City to the east, Sanming City to the south, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangxi to the north and west respectively...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
). In or around 878
878
Year 878 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, when the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
was pillaging the Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
region on his way south toward Guang Prefecture (廣州, in modern Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
), Chen gathered several thousand men around him to protect their home territory, and named the army Jiulong Army (九龍軍). Then-governor of Fujian, Zheng Yi (鄭鎰) thus made Chen his deputy in his position as the military prefect (團練使, Tuanlianshi) of Fujian's capital Fu Prefecture (福州).
While Chen was serving as deputy military prefect, there was an occasion when Li Lian (李連) the prefect of Quan Prefecture (泉州, in modern Quanzhou
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
) was found guilty of a crime. Fearful of punishment, Li hid in mountainous caves and gathered troops to attack Fu Prefecture. Chen led his army and repelled Li's attack. Zheng became apprehensive of Chen's hold on the army, and he made a recommendation to then-reigning Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
that Chen be made the governor instead. In 884, Emperor Xizong approved of the request, and Chen became governor. It was said that Chen ruled with authority and grace, and that the people of the region were pacified. (However, his rule might not have been over the entire Fujian region, as such places as Ting Prefecture (汀州, in modern Longyan
Longyan
Longyan is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Fujian province, China.-Geography:It is situated in the upper reaches of the Jiulong and Tingjiang rivers...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
) and Jian Prefecture were not described to have fallen into line under the command of the circuit government until after Chen's death.) At some point, his family and that of Dong Chang
Dong Chang
Dong Chang was a warlord of the late Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He began his career as the leader of a local militia at Hang Prefecture and gradually increased in power to control most of modern Zhejiang...
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 neighboring Weisheng Circuit (威勝, headquartered in modern Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
) entered into a marriage relationship.
In 886, Wang Chao
Wang Chao (Tang Dynasty)
Wang Chao , courtesy name Xinchen , formally Duke Guangwu of Qin , was a warlord of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Fujian Circuit , eventually establishing the base of power for his family members to later establish the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min.-...
, the leader of a roving army that had originated from Guang Prefecture (光州, in modern Xinyang
Xinyang
Xinyang is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Henan province, People's Republic of China, the southernmost such administrative division in the province.-Recent history:...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), captured Quan Prefecture and killed its then-prefect Liao Yanrou (廖彥若). However, hearing of Chen's might, Wang did not dare to attack Fu Prefecture, and sent messengers to submit to Chen. Chen made Wang the prefect of Quan Prefecture.
Death
In 891, Chen Yan fell ill. He sent messengers to summon Wang Chao, intending to entrust the circuit to him. Before Wang could arrive, however, Chen died. Chen's brother-in-law Fan Hui (范暉) persuaded the soldiers to support him, and Fan and Wang subsequent engaged in several years of warfare. In 893893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
, Fu Prefecture fell to the siege by Wang's cousin Wang Yanfu (王彥復) and brother Wang Shenzhi
Wang Shenzhi
Wang Shenzhi , courtesy name Xintong or Xiangqing , formally Prince Zhongyi of Min and later further posthumously honored as Emperor Taizu of Min , was the founder of Min on the southeast coast of China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period of Chinese history...
, and Fan was killed in flight. Wang took over the circuit governorship. He buried Chen with respect, and gave a daughter in marriage to Chen's son Chen Yanhui (陳延晦).