Cui Cha
Encyclopedia
Cui Cha (died 689) was briefly a chancellor of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
.
Little is known about Cui Cha's career before his brief stint as chancellor, as, atypical for a chancellor, he did not have a biography in either the Book of Tang
or the New Book of Tang
. It is, however, known that his family was from Lantian (藍田, in modern Xi'an
, Shaanxi
). As of 684, he was serving as an assistant censor (監察御史, Jiancha Yushi), when, in the midst of a rebellion by Li Jingye
the Duke of Ying against Emperor Ruizong's powerful mother and regent
Empress Dowager Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian), the chancellor Pei Yan
suggested that Empress Dowager Wu could quell Li's rebellion easily by returning imperial authority to Emperor Ruizong. When Cui heard of Pei's suggestion, he submitted a note to Empress Dowager Wu stating, "Pei Yan received great responsibilities to look after the emperor after the deceased emperor [(Empress Dowager Wu's husband Emperor Gaozong
)] entrusted him with those great responsibilities. If he were not planning to commit treason, why would he want the Empress Dowager to give up her imperial powers?" In response, Empress Dowager Wu had Pei accused with and investigated for treason, and Pei was executed. Later that year, she made Cui, who was at that point an editor of the imperial archives (著作郎, Zhuzuo Lang), Zhengjian Daifu (正諫大夫), a senior advisor at the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai) and made him a chancellor de facto, with the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), along with Shen Junliang
. In spring 685, both he and Shen were removed from those posts. As of 689, Cui was serving as deputy minister of defense (夏官侍郎, Xiaguan Shilang), when, for reasons lost to history, Empress Dowager Wu had him assassinated.
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...
, during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong
Emperor Ruizong of Tang
Emperor Ruizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Dàn , known at times during his life as Li Xulun , Li Lun , Wu Lun , and Wu Dan , was the fifth and ninth emperor of Tang Dynasty...
.
Little is known about Cui Cha's career before his brief stint as chancellor, as, atypical for a chancellor, he did not have a biography in either the Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
or the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
. It is, however, known that his family was from Lantian (藍田, in modern Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). As of 684, he was serving as an assistant censor (監察御史, Jiancha Yushi), when, in the midst of a rebellion by Li Jingye
Li Jingye
Li Jingye , also known as Xu Jingye , was a grandson of the great Tang Dynasty general Li Shiji who, after Emperor Gaozong's wife Empress Wu had seized power after Emperor Gaozong's death, rose in rebellion against her, but who was quickly defeated and killed in flight.- Background :It is not...
the Duke of Ying against Emperor Ruizong's powerful mother and regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
Empress Dowager Wu
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
(later known as Wu Zetian), the chancellor Pei Yan
Pei Yan
Pei Yan , courtesy name Zilong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, as well as regency by his wife Empress Wu over their sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong...
suggested that Empress Dowager Wu could quell Li's rebellion easily by returning imperial authority to Emperor Ruizong. When Cui heard of Pei's suggestion, he submitted a note to Empress Dowager Wu stating, "Pei Yan received great responsibilities to look after the emperor after the deceased emperor [(Empress Dowager Wu's husband Emperor Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
)] entrusted him with those great responsibilities. If he were not planning to commit treason, why would he want the Empress Dowager to give up her imperial powers?" In response, Empress Dowager Wu had Pei accused with and investigated for treason, and Pei was executed. Later that year, she made Cui, who was at that point an editor of the imperial archives (著作郎, Zhuzuo Lang), Zhengjian Daifu (正諫大夫), a senior advisor at the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai) and made him a chancellor de facto, with the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), along with Shen Junliang
Shen Junliang
Shen Junliang was briefly a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, during the first reign of Emperor Ruizong.Little is known about Shen Junliang's career before or after his brief stint as chancellor, as, atypical for a chancellor, he did not have a biography in either the Book of Tang or...
. In spring 685, both he and Shen were removed from those posts. As of 689, Cui was serving as deputy minister of defense (夏官侍郎, Xiaguan Shilang), when, for reasons lost to history, Empress Dowager Wu had him assassinated.