Cui Yanzhao
Encyclopedia
Cui Yanzhao courtesy name Siwen (思文), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong
.
, Hebei
), and his ancestors originally claimed ancestry from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi. Cui Yanzhao's traceable ancestry included officials of Han Dynasty
(including Cui Yan
), Liu Song, Northern Wei
, and Tang Dynasty
. However, neither his grandfather Cui Zhi (崔秩) nor his father Cui Qi (崔豈) was listed with any official titles. Cui Yanzhao and Wang Ning (王凝) were cousins (their mothers were sisters), but they developed an enmity because Wang passed the imperial examination
s in the Jinshi class first and became arrogant. On one occasion after Wang did so (but before Cui would eventually do so as well, in 849), when Cui was at Wang's house, Wang met him while dressed informally (thus showing a lack of respect), and further commented to Cui, "Maybe you should take the Mingjing [(明經)] examination instead." This greatly offended Cui, as the Mingjing examination was considered far less prestigious than the Jinshi examination. Still, even by this point, Cui was known for his deep understanding of Confucianism
. After Cui himself passed the imperial examinations in 849 (during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong
), he served on the staffs of several regional governors. He was known for his understanding of the economy as well as administrative capabilities.
, Cui Yanzhao became Bingbu Langzhong (兵部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu); he was then promoted to be Bingbu Langzhong (兵部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of defense, and put in charge of drafting edicts. He was then made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), and later deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎) and director of finances.
In 869, Cui was made the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang
, Henan
) and the prefect of Heyang's capital Meng Prefecture (孟州). In 871, he was transferred to Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
), to serve as its military governor and the mayor of its capital Taiyuan Municipality. It was said that at that time, the Shatuo
tribesmen of the region did not obey Tang laws, and the circuit was much disturbed. Cui governed the circuit with both grace and might, and within a span of three years, the circuit had become peaceful. According to his biographies in both the Book of Tang
and the New Book of Tang
, when he was initially set to be transferred to another circuit at that point, the senior residents of the circuit submitted a petition requesting that he remain at Hedong, and Emperor Yizong agreed.
. At that time, one of the chancellors was Zhao Yin
, who passed the Jinshi examination in the same year as Cui Yanzhao, and Zhao recommended Cui as having economic abilities. In 874, Cui was recalled from Hedong to serve as the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang) and the director of the salt and iron monopolies. Later in the year, when he was referred to as deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and director of finances, he was made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. As chancellor, Cui assisted his senior colleague Xiao Fang
in reforming the chancellors' office (as several recent chancellors, Yang Shou
, Lu Yan
, and Wei Baoheng
, had just recently been exiled and then put to death for their corruption as chancellors).
Despite his high status, Cui, who was considered filially pious, and he attended to his mother daily as if he were a civilian. When he became chancellor, however, his mother, fearful that he would punish his cousin Wang Ning, who was then the deputy minister of defense, commented to her maid servant within Cui's earshot, "Make some new socks and shoes for me. Deputy Minister Wang and his mother will surely be exiled to the wilderness. I will leave with my sister." Cui bowed and wept, stating, "I will never do that." Therefore, Wang was not punished.
In 876, because of illness, Cui was removed from his chancellor position and made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince
. He died thereafter, but when he did so is not known.
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 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...
.
Background
It is not known when Cui Yanzhao was born. He was from the "Lesser Branch" of the prominent Cui clan of Qinghe (清河, in modern XingtaiXingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
), and his ancestors originally claimed ancestry from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi. Cui Yanzhao's traceable ancestry included officials of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
(including Cui Yan
Cui Yan
Cui Yan , style name Jigui , was a vassal serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Cui did not attain much fame due to his failures to develop his various proposals. After the defeat of Yuan, Cui served Cao Cao and became a civil affairs official...
), Liu Song, Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
, and 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, neither his grandfather Cui Zhi (崔秩) nor his father Cui Qi (崔豈) was listed with any official titles. Cui Yanzhao and Wang Ning (王凝) were cousins (their mothers were sisters), but they developed an enmity because Wang 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 first and became arrogant. On one occasion after Wang did so (but before Cui would eventually do so as well, in 849), when Cui was at Wang's house, Wang met him while dressed informally (thus showing a lack of respect), and further commented to Cui, "Maybe you should take the Mingjing [(明經)] examination instead." This greatly offended Cui, as the Mingjing examination was considered far less prestigious than the Jinshi examination. Still, even by this point, Cui was known for his deep understanding of Confucianism
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...
. After Cui himself passed the imperial examinations in 849 (during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
), he served on the staffs of several regional governors. He was known for his understanding of the economy as well as administrative capabilities.
During Emperor Yizong's reign
Early in the Xiantong era (860-874) of Emperor Xuānzong's son and successor Emperor YizongEmperor 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...
, Cui Yanzhao became Bingbu Langzhong (兵部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu); he was then promoted to be Bingbu Langzhong (兵部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of defense, and put in charge of drafting edicts. He was then made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), and later deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎) and director of finances.
In 869, Cui was made 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 Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern 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...
, 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...
) and the prefect of Heyang's capital Meng Prefecture (孟州). In 871, he was transferred to Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), to serve as its military governor and the mayor of its capital Taiyuan Municipality. It was said that at that time, the Shatuo
Shatuo
The Shatuo were a Turkic tribe that heavily influenced northern Chinese politics from the late ninth century through the tenth century. They are noted for founding 3 of the 5 dynasties and 1 of the kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period....
tribesmen of the region did not obey Tang laws, and the circuit was much disturbed. Cui governed the circuit with both grace and might, and within a span of three years, the circuit had become peaceful. According to his biographies in both 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...
and 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...
, when he was initially set to be transferred to another circuit at that point, the senior residents of the circuit submitted a petition requesting that he remain at Hedong, and Emperor Yizong agreed.
During Emperor Xizong's reign
Emperor Yizong died in 873 and was succeeded by his young son Emperor XizongEmperor 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...
. At that time, one of the chancellors was Zhao Yin
Zhao Yin
Zhao Yin , courtesy name Dayin , formally the Count of Tianshui , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Yizong and Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong....
, who passed the Jinshi examination in the same year as Cui Yanzhao, and Zhao recommended Cui as having economic abilities. In 874, Cui was recalled from Hedong to serve as the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang) and the director of the salt and iron monopolies. Later in the year, when he was referred to as deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang) and director of finances, he was made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, and given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. As chancellor, Cui assisted his senior colleague Xiao Fang
Xiao Fang
Xiao Fang , courtesy name Sidao , formally the Marquess of Lanling , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong.- Background :...
in reforming the chancellors' office (as several recent chancellors, Yang Shou
Yang Shou
Yang Shou , courtesy name Cangzhi , formally Baron of Jinyang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong. He was known for his literary talent as a young man, but subsequently, as chancellor, was accused of corruption...
, Lu Yan
Lu Yan
Lu Yan was the oldest son of Lu Xun, a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He died at a young age.-References:...
, and Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng
Wei Baoheng , courtesy name Yunyong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He became extremely powerful late in the reign of his father-in-law Emperor Yizong, rising to the post of chancellor and becoming the most powerful official at court, but after Emperor Yizong's death was...
, had just recently been exiled and then put to death for their corruption as chancellors).
Despite his high status, Cui, who was considered filially pious, and he attended to his mother daily as if he were a civilian. When he became chancellor, however, his mother, fearful that he would punish his cousin Wang Ning, who was then the deputy minister of defense, commented to her maid servant within Cui's earshot, "Make some new socks and shoes for me. Deputy Minister Wang and his mother will surely be exiled to the wilderness. I will leave with my sister." Cui bowed and wept, stating, "I will never do that." Therefore, Wang was not punished.
In 876, because of illness, Cui was removed from his chancellor position and made a senior advisor to the Crown Prince
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....
. He died thereafter, but when he did so is not known.