Cui Dan
Encyclopedia
Cui Dan was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wenzong
and Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong
.
, Hebei
), and his ancestors originally claimed ancestry from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn Period state Qi
. Cui Dan's traceable ancestry included officials of Han Dynasty
(including Cui Yan
), Liu Song, Northern Wei
, and Tang Dynasty
. His grandfather Cui Ji (崔佶) served as a staff member for a crown prince
, while his father Cui Chui (崔陲) served as a deputy chief imperial censor.
Cui Dan had at least seven brothers — older brothers Cui Bin (崔邠), Cui Feng (崔鄷), Cui Yan (崔郾), Cui Xun (崔郇), Cui Han (崔邯), and Cui Shan (崔鄯), and younger brother Cui Fu (崔鄜). Among the brothers, Cui Bin was the most well-known and one whose acts were most well-recorded in the official histories Book of Tang
and New Book of Tang
. Six of the brothers would eventually reach high level positions within the Tang government.
s in the Jinshi class. The Book of Tang mentioned that he served in an unspecified office before serving as an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史) and then as Kaogong Langzhong (考功郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu). According to the Book of Tang, then, in 829
, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong
, while remaining as Kaogong Langzhong, he was also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi), and thereafter was made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). As of 832
, he was no longer imperial scholar. The New Book of Tang, while discussing the same period of his career, mentioned that after he passed the imperial examinations, he served as the sheriff of Weinan County (渭南, in modern Weinan
, Shaanxi
), and after some promotions became Xingbu Langzhong (刑部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu). He subsequently served as the deputy military governor under the former chancellor Du Yuanying
, the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
). After that, Cui was recalled to the capital Chang'an
to serve as the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang), and an imperial scholar at Jixian Hall (集賢殿) — an event that the Book of Tang also described and placed in 834
, while further mentioning at that time, he was also made acting minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshi).
The two biographies' description of Cui's career thereafter did not significantly diverge. According to the Book of Tang, he thereafter served as deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), and also was put in charge of selecting officials for the eastern capital Luoyang
. When Emperor Wenzong once summoned the officials in selecting of commissioning officials to discuss with them the criteria for selecting officials. During that conversation, he asked Cui what Cui would do with candidates who were not capable; Cui responded that he would send them to the border regions, a response that Emperor Wenzong did not agree with, pointing out that that meant that the people living on the borders would be mistreated. Nevertheless, he subsequently made Cui the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang). In 837
, Cui was sent out of Chang'an to serve as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng
, Anhui
), as well as the prefect of its capital Xuan Prefecture (宣州). In 839
, he was recalled to Chang'an to serve as the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing).
and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wuzong
, although Cui's colleagues Yang Sifu
and Li Jue
were removed from their posts, and Li Deyu
became the leading chancellor, Cui remained chancellor. (It was said that this was because Li Deyu and the Cui brothers had long had friendly relations.) In 841
, when Emperor Wuzong came to believe in allegations that Yang and Li Jue had supported other candidates to succeed Emperor Wenzong rather than him and wanted to put Yang and Li Jue to death, Li Deyu, at the advice of Du Cong
, interceded, along with Cui and their other chancellor colleagues Chen Yixing
and Cui Gong
, and Emperor Wuzong spared Yang and Li Jue's lives, although exiling them far away from the capital.
, Cui was made the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
), carrying the title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi as an honorary title. He died while still serving at Huainan, but the time 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 reigns of 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 Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
.
Background
It is not known when Cui Dan 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
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
. Cui Dan'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...
. His grandfather Cui Ji (崔佶) served as a staff member for a 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....
, while his father Cui Chui (崔陲) served as a deputy chief imperial censor.
Cui Dan had at least seven brothers — older brothers Cui Bin (崔邠), Cui Feng (崔鄷), Cui Yan (崔郾), Cui Xun (崔郇), Cui Han (崔邯), and Cui Shan (崔鄯), and younger brother Cui Fu (崔鄜). Among the brothers, Cui Bin was the most well-known and one whose acts were most well-recorded in the official histories 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 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...
. Six of the brothers would eventually reach high level positions within the Tang government.
Career before chancellorship
Cui Dan's biographies in the Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang had different descriptions of his career path, both agreed that he passed the imperial examinationImperial 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. The Book of Tang mentioned that he served in an unspecified office before serving as an imperial censor with the title Jiancha Yushi (監察御史) and then as Kaogong Langzhong (考功郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu). According to the Book of Tang, then, in 829
829
Year 829 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Egbert of Wessex conquers Mercia and is recognized as Bretwalda.* The Saracens ravage the coast of Dalmatia....
, during the reign of 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...
, while remaining as Kaogong Langzhong, he was also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi), and thereafter was made Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). As of 832
832
Year 832 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pepin I of Aquitaine and Louis the German revolt against Louis the Pious, Emperor of the Franks....
, he was no longer imperial scholar. The New Book of Tang, while discussing the same period of his career, mentioned that after he passed the imperial examinations, he served as the sheriff of Weinan County (渭南, in modern Weinan
Weinan
Weinan is a Municipality in the province of Shaanxi, PRC. The Grand Historian Sima Qian was born in Weinan.-Administration:...
, 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...
), and after some promotions became Xingbu Langzhong (刑部郎中), a supervisory official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu). He subsequently served as the deputy military governor under the former chancellor Du Yuanying
Du Yuanying
Du Yuanying , formally the Baron of Jian'an , was an official of the Chinese dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Muzong. His policy error while being chancellor was blamed for the imperial government's losing control over the circuits north of the Yellow River...
, 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 Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
). After that, Cui was 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 the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang), and an imperial scholar at Jixian Hall (集賢殿) — an event that the Book of Tang also described and placed in 834
834
Year 834 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Vikings first raid Dorestad ....
, while further mentioning at that time, he was also made acting minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshi).
The two biographies' description of Cui's career thereafter did not significantly diverge. According to the Book of Tang, he thereafter served as deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), and also was put in charge of selecting officials for the 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...
. When Emperor Wenzong once summoned the officials in selecting of commissioning officials to discuss with them the criteria for selecting officials. During that conversation, he asked Cui what Cui would do with candidates who were not capable; Cui responded that he would send them to the border regions, a response that Emperor Wenzong did not agree with, pointing out that that meant that the people living on the borders would be mistreated. Nevertheless, he subsequently made Cui the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang). In 837
837
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....
, Cui was sent out of Chang'an to serve as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Xuanshe Circuit (宣歙, headquartered in modern Xuancheng
Xuancheng
Xuancheng is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Anhui province of Eastern China. It borders Wuhu to the northwest, Chizhou to the west, Huangshan to the southwest, and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu to the southeast and northeast respectively....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
), as well as the prefect of its capital Xuan Prefecture (宣州). In 839
839
Year 839 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Louis the Pious attempts to divide his empire among his sons.* Ethelwulf succeeds Egbert as king of Wessex....
, he was recalled to Chang'an to serve as the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing).
Chancellorship
In fall 839, Cui Dan, while still serving as the minister of worship, was made a chancellor de facto with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). He thereafter was also made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, and given the honorary title Yinqing Guanglu Daifu (銀青光祿大夫). After Emperor Wenzong died in 840840
Year 840 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.-Europe:* After the death of Louis the Pious, his sons Lothar, Charles the Bald and Louis the German fight over the division of the Holy Roman Empire, with Lothar succeeding as Emperor.-Asia:* Tang Wu Zong succeeds Tang Wen Zong...
and was succeeded by his brother Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
, although Cui's colleagues Yang Sifu
Yang Sifu
Yang Sifu , courtesy name Jizhi , nickname Qingmen , formally Count Xiaomu of Hongnong , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wenzong and the reign of Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong...
and Li Jue
Li Jue (Tang Dynasty)
Li Jue , courtesy name Daijia , formally Duke Zhenmu of Zanhuang , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong...
were removed from their posts, and Li Deyu
Li Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
became the leading chancellor, Cui remained chancellor. (It was said that this was because Li Deyu and the Cui brothers had long had friendly relations.) In 841
841
Year 841 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* June 25 – Battle of Fontenay: Louis the German and Charles the Bald defeat Lothar....
, when Emperor Wuzong came to believe in allegations that Yang and Li Jue had supported other candidates to succeed Emperor Wenzong rather than him and wanted to put Yang and Li Jue to death, Li Deyu, at the advice of Du Cong
Du Cong
Du Cong , courtesy name Yongyu , formally the Duke of Bin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving two terms as chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wuzong and Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong...
, interceded, along with Cui and their other chancellor colleagues Chen Yixing
Chen Yixing
Chen Yixing , courtesy name Zhoudao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving twice as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong. He was viewed as a Li Faction leader in the Niu-Li Factional Struggles.- Background and early career :It is not known...
and Cui Gong
Cui Gong
Cui Gong , formally the Duke of Anping , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Wuzong.- Background :It is not known when Cui Gong was born...
, and Emperor Wuzong spared Yang and Li Jue's lives, although exiling them far away from the capital.
Career after chancellorship
Late in 841, Cui Dan was sent out of Chang'an to serve as the military governor of Xichuan Circuit. Early in the subsequent reign of Emperor Wuzong's uncle Emperor XuānzongEmperor 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...
, Cui was made the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, 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...
), carrying the title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi as an honorary title. He died while still serving at Huainan, but the time is not known.