Cui Dunli
Encyclopedia
Cui Dunli (596
– August 29, 656), né Cui Yuanli (崔元禮), courtesy name Anshang (安上), formally Duke Zhao of Gu'an (固安昭公), was an official, general, and diplomat of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
, Hebei
), although by the end of Northern Wei
it had already relocated to Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an
, Shaanxi
). Cui Dunli's grandfather Cui Zhongfang (崔仲方) served as the minister of ceremonies during Sui Dynasty
. It was said that Cui studied biographies and had sought to keep himself faithful and righteous.
, Cui Dunli served as a mid-low-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). It was said that he was skillful with his words and always acted appropriately, so much so that people were intimidated when they saw him. It was during Emperor Gaozu's reign that Emperor Gaozu changed his name from the original Yuanli to Dunli, although the reason was not stated in historical records.
In 626, Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin
the Prince of Qin, locked in an intense sibling rivalry with his older brother and Emperor Gaozu's oldest son, Li Jiancheng
the Crown Prince
, killed Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji
the Prince of Qi at the Incident at Xuanwu Gate
and effectively seized power. Emperor Gaozu's distant nephew Li Yuan (李瑗, different character than Emperor Gaozu's name) the Prince of Lujiang, who was then commandant at You Prefecture (幽州, roughly modern Beijing
), was an ally of Li Jiancheng's, and when Li Shimin sent Cui to You Prefecture to summon Li Yuan to the capital Chang'an
. Li Yuan became fearful, and at the instigation of his deputy Wang Junkuo (王君廓) started a rebellion. He seized Cui and tried to force Cui to reveal military secrets of the imperial army, but Cui refused. Soon, Wang himself rebelled against Li Yuan and seized him, surrendering to the imperial forces. Upon Cui's return to Chang'an, Li Shimin made him a commander of the imperial guards and awarded him with gold and good horse(s).
diplomat Su Wu
, he was frequently sent as a diplomat to Eastern Tujue. At a later point, Cui became the deputy minister of defense, a post that he still held as of 642, when he was sent to Eastern Tujue's successor state Xueyantuo
to negotiate a marriage of Emperor Taizong's daughter Princess Xinxing with Xueyantuo's Zhenzhu Khan
Yi'nan, in order to gain the release of the general Qibi Heli (契苾何力), who had been held captive by Xueyantuo. He later served as the commandant at Ling Prefecture (靈州, roughly modern Yinchuan, Ningxia
), and then was summoned back to Chang'an to serve as minister of defense. He was serving in that post as of 646, when he was sent to negotiate the surrender of Yi'nan's nephew the Yitewushi Khan
Duomozhi (with Xueyantuo then in a state of collapse), although apparently before he could arrive, Duomozhi surrendered to the general Li Shiji
. After Xueyantuo's collapse, its vassal Huige briefly took over its territory, but Huige itself was severely weakened in 648 when its ruler Yaoluoge Tumidu (藥羅葛吐迷度) was assassinated by his nephew Yaoluoge Wuge (藥羅葛烏紇). Emperor Taizong, apprehensive that Huige would collapse and lead to a new round of disturbances, sent Cui to pacify the Huige people and to create Yaoluoge Tumidu's son Yaoluoge Porun (藥羅葛婆閏) as the new ruler of Huige.
(as Emperor Gaozong). Cui Dunli continued to serve as minister of defense, and in 652, he commissioned Cui with an army to gather the remaining tribesmen of Xueyantuo to force them relocate to Qilian Prefecture (祁連州, a prefecture established for them in modern Datong
, Shanxi
).
Later that year, Emperor Gaozong's sister Princess Gaoyang, her husband Fang Yi'ai (房遺愛), Emperor Gaozong's uncle Li Yuanjing (李元景) the Prince of Jing, Emperor Gaozong's brother Li Ke
the Prince of Wu, another brother-in-law Chai Lingwu (柴令武), and the general Xue Wanche (薛萬徹), were implicated in a plot to overthrow Emperor Gaozong and replace him with Li Yuanjing. (According to traditional historians, Li Ke was not involved in the plot, but was falsely implicated by Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle Zhangsun Wuji
, who was apprehensive that Li Ke was older and considered more capable than Emperor Gaozong.) Some of them were executed, and some were ordered to commit suicide. Emperor Gaozong initially wanted to spare Li Yuanjing and Li Ke, but at Cui's opposition did not do so.
In 653, Cui was made Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng) and a post considered one for a chancellor. He became in charge of editing imperial histories, and he was created the Duke of Gu'an. In 655, he was made Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau and still a chancellor post.
In 656, Cui, who had been given an additional post as a staff member of Emperor Gaozong's son and crown prince Li Hong
as well, offered to resign on account of illness. Emperor Gaozong gave him the post as an advisor to Li Hong and no longer let him serve as Zhongshu Ling, but gave him the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Emperor Gaozong also recalled Cui's younger brother Cui Yuqing (崔餘慶), who was then serving as the military advisor to the commandant at Dingxiang (定襄, in modern Hohhot
, Inner Mongolia
), from Dingxiang, to attend to Cui Dunli. Cui Dunli died less a month later. Emperor Gaozong personally led a public mourning and buried him with honors, near Emperor Taizong's tomb.
596
Year 596 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 596 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* King Ethelbert of Kent asks for missionaries...
– August 29, 656), né Cui Yuanli (崔元禮), courtesy name Anshang (安上), formally Duke Zhao of Gu'an (固安昭公), was an official, general, and diplomat 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 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 chancellor during the reign of 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...
.
Background
Cui Dunli was born in 596, originally named Cui Yuanli, and his clan was originally from Boling (博陵, in modern HengshuiHengshui
Hengshui is a prefecture-level city in Hebei province, China. It has an urban population of 460,240 in the built up area and a population of 4,340,373 at the 2010 census in its administrative area...
, 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...
), although by the end of 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"...
it had already relocated to Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly 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...
). Cui Dunli's grandfather Cui Zhongfang (崔仲方) served as the minister of ceremonies during Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
. It was said that Cui studied biographies and had sought to keep himself faithful and righteous.
During Emperor Gaozu's reign
During the reign of Tang's founder Emperor GaozuEmperor 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...
, Cui Dunli served as a mid-low-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). It was said that he was skillful with his words and always acted appropriately, so much so that people were intimidated when they saw him. It was during Emperor Gaozu's reign that Emperor Gaozu changed his name from the original Yuanli to Dunli, although the reason was not stated in historical records.
In 626, Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
the Prince of Qin, locked in an intense sibling rivalry with his older brother and Emperor Gaozu's oldest son, Li Jiancheng
Li Jiancheng
Li Jiancheng , formally Crown Prince Yin , nickname Pishamen , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the oldest son of the founding emperor Emperor Gaozu and therefore was designated crown prince after the founding of the dynasty in 618...
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....
, killed Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji
Li Yuanji
Li Yuanji , formally Prince La of Chao , more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi , nickname Sanhu , was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
the Prince of Qi at the Incident at Xuanwu Gate
Incident at Xuanwu Gate
The Incident at Xuanwu Gate refers to an incident on July 2, 626, when Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, a son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang , in an intense rivalry with his older brother Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and fearing that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, set an ambush at Xuanwu Gate, the...
and effectively seized power. Emperor Gaozu's distant nephew Li Yuan (李瑗, different character than Emperor Gaozu's name) the Prince of Lujiang, who was then commandant at You Prefecture (幽州, roughly modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
), was an ally of Li Jiancheng's, and when Li Shimin sent Cui to You Prefecture to summon Li Yuan 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...
. Li Yuan became fearful, and at the instigation of his deputy Wang Junkuo (王君廓) started a rebellion. He seized Cui and tried to force Cui to reveal military secrets of the imperial army, but Cui refused. Soon, Wang himself rebelled against Li Yuan and seized him, surrendering to the imperial forces. Upon Cui's return to Chang'an, Li Shimin made him a commander of the imperial guards and awarded him with gold and good horse(s).
During Emperor Taizong's reign
Later in 626, Emperor Gaozu passed the throne to Li Shimin, who took the throne as Emperor Taizong. In 627, Emperor Taizong promoted Cui Dunli to a higher post within the legislative bureau. It was said that particularly because Cui admired the great Han DynastyHan 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...
diplomat Su Wu
Su Wu
Su Wu was a diplomat and statesman during China's Han Dynasty, well known in Chinese history for his faithfulness to his mission and his empire.-Mission to Xiongnu:Not much is known about Su's early life or career...
, he was frequently sent as a diplomat to Eastern Tujue. At a later point, Cui became the deputy minister of defense, a post that he still held as of 642, when he was sent to Eastern Tujue's successor state Xueyantuo
Xueyantuo
The Xueyantuo ' or Syr-Tardush were an ancient Tiele people and khanate in central/northern Asia who were at one point vassals of the Gokturks, later aligning with China's Tang Dynasty against the Eastern Gokturks....
to negotiate a marriage of Emperor Taizong's daughter Princess Xinxing with Xueyantuo's Zhenzhu Khan
Zhenzhu Khan
Zhenzhu Khan , personal name Yi'nan , full regal title Zhenzhupiqie Khan , was a khan of Xueyantuo, under whom Xueyantuo rose from being a vassal of Eastern Tujue to a mighty khanate ruling over northern/central Asia...
Yi'nan, in order to gain the release of the general Qibi Heli (契苾何力), who had been held captive by Xueyantuo. He later served as the commandant at Ling Prefecture (靈州, roughly modern Yinchuan, Ningxia
Ningxia
Ningxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...
), and then was summoned back to Chang'an to serve as minister of defense. He was serving in that post as of 646, when he was sent to negotiate the surrender of Yi'nan's nephew the Yitewushi Khan
Yitewushi Khan
Yitewushi Khan , personal name Duomozhi , was the last khan of Xueyantuo.Little is known about Duomozhi's background, other than that he was a nephew of Xueyantuo's greatest khan, the Zhenzhu Khan Yi'nan...
Duomozhi (with Xueyantuo then in a state of collapse), although apparently before he could arrive, Duomozhi surrendered to the general Li Shiji
Li Shiji
Li Shiji , né Xu Shiji , later known in the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang as Li Ji , courtesy name Maogong , formally Duke Zhenwu of Ying , was one of the most celebrated generals early in the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
. After Xueyantuo's collapse, its vassal Huige briefly took over its territory, but Huige itself was severely weakened in 648 when its ruler Yaoluoge Tumidu (藥羅葛吐迷度) was assassinated by his nephew Yaoluoge Wuge (藥羅葛烏紇). Emperor Taizong, apprehensive that Huige would collapse and lead to a new round of disturbances, sent Cui to pacify the Huige people and to create Yaoluoge Tumidu's son Yaoluoge Porun (藥羅葛婆閏) as the new ruler of Huige.
During Emperor Gaozong's reign
In 649, Emperor Taizong died and was succeeded by his son Li ZhiEmperor 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...
(as Emperor Gaozong). Cui Dunli continued to serve as minister of defense, and in 652, he commissioned Cui with an army to gather the remaining tribesmen of Xueyantuo to force them relocate to Qilian Prefecture (祁連州, a prefecture established for them in modern Datong
Datong
Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province of North China, located a few hundred kilometres west by rail from Beijing with an elevation of...
, 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....
).
Later that year, Emperor Gaozong's sister Princess Gaoyang, her husband Fang Yi'ai (房遺愛), Emperor Gaozong's uncle Li Yuanjing (李元景) the Prince of Jing, Emperor Gaozong's brother Li Ke
Li Ke
Li Ke , posthumously known as the Prince of Yulin , often known by his greater title as the Prince of Wu , was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
the Prince of Wu, another brother-in-law Chai Lingwu (柴令武), and the general Xue Wanche (薛萬徹), were implicated in a plot to overthrow Emperor Gaozong and replace him with Li Yuanjing. (According to traditional historians, Li Ke was not involved in the plot, but was falsely implicated by Emperor Gaozong's powerful uncle Zhangsun Wuji
Zhangsun Wuji
Zhangsun Wuji , courtesy name Fuji , formally Duke of Zhao , was a chancellor of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty during the reigns of his brother-in-law Emperor Taizong and nephew Emperor Gaozong...
, who was apprehensive that Li Ke was older and considered more capable than Emperor Gaozong.) Some of them were executed, and some were ordered to commit suicide. Emperor Gaozong initially wanted to spare Li Yuanjing and Li Ke, but at Cui's opposition did not do so.
In 653, Cui was made Shizhong (侍中) -- the head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng) and a post considered one for a chancellor. He became in charge of editing imperial histories, and he was created the Duke of Gu'an. In 655, he was made Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau and still a chancellor post.
In 656, Cui, who had been given an additional post as a staff member of Emperor Gaozong's son and crown prince Li Hong
Li Hong
Li Hong , formally Emperor Xiaojing with the temple name of Yizong , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
as well, offered to resign on account of illness. Emperor Gaozong gave him the post as an advisor to Li Hong and no longer let him serve as Zhongshu Ling, but gave him the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. Emperor Gaozong also recalled Cui's younger brother Cui Yuqing (崔餘慶), who was then serving as the military advisor to the commandant at Dingxiang (定襄, in modern Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
), from Dingxiang, to attend to Cui Dunli. Cui Dunli died less a month later. Emperor Gaozong personally led a public mourning and buried him with honors, near Emperor Taizong's tomb.