Cui Huan
Encyclopedia
Cui Huan (died January 14, 769) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor briefly during the reign of Emperor Suzong
-- although he was commissioned by Emperor Suzong's father Emperor Xuanzong
, not Emperor Suzong.
was a chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian
and her son Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
and was a key figure in Emperor Zhongzong's restoration. Cui Huan's father Cui Qu (崔璩) served as a deputy minister during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong's nephew Emperor Xuanzong
and was said to be a capable writer. Cui Huan had at least two brothers—an older brother named Cui Zhen (崔震) and a younger brother named Cui Bi (崔賁).
Cui Huan himself was said to be well-learned in the Confucian classics and rhetoric. He started his official service career as the civil service officer (司功參軍, Sigong Canjun) at Bo Prefecture (亳州, roughly modern Bozhou
, Anhui
), and later served as Simen Yuanwailang (司門員外郎), a junior official at the ministry of justice. It was said that he did not flatter the chancellor Yang Guozhong
and therefore was disliked by Yang. Yang thus had him sent out of the capital Chang'an
to serve as the governor of Baxi Commandery (巴西, roughly modern Mianyang
, Sichuan
).
rose against Emperor Xuanzong's rule, and by summer 756, Emperor Xuanzong was forced to flee Chang'an, toward Chengdu
. Emperor Xuanzong's son and crown prince
Li Heng
fled to Lingwu instead and was proclaimed emperor there (as Emperor Suzong), and he honored Emperor Xuanzong as Taishang Huang
(retired emperor). Meanwhile, though, Emperor Xuanzong, unaware of this, was still exercising imperial authority, and on his way to Chengdu made Fang Guan
a chancellor. As he went through Baxi Commandery, Cui Huan welcomed him. When Emperor Xuanzong conversed with Cui, he was impressed by Cui's talent and regretted not promoting him earlier. Fang also recommended Cui. Emperor Xuanzong thus made Cui Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng), and chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). He had Cui accompany him to Chengdu.
Emperor Xuanzong soon heard that Emperor Suzong had taken the throne, and he recognized Emperor Suzong as the new emperor. He sent Cui and fellow chancellors Wei Jiansu
and Fang to Lingwu to officially invest Emperor Suzong as emperor and gave them the imperial seal and the edict officially passing the throne. They encountered Emperor Suzong, who was then launching a counterattack, at Shunhua (順化, in modern Qingyang
, Gansu
), and they offered the seal and the edict to Emperor Suzong. Emperor Suzong declined, stating that with empire still in turmoil, it was not an appropriate time for him to officially take the throne, instead putting the seal and the edict aside and paying them daily respects, as they represented Emperor Xuanzong.
Meanwhile, because the empire was then in turmoil due to An Lushan's rebellion, the regular civil service process was not being carried out. Emperor Suzong sent Cui to the Yangtze River
-Huai River
region to select candidates for civil service, but Cui was not considered competent at this task. (Cui's biography in the Book of Tang
claimed that Cui overly listened to his subordinates, who accepted bribes to recommend people, while his biography in the New Book of Tang
, which was less critical of him, claimed that he was willing to select people that he knew without fear that he would be accused of nepotism
, but was nevertheless not very good at selecting candidates.) In fall 757, Emperor Suzong removed him from his chancellor position and made him the governor of Yuhang Commandery (餘杭, roughly modern Hangzhou
, Zhejiang
), as well as the examiner and commander of the region east of the Yangtze.
During the reign of Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong
, the chancellor Yuan Zai
dominated the imperial government, in association with the eunuch Dong Xiu (董秀). Cui despised Yuan, and on an occasion, when he met with Emperor Daizong, he accused Yuan of being treacherous. Emperor Daizong, defending Yuan, stated:
Cui responded:
Emperor Daizong became silent and did not respond.
Meanwhile, Cui also served as special emissary for the collection of Qingmiao taxes (青苗, i.e., taxes imposed on newly grown crops), which were used for paying official salaries. It was said that because of requests from the lower officials, he used these taxes not only to pay the higher officials, but also the lower ones. Yuan's associate Zhang Qing (張青) argued that this was inappropriate, and Emperor Daizong had Cui investigated and interrogated. Cui had no response to the accusations and was demoted to be the prefect of Dao Prefecture (道州, in modern Yongzhou
, Hunan
). He died in 769 and was posthumously honored and given the posthumous name
of Yuan (元, meaning "discerning").
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 briefly during the reign of Emperor Suzong
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
-- although he was commissioned by Emperor Suzong's father Emperor Xuanzong
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...
, not Emperor Suzong.
Background
It is not known when Cui Huan was born. His grandfather Cui XuanweiCui Xuanwei
Cui Xuanwei , né Cui Ye , formally Prince Wenxian of Boling , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian and her son Emperor Zhongzong...
was a chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian
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...
and her son Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
Emperor Zhongzong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Xiǎn , at times during his life Li Zhe and Wu Xian , was the fourth Emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling briefly in 684 and again from 705 to 710.Emperor Zhongzong was the son of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Empress Wu...
and was a key figure in Emperor Zhongzong's restoration. Cui Huan's father Cui Qu (崔璩) served as a deputy minister during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong's nephew Emperor Xuanzong
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...
and was said to be a capable writer. Cui Huan had at least two brothers—an older brother named Cui Zhen (崔震) and a younger brother named Cui Bi (崔賁).
Cui Huan himself was said to be well-learned in the Confucian classics and rhetoric. He started his official service career as the civil service officer (司功參軍, Sigong Canjun) at Bo Prefecture (亳州, roughly modern Bozhou
Bozhou
Bozhou is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Anhui province, People's Republic of China. It borders Huaibei to the northeast, Bengbu to the southeast, Huainan to the south, Fuyang to the southwest, and the province of Henan to the north.-Administration:...
, 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...
), and later served as Simen Yuanwailang (司門員外郎), a junior official at the ministry of justice. It was said that he did not flatter the chancellor Yang Guozhong
Yang Guozhong
Yang Guozhong , né Yang Zhao , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor late in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong...
and therefore was disliked by Yang. Yang thus had him sent out of 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 governor of Baxi Commandery (巴西, roughly modern Mianyang
Mianyang
Mianyang is the second largest prefecture-level city of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Its administrative area includes the city proper of Mianyang, with 985,586 inhabitants in the built up area , the county-level city of Jiangyou, and six counties, covering an area of over and a population...
, 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...
).
As chancellor
In 755, the general An LushanAn Lushan
An Lushan was a general who rebelled against the Tang Dynasty in China.His name was also transcribed into Chinese as Āluòshān or Gáluòshān ,...
rose against Emperor Xuanzong's rule, and by summer 756, Emperor Xuanzong was forced to flee Chang'an, toward Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. Emperor Xuanzong's son and 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....
Li Heng
Emperor Suzong of Tang
Emperor Suzong of Tang , personal name Li Heng , né Li Sisheng , known as Li Jun from 725 to 736, known as Li Yu from 736 to 738, known briefly as Li Shao in 738, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the son of Emperor Xuanzong...
fled to Lingwu instead and was proclaimed emperor there (as Emperor Suzong), and he honored Emperor Xuanzong as Taishang Huang
Taishang Huang
Retired Emperor, Grand Emperor, or Emperor Emeritus is a title occasionally used throughout East Asian feudal regimes for former emperors who had abdicated voluntarily to their sons. This title appeared in the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam...
(retired emperor). Meanwhile, though, Emperor Xuanzong, unaware of this, was still exercising imperial authority, and on his way to Chengdu made Fang Guan
Fang Guan
Fang Guan , courtesy name Cilü , formally the Duke of Qinghe , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong....
a chancellor. As he went through Baxi Commandery, Cui Huan welcomed him. When Emperor Xuanzong conversed with Cui, he was impressed by Cui's talent and regretted not promoting him earlier. Fang also recommended Cui. Emperor Xuanzong thus made Cui Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng), and chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). He had Cui accompany him to Chengdu.
Emperor Xuanzong soon heard that Emperor Suzong had taken the throne, and he recognized Emperor Suzong as the new emperor. He sent Cui and fellow chancellors Wei Jiansu
Wei Jiansu
Wei JIansu , courtesy name Huiwei , formally Duke Zhongzhen of Bin , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Suzong.- Background :...
and Fang to Lingwu to officially invest Emperor Suzong as emperor and gave them the imperial seal and the edict officially passing the throne. They encountered Emperor Suzong, who was then launching a counterattack, at Shunhua (順化, in modern Qingyang
Qingyang
Qingyang is a prefecture-level city in China's Gansu province.-Geography and climate:Qingyang is in eastern Gansu province and is sometimes referred to in Chinese as "Longdong" . Ningxia province is to the north west and Shaanxi is to the east. It is in the lower middle part of the Yellow River on...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
), and they offered the seal and the edict to Emperor Suzong. Emperor Suzong declined, stating that with empire still in turmoil, it was not an appropriate time for him to officially take the throne, instead putting the seal and the edict aside and paying them daily respects, as they represented Emperor Xuanzong.
Meanwhile, because the empire was then in turmoil due to An Lushan's rebellion, the regular civil service process was not being carried out. Emperor Suzong sent Cui to the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
-Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
region to select candidates for civil service, but Cui was not considered competent at this task. (Cui's biography in 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...
claimed that Cui overly listened to his subordinates, who accepted bribes to recommend people, while his biography in 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...
, which was less critical of him, claimed that he was willing to select people that he knew without fear that he would be accused of nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
, but was nevertheless not very good at selecting candidates.) In fall 757, Emperor Suzong removed him from his chancellor position and made him the governor of Yuhang Commandery (餘杭, roughly modern Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, 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...
), as well as the examiner and commander of the region east of the Yangtze.
After serving as chancellor
At a later point, after Tang forces had recaptured Chang'an, Cui Huan was recalled to the capital to serve as deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang). It was said that his life was simple and unambitious, and he was respected by others for this. He later served as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu).During the reign of Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong
Emperor Daizong of Tang
Emperor Daizong of Tang , personal name Li Yu , né Li Chu , was an emperor of the Chinese Tang Dynasty....
, the chancellor Yuan Zai
Yuan Zai
Yuan Zai , courtesy name Gongfu , formally Viscount Huang of Xuchang and then Viscount Chengzong of Xuchang , was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Suzong and Emperor Daizong, becoming particularly powerful during the middle of Emperor...
dominated the imperial government, in association with the eunuch Dong Xiu (董秀). Cui despised Yuan, and on an occasion, when he met with Emperor Daizong, he accused Yuan of being treacherous. Emperor Daizong, defending Yuan, stated:
Cui responded:
Emperor Daizong became silent and did not respond.
Meanwhile, Cui also served as special emissary for the collection of Qingmiao taxes (青苗, i.e., taxes imposed on newly grown crops), which were used for paying official salaries. It was said that because of requests from the lower officials, he used these taxes not only to pay the higher officials, but also the lower ones. Yuan's associate Zhang Qing (張青) argued that this was inappropriate, and Emperor Daizong had Cui investigated and interrogated. Cui had no response to the accusations and was demoted to be the prefect of Dao Prefecture (道州, in modern Yongzhou
Yongzhou
Yongzhou is a prefecture-level city in the Hunan province of China.YongZhou is located in the central and south of China, on the southern side of Xiang River, which is formed by the confluence of the Xiao and Xiang rivers. Yongzhou is one of the four ancient counties in Hunan; it is 2000 years old...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
). He died in 769 and was posthumously honored and given the posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
of Yuan (元, meaning "discerning").