Cui Yuan (Tang Dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Cui Yuan (705–768), courtesy name Youyu (有裕), formally Duke Zhaoxiang of Zhao (趙昭襄公), was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xuanzong
and Emperor Suzong
.
. His family was from Bei Prefecture (貝州, in modern Xingtai
, Hebei
), and traced its ancestry to officials of Han Dynasty
, Cao Wei
, Later Yan
, Liu Song, Northern Wei
, and Northern Qi
. His grandfather Cui Zhengu (崔貞固) served as a county secretary general for Tang Dynasty
, and his father Cui JIngzhi (崔景晊) served as a judge of the supreme court. Cui Yuan lost his father when he was young, and he was said to be poor but having great ambitions, studying military strategies fervently.
, Emperor Xuanzong held a special imperial examination
for those who might have missed out on regular examinations. Cui Yuan received a high score on military strategy, and was made a military officer -- but as he was proud of his literary abilities, he was not pleased with the commission. When he later served under Xiao Jiong (蕭炅) the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆府, encompassing the capital Chang'an
), however, Xiao recommended him, and he was made the secretary general of Huichang County
. He was later promoted to be Sixun Yuanwailang (司勳員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs. In 752, when the chancellor Yang Guozhong
became also the military governor (jiedushi
) of Jiannan Circuit (劍南, headquartered in modern Chengdu
, Sichuan
), Yang invited him to serve on staff, and he became the military advisor to the governor of Shu Commandery (蜀郡, i.e., Chengdu) and acting military governor, in Yang's absence.
After the military governor An Lushan
rebelled in 755, Yang considered the possibility that the emperor might have to flee to Jiannan, and secretly instructed Cui to began preparing for such a plan. In 756, as An's forces approached Chang'an, the plan was carried out, as Emperor Xuanzong began the flight to Jiannan -- although, on the way, Yang was killed by angry imperial guard soldiers. Once Emperor Xuanzong's train reached Hechi Commandery (河池, in modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
), Cui's messenger arrived there as well to welcome Emperor Xuanzong and to point out that Jiannan was well-supplied. Emperor Xuanzong promoted Cui to be Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. Subsequently, when Emperor Xuanzong sent his son Li Jiao (李璷) the Prince of Ying to Jiannan first to survey the circuit, Li Jiao was not respectful of Cui, and Emperor Xuanzong, in order to placate Cui, recalled Li Jiao.
Li Heng
, who did not follow Emperor Xuanzong toward Jiannan, had declared himself emperor (as Emperor Suzong) at Lingwu. When Emperor Xuanzong received news of this, he acknowledged Emperor Suzong as emperor, taking the title Taishang Huang
(retired emperor) instead. He also sent three of the four chancellors he commissioned -- Wei Jiansu
, Fang Guan
, and Cui Huan
to Lingwu to formally invest Emperor Suzong as emperor, but kept Cui Yuan at Shu Commandery for some time, until spring 757, when he also sent Cui Yuan to join Emperor Suzong, then at Pengyuan (彭原, in modern Qingyang
, Gansu
). In order to show favor to Cui, however, Emperor Xuanzong erected a monument at Shu Commandery to commemorate his accomplishments. Initially, it was expected that Emperor Suzong would not favor him, and Emperor Suzong did not meet him for several days even after he arrived at Pengyuan; only after he had bribed one of Emperor Suzong's close associates, the eunuch Li Fuguo
, was he able to meet Emperor Suzong.
In 758, after Emperor Suzong had recaptured Chang'an, and both Emperors Xuanzong and Suzong had returned there, Cui was created the Duke of Zhao but was removed from his chancellor post and became an advisor to the crown prince. He was put in charge of the eastern capital Luoyang
, which An Lushan's son and successor An Qingxu
had just abandoned. In spring 759, however, after Tang forces fighting An Qingxu and Shi Siming
collapsed at Yecheng
, the officials and the people of Luoyang panicked and fled Luoyang, with Cui fleeing as far Xiangyang. Afterwards, he submitted a petition asking for punishment, and Emperor Suzong stripped him of his fief and his honorary title as Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司). He was soon made the teacher of Emperor Suzong's brother Li Huan (李環) the Prince of Ji. Then, at the recommendation of the general Li Guangbi
, he was made the prefect of Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo
, Henan
) and later the prefect of Fen Prefecture (汾州, roughly modern Linfen
, Shanxi
), having good reputation at both places. As of 761, Cui was the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
). He remained there until his death in 768. He was given posthumous honors.
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 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 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...
.
Background
Cui Yuan was born in 704, during the reign of Wu ZetianWu 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...
. His family was from Bei Prefecture (貝州, in modern Xingtai
Xingtai
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 traced its ancestry to 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...
, Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
, Later Yan
Later Yan
The Later Yan was a Murong-Xianbei state, located in modern day northeast China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Later Yan declared themselves "emperors". Later Yan fell to the Goguryeo dynasty.-Rulers of the Later Yan:...
, 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 Northern Qi
Northern Qi
The Northern Qi Dynasty was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.-History:The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan...
. His grandfather Cui Zhengu (崔貞固) served as a county secretary general for 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...
, and his father Cui JIngzhi (崔景晊) served as a judge of the supreme court. Cui Yuan lost his father when he was young, and he was said to be poor but having great ambitions, studying military strategies fervently.
During Emperor Xuanzong's reign
During the Kaiyuan era (713-741) of Emperor XuanzongEmperor 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...
, Emperor Xuanzong held a special 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...
for those who might have missed out on regular examinations. Cui Yuan received a high score on military strategy, and was made a military officer -- but as he was proud of his literary abilities, he was not pleased with the commission. When he later served under Xiao Jiong (蕭炅) the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆府, encompassing 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...
), however, Xiao recommended him, and he was made the secretary general of Huichang County
Huichang County
Huichang, JiangxiArea2722.18 km2Population392,3000 LongitudeLatitude Postal Code 342600Huichang is a county, under the juridiction of Ganzhou, in Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China....
. He was later promoted to be Sixun Yuanwailang (司勳員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs. In 752, when 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...
became also 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 Jiannan Circuit (劍南, 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...
), Yang invited him to serve on staff, and he became the military advisor to the governor of Shu Commandery (蜀郡, i.e., Chengdu) and acting military governor, in Yang's absence.
After the military governor An Lushan
An 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 ,...
rebelled in 755, Yang considered the possibility that the emperor might have to flee to Jiannan, and secretly instructed Cui to began preparing for such a plan. In 756, as An's forces approached Chang'an, the plan was carried out, as Emperor Xuanzong began the flight to Jiannan -- although, on the way, Yang was killed by angry imperial guard soldiers. Once Emperor Xuanzong's train reached Hechi Commandery (河池, in modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, 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's messenger arrived there as well to welcome Emperor Xuanzong and to point out that Jiannan was well-supplied. Emperor Xuanzong promoted Cui to be Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), and gave him the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. Subsequently, when Emperor Xuanzong sent his son Li Jiao (李璷) the Prince of Ying to Jiannan first to survey the circuit, Li Jiao was not respectful of Cui, and Emperor Xuanzong, in order to placate Cui, recalled Li Jiao.
During Emperor Suzong's reign
Meanwhile, though, Emperor Xuanzong's crown princeCrown 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...
, who did not follow Emperor Xuanzong toward Jiannan, had declared himself emperor (as Emperor Suzong) at Lingwu. When Emperor Xuanzong received news of this, he acknowledged Emperor Suzong as emperor, taking the title 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) instead. He also sent three of the four chancellors he commissioned -- 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 :...
, 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....
, and Cui Huan
Cui Huan
Cui Huan 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....
to Lingwu to formally invest Emperor Suzong as emperor, but kept Cui Yuan at Shu Commandery for some time, until spring 757, when he also sent Cui Yuan to join Emperor Suzong, then at Pengyuan (彭原, 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...
). In order to show favor to Cui, however, Emperor Xuanzong erected a monument at Shu Commandery to commemorate his accomplishments. Initially, it was expected that Emperor Suzong would not favor him, and Emperor Suzong did not meet him for several days even after he arrived at Pengyuan; only after he had bribed one of Emperor Suzong's close associates, the eunuch Li Fuguo
Li Fuguo
Li Fuguo , né Li Jingzhong , known from 757 to 758 as Li Huguo , formally Prince Chou of Bolu , was a eunuch official during the reign of Emperor Suzong of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty...
, was he able to meet Emperor Suzong.
In 758, after Emperor Suzong had recaptured Chang'an, and both Emperors Xuanzong and Suzong had returned there, Cui was created the Duke of Zhao but was removed from his chancellor post and became an advisor to the crown prince. He was put in charge of 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...
, which An Lushan's son and successor An Qingxu
An Qingxu
An Qingxu , né An Renzhi , was a son of An Lushan, a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who rebelled and took imperial title of his own state of Yan. An Qingxu serves as the Prince of Jin from 756 - 757, and later killed his father and took imperial title for himself. He was eventually defeated...
had just abandoned. In spring 759, however, after Tang forces fighting An Qingxu and Shi Siming
Shi Siming
Shi Siming , or Shi Sugan , was a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty who followed his childhood friend An Lushan in rebelling against Tang, and who later succeeded An Lushan's son An Qingxu as emperor of the Yan state that An Lushan established.-Background:It is not known when Shi Sugan was born,...
collapsed at Yecheng
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
, the officials and the people of Luoyang panicked and fled Luoyang, with Cui fleeing as far Xiangyang. Afterwards, he submitted a petition asking for punishment, and Emperor Suzong stripped him of his fief and his honorary title as Kaifu Yitong Sansi (開府儀同三司). He was soon made the teacher of Emperor Suzong's brother Li Huan (李環) the Prince of Ji. Then, at the recommendation of the general Li Guangbi
Li Guangbi
Li Guangbi , formally Prince Wumu of Linhuai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, of ethnic Khitan ancestry, who was instrumental in Tang's suppression of the Anshi Rebellion.- Background :...
, he was made the prefect of Huai Prefecture (懷州, roughly modern Jiaozuo
Jiaozuo
Jiaozuo is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yellow River, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the south, Xinxiang to the east, Jiyuan to the west, Luoyang to the southwest, and the province of Shanxi...
, 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 later the prefect of Fen Prefecture (汾州, roughly modern Linfen
Linfen
-Administrative divisions:The prefecture-level city of Linfen is divided in one district, two cities and fourteen counties. The information here presented uses the metric system and data from 2010 Census.-Pollution:...
, 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....
), having good reputation at both places. As of 761, Cui was 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...
). He remained there until his death in 768. He was given posthumous honors.