Cen Xi

Cen Xi (Chinese: 岑羲; died July 29, 713^[1]), courtesy name Bohua (伯華), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Shang, Emperor Ruizong, and Emperor Xuanzong. He was known for his integrity as an official in charge of civil service affairs, but was later implicated as a partisan of Emperor Xuanzong's aunt Princess Taiping in 713 and was executed when Emperor Xuanzong suppressed Princess Taiping's party.

Background

Cen Xi's grandfather Cen Wenben served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong, and his father Cen Manqian (岑曼倩) served as the secretary general of the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) and carried the title of Duke of Xi.^[2]

Cen Xi himself passed the

Yangtze River." He subsequently recommended Cen Xi, and Cen Xi was made the magistrate of Sishui County, near the capital Luoyang—which was considered a major promotion due to its location.^[4]

As of 704, Cen Xi was serving as the magistrate of Guangwu County (廣武—the new name for Sishui), when Wu Zetian asked the chancellors to recommend officials suitable of serving as low level officials in various ministries. The chancellor Wei Sili recommended Cen, but commented, "Alas, his uncle was Cen Changqian, and he suffers from the taint." Wu Zetian responded, "As long as he is capable, what taint can there be?" She therefore made Cen Tianguan Yuanwailang (天官員外郎), an official at the ministry of civil service affairs. It was said that based on Cen's precedent, thereafter family members of officials previously killed during Wu Zetian's reign were able to begin getting promoted.

During Emperor Zhongzong's second reign

In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup led by Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanwei, Huan Yanfan, Jing Hui, and Yuan Shuji, and her son and crown prince Li Xian, a former emperor, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). However, Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi the Prince of Liang soon became a lover of Emperor Zhongzong's powerful wife Empress Wei and a trusted advisor of Emperor Zhongzong's. When the five coup leaders subsequently wanted to submit a petition to Emperor Zhongzong to have the ranks of Wu Sansi and other Wu clan members reduced, initially, no one was daring to draft the petition for them, but Cen Xi, then serving as Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng), was willing to do so, and wrote an eloquent argument for the proposal. Later that year, after Wu Sansi was successful in having the five coup leaders removed from government, he had Cen made Mishu Shaojian (秘書少監), the deputy director of the Palace Library—an ostensibly honored position that carried little actual power. Eventually, he was made a deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang) and was in charge of selecting officials, along with Cui Shi, Zheng Yin, and Li Yuangong (李元恭). Cui, Zheng, and Li were all known for corruption, but Cen was known for his integrity, during this time. Meanwhile, according to historical records that Cen himself later compiled, around this time, when Emperor Zhongzong's brother Li Dan the Prince of Xiang and sister Princess Taiping were implicated in a failed coup by Emperor Zhongzong's son and crown prince Li Chongjun in 707 in which Wu Sansi and his son Wu Chongxun (武崇訓) were killed, Cen and Xiao Zhizhong were the two officials who spoke on Li Dan's behalf, prompting Emperor Zhongzong to stop the investigation against Li Dan.

During Emperor Shang's reign and Emperor Ruizong's second reign

In 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death that traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by Empress Wei and her daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle, so that Empress Wei could become "emperor" like Wu Zetian and Li Guo'er could be crown princess. Soon thereafter, before Emperor Zhongzong's death was announced, Empress Wei, as part of the governmental reorganization to consolidate her power, gave Cen Xi the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto.^[5] For the time being, Emperor Zhongzong's son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen, was named emperor (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei retained power as empress dowager and regent. She sent a number of officials to survey the circuits, and Cen was sent to survey the Henan Circuit (河南道, roughly modern Henan and Shandong).

Less than a month later, Princess Taiping and Li Dan's son Li Longji the Prince of Linzi rose in rebellion and killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. Under their support, Li Dan, himself a former emperor, returned to the throne (as Emperor Ruizong), displacing Emperor Shang. Cen was made You Sanqi Changshi (右散騎常侍, a senior advisor at the legislative bureau) and minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu), and later demoted to be the prefect of Shan Prefecture (陝州, roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan). He was, however, soon recalled to be the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu). In 712, he was made chancellor de facto again, with the greater designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品). He was put in charge of editing the imperial history and also the register of clans. In editing the chronicles of Emperor Zhongzong's reign, he recorded how he and Xiao Zhizhong had spoken in Emperor Ruizong's defense when Li Chongjun's coup attempt occurred, and when Emperor Ruizong read the records, Emperor Ruizong thanked Cen and awarded him with silk and a good horse; Emperor Ruizong also made him Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau (門下省), a post considered one for a chancellor. Emperor Ruizong also created him the Duke of Nanyang.

At that time, Cen Xi's older brother Cen Xian (岑獻) was the deputy principal of the imperial university, and his younger brothers Cen Zhongxiang and Cen Zhongxiu were prefectural prefects. Some tens of his clan members were in fairly important positions. Cen Xi, at one point, sighed and commented, "When things become extreme, they will be reversed. This is what I am fearful of." He was fearful of what happened to the Cen clan and other officials during the earlier part of Wu Zetian's reign. However, he did not actually resign.

During Emperor Xuanzong's reign

In 712, Emperor Ruizong passed the throne to Li Longji, who was then crown prince, and Li Longji took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. At the suggestion of Princess Taiping, however, Emperor Ruizong retained power as Taishang Huang (retired emperor), and Princess Taiping continued to be influential through Emperor Ruizong, and the Emperor Ruizong often allowed her to exercise power on his behalf. Cen Xi was considered a member of her party. Later in 712, Emperor Xuanzong's associates, the chancellor Liu Youqiu and the general Zhang Wei (張暐), with Emperor Xuanzong's approval, planned to kill Cen and two other chancellors aligned with Princess Taiping -- Dou Huaizhen and Cui Shi—but the news was leaked after Zhang informed the plan to the official Deng Guangbin (鄧光賓). Liu, Zhang, and Deng were spared but exiled.

By 713, it was said that Princess Taiping, Dou, Cen, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui; along with other officials

eunuch Gao Lishi, and the military officer Li Shoude (李守德) — and decided to act first. On July 29,^[1]

Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. After his death, Cen's properties were confiscated.

Son

Cen Fu (岑敷), commoner

Notes and references

^ ^a ^b 兩千年中西曆轉換
^ New Book of Tang, vol. 72, part 2."唐書表第十二". Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
^ Cen Changqian was actually a nephew, not a son, of Cen Wenben, but as Cen Changqian's father Cen Wenshu died early and Cen Changqian was raised by Cen Wenben, Cen Changqian was considered an uncle of Cen Xi's.
^ As Zong Chuke served as chancellor twice during Wu Zetian's reign—697 to 698 and 704—the event must have occurred during one of those stints, and context implies that this occurred in 704.
^ Both Cen Xi's biographies in the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang actually indicated that he was given the greater chancellor de facto designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin, and at the same time made You Sanqi Changshi, a senior advisor at the legislative bureau, but the chronicles of Emperor Zhongzong's reign in those histories both indicated that Cen Xi remained as Zhongshu Sheren and was made Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and the Zizhi Tongjian adopted the chronology version of the events. Compare Old Book of Tang, vol. 70 "舊唐書列傳卷十一至二十". Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-10. and New Book of Tang, vol. 102,"唐書列傳第二六至四十". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-07-13. with Old Book of Tang, vol. 7, New Book of Tang, vol. 5,"唐書本紀第一至十". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-11-26., and Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 209.

Old Book of Tang, vol. 70.[1]
New Book of Tang, vol. 102.[2]
Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 207, 208, 209, 210.

[death-1] 兩千年中西曆轉換

[2] New Book of Tang, vol. 72, part 2."唐書表第十二". Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-03-08.

[3] Cen Changqian was actually a nephew, not a son, of Cen Wenben, but as Cen Changqian's father Cen Wenshu died early and Cen Changqian was raised by Cen Wenben, Cen Changqian was considered an uncle of Cen Xi's.

[4] As Zong Chuke served as chancellor twice during Wu Zetian's reign—697 to 698 and 704—the event must have occurred during one of those stints, and context implies that this occurred in 704.

[5] Both Cen Xi's biographies in the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang actually indicated that he was given the greater chancellor de facto designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin, and at the same time made You Sanqi Changshi, a senior advisor at the legislative bureau, but the chronicles of Emperor Zhongzong's reign in those histories both indicated that Cen Xi remained as Zhongshu Sheren and was made Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and the Zizhi Tongjian adopted the chronology version of the events. Compare Old Book of Tang, vol. 70 "舊唐書列傳卷十一至二十". Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-02-10. and New Book of Tang, vol. 102,"唐書列傳第二六至四十". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-07-13. with Old Book of Tang, vol. 7, New Book of Tang, vol. 5,"唐書本紀第一至十". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-11-26., and Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 209.

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