Chen Shuda
Chen Shuda 陳叔達 | |
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Born | 572 |
Died | 635 |
Other names |
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Occupation | Statesman |
Spouse | Wang Nüjie |
Children |
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Parents |
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Chen Shuda (572–635), courtesy name Zicong, formally Duke Zhong of Jiang, was an imperial prince of the Chen dynasty, who, after the destruction of Chen, served as an official under the Sui and Tang dynasties, becoming a chancellor during the reigns of the Tang emperors Gaozu and Taizong.
During Chen dynasty
Chen Shuda was born in 572.
In 582, just after Emperor Xuan died and was succeeded by Chen Shuda's oldest brother
During Sui dynasty
In 589, the
In 617, the Sui general Li Yuan the Duke of Tang rebelled at Taiyuan and advanced toward Chang'an. When his army arrived at Jiang Commandery, Chen Shuda surrendered the commandery to his forces, and he was made a secretary on Li Yuan's staff and created the Duke of Handong, sharing important secretarial duties with Wen Daya (溫大雅). It was said that Li Yuan's military correspondences, as well as edicts later issued in the name of Yang You (the grandson of Emperor Yang, whom Li Yuan declared emperor after capturing Chang'an later in 617) announcing general pardons and, later, passing the throne to Li Yuan in 618, were largely written by Chen Shuda.
During Emperor Gaozu's reign
After Li Yuan assumed the throne in 618, establishing the Tang dynasty as its Emperor Gaozu, Chen Shuda was made the Huangmen Shilang (黃門侍郎), the deputy head of the government's examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng). In 619, Emperor Gaozu made him Nayan (納言) – the head of the examination bureau, a post considered one for a chancellor. In 621, after the title of the head of the examination bureau was changed to Shizhong (侍中), he continued to serve as Shizhong.
It was said that Chen was well-spoken and handsome in appearance, and whenever he made an appearance before the emperor, the gentlemen at the capital were all looking at him. When famed people from south of the
Late in Emperor Gaozu's reign, an intense rivalry developed between his two oldest sons, Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, as Li Jiancheng, while a capable general himself, was overshadowed by Li Shimin, who had destroyed Tang's major enemies Xue Rengao the Emperor of Qin, Liu Wuzhou the Dingyang Khan, Wang Shichong the Emperor of Zheng, and Dou Jiande the Prince of Xia. Li Jiancheng and a brother who supported him, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi, once accused Li Shimin of crimes, and Emperor Gaozu, believing in the accusations, was set to punish Li Shimin, when Chen interceded for Li Shimin, pointing out his great contributions, and Emperor Gaozu did not punish Li Shimin.
During Emperor Taizong's reign
In 626, Li Shimin, fearing that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, set an ambush for Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji at
At a later point, Chen was accused of sexual immorality.[c] Emperor Taizong, as Chen was a well-known official, did not want his offense to be made public, and so had him retire with a minor office. He died in 634 and was initially given the unflattering posthumous name of Miao (繆, "inconsistent"). At a later point, he was posthumously awarded with the title of minister of census and had his posthumous name changed to Zhong (忠, "faithful").
Notes
- History of Southern Dynasties, although the Old Book of Tang indicated that he was the 16th son. Compare Book of Chen, vol. 28 and History of Southern Dynasties, vol. 65 [1] with Old Book of Tang, vol. 61 [2]. The New Book of Tang, vol. 100 avoided the issue by merely stating that he was a son of Emperor Xuan.[3].
- ^ At that time, grapes appeared to be an imported delicacy, grown in the modern Xinjiang region, then out of Tang's control.
- ^ The nature of the alleged immorality was not stated in historical records.
References
- ^ His elder brother Chen Shushen was born in 572, and his younger brothers Chen Shu'ao and Chen Shuxing had a common mother while Chen Shuxing was born in 573.
- Book of Chen, vol. 28.
- History of Southern Dynasties, vol. 65.[4]
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 61.[5]
- New Book of Tang, vol. 100.[6]
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 184, 185, 187, 188, 191, 192, 194.