Chen Yixing
Chen Yixing (陳夷行) (died 844
Background and early career
It is not known when Chen Yixing was born. It was said that his family had its origins south of the
In 812, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong, Chen passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class. Thereafter, he served on the staffs of several regional governors. As of the end of Baoli era (825-827) of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Jingzong, Chen was serving as an imperial censor with the title of Shiyushi (侍御史), and serving at the eastern capital Luoyang, when he was made Yubu Yuanwailang (虞部員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of public works (工部, Gongbu). He continued to serve at Luoyang.[4]
During Emperor Wenzong's reign
Before chancellorship
In 829, during the reign of Emperor Jingzong's brother
During and after chancellorship
In 837, when Chen Yixing was also serving as the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang), he was made a chancellor de facto with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), serving alongside
In 839, there was a major argument that led to the removals of Chen and Zheng. Emperor Wenzong had praised the talents of the acting director of finances, Du Cong. Yang and Li Jue thereafter recommended Du to be the ministry of census. Chen responded, "Such orders should come from the Emperor. In the past, those who lost stately sovereignty did so by losing their authorities to their subjects." Li Jue responded, "Your Imperial Majesty had told me previously that an Emperor should select chancellors, not suspect them." In a subsequent discussion, Chen again emphasized that the Emperor should not yield authority to his subjects. Li Jue, offended, responded, "Chen Yixing is obviously suspecting that there are chancellors who are stealing power from Your Imperial Majesty. I have often requested retirement, and I would be fortunate to be given a post as an imperial prince's teacher." Zheng then stated, "Your Imperial Majesty ruled well in the first and second years of the Kaicheng era [(i.e., 836 and 837)], while less so in the third and fourth years of Kaicheng [(i.e., 838 and 839)]." Yang responded, "In the first and second years, Zheng Tan and Chen Yixing were in power. In the third and fourth years, your subject and Li Jue joined them. Of course, the crime is mine." He then stated, "I do not dare to again enter the Office of the Chancellors!" He withdrew from Emperor Wenzong's presence. Emperor Wenzong subsequently sent a eunuch to comfort him, and Zheng partially apologized, stating, "Your subject is foolish. I did not intend to point at Yang Sifu, but Yang Sifu's reaction shows that he has no tolerance for me." Yang responded, "Zheng Tan stated that the governance is deteriorating year by year. This does not only incriminate your subject, but also speaks ill of your holy virtues." Yang then submitted multiple offers to resign. Soon thereafter, Zheng and Chen were stripped of their chancellor posts. Chen, instead, was made the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang).[6] Later in the year, he was sent out of the capital to serve as the prefect of Hua Prefecture (華州, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi).[4]
During Emperor Wuzong's reign
In 841, by which time Emperor Wenzong's brother Emperor Wuzong was emperor and Li Deyu was the leading chancellor, Chen Yixing was recalled from Hua Prefecture, apparently first to serve as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu), and then again chancellor, as well Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng).[2][6]
Later that year, there was an incident in which Emperor Wuzong, believing that Yang Sifu and Li Jue, whom he had stripped of chancellor posts and sent out of Chang'an because he believed that they did not support him as emperor, became further incensed by the powerful
Chen was himself soon involved in a policy argument against Li Deyu, as Tang's long-time ally and vassal
In 842, after Wamosi had made a trip to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Wuzong, Chen was relieved of his chancellor post and made Zuo Pushe (左僕射), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng).
Notes and references
- ^ a b Old Book of Tang, vol. 18, part 1.
- ^ a b New Book of Tang, vol. 181.
- ^ "漢川草廬-二十四史-新唐書-卷七十一‧表第十一". Archived from the original on 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2010-05-03.New Book of Tang, vol. 71 Archived June 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f Old Book of Tang, vol. 173.
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 245.
- ^ a b c d e f g Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 246.
- ^ E.g., Bo Yang Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 59 [839].
- ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 247.
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 173.
- New Book of Tang, vol. 181.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 245, 246, 247.