Cen Wenben (岑文本) (595-May 10, 645[1]), courtesy name Jingren (景仁), formally Viscount Xian of Jiangling (江陵憲子), was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. Events By Place Europe Theudebert II becomes king of Austrasia. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines recapture Alexandria from the Arabs Asia A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life The chancellor of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝宰相 was an office that was semi-formally designated for a number of high level officials at one time during the Chinese Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the He was an assistant editor of the Book of Zhou, the official history of Northern Zhou. The Book of Zhou ( Traditional Chinese: 周書 Pinyin Zhōu Shū was the official history of the Chinese / Xianbei dynasty Northern The Northern Zhou Dynasty (Chinese北周 followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581.
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Background
Cen Wenben was born in 595, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. Events By Place Europe Theudebert II becomes king of Austrasia. Background Yang Jian's clan was from Hongnong Commandery (弘農 roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan) His grandfather Cen Shanfang (岑善方) served under Emperor Xuan of Western Liang, a vassal of Sui Dynasty's predecessor state Northern Zhou who claimed to be the legitimate emperor of Liang Dynasty. Early life Xiao Cha was born in 519 as the third son of Xiao Tong, then the Crown prince to Liang Dynasty 's founder Emperor Wu. The Sui Dynasty ( 581 - 618 AD and in the undertaking of other construction projects including the reconstruction of the Great Wall. The Northern Zhou Dynasty (Chinese北周 followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. Liang Dynasty ( 梁[[wikt 朝|朝]] Pinyin: Liáng cháo (502-557 also known as Southern Liang Dynasty (南梁 was the third of Southern dynasties His father Cen Zhixiang (岑之象) served as a magistrate of Handan County late in Sui Dynasty. Handan ( is a Prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China. In 608, Cen Zhixiang was falsely accused of crimes. Events By Place Europe Eochaid Buide succeeds Áedán mac Gabráin as king of Dál Riata. Cen Wenben, who was already talented in writing and was calm and dexterious in his actions, went to the ministry of justice to proclaim his father's innocence and, when questioned, was able to answer and explain clearly. The officials were surprised by his ability to do so despite his young age, and, to test his writing ability, asked him to write an ode to lotus. Cen was able to write it well quickly. Subsequently, he was able to convince the officials that his father was falsely accused, allowing his father to be exculpated. He became famous from the incident. He was subsequently recommended for imperial examinations by the commandery government of his home commandery, but as by that time, most of Sui territory was engulfed in agrarian rebellions against Emperor Yang, Cen Wenben did not report for the examinations. The Imperial examinations ( in Imperial China determined who among the population would be permitted to enter the state's Bureaucracy. Background Yang Guang was born in 569 during the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou.
Service under Xiao Xi and Li Xiaogong
In 617, Xiao Xi, a great-grandson of Liang's Emperor Xuan, whom Cen Wenben's grandfather Cen Shanfang had served, rose in rebellion, claiming to restore Liang Dynasty. Events By Place Europe Heathens revolt in Kent under king Eadbald. Background Xiao Xi was a great-grandson of Emperor Xuan of Western Liang -- a vassal of Western Wei and Northern Zhou who claimed Liang imperial Xiao Xi established his capital at Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), and he summoned Cen Wenben to serve as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). Jingzhou ( is a city in the Hubei province of the People's Republic of China, on the banks of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang ( Postal map spelling: Hupeh) is a central province of the People's Republic of China. Cen was in charge of writing the imperial edicts. In 621, when the Tang Dynasty general Li Xiaogong the Prince of Zhao Commandery (a nephew of Tang's founding emperor Emperor Gaozu) attacked Liang and put Jiangling under siege, Cen suggested to Xiao Xi that he surrendered, and Xiao Xi did so. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Byzantine Emperor Heraclius invades Persia. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Li Xiaogong (李孝恭 (591-640 formally Prince Yuan of Hejian (河間元王 often referred to by his earlier title as Prince of Zhao Commandery (趙郡王 Background and early career Li Yuan's seventh-generation ancestor was Li Gao, the founder of the Sixteen Kingdoms state Western Liang. After Xiao Xi's surrender, however, Li Xiaogong's subordinates wanted to pillage the city. Cen persuaded Li Xiaogong that it would be wrong to do so, and Li Xiaogong subsequently ordered against pillaging. As Li Xiaogong was then put in charge of the former Liang capital, he invited Cen to serve on his staff. In 623, when Emperor Gaozu sent Li Xiaogong to attack the rebel ruler Fu Gongshi the Emperor of Song, Cen followed Li Xiaogong and was in charge of his military correspondences. Events By Place Europe Clotaire II, king of the Franks, makes his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia Initial uprising Fu Gongshi was from Qi Province (齊州 roughly modern Ji'nan, Shandong) After Li Xiaogong defeated and killed Fu and was put in charge of Fu's capital Danyang (丹楊, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), Cen continued to serve on Li Xiaogong's staff. ( Chinese: 南京 Romanizations Nánjīng ( Pinyin) Nan-ching ( Wade-Giles ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country
During Emperor Taizong's reign
Cen Wenben's activities for the several following years were not recorded in history. By 627, when Emperor Gaozu's son Emperor Taizong was emperor, he was a lowly-ranked secretary at the archival bureau (秘書省, Mishu Sheng) but also served as a junior official at the legislative bureau. Events By Place Byzantine Empire December 12 — Battle of Nineveh: Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians ending Emperor Taizong of Tang ( January 23, 599 &ndash July 10 649) personal name Lǐ Shìmín ( was the second emperor of the On one occasion when Emperor Taizong carried out a field-tilling ceremony (to show ceremonial attention to farming), Cen wrote an ode to field-tilling, and on one new year's day when Emperor Taizong summoned the imperial officials to a feast, Cen wrote an ode to new years's day. The odes were considered beautifully written, and Cen became famous from them. The major general Li Jing (who had at one point served as Li Xiaogong's assistant) also recommended him. Li Jing (李靖 Pinyin: Lǐ Jìng ( 571 - July 2, 649) né Yaoshi (藥師/药师 Pinyin: Yàoshī formally He was promoted to a mid-level post in the legislative bureau and became more well-regarded by Emperor Taizong. After Yan Shigu, the official who was largely responsible for drafting imperial edicts during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, was dismissed around that time, the chancellor Wen Yanbo, the head of the legislative bureau, stated to Emperor Taizong that no one was capable as drafting imperial edicts as Yan and sought to have Yan reinstated. Yan Shigu ( 581–645 formal name Yan Zhou (zh 颜籀 but went by the Courtesy name of Shigu, was a famous Chinese Author and Wen Yanbo (溫彥博 (575-637 formal name Wen Dalin (溫大臨 but went by the Courtesy name of Yanbo formally Duke Gong of Yu (虞恭公 was a key Emperor Taizong instead responded, "I have someone else in mind; you, Duke, need not worry. " He then made Cen the deputy head of the legislative bureau and made Cen in charge of drafting imperial edicts. At that time, Cen was also assisting Linghu Defen in compiling the official history of Northern Zhou, the Book of Zhou. Linghu Defen (令狐德棻 (582-666 formally Duke Xian of Pengyang (彭陽憲公 was an official of the Chinese dynasties Sui Dynasty and Tang It was said that most of the commentaries on the biographies were written by Cen. After the work was completed in 636, Emperor Taizong created Cen the Viscount of Jiangling. Events By Place Byzantine Empire August 20 — Battle of Yarmuk: Khalid ibn al-Walid 's victory against the In 637, when Emperor Taizong visited the eastern capital Luoyang, there were heavy floods of rivers near Luoyang, and Cen took this opportunity to submit a secret petition urging Emperor Taizong to reduce his travel out of the capital. Events By Place Europe Battle of Mag Rath Dál Riata influence in Ulster is greatly reduced or ended Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. He also pointed out that too many construction projects were being carried out on behalf of Emperor Taizong's favorite son Li Tai the Prince of Wei -- that such expenditures will breed further expenditures. Li Tai (李泰 Pinyin: Lǐ Tài (618- December 15, 652) Courtesy name Huibao (惠褒 nickname Qingque (青雀 formally Emperor Taizong was pleased with Cen's petitions and awarded him with silk. In 642, Cen was given the additional designation of Zhuanzhang Jimi (專掌機密) -- considered a chancellor de facto designation. Events By Place Europe August 5 — In the Battle of Maserfield, Penda, king of Mercia defeats and It was said that Cen was humble and, despite his honorable status, he always greeted those who had known, no matter how minor that person's position was.
in 643, when Emperor Taizong's crown prince Li Chengqian was deposed after he was discovered to have plotted to overthrow Emperor Taizong, Cen and Liu Ji suggested that Emperor Taizong create Li Tai crown prince, but Emperor Taizong subsequently created another son, Li Zhi the Prince of Jin crown prince, believing that Li Tai's machinations was responsible for Li Chengqian's downfall. Events By Place Europe Rothari King of the Lombards, issues the Lombard law code Crown Princess redirects here for the ship see Crown Princess (ship. Li Chéngqián (李承乾 (619?- January 5, 645) Courtesy name Gaoming (高明 formally Prince Min of Hengshan (恆山愍王 Liu Ji (劉洎 (d January 18, 646) Courtesy name Sidao (思道 was a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife Emperor Taizong made many high level officials carry additional titles as Li Zhi's staff members, but when he tried to bestow such a title on Cen, Cen declined, stating that he wanted to concentrate on serving the emperor, although Emperor Taizong still had the crown prince meet with Cen every five days and treat him as a friend, not as a subordinate. In 644, when Emperor Taizong, at an imperial gathering, stated to his key officials their strengths and weaknesses, he spoke, with regard to Cen:
- Cen Wenben is kind-hearted, and writes exquisitely. Events By Place Asia The Tang dynasty of China begins the invasion of Goguryo. His logic and analysis are also enduring ones, and he will not fail my expectations.
Later that year, he was made the head of the legislative bureau, but he rejected all attempts to congratulate him, stating "I will only receive condolences, not congratulations. " When his mother asked why, he stated, "I did not have accomplishments and was not an old acquaintance of the emperor. I have, however, received great favors from the emperor, and my position is high and important. That is why I am afraid. " When people suggested to him that he spend more time managing his properties, Cen responded:
- I was only a plain-clothed man from the South, and I walked into the Guanzhong (i. Guanzhong ( 關中) ( lit Center of Passes or Guanzhong Plain historically refers to an area that was closed by Hangu Pass to the east Dasan Pass e. , Chang'an) region on my own feet. All I wanted to do was to be an archivist or a county magistrate. I had no contributions on the battlefield, and I got to become Zhongshu Ling just based on my writing. This is the pinnacle of what I could become. I already receive too much salary. Why should I still try earn more?
He instead put his younger brother Cen Wenzhao (岑文昭) to be in charge of his properties. At that time, Cen Wenzhao was spending time associating with people, and Emperor Taizong was not pleased. He considered demoting Cen Wenzhao out of the capital, but Cen Wenben interceded on his brother's behalf, stating that his mother favored Cen Wenzhao the most, and not having his brother around would cause his mother much distress. Emperor Taizong thus changed his mind, keeping Cen Wenzhao in the capital after summoning him and rebuking him.
In 645, Emperor Taizong was attacking Goguryeo. Events By Place Byzantine Empire The Byzantines recapture Alexandria from the Arabs Asia Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Cen followed him on the campaign and was deeply involved in the logistics -- so much so that his energy was drained. Emperor Taizong saw that he was speaking in ways that were unusual forhim, and became worried, stating, "Cen Wenben came on this campaign with me, but I am afraid he will not return with me. " Cen soon grew ill and died at You Prefecture (幽州, roughly modern Beijing). He was buried near the tomb of Emperor Taizong's wife Empress Zhangsun, where Emperor Taizong would eventually buried himself. Empress Zhangsun (長孫皇后 personal name unknown ( 601 - July 28, 636) formally Empress Wendeshunsheng (文德順聖皇后 literally "the His nephew Cen Changqian and grandson Cen Xi later also served as chancellors. Cen Changqian (岑長倩 (d November 7, 691) briefly known as Wu Changqian (武長倩 during the reign of Wu Cen Xi (岑羲 (d July 29, 713) Courtesy name Bohua (伯華 was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty
Notes and references
- Book of Tang, vol. The Book of Tang ( or the Old Book of Tang (舊唐書/旧唐书 is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. 70. [1]
- New Book of Tang, vol. The New Book of Tang ( is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi (宋祁 and other official scholars of the 102. [2]
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. The Zizhi Tongjian ( was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography. 185, 189, 195, 196, 197.
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