Cui Yuanzong
Template:Short description Cui Yuanzong (Script error: No such module "Lang".) was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty, serving as a chancellor during Wu Zetian's reign.
Background
It is not known when Cui Yuanzong was born, but it is known that his family was from Zheng Prefecture (Script error: No such module "Lang"., roughly modern Zhengzhou, Henan), and that his clan had produced many officials throughout the Northern Wei, the Northern Zhou, and the Tang's predecessor, the Sui dynasty. His grandfather Cui Junsu (Script error: No such module "Lang".) as a mid-level official under the Tang dynasty's founder Emperor Gaozu.[1]
During Wu Zetian's reign
As of Wu Zetian's Tianshou era (690-692), Cui Yuanzong was serving as the minister of justice (Script error: No such module "Lang"., Qiuguan Shangshu). In 692, Wu Zetian made him Luantai Shilang (Script error: No such module "Lang".), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (Script error: No such module "Lang"., Luantai), and gave him the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (Script error: No such module "Lang".), making him a chancellor de facto. It was said that Cui was diligent while serving in office, and whenever he was on duty, he would stay late and take few breaks. He was also said to be careful in his actions and did not have any gourmet foods for over 20 years. However, he was also said to be, while appearing to be lenient on the outside, actually very harsh as a judge, and he picked faults with people and gave them heavy punishments, and therefore was feared. In 694, he was accused of crimes and exiled to Zhen Prefecture (Script error: No such module "Lang"., roughly modern Sanya, Hainan), and it was said that there was much rejoicing among other officials of his exile. At a later point, after a general pardon, he was recalled and served as imperial censor (Script error: No such module "Lang"., Jiancha Yushi).
During Emperor Zhongzong's reign
Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup in 705, and her son Li Xian, formerly emperor, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). During Emperor Zhongzong's reign, Cui successively served as Shangshu Zuo Cheng (Script error: No such module "Lang".) -- a secretary general of the executive bureau (Script error: No such module "Lang"., Shangshu Sheng), and as the prefect of Pu Prefecture (Script error: No such module "Lang"., roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), before retiring on account of age and illness. After retirement, he was said to be much involved in Taoist alchemist practices to try to prolong life. He lived to his 90s, but the date of his death is not known.
Notes and references
- ↑ That Cui Yuanzong's grandfather was Cui Junsu was per his biographies in the Old Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang. See Old Book of Tang, vol. 90 Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". and New Book of Tang, vol. 114.Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". However, the table of chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang listed Cui Yuanzong's grandfather as Cui Junsu's brother Cui Junzhou (Script error: No such module "Lang".), and neither Cui Junzhou nor Cui Yuanzong's father Cui Qianli (Script error: No such module "Lang".) was listed with any offices or titles. See New Book of Tang, vol. 72, part 2.Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Old Book of Tang, vol. 90.[1]
- New Book of Tang, vol. 114.[2]
- Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 205.