Chen Yixing

Chen Yixing (陳夷行) (died 844 ), courtesy name Zhoudao (周道), was a Chinese historian, military general, and politician during the Tang dynasty, serving twice as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong. He was viewed as a Li Faction leader in the Niu-Li Factional Struggles.

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 Yangtze River, but had, for generations, lived in Yingchuan . Neither his grandfather Chen Zhong nor his father Chen Yong was listed with any offices in the table of the chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang, suggesting that neither had an official title. He had at least three younger brothers, Chen Xuanxi , Chen Yize , and Chen Yishi .

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 , and serving at the eastern capital Luoyang, when he was made Yubu Yuanwailang , a low-level official at the ministry of public works (工部, Gongbu). He continued to serve at Luoyang.

During Emperor Wenzong's reign

Before chancellorship In 829, during the reign of Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wenzong, Chen Yixing was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as an imperial chronicler (起居郎, Qijulang), and he also served as an editor in imperial history, participating in the compilation of the chronicles of Emperor Xianzong's reign. After those chronicles of Emperor Xianzong's reigns were presented to Emperor Wenzong in 830, Chen was made Sifeng Yuanwailang , a low-level official at the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Libu). In 831, he was promoted to be Libu Langzhong , a supervisory official at the ministry of civil service affairs. Later in the same year, he was also made an imperial scholar (翰林學士, Hanlin Xueshi). In 834, he was also made a tutor to the Crown Prince Li Yong and ordered to attend to and lecture Li Yong on the Confucian classics once every five days. He was further given the office of Jianyi Daifu , an advisory official, and put in charge of drafting edicts. In 835, he was made the deputy minister of worship (太常少卿, Taichang Shaoqing), and continued to serve in his capacities as imperial scholar, tutor to Li Yong, and drafter of edicts. As of 838, by which time Li Shi had resigned and Yang Sifu and Li Jue had been made chancellors as well, it was said that Chen was honest in his opinions and therefore despised Yang for what he viewed as Yang's grab on power, and they often argued when discussing policy matters. Chen thus offered to resign, but Emperor Wenzong declined his resignation. After this incident, he continued to frequently, in veiled terms, accuse Yang of stealing imperial authority while discussing issues. In particular, later in 838, when Yang advocated for the former chancellor Li Zongmin, also considered a Niu Faction leader, who had been exiled, promoted and moved closer to the capital, Chen opposed vehemently, and it was said that from this point on, all policy arguments were complicated by partisan issues, making it difficult for Emperor Wenzong to rule on them. He died in 844 and was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 173. New Book of Tang, vol. 181. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 245, 246, 247.