Cui Xuan

Cui Xuan , courtesy name Taishuo , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving two terms as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Wuzong and Emperor Wuzong's uncle Emperor Xuānzong.

Background It is not known when Cui Xuan was born. He was from the "Elder Boling branch" of the prominent Cui clan of Boling (博陵, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), which claimed ancestry from the ruling Jiang house of the Spring and Autumn period state Qi. Cui Xuan's traceable ancestors included officials of Qin dynasty, Han dynasty, Jin dynasty (266–420), Northern Wei, and Tang dynasty. His grandfather Cui Jing served as a secretary general of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng). His father Cui Yuanlüe was a prominent official during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Xianzong's son Emperor Muzong, and Emperor Muzong's sons Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Wenzong. Cui Yuanlüe was considered a potential chancellor at times but was never chancellor. Cui Yuanlüe's younger brother Cui Yuanshi served briefly as chancellor between the two terms that Cui Xuan would eventually serve as chancellor. Cui Xuan had at least one younger brother, Cui Zi .

During Emperor Wuzong's reign Early in the Huichang era (841–846) of Emperor Wenzong's brother and successor Emperor Wuzong, Cui Xuan was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as Zuo Shiyi , a low-level advisory official at the examination bureau of government (門下省, Menxia Sheng).

However, it was said that the lead chancellor Li Deyu was jealous of Cui. He was subsequently sent out of Chang'an to serve as the governor (觀察使, Guanchashi) of Shanguo Circuit (陝虢, headquartered in modern Sanmenxia, Henan).

In 852, with agrarian rebels occupying Mount Ji (雞山, in modern Nanchong, Sichuan), Emperor Xuānzong dispatched the general Wang Zhihong to the region to deal with them. Cui suggested that instead an imperial official be sent to persuade them to submit, so Emperor Xuānzong sent the official Liu Tong , who was able to persuade the Mount Ji rebels to surrender. (However, after Liu accepted their surrender, Wang and the eunuch monitor Sixian Yiyi slaughtered the surrendered rebels anyway.) and instead crossed into Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi) and Huainan to head for Xusi. It was said that the imperial government much approved of Cui's preparedness. Cui eventually died at his post at Jingnan, but the year is not known. His son Cui Hang would serve as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Yizong's son Emperor Xizong.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 163. New Book of Tang, vol. 160. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 247, 248, 249, 251.