346:(the Prince of Jin) crown prince, believing that Li Tai's machinations was responsible for Li Chengqian's downfall. 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:
262:, the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty) attacked Liang and put Jiangling under siege, Cen suggested to Xiao Xi that he surrendered, and Xiao Xi did so. 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 leader
303:, 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. 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
381:. 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 for him, 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 in
373:
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,
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but also served as a junior official at the legislative bureau. 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
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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
315:, 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. He also pointed out that too many construction projects were being carried out on behalf of Emperor Taizong's favorite son,
209:
County late in the Sui dynasty. In 608, Cen
Zhixiang was falsely accused of crimes. 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
214:. 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 the
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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.
311:. 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. In 637, when Emperor Taizong visited the eastern capital
234:, a great-grandson of Emperor Xuan of Western Liang, whom Cen Wenben's grandfather Cen Shanfang had served, rose in rebellion, claiming to restore the Liang dynasty. Xiao Xi established his capital at Jiangling (江陵, in modern
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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:
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319:(the Prince of Wei)—that such expenditures will breed further expenditures. Emperor Taizong was pleased with Cen's petitions and awarded him with silk. In 642, Cen was given the additional designation of
295:(who had at one point served as Li Xiaogong's assistant) also recommended him. He was promoted to a mid-level post in the legislative bureau and became more well regarded by Emperor Taizong. After
266:, Cen followed Li Xiaogong and was in charge of his military correspondences. After Li Xiaogong defeated and killed Fu Gongshi and was put in charge of Fu's capital Danyang (丹楊, in modern
365:(i.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
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designation. 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.
299:, the official who was largely responsible for drafting imperial edicts during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, was dismissed around that time, the chancellor
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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
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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 to earn more?
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Cen Wenben is kind-hearted, and writes exquisitely. His logic and analysis are also enduring ones, and he will not fail my expectations.
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by the local government of his home commandery, but as by that time, most of Sui territory was engulfed in agrarian rebellions against
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feast, Cen wrote an ode to New Year's Day. The odes were considered beautifully written, and Cen became famous from them. The general
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Cen Wenben's activities for the several following years were not recorded in history. By 627, when
Emperor Gaozu's son,
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suggested that
Emperor Taizong create Li Tai crown prince, but Emperor Taizong subsequently created another son,
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I was only a plain-clothed man from the South, and I walked into the
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205:. His father, Cen Zhixiang (岑之象), served as a magistrate of
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155:, was a Chinese historian and politician who served as a
286:, was emperor, he was a lowly-ranked secretary at the
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state who claimed to be the legitimate emperor of the
193:. His grandfather, Cen Shanfang (岑善方), served under
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167:. He was an assistant editor of the
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79:Viscount Xian of Jiangling (江陵憲子)
900:Politicians from Nanyang, Henan
330:In 643, when Emperor Taizong's
323:(專掌機密)—considered a chancellor
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144:(595 – May 10, 645),
90:Historian, politician
405:Notes and references
385:(幽州, roughly modern
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819:Zhao Yanzhao
679:Lu Xiangxian
644:Linghu Defen
539:Chu Suiliang
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507:Tang dynasty
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442:, vol. 102.
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336:Li Chengqian
332:crown prince
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309:Book of Zhou
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305:Linghu Defen
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252:Tang dynasty
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220:Emperor Yang
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170:Book of Zhou
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165:Tang dynasty
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126:Chinese name
104:Cen Jingqian
76:Jingren (景仁)
38:Xinye County
854:Zhu Qinming
774:Xu Jingzong
699:Pei Yanling
614:Li Chunfeng
554:Cui Shenyou
544:Cui Guicong
534:Chen Yixing
432:, vol. 70.
256:Li Xiaogong
191:Sui dynasty
187:Emperor Wen
130:family name
101:Cen Manqian
880:645 deaths
875:595 births
869:Categories
849:Zhu Jingze
824:Zheng Lang
789:Yao Silian
729:Wei Chuhou
684:Niu Sengru
659:Liu Congyi
654:Liu Youqiu
649:Linghu Tao
584:Jiang Shen
559:Fan Lübing
549:Cui Renshi
524:Cen Wenben
509:historians
264:Fu Gongshi
181:Background
157:chancellor
142:Cen Wenben
23:Cen Wenben
839:Zheng Yin
834:Zheng Tan
814:Zhang Yue
764:Xiao Song
749:Wei Zhiyi
744:Wei Zhigu
739:Wei Zheng
714:Sima Zhen
709:Quan Deyu
669:Liu Zhiji
609:Li Baiyao
363:Guanzhong
301:Wen Yanbo
297:Yan Shigu
232:Xiao Xian
177:dynasty.
112:Relatives
55:645-05-10
844:Zhou Chi
829:Zheng Su
809:Zhang Yi
799:Zhang Xi
794:Yuan Zai
784:Yang Wan
779:Yang Yan
759:Xiao Hua
754:Wu Sansi
619:Li Dashi
594:Li Linfu
452:, vols.
418:兩千年中西曆轉換
379:Goguryeo
325:de facto
254:general
236:Jingzhou
230:In 617,
124:In this
118:(nephew)
95:Children
704:Qi Kang
694:Pei Xiu
664:Liu Zhi
639:Li Yifu
634:Li Xian
604:Li Anqi
599:Li Shen
589:Li Jifu
569:Guan Bo
519:Cao Que
387:Beijing
313:Luoyang
293:Li Jing
272:Jiangsu
268:Nanjing
189:in the
163:in the
149:Jingren
63:Beijing
734:Wei Mo
719:Su Gui
689:Pei Ji
674:Lu Sui
624:Li Kui
579:Jia Su
574:Han Yu
529:Cen Xi
399:Cen Xi
344:Li Zhi
340:Liu Ji
317:Li Tai
207:Handan
128:, the
629:Li Bi
240:Hubei
212:lotus
42:Henan
49:Died
31:Born
470:197
466:196
462:195
458:189
454:185
135:Cen
132:is
34:595
25:岑文本
871::
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