Cui Zhuo (崔棁) | 24 Histories

Overview

Cui Zhuo was an official, Academician, and Examination Supervisor.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Ziwen	子文	Ziwen

Life and dates

Death

Age Years 68
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passages 92, 101

Age

Years 68 · Reckoning Sui · Context death
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 92
Years 67 · Reckoning Sui · Context requested retirement
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 101

Attested activity

AD 934 應順元年閏正月戊申
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 45, passages 58, 60
AD 939 十一月丁丑
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 168
AD 935 十二月壬午
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passages 213-214
AD 933 四年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 147
AD 936 to AD 937 天福初
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 87
AD 939 天福四年夏四月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 65

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AD 926 to AD 933 明宗朝
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 85
AD 938 晉天福三年三月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passage 15
AD 940 晉天福五年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passages 75, 78, 134, 136
AD 917 梁貞明三年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81
AD 930 to AD 933 長興中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passages 101, 105
AD 931 長興二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 42, passage 58

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Cui Zhu (崔銖)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations · Through Cui Zhuo (崔涿)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 79
Descendant of Cui Yuanshou (崔元受)
great-grandfather 曾祖 · paternal line · 3 generations · Through Cui Zhu (崔銖), Cui Zhuo (崔涿)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 78
Sibling of Cui Lun (崔棆)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 102
Child of Cui Zhuo (崔涿)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 80

Kinship Role generations of office-holders · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 77

Key source chapters

Career and standing

staff officer to Wang Zan, Governor of Kaifeng 開封尹王瓚從事
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81
Vice Minister of Works 工部侍郎
AD 934 應順元年閏正月戊申 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 60
Vice Minister of Revenue 戶部侍郎
AD 935 十二月壬午 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passages 214-215
Investigating Censor 監察御史
AD 926 to AD 933 明宗朝 · Appointed · Negated First Acceptance true
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 85
acting chief minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices 權判太常卿
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 65
acting supervisor of tribute examinations 權知二年貢舉
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 88

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Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs 尚書左丞
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 90
left vice director of the Department of State Affairs 尚書左丞
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 85
Tutor to the Crown Prince with nominal post at the western capital 太子賓客，分司西京
Changed to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 91
Vice Minister of Works 工部侍郎
AD 935 十二月壬午 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 214
Hanlin Academician 翰林學士
AD 933 四年 · Held
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 147
Vice Minister of Revenue and Chief Academician 戶部侍郎為學士承旨
AD 936 to AD 937 天福初 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 87
Director of Punishments; drafter of edicts 都官郎中、知制誥
AD 931 長興二年 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 42, passage 58
Academician Expositor-in-Chief 翰林學士承旨
AD 938 晉天福三年三月 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passage 15
Academician of the Hanlin Academy 翰林學士
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 86
acting supervisor of the examinations 權知貢舉
AD 938 晉天福三年三月 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passage 15
Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices 太常卿
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 78
expositor-in-chief of the Hanlin Academy 翰林學士承旨
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 65
Hanlin Academician and Secretariat drafter 翰林學士、中書舍人
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 60
Hanlin Academician 翰林學士
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 51, passage 105
Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs 尚書左丞
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 168
Vice Minister of War 兵部侍郎
AD 938 晉天福三年三月 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passage 15
Director in the Bureau of Justice 都官郎中
Promoted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 86
Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices 太常卿
Promoted
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 90
Hanlin academician 學士
Removed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 90
Hanlin Academician 翰林學士
AD 935 十二月壬午 · Retained
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passages 214-215
Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices 太常卿
AD 939 十一月丁丑 · Transferred
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 168
Retained
Continued former duties
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 60

Places and affiliations

Later Jin 晉
Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passage 15
Polity Later Jin 後晉 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 168
Polity Later Jin 晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 87
Polity Later Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 45, passage 60; Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 85
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 214

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At Anping in Boling 博陵安平
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 76
At Kaifeng 開封 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81
At western capital 西京 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 91
Organization Hanlin Academy 翰林 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passages 86-87

Learning and skills

from youth loved learning
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81
Earned
AD 917 梁貞明三年 · Credential Presented Scholar of the first class 進士甲科
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81

Works and attributed material

wrote many essays, inscriptions, eulogies, and edicts
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 93
essays, inscriptions, eulogies, and edicts 文章、碑誄、制詔
Relation Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 93
Requested a search for unofficial histories since Xuanzong for compilation
AD 931 長興二年 · Memorial · Author · With Xuanzong (宣宗) · Mode document Speaker Cui Zhuo (崔棁)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 42, passage 58
AD 940 其年秋
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passages 80-131
AD 938 晉天福三年三月
Memorial · Author · With Emperor of Jin (Tianfu)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passages 15-22
Edict draft · Author · Summary drafted an edict later altered by Sang Weihan
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 88

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Speech · Speaker · Paraphrased · Summary sat silent at gatherings to avoid love, hatred, and ancestral taboo names
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 96
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Summary youth dream of two guides measuring the road to thirty-eight further li
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passages 98-100
有前賢，有來者，奚用此為
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 93

Events and relationships

Asked to retire at sixty seven and died the next year as his dream had foretold
Political · Actor
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 101
Attended his ill father without loosening his belt; begged guests to urge medicine
Personal · Caregiver · With Cui Zhuo (崔涿)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passages 82-83
Cited Tang precedent that an academician whose draft is altered should leave office; Weihan could not refute him
Political · Arguer · With Sang Weihan (桑維翰)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 88
Declined Investigating Censor, then took office after a second edict more than a year later
Political · Appointee
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 85
Delivered commissioned pieces in person and burned drafts to prevent leaked ghostwriting
Scholarly · Author
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 94
Directed servants with ritual propriety even in extreme heat and cold
Personal · Master
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 97

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Drafted court assembly rites and dances
AD 940 五年 · Administrative · Commissioned official
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passages 78, 80, 135
Misunderstood Weihan and passed Kong Ying; public opinion condemned it
Political · Examiner · With Kong Ying (孔英)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passages 89-90
Mourning grief exceeded the prescribed norms
Ritual · Mourner
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 84
Proposed appeal review for failed candidates
AD 938 晉天福三年三月 · Political · Memorialist
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passages 15, 18, 23
Requested as marshal adjutant by Congrong
AD 933 四年 · Appointment attempt · Nominee · With Li Congrong (李從榮)
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 15, passages 147-148
Transferred to chief minister of imperial sacrifices
Appointment · Appointee
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 168
Transferred
AD 935 十二月壬午 · Appointment · Appointee
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passages 214-215
Youth dream taken as fated lifespan limit
Dream · Dreamer
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passages 98-101
Relation Aide of · Person Wang Zan (王瓚)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 81

Assessments and attributes

Assessment laughed without grinning, angry without cursing; always instructed newly advanced younger men · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 95
Assessment praised by ministers and onlookers for restored rites · Mode narrative
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 145
Assessment supremely filial · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 82
afflicted with wind paralysis
Illness · 風痹
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 91
AD 940 其年冬至
Item gold and silk 金帛 · Relation Bestowed upon
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 145

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 78, passage 168; Old History of the Five Dynasties 93, passage 76; Old History of the Five Dynasties 148, passage 15; New History of the Five Dynasties 15, passage 147

References in the histories

Search passages

History

25 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 42Volume 42 Book of Later Tang 18: Mingzong Annals 8 · 1 passage

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甲子，都官郎中、知制誥崔棁上言，請搜訪宣宗已來野史，以備編修，從之。 On jiazi Cui Zhuang asked to gather unofficial histories since Xuanzong for compilation, and it was approved.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 45Volume 45 Book of Later Tang 21: Emperor Min Annals 1 · 1 passage

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以翰林學士、中書舍人崔棁為工部侍郎，依前充職。 Cui Zhuo, Hanlin Academician and Secretariat drafter, was made Vice Minister of Works while continuing his former duties.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 47Volume 47 Book of Later Tang 23: Later Emperors Annals 2 · 1 passage

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翰林學士、工部侍郎崔棁為戶部侍郎； Cui Yuan, Hanlin Academician and Vice Minister of Works, was made Vice Minister of Revenue;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 51Volume 51 Book of Later Tang 27: Biographies 3: Imperial Family · 1 passage

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從榮乃奏刑部侍郎劉讚為王傅，又奏翰林學士崔棁為元帥府判官。 Congrong then nominated Vice Minister of Justice Liu Zan as his tutor and Hanlin Academician Cui Zhuo as chief administrator of the marshal's headquarters.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 78Volume 78 Book of Later Jin 4: Gaozu Annals 4 · 3 passages

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甲申，以翰林學士承旨、兵部侍郎崔棁權判太常卿，以端明殿學士、戶部侍郎和凝為翰林學士承旨。 On the jiashen day, Cui Wan, expositor-in-chief of the Hanlin Academy and vice minister of war, was appointed acting chief minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and He Ning, academician of the Duanming Hall and vice minister of revenue, was appointed expositor-in-chief of the Hanlin Academy.

丁巳，以刑部尚書姚顗為戶部尚書，以兵部侍郎、權判太常卿事崔棁為尚書左丞，以工部侍郎任贊為兵部侍郎，以禮部尚書李懌為刑部尚書，以左丞盧詹為禮部尚書，以左散騎常侍韋勛為工部侍郎。 On the dingsi day, a round of ministerial transfers was made: Yao Yi became minister of revenue; Cui Wan became left vice director of the Department of State Affairs; Ren Zan became vice minister of war; Li Yi became minister of justice; Lu Zhan became minister of rites; and Wei Xun became vice minister of works.

尚書左丞崔棁改太常卿。 and Cui Zhuo was transferred to chief minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 93Volume 93 Book of Later Jin 19: Biographies 8: Lu Zhi, Li Zhuanmei, Lu Zhan, Cui Zhuo, Xue Rong, Cao Guozhen, Zhang Renyuan, Zhao Xi, Li Xia, Yin Yuyu, Zheng Yunsou · 10 passages

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崔棁，字子文，博陵安平人。 Cui Zhuo, whose courtesy name was Ziwen, came from Anping in Boling.

棁少好學，梁貞明三年，舉進士甲科，為開封尹王瓚從事。 From youth Zhuo loved learning. In the third year of Zhenming of Liang he passed the presented-scholar examination in the first class and became staff officer to Wang Zan, Governor of Kaifeng.

棁性至孝，父涿有疾，謂親友曰：「死生有命，無醫為也。」 Zhuo was supremely filial. When his father Zhuo fell ill, the father told relatives and friends: "Life and death are fated; physicians are of no use."

棁侍之衣不解帶，有賓至，必拜泣告於門外，請方便勸其進藥，涿終莫之從。 Zhuo attended him without removing his belt even to sleep. When guests came he would bow and weep at the gate and ask them to urge his father to take medicine, but the father never consented.

嘗草制，為宰相桑維翰所改，棁以唐故事，學士草制有所改者，當罷職，乃引經據爭，維翰不能詰，命權知二年貢舉。 Once when he drafted an edict Chief Minister Sang Weihan altered it. Zhuo cited Tang precedent that when an academician's draft was altered the academician should be removed from office, and argued from classical authority; Weihan could not refute him and appointed him acting supervisor of the second year's tribute examinations.

時有進士孔英者，素有醜行，為當時所惡，棁受命往見維翰，維翰語素簡，謂棁曰：「孔英來矣。」 At that time there was a presented scholar named Kong Ying notorious for disgraceful conduct and detested by all. When Zhuo received his commission and went to see Weihan, Weihan spoke briefly and said to Zhuo: "Kong Ying has come."

棁不諭其意，以謂維翰以孔英為言，乃考英及第，物議大以為非，遂罷學士，拜尚書左丞，遷太常卿。 Zhuo misunderstood and thought Weihan meant to pass Kong Ying; he therefore passed Ying and ranked him among the degree recipients. Public opinion condemned this roundly, and Zhuo was removed as academician, appointed Left Assistant Director of the Department of State Affairs, and promoted to Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

棁平生所著文章、碑誄、制詔甚多，人有借本傳寫者，則曰：「有前賢，有來者，奚用此為！」 Throughout his life Zhuo wrote many essays, inscriptions, eulogies, and edicts. When people asked to borrow copies to transcribe, he would say: "There were worthies before and there will be those who come after—what use is this!"

棁笑不至矧，怒不至詈，接新進後生，未嘗無誨焉。 When Zhuo laughed it never reached a broad grin; when angry he never reached cursing; toward newly advanced younger men he always offered instruction.

棁常識是夢，以為定命之限，故六十七請退，明年果終焉。 Zhuo often knew it for a dream and took it as the limit ordained by fate; at sixty-seven he asked to retire, and the next year he died as foretold.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 144Volume 144: Treatises 6 Music 1 · 5 passages