Duan Wenchang

Duan Wenchang

Duan Wenchang (773-835) was born in Xihe (today's Fenyang, Shanxi Province). He was named Moqing and Jingchu. He was the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty and the grandson of Duan Zhixuan, a right guard general.

In his early years, Duan Wenchang joined the Weigao shogunate, and then successively served as lingchi County captain, Dengfeng County captain, Jixian school manager, censor of supervision, buque, temple member wailang, Hanlin bachelor, temple doctor.

After the succession of emperor Mu Zong in Tang Dynasty, Duan Wenchang worshipped the prime minister and served as the Minister of Zhongshu and Zhangshi of Tongping. Later, he sent the prime minister out of town and served as the governor of Xichuan. Since then, he has successively served as Minister of the Ministry of punishment, Minister of the Ministry of war, Huainan Jiedushi and Jingnan Jiedushi, and was granted the Duke of Zouping County.

In the ninth year of Taihe (835), Duan Wenchang died when he was appointed as the governor of Xichuan. He was 63 years old at that time and was awarded to Taiwei.

Life of the characters

Early experience

Duan Wenchang lived in Jingzhou since he was a child. He was open-minded, forthright and informal. Although Pei Zhou knew his talents, he could not be appointed. In 801, Duan Wenchang entered Sichuan. He was appointed as an aide by Wei Gao, the governor of Xichuan. He was later appointed as the county captain of lingchi.

Tired of work

In the first year of Yuanhe (806), the imperial court ordered General Gao Chongwen to take charge of Xichuan because Liu Bi, the deputy governor of Xichuan, wanted the position of governor. Gao Chongwen invaded Chengdu, sent Liu Biqiao to Chang'an, and recommended Fang Shi, Wei QianDu and other surrender Xichuan shenzuo to the imperial court. Duan Wenchang was also among the officials who surrendered. Although he was valued by Gao Chongwen, he was not recommended. In the second year of Yuanhe (807), Li Jifu paid homage to his prime minister. Duan Wenchang went to ganye when Li Jifu was the governor of Zhongzhou. As a result, he was promoted to Dengfeng County captain and Jixian school manager. Later, he successively served as the censor of supervision, buque and member of ancestral temple. Later, Tang Xianzong wanted to give Duan Wenchang the title of Hanlin bachelor, but he was blocked by the prime minister Wei Guan. In the 11th year of Yuanhe (816), Wei Guan stopped his prime minister. Duan Wenchang was awarded the Hanlin bachelor, and was promoted to the doctor of the ancestral temple department, and was granted the official dress of Fei color. In the 12th year of Yuanhe (817), Pei Du, the prime minister, calmed down the chaos of Huaixi. Han Yu, the Minister of justice of the Ministry of punishment, wrote the tablet of pinghuai West in order to praise Peidu's merits. Li Yuan's contribution to the peace was the first, but he was seldom mentioned in the inscription, so he was indignant. His wife, Wei Shi, complained to the emperor that the inscription was untrue. Tang Xianzong ordered people to erase Han Yu's inscription and let Duan Wenchang rewrite it. In the 14th year of Yuanhe (819), Duan Wenchang added Zhigao. In 820, Emperor Mu Zong of Tang Dynasty succeeded to the throne. Duan Wenchang was summoned to the ideological and political hall for consultation. Soon he was worshipped as the prime minister, and was awarded the title of minister of Zhongshu and the title of minister of tongzhongshu.

To live in a vassal town

In the first year of Changqing (821), Duan Wenchang went to Shanghai to resign. Therefore, Emperor Mu Zong appointed Duan Wenchang as the governor of Xichuan and the Minister of tongzhongshu. Duan Wenchang knew the local conditions of Shu. Although he was benevolent, he was strict in law and discipline, and was deeply admired by barbarians. In 822, the barbarians of Yunnan invaded Central Guizhou. After receiving the memorial from Cui yuanlue, an observer from Central Guizhou, the imperial court was very worried and ordered Duan Wenchang to take strict precautions. Duan Wenchang sent envoys to negotiate, and the barbarians withdrew. In 824, Emperor Jingzong of Tang Dynasty succeeded to the throne. Duan Wenchang was recruited and worshipped as the Minister of Xingbu. Later, he became the Minister of Bingbu and acted as the minister Zuo Cheng. In 826 (the second year of Baoli), Tang Wenzong succeeded to the throne. Duan Wenchang was promoted to the rank of imperial censor, and was granted the title of Duke of Zouping County. Later, he went out to Huainan, where he was granted the title of right servant of the censor, Zhangshi of Tongping, and Jiedushi of Huainan. In the fourth year of Taihe (830), Emperor Wenzong of Tang Dynasty appointed Duan Wenchang as the Jiedushi of Jingnan, and changed the title to jiaojiaozuo bushe. In the sixth year of Taihe (832), Duan Wenchang became the governor of Xichuan again.

Die of no disease

In 835, Emperor Wenzong sent eunuchs to Xichuan to reward spring clothes. Duan Wenchang may have been over excited. He died suddenly just after he was publicized. He was 63 years old and was presented as Taiwei.

Anecdotes and allusions

During Duan Wenchang's holiday in southern Jingzhou, if there was a long drought, it would rain once he prayed. If it rained for a long time, it would be sunny when he met him. For this reason, the common people in southern Jing said, "if drought is not bitter, pray for rain; if rain is not worried, go on a journey."

Character evaluation

Liu Xu: in Wenchang, when he was a Busu, he did not go to the right direction. And its Da also, Yang Li significant heavy, a general, for 20 years. His clothes are good, his songs are good, his prostitutes are happy, he has nothing to cherish, and even he is extravagant.

personal works

Duan Wenchang wrote 30 volumes of anthology, 20 volumes of zhaogao, and 50 volumes of Shijing. "quantangwen" contains four articles: xiuxiandu Guanji, Puti Temple Zhili Ji, Zhuge Wuhou Temple Gubai Wen, pinghuai West stele. His four poems are included in the whole Tang Poetry: the music movement of Xiangtai temple, the title of the West platform of Wudan temple, the climbing of Zhangyi tower in the late summer to present the princes in the courtyard, and the farewell to seek the master of Guangxuan of Longshan temple.

member of family

Grandfather: Duan Dejiao, give it to Shizhong. father: Duan Er, an official, went to the governor of Xunzhou to pursue Zuo pushe. wife: Wu family, daughter of Wu Yuanheng. son: Duan Chengshi, who successively served as the governor of xiaoshulang, shangshulang and Jiangzhou, later lived in Xiangyang and wrote Youyang Zazu.

Historical records

The book of the old Tang Dynasty, volume 167, biography 117; the book of the new Tang Dynasty, volume 89, biography 14; Zizhitongjian, volume 237, Tangji 53; Zizhitongjian, volume 241, Tangji 57; Zizhitongjian, volume 240, Tangji 60

Native place dispute

There are different records about Duan Wenchang's native place in the new and old Tang books. According to the old book of the Tang Dynasty, he was born in Xihe: "Duan Wenchang, mohing, Xihe.". "New Tang Shu" thinks: "Wenchang, the word Moqing, the word Jingzhou.". Today, Duan Wenchang is often referred to in the new book of the Tang Dynasty, or written directly as a native of Qizhou, Shandong Province. if a person's native place is determined according to his birthplace, the records in the old Tang Dynasty are more consistent with history, and Duan Wenchang should be from Xihe. The reasons are as follows: < ol > < li > Duan Wenchang is the most famous person in Xihe County of Fenzhou recorded in Taiping Huanyu Ji of Song Dynasty. Taiping Huanyu Ji was written in the Taiping Xingguo period of Song Taizong, earlier than the new Tangshu. The editor of Yueshi lived in the early Song Dynasty. He listed Duan Wenchang as the only celebrity in Fenzhou, which showed that the government and the public recognized him at that time. < / Li > < li > the old book of the Tang Dynasty records the relationship between the Duan family and Jingzhou very clearly. The book of the old Tang Dynasty not only records "Xihe people", but also records that "Wenchang family lived in Jingzhou, which was elegant and elegant, and the governor Pei Zhou knew it but could not use it", "Wenchang had ancestors in both Jingzhou and Shu, and even redeemed it as a futu Temple. It also shows that the old book of the Tang Dynasty is clear about Duan Wenchang's family moving to the south. If the Duan family lived in Jingzhou and had no connection with Xihe, the author of the old book of Tang would never write "Xihe people". < / Li > < li > there is a historical basis for the origin of Duan Wenchang in Xihe. Duan Zhixuan, the ancestor of Duan Wenchang, started in Taiyuan, so it's reasonable for Duan Zhixuan's descendants to move to Xihe, Fenzhou, Taiyuan. < / Li > < / OL > it has been more than 200 years since the Duan family moved from Qizhou in Shandong Province in the late Sui Dynasty to Duan Wenchang. It is not reasonable to say that Duan Wenchang is from Qizhou in Shandong Province, so Duan Wenchang can not be said to be from Qizhou. The expression of "Shike Jingzhou" in xintangshu does not mean that Duan Wenchang is from Jingzhou. The Duan family lived in Jingzhou, that is to say, they were not from Jingzhou, or none of them was born in Jingzhou. Therefore, it is correct to say that Duan Wenchang was from Xihe in the old book of Tang Dynasty and Taiping Huanyu Ji. Therefore, Duan Wenchang should be from Xihe (now Fenyang, Shanxi), his ancestral home is Qizhou (now Linzi, Shandong), and his father and son lived in Jingzhou in his later years.

Chinese PinYin : Duan Wen Chang