Cen Wenben, courtesy name Jingren, posthumously known as Viscount Xian of Jiangling, was a Chinese historian and politician who served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong in the Tang dynasty.
18 Facts About Cen Wenben
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Cen Wenben was an assistant editor of the Book of Zhou, the official history of the Northern Zhou dynasty.
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Cen Wenben was born in 595 during the reign of Emperor Wen in the Sui dynasty.
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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 clearly.
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Cen Wenben was recommended for the imperial examination by the local government of his home commandery, but as by that time, most of Sui territory was engulfed in agrarian rebellions against Emperor Yang, Cen Wenben did not report for the examination.
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Xiao Xi established his capital at Jiangling, and he summoned Cen Wenben to serve as Zhongshu Shilang, the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government.
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In 621, when the Tang dynasty general Li Xiaogong attacked Liang and put Jiangling under siege, Cen suggested to Xiao Xi that he surrendered, and Xiao Xi did so.
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Cen Wenben persuaded Li Xiaogong that it would be wrong to do so, and Li Xiaogong subsequently ordered against pillaging.
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In 623, when Emperor Gaozu sent Li Xiaogong to attack the rebel leader Fu Gongshi, Cen Wenben followed Li Xiaogong and was in charge of his military correspondences.
10.
On one occasion when Emperor Taizong carried out a field-tilling ceremony, Cen Wenben wrote an ode to field-tilling, and on one New Year's Day when Emperor Taizong summoned the imperial officials to a feast, Cen Wenben wrote an ode to New Year's Day.
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The odes were considered beautifully written, and Cen Wenben became famous from them.
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Cen Wenben was promoted to a mid-level post in the legislative bureau and became more well regarded by Emperor Taizong.
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At that time, Cen Wenben was assisting Linghu Defen in compiling the official history of the Northern Zhou state, the Book of Zhou.
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In 637, when Emperor Taizong visited the eastern capital Luoyang, there were heavy floods of rivers near Luoyang, and Cen Wenben took this opportunity to submit a secret petition urging Emperor Taizong to reduce his travel out of the capital.
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Cen Wenben instead put his younger brother, Cen Wenzhao, to be in charge of his properties.
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At that time, Cen Wenben Wenzhao was spending time associating with people, and Emperor Taizong was not pleased.
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Cen Wenben considered demoting Cen Wenzhao out of the capital, but Cen Wenben interceded on his brother's behalf, stating that his mother favored Cen Wenzhao the most, and not having his brother around would cause his mother much distress.
18.
Cen Wenben was buried near the tomb of Emperor Taizong's wife, Empress Zhangsun, where Emperor Taizong would eventually buried himself.