35 Facts About Chu Suiliang

Chu Suiliang, courtesy name Dengshan, formally the Duke of Henan, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, and politician who served as a chancellor during the reigns of the emperors Taizong and Gaozong in the Tang dynasty.

Chu Suiliang became increasingly trusted by Emperor Taizong toward the end of his reign and was charged with the responsibilities of serving as the imperial historian and providing honest advice.

In 655, over his strenuous opposition to Emperor Gaozong's removal of his first wife, Empress Wang, and replacing her with Empress Wu, Chu Suiliang was demoted, and that began a series of demotions, which was successfully launched by Empress Wu.

Chu Suiliang was born in Hangzhou in 596, during the reign of Emperor Wen in the Sui dynasty.

In 617, when the agrarian rebel leader Xue Ju rose against Sui rule and declared himself the Emperor of Qin, Chu Liang and Chu Suiliang both joined Xue's administration.

Chu Liang became a mid-level official, while Chu Suiliang became a low-level official.

Chu Suiliang's activities thereafter, until 636, were not recorded in history, although it was mentioned that he was well-studied in literature and history, and was a talented calligrapher, drawing praise from his father's friend Ouyang Xun, himself a famous calligrapher.

At the suggestions of Xue Yi and Chu Suiliang he cancelled those plans.

Chu Suiliang bestowed on Chu the title of imperial advisor, but continued to have Chu serve as the recorder of his acts.

Once, When Emperor Taizong wanted to review the imperial historical records that Chu Suiliang was responsible for keeping, Chu Suiliang rebuffed Emperor Taizong, stating that it would be irregular for an emperor to look at how an imperial historian was writing about him.

In 642, when Chu Suiliang was troubled by the fact that Emperor Taizong was overly favoring his son Li Tai, the Prince of Wei, over Li Tai's elder brother Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince, Chu Suiliang pointed out that an emperor to overly favor sons other than heirs would have the undesirable effect of causing people to speculate as to who should succeed the emperor.

Chu Suiliang was made a junior advisor to the new crown prince, and Emperor Taizong had him, Liu Ji, Cen Wenben, and Ma Zhou often visit Li Zhi to advise Li Zhi on his studies.

Chu Suiliang advised against breaking the treaty, but Emperor Taizong did not listen.

In 644, Chu Suiliang advised against the campaign against Goguryeo, although Emperor Taizong launched the campaign anyway after Li Shiji advocated for it.

Chu Suiliang soon made Chu Huangmen Shilang, the deputy head of the examination bureau of government, but further gave Chu the designation of Canyu Chaozheng, as a de facto chancellor.

In 645, Chu Suiliang was involved in an incident that would result in Liu Ji's death.

Liu asked Ma to corroborate his innocence, and Ma did so, but Chu Suiliang insisted that Liu did make the inappropriate comments.

Emperor Taizong, believing Chu Suiliang, ordered that Liu commit suicide, but pardoned his family.

Later that year, Fang was dismissed from his chancellor post for a minor infraction, and Chu Suiliang advised Emperor Taizong that Fang had great contributions to his rule and should not be easily dismissed.

Chu Suiliang summoned Zhangsun and Chu into his presence and entrusted Li Zhi to them.

Chu Suiliang soon died, and Li Zhi succeeded him.

Zhangsun and Chu Suiliang, trusted by the new emperor, became effectively in charge of the government.

In winter 650, Chu Suiliang was charged by the imperial censor Wei Siqian of forcing a government interpreter to sell his land to Chu Suiliang.

Historical accounts implied, but did not state, that Chu Suiliang was involved in these false accusations, as Li Daozong, a renowned general, was said to be implicated and exiled because he was a rival of both Zhangsun and Chu Suiliang.

In fall 653, Chu Suiliang was made Puye, the head of the executive bureau of government, but continued to be in charge of civil service affairs.

Chu Suiliang correctly guessed that Emperor Gaozong wanted to discuss with them deposing Empress Wang and replacing her with Consort Wu.

Chu Suiliang demoted Chu out of the capital, to serve as the commandant at Tan Prefecture, and a month later, in winter 655, he deposed Empress Wang and her ally Consort Xiao, whom Consort Wu had accused of witchcraft, and created Consort Wu empress to replace Empress Wang.

Meanwhile, Liu Ji's son, Liu Hongye, in a move engineered by the chancellor Li Yifu, who despised Chu Suiliang, submitted a petition asking that his father be posthumously cleared of wrongdoing, accusing Chu Suiliang of falsely accusing his father.

In 657, Chu Suiliang, while remaining a commandant, had his command moved from Tan Prefecture to the more distant Gui Prefecture.

Chu Suiliang, after arriving at Ai Prefecture, submitted a petition pleading his own case, pointing how he had supported Emperor Gaozong as crown prince and later assisted him in governance, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Chu Suiliang died in 658, while still serving as the prefect of Ai Prefecture.

In 659, when Zhangsun was falsely accused of treason and exiled, Xu and Li Yifu falsely accused Chu Suiliang of having encouraged Zhangsun to plot.

When Emperor Gaozong died in 683, by his will, Chu Suiliang's family was allowed to return to his home prefecture.

In 705, after Empress Wu's own death, by her will, Chu Suiliang's titles were restored.

Chu Suiliang was put in charge of discerning these purported Wang works, and he was able to clearly distinguish them.