Chen Yaozuo

Life

His father was Chen Shenghua and his mother Feng; his elder brother was Chen Yaosou and his younger brother Chen Yaozi. The family line was traced to Chen Xiang, identified as a fourth-generation ancestor. From youth he loved learning: he first studied at Jinli Mountain, later followed Zhong Fang at Zhongnan Mountain, continued reading after attaining rank, and practiced Daoist arts.

His year of success as a jinshi is disputed: one account places it in the second year of the Taizong emperor’s Duangong era (989), another in the first year (988). His early appointments included registrar and judicial assistant posts in Kaifeng Prefecture, county commandant of Wei, and assistant prefect of Chaozhou; after speaking out and offending the emperor, he was demoted to the last post. He later served as vice transport commissioner for Liangzhe and held transport posts in the Jingxi, Hedong, and Hebei circuits, with a reputation for beneficial administration. Under Zhenzong, he entered the Directorate of Historiography and served as prefect of Shouzhou and Huazhou.

After Renzong’s accession, he became vice commissioner of the Directorate of State Finance’s Household Revenue Office, was transferred to its Duzhi Office, and was specially promoted to drafter of imperial edicts and director of the Tongjin and Yintai offices; he later became a Longtuge academician and acting prefect of Kaifeng. In the second year of Tiansheng (1024), he became prefect of Henan Prefecture, and in the third year was transferred to Bingzhou. In the seventh year of Tiansheng, he was appointed deputy privy councillor as Right Remonstrance Grand Master and Hanlin Academician; soon afterward, as Palace Aide, he became a participating secretary in government and was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel.

After the death of Renzong’s empress dowager, he was removed as prefect of Yongxing and transferred to Zhengzhou. In the fourth year of Jingyou (1037), he was appointed Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi and Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall; the following year he was removed and made military governor of Huaikang while presiding over Zhengzhou. During his tenure as chief councillor, the Mizhou notable Wang Xie had a slave commit murder. Jiang Kai argued that both Wang Xie and the slave should receive the death penalty, while Chen Yaozuo sought leniency for Wang Xie; Jiang Kai refused and became known for his stand. In the first year of Kangding (1040), Yaozuo retired as Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. He died in the fourth year of Qingli (1044), aged eighty-two, and received the posthumous name Wenhui.

Scholarship and works

Yaozuo wrote Hai yu (Sea Metaphor), which contemporaries admired for the ambition of its purpose. He was skilled in clerical and eight-part script, whose heavy strokes earned him the contemporary name Duimo shu; he was also a poet and took part in compiling the Veritable Records of Zhenzong and the History of the Three Reigns. His collected works comprised thirty volumes.

Other works include Chaoyang bian, also titled Chaoyang xinbian; Bianlu bian, also titled Yelu bian; Yuqiu ji; and Qianxing ji. These works have all been lost, while fifty of his poems are preserved in current compilations.

Family and posthumous legacy

His children included Chen Shugu, the eldest, and Chen Daogu, Chen Bogu, Chen Yougu, Chen Xigu, and Chen Xianggu, listed respectively as the fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth sons. His sons-in-law were Fan Zongjie and Wang Juzheng; his grandsons included Chen Zhijian and Chen Zhiyu, and his great-grandson was Chen Yan. Ouyang Xiu wrote his spirit-path inscription, and Fan Zhongyan composed a sacrificial text for him.