[1]Name, dates, and statusChen Zhizhong lived from 990 to 1059 and was a Northern Song official.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The principal record gives the English name, life dates, Song dynasty, and a status as a member of the chief ministers. Family and office data support his status as an official.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographical profile identifies him as a Northern Song figure and lists the office Counsellor of State among his titles.
WikidataChen Zhizhong (Q15924980)The entity is labelled Chen Zhizhong and carries time values for birth in 990 and death in 1059.
[2]Courtesy name and native placeHis courtesy name was Zhaoyu; Nanchang in Hongzhou is the principal native place, while Kaifeng is also supplied.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The name data classifies Zhaoyu as the courtesy name and gives Kaifeng as the basic native place while also listing Nanchang as another native place.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographical texts call him Zhaoyu and place him in Nanchang in Hongzhou, now in Jiangxi.
[3]Entry through hereditary privilegeDuring Zhenzong’s reign, he entered service through hereditary privilege, first serving in the Palace Library and then as Right Remonstrator.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The entry data records hereditary appointment, consistent with entry through the father’s privilege in the Song period.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographical texts state that, under Zhenzong, he received appointment as Secretary-Library Corrector through his father’s privilege and was promoted to Right Remonstrator.
[4]Early officesHe supervised the Yuezhou wine service, administered Fuzhou, became Vice Commissioner of the Household Section of the Three Offices, and served as prefect of Yingtian, Jiangning, Yangzhou, and Yongxing before or alongside his Privy Council appointment.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographical texts give the Yuezhou, Fuzhou, Three Offices, Yingtian, Jiangning, Yangzhou, Yongxing, and Associate Director of the Privy Council appointments.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The office data lists the Associate Director of the Privy Council, the prefectures of Shengzhou and Yangzhou, and Vice Commissioner of the Household Section of the Three Offices.
[5]Baoyuan Privy Council appointmentIn the first year of Baoyuan, 1038, he served as Associate Director of the Privy Council.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographical texts place his Associate Directorship of the Privy Council in Baoyuan 1, or 1038, while another account places the office in the Mingdao period.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The office data confirms the title Associate Director of the Privy Council.
[6]Qingli promotionIn early Qingli he served as Vice Minister of Works and prefect of Qingzhou, suppressed Wang Lun, moved to Yongxing, became Counsellor of State in 1044, became a Grand Councillor with concurrent Privy Council authority in 1045, and later held the Zhaowen Academy grand-academic title.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The three biographical texts describe his Qingli appointments, the suppression of Wang Lun, the move to Yongxing, the 1044 appointment as Counsellor of State, the 1045 grand-councillor and Privy Council appointment, and his later Zhaowen Academy title.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The office data lists Vice Minister of Works, Grand Academician of the Zhaowen Academy, Counsellor of State, and two appointments as Grand Councillor; it dates one Counsellor appointment to 1044 and the later Grand Councillor appointment to 1053.
[7]Central Secretariat conductIn the Central Secretariat he memorialized for the dismissal of appointments sponsored by powerful men, served there for eight years, and was not approached with private requests.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biography recounts his memorials against appointments sponsored by powerful figures and says that he spent eight years in the Central Secretariat without private approaches.
[8]Political oppositionSun Bian impeached Chen Zhizhong, and the censor Yang Cha repeatedly opposed him.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The association data identifies Sun Bian as the person who impeached Chen Zhizhong and says that Yang Cha repeatedly opposed the chief minister.
[9]Huangyou offices and return to the councilIn Huangyou he served as prefect of Chenzhou, was made Minister of War and Minister of Personnel, administered Daming, and returned to the council in 1053.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographies describe the Huangyou 1 appointment at Chenzhou, the changes to the Ministries of War and Personnel, the Daming appointment, and the return to the council in Huangyou 5.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The office data lists his appointment as prefect of Chenzhou.
[10]Bozhou and retirement variantsThe accounts differ over the sequence of the Bozhou appointment: one says he was impeached over an affair and sent to administer Bozhou, while another dates his Zhenhai military commission and Bozhou appointment to 1055; he then resigned the commission and retired as Situ and Duke of Qi.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographies give the two forms of the Bozhou episode, one following an impeachment and another placing it in Zhihe 2 or 1055, and record his resignation and retirement as Situ.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The office data dates the Bozhou prefecture appointment to 1055 and lists the Zhenhai military commission, Situ, and the peerage of Qi.
[11]DeathChen Zhizhong died in the sixth month of Jiayou 4, or 1059, aged seventy.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The principal record gives a birth year of 990 and a death year of 1059.
Souyun陳執中 (34406)The biographical texts place his death in 1059; two of them specify Jiayou 4, the sixth month, and age seventy.
[15]Wife and childrenHis wife was Li, his son was Chen Shiru, and he also had an adopted heir, Chen Shinuo.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The kinship data identifies Li as wife, Chen Shiru as son, and Chen Shinuo as an adopted heir.
WikidataChen Zhizhong (Q15924980)The entity also carries spouse and two child relationship values; the names and adopted-heir distinction come from the kinship entries.
[16]Collateral kin and affinesHis younger brother was Chen Zhigu, his nephew Chen Taichu is classified as a congzi or nephew, his grandson was Chen Bing, and his sons-in-law were Li Zhang and Song Junguo.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The kinship data lists younger brother Chen Zhigu, congzi/nephew Chen Taichu, grandson Chen Bing, and sons-in-law Li Zhang and Song Junguo.
[17]Recommendations and commemorative textsIn 1056 he recommended Li Zhongshi and also recommended Zhang Jingsheng; Zhang Fangping wrote his epitaph and spirit-way stele, and Han Wei was involved in the posthumous-title deliberation.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The association data dates the recommendation of Li Zhongshi to 1056, also records the recommendation of Zhang Jingsheng, and connects Zhang Fangping with the epitaph and spirit-way stele and Han Wei with the posthumous-title deliberation.
[18]Wang Zhi’s writingsHe memorialized 180 pieces by Wang Zhi for preservation in the Secret Library.
CBDBChen Zhizhong (34)The association text says that chief minister Chen Zhizhong memorialized 180 pieces by Wang Zhi and had them stored in the Secret Library.
CBDB
