[1]Identity and datesYao Chong is identified as a Tang chancellor, poet, and prose writer. His birth year appears as 650 or 651, his usual death year as 721, and an additional death-year value is 687.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB supplies the English name, Tang affiliation, birth year 651, death year 721, and the classifications poet, prose writer, and chancellor.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographical entries identify Yao Chong as a Tang figure, give birth years 650 and 651 in different entries, give death year 721, and describe his literary work.
WikidataYao Chong (Q1275350)Wikidata provides the English name and the description “Chinese chancellor,” together with date values for 650, 721, and 687.
[2]Names and renamingHis courtesy name was Yuanzhi, his original name Yuanchong, and he used the courtesy name during Wu Zetian’s reign before changing his name to Chong in the Kaiyuan era to avoid the imperial era title.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies give the courtesy name Yuanzhi, the original name Yuanchong, the use of the courtesy name under Wu Zetian, and the later renaming to Chong.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB identifies Yuanzhi as the courtesy name and lists Yao Yuanchong as an alternate or former name.
WikidataYao Chong (Q1275350)Wikidata’s English name forms and name claim correspond to Yuanzhi and Yao Yuanchong.
[3]Aliases and posthumous namesHe was also known as Yao Yuanchong and Dilianggong, while Wenzhen and Wenxian are both found as posthumous names.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists Yao Yuanchong, Wenzhen, and Dilianggong among his alternate names, identifying Wenzhen as a posthumous name.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies give Wenxian and Wenzhen as variant posthumous names.
WikidataYao Chong (Q1275350)Wikidata’s aliases and posthumous-name claim include Dilianggong, Yao Yuanchong, Wenzhen, and Yuanzhi.
[4]Place of originYao Chong came from Xiashi in Shan Prefecture, traced his ancestry to Wuxing, moved to Xiashi at the end of the Sui, and later settled in Luoyang; Luoyang is also listed as his registered native place.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographical profile and entries identify Xiashi in Shan Prefecture, give its modern location, trace his ancestry to Wuxing, and state that the family later settled in Luoyang.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists Luoyang as the basic registered place and residence and Xiashi as a former residence, preserving the Luoyang form of the native-place tradition.
[5]Early serviceHe served as a funeral attendant for Crown Prince Xiaojing, passed the composition examination, received the Puzhou granary appointment, and then entered government as Assistant Judicial Commissioner.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies mention the Xiaojing funeral appointment, the composition examination, the Puzhou granary office, and the subsequent judicial office.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists the composition examination and the Puzhou granary and judicial appointments.
[6]Wu Zhou advancementDuring the Tianshou era he held three successive offices, and in Shengli 3 (700) he became tong Fengge Luantai pingzhangshi and was moved to Fengge shilang.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biography gives the Tianshou sequence of offices and identifies Shengli 3 as 700, followed by the two senior appointments.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists Xiaguan yuanwailang, langzhong, shilang, tong Fengge Luantai pingzhangshi, and Fengge shilang, with 700 for the tong-pingzhangshi appointment.
[7]Slander and Lingwu commandAfter Zhang Yizhi slandered him, Yao Chong became Taipu qing while retaining the Fengge Luantai sanpin rank and was sent to command the Lingwu Circuit.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies state that Zhang Yizhi’s slander led to the reassignment as Taipu qing, retention of the Fengge Luantai sanpin rank, and dispatch as Lingwu commander.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists Taipu qing, tong Fengge Luantai pingzhangshi, and the Lingwu military command.
[8]Shenlong coupIn Shenlong 1 (705), he joined Zhang Jianzhi and others in the plot against Zhang Yizhi and his brothers and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Liangxian.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies describe his participation in Zhang Jianzhi’s plot against the Zhang Yizhi brothers, give Shenlong 1, and state that he received the Liangxian marquisate for the deed.
[9]Ruizong-era officesAfter Ruizong’s accession, Yao Chong held the posts of Minister of War, tong Zhongshu Menxia sanpin, and Secretariat Chancellor; after his memorial concerning Princess Taiping, he was sent to Shenzhou and later held several regional offices.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies describe the central offices under Ruizong, the memorial about Princess Taiping’s move to the eastern capital, the Shenzhou appointment, and the later Yangzhou, Huainan, and Tongzhou offices.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB’s appointments include Minister of War, tong Zhongshu Menxia sanpin, Secretariat Chancellor, Shenzhou governor, Yangzhou chief administrator, Huainan surveillance commissioner, and Tongzhou governor.
[10]Provincial appointmentsIn addition to Shenzhou and Xuzhou, he served as governor in Bo, Song, Chang, Yue, Xu, Fengyi, Pengcheng, Shangdang, Yangzhou, Yiyang, Jinling, Kuaiji, and Jiangling.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies summarize his appointments as governor of the Shenzhou and Xuzhou areas and name Bo, Song, Chang, Yue, and Xu among his provincial posts.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB’s appointment locations include Bo, Song, Chang, Yue, Xu, Fengyi, Pengcheng, Shangdang, Yangzhou, Yiyang, Jinling, Kuaiji, and Jiangling.
[11]Xiantian reformsIn Xiantian 2 (713), he returned as Minister of War and tong Zhongshu Menxia sanpin, submitted ten proposals that were all accepted, then moved to Ziwei ling, cut redundant offices, revised institutions, and received the Liang dukedom.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The four biographical entries together describe the Xiantian return to high office, the ten proposals, their acceptance, the Ziwei appointment, the reduction of redundant offices, institutional revision, and the Liang dukedom.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists the renewed Minister of War and tong Zhongshu Menxia sanpin appointments in 713 and the Guogong rank.
[12]Kaiyuan retirementAt the beginning of Kaiyuan he returned to the chancellorship; in Kaiyuan 4 (716) he received Kaifu Yitong Sansi, left state affairs, and did not take the Junior Protector of the Heir appointment because of illness.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies state that he returned to the chancellorship at the beginning of Kaiyuan, received Kaifu Yitong Sansi in Kaiyuan 4, left political affairs, and declined the Junior Protector appointment because of illness.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists the chancellorship, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, and the year 716.
[13]Locust campaignA major locust outbreak struck Shandong in Kaiyuan 4, after which Yao Chong proposed a campaign by every circuit and the outbreak subsided.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies describe the Kaiyuan 4 Shandong locust outbreak, the proposal that every circuit catch locusts, and the ending of the disaster.
[14]Yao and SongYao Chong brought Song Jing in as his replacement, the two became known as Yao and Song, and Yao Chong held the chancellorship three times as one of the Tang’s notable chancellors.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies state that he brought Song Jing in as his replacement, that they were called Yao and Song, and that he served three times as chancellor and was one of the Tang’s notable chancellors.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB classifies Yao Chong as a chancellor and lists the chancellor office.
[15]Death and posthumous honorsHe died in Kaiyuan 9 (721) at seventy-two; he received the posthumous title Grand Governor of Yangzhou and the name Wenzhen or Wenxian, followed in the seventeenth year by a further posthumous appointment as Junior Protector of the Heir or, in another version, Grand Protector of the Heir.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The biographies give his death in Kaiyuan 9 at age seventy-two, the Yangzhou grand-governor honor, variant posthumous names, and the conflicting seventeenth-year titles Junior Protector and Grand Protector of the Heir.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB confirms death year 721 and lists Wenzhen as the posthumous name.
WikidataYao Chong (Q1275350)Wikidata supplies death-year values 721 and 687 and the Wenzhen posthumous-name value, preserving the date variation.
[16]Immediate familyHis father was Yao Yi, who lived from 590 to 662, and his three sons were Yao Yi (姚彝), Yao Yi (姚異), and Yao Yi (姚弈).
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB identifies Yao Yi as his father and gives 590–662, then lists the eldest, second, and third sons Yao Yi, Yao Yi, and Yao Yi by their Chinese characters.
[17]DescendantsHis grandsons included Yao Lun, Yao He, and Yao Yanjie, and Yao Zan is listed as a direct descendant; Yao He lived from 781 to 846.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists Yao Lun, Yao He, and Yao Yanjie as grandsons and Yao Zan as a direct descendant, with Yao He’s years as 781–846.
[18]Epitaph connectionsZhang Yue wrote Yao Chong’s epitaph, while Yao Chong wrote an epitaph for Yu Zhiwei.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB’s association entries state that Zhang Yue wrote the epitaph concerning Yao Chong and that Yao Chong wrote one for Yu Zhiwei.
[19]Poetic and prose exchangesYao Chong presented poetry and prose to Li Longji, while Zhang Jiuling, Su Ting, Su Wan, Meng Haoran, and Guanxiu received such gifts from him.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB records a gift of poetry and prose to Li Longji and gifts from Yao Chong received by Zhang Jiuling, Su Ting, Su Wan, Meng Haoran, and Guanxiu.
[20]Literary worksYao Chong was known for poetry and prose; titles associated with him include Liujie and a ten-volume Yao Chong ji, also called Wenji, which is lost.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The literary biographies describe him as skilled in poetry and prose, give a ten-volume collection under the names Wenji and Yao Chong ji, and state that it is lost.
CBDBYao Chong (26935)CBDB lists the titles Liujie and Wenji (Yao Chong) and marks the text roles as unspecified, while also classifying him as a poet and prose writer.
[21]Surviving poemsThe Complete Tang Poetry preserves six of his poems, and the Supplement to the Complete Tang Poetry adds two more.
Souyun姚崇 (13972)The two literary entries count six poems in the Complete Tang Poetry and two additional poems in its supplement.
CBDB
