Background

Cen Xi's grandfather Cen Wenben served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong, and his father Cen Manqian (岑曼倩) served as the secretary general of the capital prefecture Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi) and carried the title of Duke of Xi.

Cen Xi himself passed the imperial examinations sometime before 691 and served as Taichang Boshi (太常博士), an official at the ministry of worship. In 691, during the reign of Emperor Taizong's daughter-in-law (and one-time concubine) Wu Zetian, who had declared a new Zhou Dynasty and interrupted Tang Dynasty, Cen Xi's uncle Cen Changqian, then a chancellor, was accused of treason and executed. As a result, Cen Xi was demoted to be a legal officer at Chen Prefecture (郴州, roughly modern Chenzhou, Hunan). He was subsequently made the magistrate of Jintan County. At that time, his brother Cen Zhongxiang (岑仲翔) was the magistrate of nearby Changzhou County (长洲, in modern Suzhou, Jiangsu) and another brother Cen Zhongxiu (岑仲休) was the magistrate of Lishui County (溧水, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu). All three were known for their abilities in governance. The chancellor Zong Chuke, when an official was sent to examine the governance of the circuit containing those three counties, made the comment, "Do not forget about the three Cens east of the Yangtze River." He subsequently recommended Cen Xi, and Cen Xi was made the magistrate of Sishui County, near the capital Luoyang—which was considered a major promotion due to its location.

As of 704, Cen Xi was serving as the magistrate of Guangwu County (广武—the new name for Sishui), when Wu Zetian asked the chancellors to recommend officials suitable of serving as low level officials in various ministries. The chancellor Wei Sili recommended Cen, but commented, "Alas, his uncle was Cen Changqian, and he suffers from the taint." Wu Zetian responded, "As long as he is capable, what taint can there be?" She therefore made Cen Tianguan Yuanwailang (天官员外郎), an official at the ministry of civil service affairs. It was said that based on Cen's precedent, thereafter family members of officials previously killed during Wu Zetian's reign were able to begin getting promoted.

During Emperor Zhongzongs second reign

In 705, Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup led by Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanwei, Huan Yanfan, Jing Hui, and Yuan Shuji, and her son and crown prince Li Xian, a former emperor, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). However, Wu Zetian's nephew Wu Sansi the Prince of Liang soon became a lover of Emperor Zhongzong's powerful wife Empress Wei and a trusted advisor of Emperor Zhongzong's. When the five coup leaders subsequently wanted to submit a petition to Emperor Zhongzong to have the ranks of Wu Sansi and other Wu clan members reduced, initially, no one was daring to draft the petition for them, but Cen Xi, then serving as Zhongshu Sheren (中书舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中书省, Zhongshu Sheng), was willing to do so, and wrote an eloquent argument for the proposal. Later that year, after Wu Sansi was successful in having the five coup leaders removed from government, he had Cen made Mishu Shaojian (秘书少监), the deputy director of the Palace Library—an ostensibly honored position that carried little actual power. Eventually, he was made a deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang) and was in charge of selecting officials, along with Cui Shi, Zheng Yin, and Li Yuangong (李元恭). Cui, Zheng, and Li were all known for corruption, but Cen was known for his integrity, during this time. Meanwhile, according to historical records that Cen himself later compiled, around this time, when Emperor Zhongzong's brother Li Dan the Prince of Xiang and sister Princess Taiping were implicated in a failed coup by Emperor Zhongzong's son and crown prince Li Chongjun in 707 in which Wu Sansi and his son Wu Chongxun (武崇训) were killed, Cen and Xiao Zhizhong were the two officials who spoke on Li Dan's behalf, prompting Emperor Zhongzong to stop the investigation against Li Dan.

During Emperor Shangs reign and Emperor Ruizongs second reign

In 710, Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly—a death that traditional historians believed to be a poisoning by Empress Wei and her daughter Li Guo'er the Princess Anle, so that Empress Wei could become "emperor" like Wu Zetian and Li Guo'er could be crown princess. Soon thereafter, before Emperor Zhongzong's death was announced, Empress Wei, as part of the governmental reorganization to consolidate her power, gave Cen Xi the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中书门下平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. For the time being, Emperor Zhongzong's son by a concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen, was named emperor (as Emperor Shang), but Empress Wei retained power as empress dowager and regent. She sent a number of officials to survey the circuits, and Cen was sent to survey the Henan Circuit (河南道, roughly modern Henan and Shandong).

Less than a month later, Princess Taiping and Li Dan's son Li Longji the Prince of Linzi rose in rebellion and killed Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. Under their support, Li Dan, himself a former emperor, returned to the throne (as Emperor Ruizong), displacing Emperor Shang. Cen was made You Sanqi Changshi (右散骑常侍, a senior advisor at the legislative bureau) and minister of justice (刑部尚书, Xingbu Shangshu), and later demoted to be the prefect of Shan Prefecture (陕州, roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan). He was, however, soon recalled to be the minister of census (户部尚书, Hubu Shangshu). In 712, he was made chancellor de facto again, with the greater designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中书门下三品). He was put in charge of editing the imperial history and also the register of clans. In editing the chronicles of Emperor Zhongzong's reign, he recorded how he and Xiao Zhizhong had spoken in Emperor Ruizong's defense when Li Chongjun's coup attempt occurred, and when Emperor Ruizong read the records, Emperor Ruizong thanked Cen and awarded him with silk and a good horse; Emperor Ruizong also made him Shizhong (侍中), the head of the examination bureau (门下省), a post considered one for a chancellor. Emperor Ruizong also created him the Duke of Nanyang.

At that time, Cen Xi's older brother Cen Xian (岑献) was the deputy principal of the imperial university, and his younger brothers Cen Zhongxiang and Cen Zhongxiu were prefectural prefects. Some 10s of his clan members were in fairly important positions. Cen Xi, at one point, sighed and commented, "When things become extreme, they will be reversed. This is what I am fearful of." He was fearful of what happened to the Cen clan and other officials during the earlier part of Wu Zetian's reign. However, he did not actually resign.

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

In 712, Emperor Ruizong passed the throne to Li Longji, who was then crown prince, and Li Longji took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. At the suggestion of Princess Taiping, however, Emperor Ruizong retained power as Taishang Huang (retired emperor), and Princess Taiping continued to be influential through Emperor Ruizong. Cen Xi was considered a member of her party. Later in 712, Emperor Xuanzong's associates, the chancellor Liu Youqiu and the general Zhang Wei (张暐), with Emperor Xuanzong's approval, planned to kill Cen and two other chancellors aligned with Princess Taiping -- Dou Huaizhen and Cui Shi—but the news was leaked after Zhang informed the plan to the official Deng Guangbin (邓光宾). Liu, Zhang, and Deng were spared but exiled.

By 713, it was said that Princess Taiping, Dou, Cen, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui; along with other officials Xue Ji, Li Jin (李晋) the Prince of Xinxing (a grandson of Li Deliang (李德良), a cousin of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu), Li You (李猷), Jia Yingfu (贾膺福), Tang Jun (唐晙); the generals Chang Yuankai (常元楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin (李钦); and the monk Huifan (惠范), were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. It was further said that they discussed, with the lady in waiting Lady Yuan to poison the gastrodia elata that Emperor Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When this alleged plot was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong, who had already received advice from Wang Ju (王琚), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Riyong to act first, did so. He convened a meeting with his brothers Li Fan (李范) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (李业) the Prince of Xue, Guo Yuanzhen, along with a number of his associates — the general Wang Maozhong (王毛仲), the officials Jiang Jiao (姜皎) and Li Lingwen (李令问), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi (王守一), the eunuch Gao Lishi, and the military officer Li Shoude (李守德) — and decided to act first. On July 29, Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. After his death, Cen's properties were confiscated.

Son

• Cen Fu (岑敷), commoner

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 70.https://web.archive.org/web/20080210041809/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/tan08.htm

• New Book of Tang, vol. 102.https://web.archive.org/web/20071011093344/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan15.htm

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 207, 208, 209, 210.

出身

岑羲的祖父岑文本在唐太宗年间任宰相，父亲岑曼倩任雍州长史，爵封袭公。

天授二年（691年）以前，岑羲中进士，累迁太常博士，负责祭祀。天授二年，中止唐朝建立武周的女皇武则天在位时，岑羲的伯父、宰相岑长倩被控谋反被杀。岑羲受到牵连被贬为郴州司法参军，又任金坛县令，以文学和吏干闻名。其时，其弟岑仲翔任长洲令，岑仲休任溧水令，兄弟三人都很有政绩。宰相宗楚客对本道巡察御史说：「不要忘了江东三岑。」随后便推荐岑羲为汜水令，汜水邻近洛阳，故这是一项重要的升职。

长安四年（704年），岑羲任广武（汜水改名为广武）令。十月，武则天要宰相推荐合适的官员去各部担任员外郎。宰相韦嗣立推荐岑羲，却说：「唉，可惜他被伯父岑长倩连累了，长久不得提升。」武则天说：「只要其人有才干，就不受家人连累！」任岑羲为天官员外郎。由于开了这个例，武则天年间其他先前被杀官员的家属也被允许获得擢升。岑羲上任后，有美誉。不久为中书舍人。定州长史康希铣迁海州刺史，岑羲与狄仁杰、韦承庆、韦嗣立、元怀景、姚元崇都与他友善，都倾朝同赋诗以饯行，为近代未有之事。

唐中宗复位年间

神龙元年（705年），张柬之、崔玄暐、桓彦范、敬晖、袁恕己五人，领导神龙革命，推翻武则天，复立先前曾登基为唐中宗的太子李显，张崔等五人俱封为王，史称「五王」。但随后，武则天之侄梁王武三思私通掌权的中宗韦皇后，并获得中宗宠信。五月，五王上表要求对武三思等武家人予以贬爵时，没人敢为五王作表，只有岑羲愿意，且语气激切。诸武被降封。后来武三思成功将五王贬出中央，任岑羲为表面荣耀实则无权的秘书少监。二年（706年），修文馆置八学士，岑羲在其中，从元年十二月起，与魏元忠、武三思、祝钦明、徐彦伯、柳冲、韦承庆、崔融、徐坚等撰《则天皇后实录》二十卷（或作三十卷）。三年（707年）五月前后，岑羲任吏部侍郎，和同僚崔湜、太常少卿郑愔、大理少卿李元恭一同负责选官。当时，崔、郑、李都以腐败闻名，只有岑羲正直，为时议所美。陆浑主簿崔沔任满调迁，岑羲很赏识重视他，对人说：「这就是当今的却诜。」特表荐擢他为左补阙。根据岑羲自己监修的《中宗实录》，当皇弟相王李旦和皇妹太平公主被侍御史冉祖雍诬告涉及三年（707年）太子李重俊的重俊之变（武三思及其子武崇训在政变中被杀）时，岑羲和中书侍郎萧至忠秘密为李旦说话，劝说中宗不调查李旦。

唐殇帝年间、唐睿宗复位年间

景龙四年（710年），岑羲被任为中书侍郎。六月，唐中宗猝死，传统史学家认为是被韦后及其女安乐公主李裹儿毒害，以使韦后可以像武则天一样称帝并以李裹儿为皇太女。中宗死讯传出前，韦后为了重组政府以巩固自身权位，授岑羲同中书门下平章事，为实质宰相，加银青光禄大夫。中宗庶子温王李重茂被立为帝，是为唐殇帝，但韦后以皇太后身份摄政，掌握实权。她派纪处讷、张嘉福、岑羲持节去巡抚地方，其中岑羲巡抚河南道。

不到一个月，太平公主和李旦之子临淄王李隆基起事杀死韦后和安乐公主，是为唐隆之变。在他们支持下，先前也曾登基为唐睿宗的李旦复位，殇帝被废黜。七月，岑羲罢相改任右散骑常侍、兼判刑部尚书，与右仆射许国公苏瑰、兵部尚书姚元之（即姚元崇）、吏部尚书宋璟并充使册定陵，又贬为陕州刺史。景云二年（711年）任刑部尚书。十二月或次年正月，又迁户部尚书，奉敕与中书侍郎陆象先、右散骑常侍徐坚、右司郎中唐绍、刑部员外郎邵知与、删定官大理寺丞陈义海、右卫长史张处斌、大理评事张名播、左卫率府仓曹参军罗思贞、刑部主事阎义颛共十人，删定格、式、律、令。岑羲、崔湜厌恶崔日用，而户部员外郎李邕与之结交；李隆基被立为皇太子后，李邕及崔隐甫、倪若水同被其礼遇，岑羲等忌之，贬李邕为舍城丞。三年（712年）正月，岑羲被授予更高的头衔同中书门下三品，再次拜相，负责监修国史，删定格令，仍修《氏族录》。太极元年（712年）二月奏上所删定的格令，名为《太极格》。睿宗阅《中宗实录》后，赏赐他丝绸三百段和良马一匹以谢保护之功，下诏褒奖，六月又任他为侍中领导门下省，封南阳郡公。当年春，睿宗起金仙、玉真两观，花费巨亿。太府少卿兼通事舍人韦凑为此进谏，睿宗纳其言，令在外详议。岑羲与时任中书令崔湜对韦凑说：「公敢言此，大是难事。」雍令刘少微恃权贪赃，被右台殿中侍御史辛替否审讯，岑羲屡次求情，辛替否不退让，刘少微坐死。

当时，岑羲之兄岑献任国子监司业，弟岑仲翔、岑仲休任陕州、商州刺史，岑家从族兄弟子侄数十人因岑羲提拔而官居清要之职。岑羲曾感叹：「物极必反，我得有所戒惧啊。」但并未因此辞职。

唐玄宗年间

当年，唐睿宗禅让帝位给李隆基，即唐玄宗。但在太平公主建议下，睿宗以太上皇身份掌握实权并继续受到太平公主的影响。岑羲被认为是太平公主一党。同年，玄宗的部属宰相刘幽求和右羽林将军张暐在玄宗支持下计划用羽林兵杀掉岑羲和另两名因依附太平公主而得以进身的宰相窦怀贞和崔湜。但当张暐将计划泄露给侍御史邓光宾，刘、张、邓都被流放。

太平公主认为睿宗舍嫡长子宋王李成器而立玄宗，不顺，图谋废立，窦怀贞、萧至忠、岑羲、崔湜都认可，宰相陆象先则不同意。先天二年（713年）六月，太平公主和窦怀贞、岑羲、萧至忠、崔湜、太子少保薛稷、雍州长史新兴王李晋（唐高祖堂弟李德良之孙）、中书舍人李猷、右散骑常侍贾膺福、鸿胪寺卿唐晙、左羽林大将军常元楷、知右羽林将军事李慈、左金吾将军李钦、胡僧惠范合谋以羽林军作乱推翻玄宗，甚至已经计划让宫女元氏在给玄宗服用的赤箭粉中投毒。

七月，侍中魏知古报告玄宗太平公主欲作乱，令常元楷、李慈以羽林兵突入武德殿杀玄宗，窦怀贞、萧至忠、岑羲等于南牙举兵响应。玄宗已经接受了王琚、张说、崔日用先发制人的建议。玄宗召集弟弟岐王李范、薛王李业及郭元振、龙武将军王毛仲、殿中少监姜皎、太仆少卿李令问、尚乘奉御王守一（也是玄宗的内兄）、内给事高力士、果毅李守德率先采取行动，即先天政变。

7月29日，王毛仲取内闲马三百人，率李令问、王守一、高力士、李守德叩虔化门，于北阙下枭常元楷和李慈首级，擒贾膺福、李猷于内客省，擒住萧至忠、岑羲押到朝堂，皆处决。窦怀贞自缢。窦怀贞、岑羲等十七家被诛。而同为太平公主所进的陆象先则被玄宗赦免。

岑羲被杀后，家产被没收。太上皇虽下诰大赦天下，但不赦太平公主案连坐者。

岑羲妹夫徐坚早早以避嫌为由辞去机密官职，转太子詹事，实为避祸，此时得免，但仍受到连累被出为绛州刺史。

王守一则因诛杀萧至忠、岑羲等有功，迁殿中少监，特封晋国公。高力士也因此功获任为右监门将军，知内侍省事，打破了唐太宗时内侍省不置三品官的定制。

神龙初年，武后去帝号，但岑羲等仍然在太庙中将她题作「圣帝」。开元四年（716年），太常卿姜皎与礼官太常博士陈贞节等上表请除「圣帝」称呼，玄宗诏准。

作品

• 《则天皇后实录》二十卷，与魏元忠、武三思、祝钦明、徐彦伯、柳冲、韦承庆、崔融、徐坚合撰，刘知几、吴兢删正

• 《为敬晖等论武氏宜削去王爵表》

• 《太极格》十卷，与陆象先、徐坚、唐绍、邵知新、陈义海、张名播、张处斌、罗思贞、阎义颛等删定

• 《氏族录》，魏元忠、张锡、萧至忠、岑羲、崔湜、徐坚、刘宪、吴兢、柳冲改修，亡佚

• 《大唐故银青光禄大夫囗囗囗侍郎赠礼部尚书韦府君墓志铭》，志主韦承庆

• 《大唐故中大夫使持节箕州诸军事守箕州刺史上护军韦府君墓志之铭》，志主韦知艺

• 《大唐故尚书右仆射赠特进并州大都督郑国公杨恭公之碑》，志主杨再思

• 《大唐故正议大夫守太子詹事兼修国史崇文馆学士赠使持节都督兖州诸军事兖州刺史上柱国中山刘府君墓志铭并序》，志主刘宪

• 《武周岑平等墓志》，志主为岑羲堂姑

• 《全唐诗》收录其诗六首

子

• 岑敷，不仕官

注释