During the Sui dynasty

It is not known when Du Zhenglun was born, but it is known that he was from what would eventually become Xiang Prefecture (相州, in modern Handan, Hebei). During the Renshou era (601–604) of the Sui dynasty's founding emperor Emperor Wen, Du Zhenglun and his older brothers Du Zhengxuan (杜正玄) and Du Zhengzang (杜正藏) all passed the imperial examination. As Sui dynasty imperial examinations were considered unusually difficult—with only 10-odd examinees passing each year—the Du household received great acclaim for having three brothers who did so. It was said that Du Zhenglun was capable in literature, particularly in explaining meanings of passages. He later served as a military officer in the Sui imperial government.

During Emperor Gaozus reign

During the reign of the Tang dynasty's founder, Emperor Gaozu, Du Zhenglun was initially serving as the military advisor to the commandant at Qi Prefecture (齊州, roughly modern Jinan, Shandong). Emperor Gaozu's son, the major general Li Shimin the Prince of Qin became aware of Du's talents and invited him to serve as a resident scholar at Li Shimin's mansion.

During Emperor Taizongs reign

In 626, Li Shimin became emperor (as Emperor Taizong). One of his key advisors, Wei Zheng, recommended Du Zhenglun's talent and stated that there were few people as talented. Emperor Taizong then made Du an official at the ministry of defense in 627. In 628, Du was made imperial attendant and put in charge of recording Emperor Taizong's acts for imperial archives. On one occasion, Emperor Taizong stated, "Everyday, as I sit in judgment of important matter and get ready to speak, I think carefully about whether what I have to say has any benefit or harm to the people. That is why I do not speak a lot." Du responded, "Whatever an emperor says is recorded in history. As my responsibility is to record Your Imperial Majesty's acts, I have to be honest. If any of your words is improper, it will harm your reputation for a thousand years, and it is not only harmful to the people. May Your Imperial Majesty consider this carefully." Emperor Taizong was pleased with these words and gave Du an award of silk.

In 630, Du was promoted to the post of Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). In 632, after Du and three other officials, Wei Ting (韋挺), Yu Shinan, and Yao Silian had submitted petitions commenting on various imperial acts, Emperor Taizong invited them to a feast, where he thanked them for being honest at danger to themselves (as they risked offending the emperor). Du was soon given titles as imperial advisor and scholar, as well as a member of the staff of Emperor Taizong's crown prince Li Chengqian—with Emperor Taizong specifically asked to counsel Li Chengqian in proper behavior. In 636, he was again Zhongshu Shilang, but still served on Li Chengqian's staff; he was also created the Marquess of Nanyang. It was said that Du was known for his capability in handling the matters at both palaces (i.e., the emperor's palace and the crown prince's palace).

However, soon Du drew both the emperor's and the crown prince's ires. At that time, Li Chengqian was suffering from a foot ailment that made it difficult for him to walk, and therefore he did not see Emperor Taizong often, but instead spent his time in frivolous activities with associates that Emperor Taizong disapproved of. Emperor Taizong told Du:

Du made several suggestions to Li Chengqian, asking him to change his ways, but Li Chengqian did not do so. Du told Li Chengqian what Emperor Taizong told him—which led to Li Chengqian immediately submitting an objection to Emperor Taizong. Emperor Taizong asked Du, "Why did you let him know what I said?" Du responded, "He did not listen to me, so I wanted to scare him with your words. I hoped that he would be scared and would change his ways." Emperor Taizong was still displeased, and he demoted Du to the post of prefect of Gu Prefecture (穀州, in modern Luoyang, Henan), and later to be the commandant at Jiao Prefecture (交州, roughly modern Hanoi, Vietnam). After Li Chengqian was revealed to have plotted with the general Hou Junji to overthrow Emperor Taizong in 643, Du was accused of having received a gold belt from Hou, and he was stripped of his rank and exiled to Huan Prefecture (驩州, also in modern Vietnam). However, later he successively served as the prefect of Ying (郢州, roughly modern Wuhan, Hubei) and Shi (石州, roughly modern Lüliang, Shanxi) prefectures.

During Emperor Gaozongs reign

In 656, Du Zhenglun was serving as the deputy minister of treasury, when Emperor Taizong's son and successor Emperor Gaozong promoted him to serve as Huangmen Shilang, the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng). Emperor Gaozong also gave him the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin, making him a chancellor de facto. Du was also created the Duke of Xiangyang. In 657, he was made Zhongshu Ling (中書令), the head of the legislative bureau and a post considered one for a chancellor. Later that year, he concurred with the official Liu Xiangdao that there were too many people made imperial officials, and Emperor Gaozong put them in charge of drafting a proposal to reduce the number of officials. However, their proposal ran into much opposition from other officials and was never carried out.

Meanwhile, Du was beginning to have conflict with fellow chancellor Li Yifu, who also carried the title of Zhongshu Ling, as Du considered himself the senior official, but Li, who was an ally of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian), disrespected Du. They argued frequently before Emperor Gaozong, who rebuked both for not cooperating with each other. On December 6, 658, Emperor Gaozong demoted both to be prefects—in Du's case, the prefect of Heng Prefecture (橫州, roughly modern Nanning, Guangxi). Du was said to have died at Heng Prefecture soon thereafter.

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. 106.https://web.archive.org/web/20071011093344/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan15.htm

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 192, 193, 194, 197, 200.

生平

隋朝隋文帝仁壽年間，杜正倫與其兄杜正玄、杜正藏通過了科舉。隋代舉秀才止十餘人，杜正倫一家已有三秀才，時甚稱道。杜正倫精于文學，特別精通解釋經典。在隋朝為羽騎尉。唐高祖建立唐朝取代隋朝，杜正倫為齊州（今山東濟南市）總管府錄事參軍。唐高祖的兒子秦王李世民聞其名，令他入直秦府文學館。

626年，李世民即位為唐太宗。尚書右丞魏徵推薦杜正倫才能古今無比，唐太宗在627年以杜正倫為兵部員外郎。628年，杜正倫為給事中兼知起居注。一次，唐太宗表示：「朕每日坐朝，欲出一言，即思此言于百姓有利益否，所以不能多言。」杜正倫回答：「君舉必書，言存左右史。臣職當修起居注，不敢不盡愚直。陛下若一言乖于道理，則千載累于聖德，非直當今損于百姓，願陛下慎之。」太宗大悅，賜他二百段絹。

630年，杜正倫升遷中書侍郎，中書省的副官。632年，杜正倫和御史大夫韋挺、秘書少監虞世南、著作郎姚思廉都上封事稱旨，太宗皇帝為他們設宴答謝他們的誠實與勇敢。杜正倫加官散騎常侍，行太子右庶子，兼崇賢館學士。讓他輔佐皇太子李承乾。636年，他再任中書侍郎，爵南陽縣侯，仍兼太子左庶子。杜正倫出入兩宮（東宮和太極宮），參典機密，以幹練著稱。

但不久後杜正倫就陷入了皇帝和太子之間的矛盾。當時，太子腿腳有病，不便行走。所以他不能按時朝見父親，而經常和近侍小人在一起，做一些輕浮之事。唐太宗對杜正倫說：「我兒的疾病，只是小事。但他全無好名聲，沒聽說他愛賢好善，他所接觸的，多是小人，卿可密切觀察此事。如果他不聽你的勸教，須來告我。」

杜正倫多次勸說太子，建議他規範自己的行為。但太子卻不改。杜正倫把皇帝給他說的話告訴了太子，太子接著上表父親抗辯。唐太宗質問杜正倫：「何故洩露我的話？」杜正倫解釋：「他不聽我的，所以拿陛下的話震嚇他，希望他有所畏懼，改惡從善。」唐太宗依然生氣，將杜正倫貶為穀州（今河南洛陽市宜陽縣）刺史，不久改任交州（今越南河內市）刺史。 在643年太子聯合侯君集謀反之事洩露而被廢黜時，杜正倫因為和侯君集關係好，還得到過侯君集贈送的腰帶，所以被流放驩州（今越南乂安省榮市）。之後複官，做郢州（今湖北武漢市）和石州（今山西呂梁市）刺史。

656年，太宗的兒子唐高宗授杜正倫為黃門侍郎，兼崇賢館學士，同中書門下三品。657年，兼度支尚書，仍依舊知政事。不久拜中書令，兼太子賓客、弘文館學士，進封襄陽縣公。他和中書令劉祥道認為應該精簡國家官員，唐高宗讓他們負責。但是，他們的阻力太大，最終無果而終。

同時，杜正倫和另一個宰相中書令李義府發生矛盾，李義府是武后的同黨，誣告杜正倫結黨，唐高宗在658年十二月，將杜正倫貶為橫州（今廣西南寧市）刺史，杜正倫不久死在了橫州，當時有《杜正倫集》十卷。

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