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 (長洲, 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 (廣武—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 (天官員外郎), 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 (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, 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 (秘書少監), 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 (武崇訓) 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 (同中書門下平章事), 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 (右散騎常侍, a senior advisor at the legislative bureau) and minister of justice (刑部尚書, Xingbu Shangshu), and later demoted to be the prefect of Shan Prefecture (陝州, roughly modern Sanmenxia, Henan). He was, however, soon recalled to be the minister of census (戶部尚書, Hubu Shangshu). In 712, he was made chancellor de facto again, with the greater designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品). 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 (門下省), 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 (岑獻) 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 (張暐), 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 (鄧光賓). 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 (李晉) 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 (賈膺福), Tang Jun (唐晙); the generals Chang Yuankai (常元楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin (李欽); and the monk Huifan (惠範), 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 (李範) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (李業) 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 (李令問), 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間任宰相，父親岑曼倩任雍州長史，爵封襲公。

天授二年（691年）以前，岑羲中進士，累遷太常博士，負責祭祀。天授二年，中止唐朝建立武周的女皇武則天在位時，岑羲的伯父、宰相岑長倩被控謀反被殺。岑羲受到牽連被貶為郴州司法參軍，又任金壇縣令，以文學和吏幹聞名。其時，其弟岑仲翔任長洲令，岑仲休任溧水令，兄弟三人都很有政績。宰相宗楚客對本道巡察御史說：「不要忘了江東三岑。」隨後便推薦岑羲為汜水令，汜水鄰近洛陽，故這是一項重要的升職。

長安四年（704年），岑羲任廣武（汜水改名為廣武）令。十月，武則天要宰相推薦合適的官員去各部擔任員外郎。宰相韋嗣立推薦岑羲，卻說：「唉，可惜他被伯父岑長倩連累了，長久不得提升。」武則天說：「只要其人有才幹，就不受家人連累！」任岑羲為天官員外郎。由于開了這個例，武則天年間其他先前被殺官員的家屬也被允許獲得擢升。岑羲上任後，有美譽。不久為中書舍人。定州長史康希銑遷海州刺史，岑羲與狄仁傑、韋承慶、韋嗣立、元懷景、姚元崇都與他友善，都傾朝同賦詩以餞行，為近代未有之事。

唐中宗復位年間

神龍元年（705年），張柬之、崔玄暐、桓彥范、敬暉、袁恕己五人，領導神龍革命，推翻武則天，複立先前曾登基為唐中宗的太子李顯，張崔等五人俱封為王，史稱「五王」。但隨後，武則天之侄梁王武三思私通掌權的中宗韋皇后，並獲得中宗寵信。五月，五王上表要求對武三思等武家人予以貶爵時，沒人敢為五王作表，只有岑羲願意，且語氣激切。諸武被降封。後來武三思成功將五王貶出中央，任岑羲為表面榮耀實則無權的秘書少監。二年（706年），修文館置八學士，岑羲在其中，從元年十二月起，與魏元忠、武三思、祝欽明、徐彥伯、柳衝、韋承慶、崔融、徐堅等撰《則天皇后實錄》二十卷（或作三十卷）。三年（707年）五月前後，岑羲任吏部侍郎，和同僚崔湜、太常少卿鄭愔、大理少卿李元恭一同負責選官。當時，崔、鄭、李都以腐敗聞名，只有岑羲正直，為時議所美。陸渾主簿崔沔任滿調遷，岑羲很賞識重視他，對人說：「這就是當今的卻詵。」特表薦擢他為左補闕。根據岑羲自己監修的《中宗實錄》，當皇弟相王李旦和皇妹太平公主被侍御史冉祖雍誣告涉及三年（707年）太子李重俊的重俊之變（武三思及其子武崇訓在政變中被殺）時，岑羲和中書侍郎蕭至忠秘密為李旦說話，勸說中宗不調查李旦。

唐殤帝年間、唐睿宗復位年間

景龍四年（710年），岑羲被任為中書侍郎。六月，唐中宗猝死，傳統史學家認為是被韋后及其女安樂公主李裹兒毒害，以使韋后可以像武則天一樣稱帝並以李裹兒為皇太女。中宗死訊傳出前，韋后為了重組政府以鞏固自身權位，授岑羲同中書門下平章事，為實質宰相，加銀青光祿大夫。中宗庶子溫王李重茂被立為帝，是為唐殤帝，但韋后以皇太后身份攝政，掌握實權。她派紀處訥、張嘉福、岑羲持節去巡撫地方，其中岑羲巡撫河南道。

不到一個月，太平公主和李旦之子臨淄王李隆基起事殺死韋後和安樂公主，是為唐隆之變。在他們支持下，先前也曾登基為唐睿宗的李旦複位，殤帝被廢黜。七月，岑羲罷相改任右散騎常侍、兼判刑部尚書，與右僕射許國公蘇瑰、兵部尚書姚元之（即姚元崇）、吏部尚書宋璟並充使冊定陵，又貶為陝州刺史。景雲二年（711年）任刑部尚書。十二月或次年正月，又遷戶部尚書，奉敕與中書侍郎陸象先、右散騎常侍徐堅、右司郎中唐紹、刑部員外郎邵知與、刪定官大理寺丞陳義海、右衛長史張處斌、大理評事張名播、左衛率府倉曹參軍羅思貞、刑部主事閻義顓共十人，刪定格、式、律、令。岑羲、崔湜厭惡崔日用，而戶部員外郎李邕與之結交；李隆基被立為皇太子後，李邕及崔隱甫、倪若水同被其禮遇，岑羲等忌之，貶李邕為舍城丞。三年（712年）正月，岑羲被授予更高的頭銜同中書門下三品，再次拜相，負責監修國史，刪定格令，仍修《氏族錄》。太極元年（712年）二月奏上所刪定的格令，名為《太極格》。睿宗閱《中宗實錄》後，賞賜他絲綢三百段和良馬一匹以謝保護之功，下詔褒獎，六月又任他為侍中領導門下省，封南陽郡公。當年春，睿宗起金仙、玉真兩觀，花費巨億。太府少卿兼通事舍人韋湊為此進諫，睿宗納其言，令在外詳議。岑羲與時任中書令崔湜對韋湊說：「公敢言此，大是難事。」雍令劉少微恃權貪贓，被右台殿中侍御史辛替否審訊，岑羲屢次求情，辛替否不退讓，劉少微坐死。

當時，岑羲之兄岑獻任國子監司業，弟岑仲翔、岑仲休任陝州、商州刺史，岑家從族兄弟子侄數十人因岑羲提拔而官居清要之職。岑羲曾感嘆：「物極必反，我得有所戒懼啊。」但並未因此辭職。

唐玄宗年間

當年，唐睿宗禪讓帝位給李隆基，即唐玄宗。但在太平公主建議下，睿宗以太上皇身份掌握實權並繼續受到太平公主的影響。岑羲被認為是太平公主一黨。同年，玄宗的部屬宰相劉幽求和右羽林將軍張暐在玄宗支持下計劃用羽林兵殺掉岑羲和另兩名因依附太平公主而得以進身的宰相竇懷貞和崔湜。但當張暐將計劃洩露給侍御史鄧光賓，劉、張、鄧都被流放。

太平公主認為睿宗舍嫡長子宋王李成器而立玄宗，不順，圖謀廢立，竇懷貞、蕭至忠、岑羲、崔湜都認可，宰相陸象先則不同意。先天二年（713年）六月，太平公主和竇懷貞、岑羲、蕭至忠、崔湜、太子少保薛稷、雍州長史新興王李晉（唐高祖堂弟李德良之孫）、中書舍人李猷、右散騎常侍賈膺福、鴻臚寺卿唐晙、左羽林大將軍常元楷、知右羽林將軍事李慈、左金吾將軍李欽、胡僧惠範合謀以羽林軍作亂推翻玄宗，甚至已經計劃讓宮女元氏在給玄宗服用的赤箭粉中投毒。

七月，侍中魏知古報告玄宗太平公主欲作亂，令常元楷、李慈以羽林兵突入武德殿殺玄宗，竇懷貞、蕭至忠、岑羲等于南牙舉兵響應。玄宗已經接受了王琚、張說、崔日用先發制人的建議。玄宗召集弟弟岐王李範、薛王李業及郭元振、龍武將軍王毛仲、殿中少監姜皎、太僕少卿李令問、尚乘奉御王守一（也是玄宗的內兄）、內給事高力士、果毅李守德率先採取行動，即先天政變。

7月29日，王毛仲取內閒馬三百人，率李令問、王守一、高力士、李守德叩虔化門，于北闕下梟常元楷和李慈首級，擒賈膺福、李猷于內客省，擒住蕭至忠、岑羲押到朝堂，皆處決。竇懷貞自縊。竇懷貞、岑羲等十七家被誅。而同為太平公主所進的陸象先則被玄宗赦免。

岑羲被殺後，家產被沒收。太上皇雖下誥大赦天下，但不赦太平公主案連坐者。

岑羲妹夫徐堅早早以避嫌為由辭去機密官職，轉太子詹事，實為避禍，此時得免，但仍受到連累被出為絳州刺史。

王守一則因誅殺蕭至忠、岑羲等有功，遷殿中少監，特封晉國公。高力士也因此功獲任為右監門將軍，知內侍省事，打破了唐太宗時內侍省不置三品官的定製。

神龍初年，武后去帝號，但岑羲等仍然在太廟中將她題作「聖帝」。開元四年（716年），太常卿姜皎與禮官太常博士陳貞節等上表請除「聖帝」稱呼，玄宗詔准。

作品

• 《則天皇后實錄》二十卷，與魏元忠、武三思、祝欽明、徐彥伯、柳衝、韋承慶、崔融、徐堅合撰，劉知幾、吳兢刪正

• 《為敬暉等論武氏宜削去王爵表》

• 《太極格》十卷，與陸象先、徐堅、唐紹、邵知新、陳義海、張名播、張處斌、羅思貞、閻義顓等刪定

• 《氏族錄》，魏元忠、張錫、蕭至忠、岑羲、崔湜、徐堅、劉憲、吳兢、柳衝改修，亡佚

• 《大唐故銀青光祿大夫囗囗囗侍郎贈禮部尚書韋府君墓誌銘》，志主韋承慶

• 《大唐故中大夫使持節箕州諸軍事守箕州刺史上護軍韋府君墓誌之銘》，志主韋知藝

• 《大唐故尚書右僕射贈特進并州大都督鄭國公楊恭公之碑》，志主楊再思

• 《大唐故正議大夫守太子詹事兼修國史崇文館學士贈使持節都督兗州諸軍事兗州刺史上柱國中山劉府君墓誌銘並序》，志主劉憲

• 《武周岑平等墓誌》，志主為岑羲堂姑

• 《全唐詩》收錄其詩六首

子

• 岑敷，不仕官

注釋