Cui clan of Boling

TheCuiclan of Boling( bác lăng thôi thị ) was a notable Chinese clan of noble descent which was politically active from theHan dynastyto the end of theFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.They shared the same ancestry as theCui clan of Qinghe.The founding father of this clan, Cui Zhongmou ( thôi trọng mưu ), was a younger brother of Cui Ye ( thôi nghiệp ), the founding father of the Cui clan of Qinghe. Their father, Jizi ( quý tử ), was the common ancestor of these two clans.

The Cui clan of Boling traditionally lived in Boling Commandery, which covered parts of present-dayHebei.Members of this clan served as officials in thegovernment of the Han dynasty.Although there were many famous Confucian scholars from the Cui family, they did not have any significant political influence until the lateSix Dynastiesera.

During theSuiandTangdynasties, the Cui clan of Boling became so influential that whenEmperor Taizongof the Tang dynasty once asked a minister which was the most influential clan of that time, the minister replied that it was the Cui family of Boling. The emperor felt displeased because he thought that the Li family, the imperial family, should be the most prestigious one in his time.In total, there were 15 members from the Cui family of Boling who held the position ofchancellorduring the Tang dynasty, and one during theFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

It is not known what happened to the Cui clan of Boling after the establishment of theSong dynastyas nothing was recorded about them in historical records. It is clear, however, that most of the notable Chinese clans suffered from the wars in theFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdomsera, and many of them were no longer mentioned in historical records again after that period.

Branches

These were the branches of the Cui clan of Boling.

• Boling Anping branch ( bác lăng an bình phòng )
• Elder Boling branch ( bác lăng đại phòng )
• Second Boling branch ( bác lăng đệ nhị phòng )
• Third Boling branch ( bác lăng đệ tam phòng )
• Fourth Boling branch ( bác lăng đệ tứ phòng )
• Fifth Boling branch ( bác lăng đệ ngũ phòng )
• Sixth Boling branch ( bác lăng đệ lục phòng )

Notable figures

Males

• Cui Yin ( thôi nhân ) – scholar and writer during theEastern Han dynasty
• Cui Hong ( thôi hồng ) – minister during theJin dynasty (266–420)
• Cui Bing ( thôi bỉnh ) – general during theWestern Wei dynasty
• Cui Renshi( thôi nhân sư ) – official of theTang dynastythe who briefly served as a chancellor late in the reign ofEmperor Taizong
• Cui Shi( thôi thực; 671–713) – Chinese writer and politician. He served as an official of the ChineseTang dynastyandWu Zetian'sZhou dynasty,serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Wu Zetian's sonsEmperor ZhongzongandEmperor Ruizongand grandsonsEmperor ShangandEmperor Xuanzong
• Cui Xuanwei,Prince Wenxian of Boling ( bác lăng văn hiến vương thôi huyền vĩ; 638–706) – serving as a chancellor during the reigns ofWu Zetianand her sonEmperor Zhongzong
• Cui Huan( thôi hoán ) (died January 14, 769[1]) was a Chinese politician during theTang dynasty,serving as a chancellor briefly during the reign ofEmperor Suzong

Female

Imperial Concubines

• Princess Consort of Henan, of the Cui clan of Boling ( hà nam vương phi bác lăng thôi thị ), wife ofYang Zhao, Crown Prince Yuande
• Princess Consort Cui, of the Cui clan of Boling ( thôi phi bác lăng thôi thị; d. 600), wife ofYang Jun, Prince Xiao of Qinand mother ofYang Haoand Yang Zhi
• Cui Shanggui ( tần thương khuê ), Imperial Concubine ( tần bác lăng thôi thị; d. 636), marriedEmperor Gaozu of Tangand had a son (Li Yuanyu, Prince Dengkang )
• Noble Consort, of the Cui clan of Boling ( quý phi bác lăng thôi thị; d. 757) ofEmperor Dezong of Tang,mother ofLi Miao,Li Suand Princess Qizhaoyi