Chen Zhi (Three Kingdoms)

Chen Zhi
Chen Zhi
陳祗
General Who Guards the Army; (鎮軍將軍)
	In office; 251–258
Monarch	Liu Shan
Prefect of the Masters of Writing; (尚書令)
	In office; 251–258
Monarch	Liu Shan
Preceded by	Lü Yi
Succeeded by	Dong Jue
Palace Attendant; (侍中)
	In office; 246–258
Monarch	Liu Shan
Personal details
Born	Unknown; Pingyu County Henan
Died	September 28, 258; Chengdu, Sichuan
Relations	Xu Jing (granduncle)
Children	Chen Can; Chen Yu;
Occupation	Official
Courtesy name	Fengzong (奉宗)
Posthumous name	Marquis Zhong (忠侯)

Chen Zhi (died 28 September 258),^[b] courtesy name Fengzong, was an official of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He is mostly known for his association with the infamous Huang Hao that allowed him to dominate the imperial court, however he was also described as extremely talented and in favour of both, Fei Yi and Liu Shan.

Life

Chen Zhi was born in Runan Commandery (汝南郡), which is present-day Pingyu County, Henan. He was a maternal grandson of an elder brother of Xu Jing, who briefly served as Minister over the Masses of the state of Shu during the early Three Kingdoms period. As he was orphaned at a young age, he was raised by his granduncle Xu Jing.^[1]

Chen Zhi had quite a reputation in Shu by the time he reached adulthood (around 19 years old). He started his career as a low-level official in the selection bureau of the imperial secretariat of Shu. His appearance is described as awe-inspiring and his demeanour as restrained and strict. Moreover, he was well-versed in a variety of arts and crafts, possessing talent in astrology, divination and physiognomy.^[2] Therefore, he impressed Fei Yi, the head of the Shu government between 246 and 253. Following Dong Yun's death in late 246, Fei Yi recommended Chen Zhi to replace Dong Yun as a Palace Attendant (侍中).^[3]

Chen Zhi quickly earned the favour of the Shu emperor Liu Shan, and formed an alliance with the eunuch Huang Hao to dominate the political scene together. Huang Hao gained power for the first time in his life after Dong Yun's death because Dong Yun distrusted Huang Hao and actively kept him out of politics while he was still alive.^[4] Ever since Chen Zhi became one of his most favoured officials, Liu Shan gradually began to resent Dong Yun and see him as "arrogant and disrespectful". Chen Zhi and Huang Hao also often spoke ill of Dong Yun in front of Liu Shan and make the emperor hate Dong Yun even more.^[5]

When Lü Yi, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing (尚書令), died in 251,^[6] Liu Shan ordered Chen Zhi to replace him. In addition to his appointment as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Chen Zhi concurrently held the positions of Palace Attendant (侍中) and General Who Guards the Army (鎮軍將軍). During this period, Jiang Wei was away on military campaigns against Shu's rival state Wei most of the time therefore he did not regularly attend imperial court sessions.^[7] Above, Chen Zhi would carry out the Emperor's orders and received Liu Shan's favour while below, he befriended the eunuchs and obtained Huang Hao's support. He was trusted and loved by both circles therefore although he ranked lower than the General-in-Chief Jiang Wei in the military hierarchy, he had greater influence and power in politics.^[8]

Chen Zhi died in 258, on 28 September.^[b] Liu Shan shed tears and deeply lamented his death, issued an imperial decree that said: "Chen Zhi managed the affairs of our time. His kindness and excellency were a model. His capability and solemness were a standard. He was in harmony with righteousness and brought benefit to everything. His myriad of achievements are brilliantly manifest. His life did not reach distantly, and I am grieved by that. One who in life has an excellent reputation, should in death be given a beautiful posthumous name. Let's honour him with the posthumous title "Marquis Zhong" (忠侯; "loyal marquis")."^[12]

After Chen Zhi's death, Huang Hao continued to rise through the ranks and gain greater power while showing favouritism towards his supporters and those who fawned on him. The Shu government also became more corrupt under Huang Hao's influence until its eventual collapse^[13] in 263.^[14]

Family

Liu Shan enfeoffed Chen Zhi's first son, Chen Can (陳粲), as a Secondary Marquis (關內侯), and appointed his second son, Chen Yu (陳裕), as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate (黃門侍郎).^[15]

Notes

^ While Chen Zhi's birth year was not recorded, his biography in Sanguozhi indicated that he was raised by his granduncle Xu Jing, who died in c.October 222. Combined with the observation that he already had a reputation before the age of 20 (and thus joined the Shu bureaucracy in his 20s), it is likely that Chen Zhi's childhood occurred in the 210s.
^ ^a ^b ^c According to Chen Zhi's biography in the Sanguozhi, he died in the 1st year of the Jingyao era.^[9] Furthermore, the volume 7 of the Huayang Guo Zhi recorded that Chen Zhi died on the bingzi day of the 8th month.^[10] However, his death is put in the segment of the 2nd year of the Jingyao era of Liu Shan's reign.^[11] Since Chen Shou's account is closer to the historical events and part of the Twenty-Four Histories canon of ancient Chinese history. It is considered as a more reliable year of death.

References

^ ([陳]祗字奉宗，汝南人，許靖兄之外孫也。少孤，長於靖家。) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (弱冠知名，稍遷至選曹郎，矜厲有威容。多技藝，挾數術，) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (費禕甚異之，故超繼允內侍。) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (陳祗代允為侍中，與黃皓互相表裏，皓始預政事。) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (自祗之有寵，後主追怨允日深，謂為自輕，由祗媚茲一人，皓搆閒浸潤故耳。) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ Sima (1084), vol. 75.
^ (呂乂卒，祗又以侍中守尚書令，加鎮軍將軍，大將軍姜維雖班在祗上，常率衆在外，希親朝政。) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (祗上承主指，下接閹豎，深見信愛，權重於維。) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (景耀元年卒) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (秋八月丙子，領中護軍陳祗卒。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 7.
^ ([景耀二年]) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 7.
^ (景耀元年卒，後主痛惜，發言流涕，乃下詔曰：「祗統職一紀，柔嘉惟則，幹肅有章，和義利物，庶績允明。命不融遠，朕用悼焉。夫存有令問，則亡加美謚，謚曰忠侯。」) Sanguozhi, vol. 39.
^ (祗死後，皓從黃門令為中常侍、奉車騎都尉，操弄威柄，終至覆國。) Sanguozhi, vol.39.
^ Sima (1084), vol. 78.
^ (賜子粲爵關內侯，拔次子裕為黃門侍郎。) Sanguozhi vol. 39.