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| Chen Ping | |
|---|---|
| 陳平 | |
 | |
| Imperial Chancellor (丞相) | |
| In office 179 BC | |
| Monarch | Emperor Wen of Han |
| Succeeded by | Zhou Bo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Lankao County, Henan |
| Died | c.November 179 BC Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| Spouse | Lady Zhang (granddaughter of Zhang Fu (張負)) |
| Children | Chen Mai (陳買) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Posthumous name | Marquis Xian (獻侯) |
| Peerage | Marquis of Quni (曲逆侯) |
Chen Ping (陈平, died c.November 179 BC) was a Chinese politician who served as a chancellor in the early Western Han dynasty. He was an advisor to Liu Bang (Emperor Gao), the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. He played an important role in helping Liu Bang overcome his rival, Xiang Yu, in the Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC).
Early life
Chen Ping was from Huyou Town (戶牖鄉), Yangwu (陽武 present-day Lankao County, Henan). He was born in a peasant family, and his parents died when he was still young so he lived with his elder brother. His elder brother worked as a farmer on the 30 mu of land that their family owned while Chen Ping spent his time reading. As a child, Chen Ping had an ambition to serve his country. Chen Ping remained single for a long time, until he met Zhang Fu (張負), a wealthy man. Zhang Fu had a granddaughter who married five times, but all her husbands died not long after they married her, so other men did not want to marry her. One day, Zhang Fu followed Chen Ping to his residence and saw that although Chen's house was quite rundown, there were many carriages outside his house (which implied that Chen Ping was popular in town as many people visited him). Zhang Fu was so pleased that when he returned home he discussed with his son about marrying his granddaughter to Chen Ping. Zhang Fu's son was reluctant to marry his daughter to Chen Ping because he felt that Chen was too poor, but Zhang Fu claimed that Chen Ping had good relations with people. Chen Ping eventually married Zhang Fu's granddaughter and gradually became more affluent with support from his wife.
Not long later, the townsfolk nominated Chen Ping to be their shezai (社宰 a local leader). Chen Ping distributed meat equally to his fellow townsfolk, and they praised him for being just and fair. Chen Ping once said, "If I can manage the world, I'll manage it in the same manner as I distribute meat, so that all people in the world will not need to be poor and hungry."
Participation in the rebellion against the Qin dynasty
In 209 BC, during the reign of Qin Er Shi, rebellions erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin dynasty. Chen Ping pledged his service to Xiang Yu, a prominent rebel leader. After the fall of the Qin dynasty in late 207 BC, Xiang Yu marched his army into the Qin capital Xianyang and plundered and pillaged the city. Around this time, Chen Ping defected from Xiang Yu's side to Liu Bang, another prominent rebel leader. Liu Bang appointed Chen Ping as "Lieutenant Who Protects the Nation" (護國中尉).
Chu–Han Contention and service under Liu Bang and Empress Lü
During the Chu–Han Contention, a power struggle for supremacy over China between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, Chen Ping served Liu Bang as an advisor and helped to conceive strategies to help Liu overcome his rivals and unify China under his control. Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty and became historically known as "Emperor Gaozu of Han". Chen Ping was conferred the title "Marquis of Huyou" (戶牖侯) in recognition of his contributions, and he later received another title, "Marquis of Quni" (曲逆侯). He was appointed as Left Chancellor (左丞相) and Right Chancellor (右丞相) respectively during the reigns of Emperor Hui and when Empress Dowager Lü Zhi was in power.
Service under Emperor Wen
After Empress Lü's death in August 180 BCE, Chen Ping and Zhou Bo cooperated to put an end to the Lü Clan Disturbance and restore the Liu clan to power and install Liu Heng on the throne as Emperor Wen. On 16 December 180 BCE, Chen Ping was made Left Imperial Chancellor, while Zhou Bo was made Right Imperial Chancellor. This arrangement was due to Chen Ping petitioning that Zhou Bo's contributions were greater than his, and so he wanted to give up the position of Right Chancellor to Zhou Bo.
Later that year, Emperor Wen once asked Zhou Bo, "How many cases do the courts see in a year?" Zhou Bo was unable to give an answer. Emperor Wen then asked again, "What is the net amount of money and grain the national treasury takes in in a year?" Zhou Bo could not answer the question. Chen Ping, who was serving as the Left Chancellor then, replied to the emperor's queries, "The answers lie with the respective persons in charge. For the number of cases, Your Majesty should ask the Minister of Justice. For the net amount of money and grain, Your Majesty should ask the Accountant of Revenue." Chen Ping also added that he felt that as a chancellor, he should not be in charge of everything, and that the chancellor's role was to assist the emperor by "pacifying all those outside the empire, maintaining peace within the empire and ensuring that all office holders perform their roles well." Zhou Bo was ashamed and felt that he was not as competent as Chen Ping, so he claimed that he was ill and resigned from his post on 2 October 179 BC, leaving Chen Ping solely in charge of both the Left and Right Chancellors' duties.
Death
Chen Ping died of illness in Chang'an in c.November 179 BC and was posthumously granted the title "Marquis Xian" (獻侯). He was buried at Chenyan Slope (陳宴坡), Kushang Village (庫上里), Huyou Town (戶牖鄉). His tomb and a shrine built for him existed until they were destroyed in a Yellow River flood during the Ming dynasty. Chen Ping's son, Chen Mai (陳買), inherited his father's marquis title after the latter's death. During the reign of Emperor Wu, Chen Ping's great-grandson, Chen He (陳何), was executed for committing a crime and his family were stripped of the titles they inherited from their ancestor.
Chen Ping's six strategies
Throughout his service under Liu Bang, there are six well known strategies that Chen Ping came up with to help his lord in overcoming his rivals and pacifying the empire.
The six strategies were:
- Sowing discord between Xiang Yu and his advisor Fan Zeng. Fan Zeng was angered and he left Xiang Yu. He died of illness on the journey home. (See Chu–Han Contention#Battle of Chenggao) The loss of Fan Zeng was one of the factors that contributed to Xiang Yu's defeat.
- Helping Liu Bang escape from danger during the Battle of Xingyang by diverting the enemy's attention away through disguise.
- Advising Liu Bang to grant Han Xin the title of a vassal king and a fief. Han Xin's loyalty to Liu Bang was strengthened, and Han Xin did his best to help Liu Bang overcome his rivals and claim the throne.
- Advising Liu Bang to form an alliance with the Qi kingdom against Xiang Yu.
- When Liu Bang heard rumours that Han Xin was plotting against him and harbouring a fugitive Zhongli Mo (one of Xiang Yu's generals), Chen Ping suggested to lure Han Xin into a trap and capture him. Han Xin fell for the ruse and was taken captive when he came to meet Liu Bang. Liu Bang pardoned Han Xin later but still demoted him from a vassal king to a marquis.
- Suggesting to Liu Bang to bribe Modu Chanyu's wife with gifts and ask her to request for her husband to lift the siege during the Battle of Baideng.
References
- Volume 13 of Zizhi Tongjian indicated that Chen Ping died in the 10th month of the 2nd year of Emperor Wen's reign, which corresponds to 5 Nov to 3 Dec 179 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used during this era, the 2nd year of Emperor Wen's reign starts from 5 Nov 179 BCE and ends on 23 Nov 178 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
- Chen Ping's biographies in Shiji and Han Shu did not specify his age when he got married, only that his single-hood lasted for a long time.
- (里中社，平为宰，分肉甚均。里父老曰：“善，陈孺子之为宰！”平曰：“嗟乎，使平得宰天下，亦如此肉矣！” ) Shiji, vol.56 & Book of Han, vol.40
- xinsi day of the 11th month of the 1st year of Emperor Wen's reign, per vol.13 of Zizhi Tongjian. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used in this era, the 1st year of Emperor Wen's reign began on 15 November 180 BCE and ended on 4 Nov 179 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
- xinwei day of the 8th month of the 1st year of Emperor Wen's reign, per vol.13 of Zizhi Tongjian
- As Chen Ping heavily dealt in espionage, which was seen as dishonorable, what was recorded in the histories of his exploits was very likely only the most basic information of the situation. For example, for Liu Bang's escape during the Battle of Xingyang, Shiji vol. 06 mentioned that Ji Xin (who was disguised as Liu Bang) had an entourage of 2000 women in armour as he left Xingyang via the east gate. Perhaps, the 2000 women were the real distraction, instead of Ji Xin.
- Sima Qian. Records of the Grand Historian, Volume 56, House of Chancellor Chen.
- Ban Gu et al. Book of Han, Volume 40, Biography of Chen Ping.
| Prominent people of the Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC) | |
|---|---|
| Western Chu | |
| Han | |