程 Chéng

Li Cheng

Li Cheng, styled Biaochen, was a descendant in the fifth generation of Shenfu, Prince Gong of Xiangyi. He passed the presented scholar examination and then the examination in erudite literary composition; his rhapsody "The Sun in Five Colours" was striking and original in its phrasing, and the scholarly world thought highly of him. He was posted as Sheriff of Lantian, where there was a case that had been stuck for ten years; Cheng decided it on a single statement. The capital prefecture rated him first in its assessments, and he was promoted to Investigating Censor. He was summoned to be an Academician of the Hanlin Academy, was promoted twice to Vice Director of the Bureau of Merit Titles, and was made Baron of Weiyuan County. When Dezong went out hunting in the last month of autumn, he felt the cold and said to those around him, "In the ninth month we still wear unlined gowns, and in the second month we put on padded robes; this is not in keeping with the seasons. I wish to change the months. What do you say?" Those around him all said it was a good idea; only Cheng said, "Xuanzong composed the Monthly Ordinances, in which furs are first worn in the tenth month; it cannot be changed." The emperor was startled and gave up the idea. When the Academicians came in to their office, they usually went by the shadow of the sun to tell the time. Cheng was lazy by nature and arrived only when the shadow had passed the eighth brick, and so he was called at the time "the Eight-Brick Academician." Edit

In the third year of Yuanhe he was sent out as Prefect of Sui Prefecture, and for his capable government he was granted the gold seal and purple robe. When Li Yijian took command of Xichuan, he called Cheng to be Vice Governor of Chengdu. He came into the court as Director of the Bureau of War to draft edicts. When Han Hong was Commander-in-chief, Cheng was ordered to go to Bian Prefecture to proclaim the emperor's will and comfort the people. He served in turn as Vice Censor-in-Chief and Surveillance Commissioner of E and Yue, and returned to be Vice Minister of Personnel. Edit

Early in the reign of Jingzong he was made Joint Manager of Affairs with the Secretariat-Chancellery while keeping his post. The emperor was young and frivolous, fond of palaces and hunting, and his spending was lavish and wide. Cheng remonstrated, saying, "The former kings transformed the empire by the virtue of thrift. Your Majesty is still in mourning, and it is not yet fitting to build. I wish the money you would spend could be turned to the upkeep of the imperial tombs." The emperor praised and accepted this. He also asked that Academicians Expositor-in-Waiting be appointed, chosen from famous ministers, to be ready for consultation. He was given the additional post of Vice Director of the Secretariat and raised to Duke of Pengyuan Commandery. In the second year of Baoli he was made Acting Minister of Personnel and Joint Manager of Affairs, and became Military Commissioner of Hedong. He was moved to Hezhong. He was summoned and appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Soon he was made Acting Grand Minister of Works and given command of Xuanwu and of the Eastern Circuit of Shannan as Military Commissioner. He again became Vice Director. Before this, in the Yuanhe and Changqing eras, when a Vice Director took up his duties all the officials came to congratulate him, and officials of the fourth rank and below were bowed to in return. In the fourth year of Dahe an edict ruled that no return bow was to be made. Wang Ya and Dou Yizhi carried this out without unease, but Cheng followed the old practice; he was not at ease and raised the matter at court. Li Han, Vice Censor-in-Chief, said that making no return bow put too much weight on ceremony, but Wenzong did not agree, and the Dahe edict was to be followed. Those who discussed it did not think well of him. Edit

Cheng was eloquent and full of ideas, but careless and casual, with no regard for decorum; although he held high and intimate posts, he did not carry great prestige. He was treated with the greatest favour by the emperor, who once said, "Of the feathers of a high-flying bird, the long ones are in front. You, sir, are a pinion of the court." When Wuzong came to the throne, he was made Regent of the Eastern Capital. He died aged seventy-seven and was granted posthumously the title of Grand Guardian, with the posthumous name Miu. Edit