The Textual Research On Chengxin Palace

The Cheng Xin Palace is one of the most important buildings in palace of Southern Tang. In the early years of Southern Tang Dynasty, it is a place where the emperor lived and conversed with the guests. And then added the functionality of collecting books, which made it become the most famous stack room of Southern Tang. The second and the last emperors have convened scholars to collated ancient books and records. More strikingly, this palace once became a political center in the middle and later periods of Southern Tang Dynasty. The emperor select numerous bachelors to participating in politics, such as discussing government affairs and making decisions. The man at the wheel of the Cheng Xin Palace is called Chengzhi. His powers once have exceed the Privy Counselor. It not only affects the political environment in the middle and later periods of Southern Tang Dynasty, but also witnesses the political transformation of the Southern Tang. We only have limited information about it because it is located in the forbidden palace which is difficult to get in. Therefore, we can hardly learn its details including its construction time, founders, function and the political status now. So this thesis plans to examine and correct the basic historical facts. And combining the background of political system transformation of Southern Tang, analyzes its process and reasons about how to become a political center and its influence on the political tendency of the Southern Tang Dynasty. And try to describe and evaluate the essence of its development and change.The full text is divided into six parts, the first part is an introduction. This section introduces the origin and reason of this thesis. And expounds the meaning of study the Cheng Xin Palace, which can deepen the history of the Southern Tang Dynasty and help us analyzes the changes of political institution during a Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms’period of reform. Then reviews the history of the Southern Tang and research achievements about the Cheng Xin Palace. According to this, the research direction and ideas has been determined.The first chapter is focused on its construction process, including the builders and time. The first period is an investigation about its builder and the time. There are three controversial views about this. The first view is that the first emperor built this Palace, and the representative is Chen Shidao. But there is no description of existing historical records about the construction when the first emperor lived in Nanjing. However,the Cheng Xin Palace first appeared when the second emperor was on the throne. The relevant material pointed out that Chengxin Palace was built after Qinghui Palace, which is another famous palace built by the second emperor. So it is sure that he first emperor isn’t the founder of the Chengxin Palace. The second view points out that it was constructed by the last emperor. Many scholars hold this view including Lu You who wrote Southern Tang history, Wu Renchen who wrote The History of Ten Dynasty and Zhang Xuan. But on the one hand, they all made no allusion to the controversy about its founder and construction time. On the other hand, the word "Chengxin Palace" first appeared in biographic sketches of the second emperor, which contradicts with the view that it is constructed by the last emperor based on the biographic sketches of the last emperor. The third view is that it is constructed by the second emperor, which is supported by the people of Song Dynasty. I support this view. There are lots of evidence. Firstly, the Jiang Biaozhi wrote by Zheng Wenbao clearly records that the second emperor once feted envoy named Tao Gu from the Later Zhou Dynasty. Secondly, the Chengzhi in Chengxin Palace had followed the second emperor to move the capital to Nanchang. Thirdly, Weng Fanggang from Qing Dynasty once expressed that he had seen a Chinese zither which engrave with words that it is made in Chengxin Palace in 944.So it is no doubt that this Palace was constructed by the second emperor Li Jing. As for specific time when built the palace,because of the incomplete historical materials,it is built at the beginning of the second emperor succeeded to the throne according to the inscription of the Chinese zither.Then the second period makes an introduction to its function. At the beginning, Chengxin Palace was originally used as a living room, stack room for collecting ancient books and records. Also,the emperor has convened all kinds of scholars to organize books compose books. An artisan even created a precious writing paper named Chengxin Paper. Most importantly, many literati go to this palace to inquire government affairs. Later, it even became the political center of whole country.The chapter two mainly discuss the change of central mechanism and the reason why Chengxin Palace became the center organization. I think it is correlated with the character of three emperor, the change on central mechanism and the Privy CouncilChief Executive. It’s a familiar phenomenon in central plains dynasty that the expansion in power of Privy Council endanger the emperor’s position. The second emperor had to cultivate his private consultant due to lack of management ability. I think the born of Chengzhi is a beginning of its growth.The chapter three mainly study the Chengzhi and others officials in Chengxin Palace and discuss the relationship between Chengxin Palace and the history of late Southern Tang. This part begins with the discussion about the situation when Houzhu was on the throne. I explain its constitution, functions and the relationship between Chengzhi and other people. I want to prove that there are two power centers in this period. And the people in Chengxin Palace and Privy Council aren’t identical. Thus, Houzhu can limit the power of Privy Council. And the expansion of Chengxin Palace had an important influence on the political situation of late Southern Tang Dynasty.The chapter four study its effect on whole country. On the one hand, it brought about court politics confusion. On the other hand, the rise of it is inevitable. Civilian must work with emperor to manage whole country.so, Chengxin Palace had really maintained the stability of Southern Tang Dynasty in the fact.The last chapter is epilogue. I summary views above, and analyze the essence of the development of Chengxin Cheng Palace. And I hold that the development of this palace embodies the institutional transitions and literary administration of Southern Tang Dynasty.It isn’t a formal political institutions, but it is also the real political center. The fame and reality of organization is fluctuating. And it depends on emperor’s ability to control court.