Cen Cen, Honorable Man from Nanyang, Henan

Cen Cen 

Cen Cen (714-770 AD) from Nanyang in Henan Province was the most famous poet of the “border poetry” genre for the Tang dynasty, which depicts life in the far Western outpost, on the silk road, and in the desert. Though there were three prime ministers in Cen’s family, it did not shelter him from serving China in the hard battles on the remote border. Cen Cen worked for the Korean Chinese general Gao Xian Zhi (? – 755 AD). He participated in the expeditions to the far west expeditions and battled with Arabs. Cen Cen, Xiong Nu Land Expedition In 747 AD, Tibet controlled Jirjit in today’s Pakistan, and blocked the thoroughfare between Tang China and India. So the Tang emperor Xuan Zong ordered Genaral Gao Xian Zhi, stationed in today’s Xinjiang, to attack Pakistan. In the Spring of 747AD, Gao Xian Zhi led 10,000 cavalry and troops on this far expedition, and made the local king of Pakistan and the Tibetan princess surrender. In 749AD, Cen Cen was the military adviser and recorder working for General Gao Xian Zhi. 751AD, general Gao Xian Zhi led Tang military to battle with the Arab Empire at today’s Taraz, Kazakhstan. The Tang army lost and suffered 70,000 casualties, and many were kept captive. Only several thousands followed general Gao to fight out of the east wing back to Xinjiang. This is the world famous battle called “Taraz battle”. From then on, the Tang military retreated from the Pamir West region. Central Asia mostly belonged to Arabs. Islam was able to prevail in this region for the long haul. After this Taraz great battle, General Gao was deployed back to Gansu province. Cen Cen was also back with him. General Gao’s subordinate Du Huan was a captive and brought to the Arab peninsula. After 10 years, Du Huan passed through the Indian Ocean and returned to his home. Du Huan wrote his journey, but this book was lost. But some sections were maintained in his relative, Du You’s work, “Tong Dian, the first Chinese institutions works”. Du You excelled in finance management. In 755 AD, General An Lu Shan, the godson of the emperor’s favorite consort Yang Gui Fei, rebelled with 150,000 troops, and the 8 year An Shi (An Lu Shan and Shi Si Ming) chaos started. General Gao led armies to fight in capital Chang An and moved toward east Henan province to fight An Lu Shan. But general Gao failed in Tong Guan county, Shanxi province, and under a false charge was executed by emperor Tang Xuan Zong. In 756 AD, Cen Cen returned back to Chang An. Cen Cen was a great charismatic man, patriotic and heroic, with a great ability in depicting the border and the Silk Road. He was admired by his contemporary Du Fu, and Soong dynasty’s Lu You. Wu Kong as a Fictional and Real Figure In 751, Wu Kong followed the group passing Silk Road north to be ambassador to India. Wu Kong is a Tang dynasty real figure, and monk.

This Tang real ambassador to India figure became Ming dynasty’s ‘the Journey to the West’ Monkey King fictional figure. The fictional figure made him more famous, so we are interested in the real life story. According to historical documents, Wu Kong was the last Tang Dynasty monk to travel to the west to find scriptures. Nationalist Zhu on the non-Han race Generals with appreciation because they had dedicated their service and bravery in assisting the central government to have sovereignty and believed that China should co-exist with all minorities.