Deng Chuna
Encyclopedia
Deng Chuna (died 894), courtesy name Chongyun (沖韞), was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who controlled Wu'an Circuit
(武安, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan
) as its military governor (Jiedushi
) from 893 to 894, when he was defeated and killed by Liu Jianfeng
, who took over the circuit.
Background and service under Min Xu
It is not known when Deng Chuna was born, but it is known that he was from Shao Prefecture (邵州, in modern Shaoyang
, Hunan
). In his youth, he became a soldier under Min Xu
, an officer from Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang
, Jiangxi
), on a deployment to Annan (安南, i.e., modern northern Vietnam
). In 881
, when Min and his soldiers were returning from Annan, they went through Tan Prefecture (潭州, in modern Changsha, Hunan
), and Min expelled the governor of Hunan Circuit (湖南, headquartered at Tan Prefecture) and took over the circuit. Min thereafter claimed the title of acting governor and made Deng the prefect of Shao Prefecture.
Takeover of Wu'an
In 886
, when Tan Prefecture was under attack by Zhou Yue
the prefect of Heng Prefecture (衡州, in modern Hengyang
, Hunan
), Min Xu welcomed one Huang Hao (黃皓), an officer under Qin Zongquan, who had declared himself emperor of a new state centered around Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian
, Henan
), to help him defend against Zhou's attack. Once inside the city walls of Tan Prefecture, however, Huang assassinated Min. Zhou subsequently defeated and killed Huang, and took over the circuit (which had been renamed Qinhua Circuit
by that point), eventually being commissioned as its military governor (Jiedushi
).
Hearing of Min's death and blaming Zhou for it, Deng Chuna mourned Min bitterly, and stated to his officers:
The officers agreed with him. He trained his forces for seven years, and, in 893
, in alliance with Lei Man
the prefect of Lang Prefecture (朗州, in modern Changde
, Hunan
), attacked Tan Prefecture. He captured it and executed Zhou, claiming for himself the title of acting military governor of Wu'an Circuit
(as Qinhua had been renamed Wu'an by that point). In spring 894
, then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong
commissioned him full military governor.
and Ma Yin
approached Wu'an. Deng sent his officers Jiang Xun (蔣勛) and Deng Jichong (鄧繼崇) with the Shao Prefecture troops to resist the attack at Longhui Pass (龍回關, in modern Shaoyang). Ma persuaded Jiang and Deng Jichong that Liu's success was prophesied and irresistible, and they disbanded their army. Ma took over the uniforms they wore and headed directly for Tan Prefecture. The Tan Prefecture defense forces, believing that these were soldiers from Shao Prefecture, took no precautions. Ma marched directly into the city and the circuit headquarters, capturing Deng Chuna, who was holding a feast, and executed him, allowing Liu to take over the circuit.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, who controlled Wu'an Circuit
Wu'an Circuit
Wu'an Circuit was a circuit of China during the Tang dynasty.It was formed by the expansion and renaming of the Qinhua Circuit.-See also:* Tang dynasty* History of the administrative subdivisions of China...
(武安, headquartered in modern Changsha, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
) as its military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) from 893 to 894, when he was defeated and killed by Liu Jianfeng
Liu Jianfeng
Liu Jianfeng , courtesy name Ruiduan , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Wu'an Circuit from 894 to his death in 896.- Background :...
, who took over the circuit.
Background and service under Min XuMin XuMin Xu , courtesy name Gongjin , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled a substantial part, as well as Tan Prefecture , the capital of Hunan Circuit , first as its governor and then as the military governor , from 882 to 886...
It is not known when Deng Chuna was born, but it is known that he was from Shao Prefecture (邵州, in modern ShaoyangShaoyang
-Administrative divisions:*Shuangqing District *Daxiang District *Beita District *Wugang City *Shaodong County *Shaoyang County *Xinshao County *Longhui County *Dongkou County *Suining County...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
). In his youth, he became a soldier under Min Xu
Min Xu
Min Xu , courtesy name Gongjin , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled a substantial part, as well as Tan Prefecture , the capital of Hunan Circuit , first as its governor and then as the military governor , from 882 to 886...
, an officer from Jiangxi Circuit (江西, headquartered in modern Nanchang
Nanchang
Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
), on a deployment to Annan (安南, i.e., modern northern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
). In 881
881
Year 881 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Charles the Fat is crowned Western Emperor.* Battle of Saucourt-en-Vimeu: Louis III of France routs Norman pirates....
, when Min and his soldiers were returning from Annan, they went through Tan Prefecture (潭州, in modern Changsha, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
), and Min expelled the governor of Hunan Circuit (湖南, headquartered at Tan Prefecture) and took over the circuit. Min thereafter claimed the title of acting governor and made Deng the prefect of Shao Prefecture.
Takeover of Wu'anWu'an CircuitWu'an Circuit was a circuit of China during the Tang dynasty.It was formed by the expansion and renaming of the Qinhua Circuit.-See also:* Tang dynasty* History of the administrative subdivisions of China...
In 886886
Year 886 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :...
, when Tan Prefecture was under attack by Zhou Yue
Zhou Yue
Zhou Yue , courtesy name Junzhao , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Wu'an Circuit from 886 to 893.- Background and takeover of Heng Prefecture :...
the prefect of Heng Prefecture (衡州, in modern Hengyang
Hengyang
Hengyang is the second largest city of China's Hunan Province. It straddles the Xiang River about 160 km south of Changsha.-History:Its former name was Hengzhou . This was the capital of a prefecture in the Tang Dynasty's Jiangnan and West Jiangnan circuits...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
), Min Xu welcomed one Huang Hao (黃皓), an officer under Qin Zongquan, who had declared himself emperor of a new state centered around Cai Prefecture (蔡州, in modern Zhumadian
Zhumadian
Zhumadian is a prefecture-level city in southern Henan province, People's Republic of China. It borders Xinyang to the south, Nanyang to the west, Pingdingshan to the northwest, Luohe to the north, Zhoukou to the northeast, and the province of Anhui to the east.Its population is 7,230,744 at the...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), to help him defend against Zhou's attack. Once inside the city walls of Tan Prefecture, however, Huang assassinated Min. Zhou subsequently defeated and killed Huang, and took over the circuit (which had been renamed Qinhua Circuit
Qinhua Circuit
Qinhua Circuit was a military governor–level circuit of China during the Tang Dynasty. Its capital was Tanzhou .-History:Qinhua Circuit was a promotion of the earlier Hunan Circuit for Min Xu...
by that point), eventually being commissioned as its military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
).
Hearing of Min's death and blaming Zhou for it, Deng Chuna mourned Min bitterly, and stated to his officers:
The officers agreed with him. He trained his forces for seven years, and, in 893
893
Year 893 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Council of Preslav: Simeon I succeeds Vladimir as prince of Bulgaria; the capital is moved from Pliska to Preslav....
, in alliance with Lei Man
Lei Man
Lei Man , courtesy name Bingren , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who seized control of Lang Prefecture in 881 and controlled it and the surrounding region to accommodate him, who was made military governor until his death in 901...
the prefect of Lang Prefecture (朗州, in modern Changde
Changde
Changde is a city in the north of Hunan Province, China, with a population of 5,717,218 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 1,232,182 in the built up area made of 2 urban districts .-History:...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
), attacked Tan Prefecture. He captured it and executed Zhou, claiming for himself the title of acting military governor of Wu'an Circuit
Wu'an Circuit
Wu'an Circuit was a circuit of China during the Tang dynasty.It was formed by the expansion and renaming of the Qinhua Circuit.-See also:* Tang dynasty* History of the administrative subdivisions of China...
(as Qinhua had been renamed Wu'an by that point). In spring 894
894
Year 894 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Northumbrians and East Angles swear allegiance to Alfred the Great, but promptly break their truce by attacking the south-west of England.* Mojmír II becomes King of Great Moravia after the death of his father...
, then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang
Emperor Zhaozong of Tang , né Li Jie , name later changed to Li Min , yet later name changed to Li Ye , was the penultimate emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China. He reigned from 888 to 904...
commissioned him full military governor.
defeat and death
However, later that year, an army commanded by Liu JianfengLiu Jianfeng
Liu Jianfeng , courtesy name Ruiduan , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Wu'an Circuit from 894 to his death in 896.- Background :...
and Ma Yin
Ma Yin
Ma Yin , courtesy name Batu , formally King Wumu of Chu , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who became the first ruler of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Chu and the only one who carried the title of "king." He initially took control of the Changsha region in...
approached Wu'an. Deng sent his officers Jiang Xun (蔣勛) and Deng Jichong (鄧繼崇) with the Shao Prefecture troops to resist the attack at Longhui Pass (龍回關, in modern Shaoyang). Ma persuaded Jiang and Deng Jichong that Liu's success was prophesied and irresistible, and they disbanded their army. Ma took over the uniforms they wore and headed directly for Tan Prefecture. The Tan Prefecture defense forces, believing that these were soldiers from Shao Prefecture, took no precautions. Ma marched directly into the city and the circuit headquarters, capturing Deng Chuna, who was holding a feast, and executed him, allowing Liu to take over the circuit.