Zheng Congdang

Zheng Congdang (鄭從讜) (died 887?), courtesy name Zhengqiu (正求), was an official of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor twice during the reign of Emperor Xizong. Background and early career It is not known when Zheng Congdang was born. His family claimed ancestry from the ruling house of the Spring and Autumn period state Zheng, and his grandfather Zheng Yuqing served as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Dezong and Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong. Zheng Congdang's father Zheng Guan (鄭澣) was himself a long-time imperial official, although he was never chancellor, dying while serving as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) in 839 at the age of 63. Zheng Congdang had three older brothers, Zheng Yunmo (鄭允謨), Zheng Maoxiu (鄭茂休), and Zheng Chuhui (鄭處誨), each of whom served in the imperial government as well. (A third cousin, Zheng Yanchang, would be a future chancellor.) Zheng Congdang himself passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class in 842, during the reign of Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wuzong. He started as his governmental career as a copyeditor (校書郎) at the Palace Library, and thereafter served as an advisory official, and then a supervisory official at the executive bureau of government (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), eventually becoming responsible for drafting edicts. As the chancellors Linghu Tao and Wei Fu both passed the imperial examinations while Zheng Guan oversaw the imperial examinations, they both felt indebted to Zheng Congdang and thus enhanced Zheng Congdang's reputation. As a result, Zheng was subsequently promoted to Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). During Emperor Yizong's reign In 862, by which time Emperor Wuzong's cousin Emperor Yizong was emperor, Zheng Congdang was made deputy minister of rites (禮部侍郎, Lǐbu Shilang) and put in charge of the imperial examinations. He was later made deputy minister of justice (刑部侍郎, Xingbu Shilang) and then deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Lìbu Shilang, note different tone).