Background

It is not known when Cui Yuanzong was born, but it is known that his family was from Zheng Prefecture (鄭州, roughly modern Zhengzhou, Henan), and that his clan had produced many officials throughout the Northern Wei, the Northern Zhou, and the Tang's predecessor, the Sui dynasty. His grandfather Cui Junsu (崔君肅) as a mid-level official under the Tang dynasty's founder Emperor Gaozu.

During Wu Zetians reign

As of Wu Zetian's Tianshou era (690-692), Cui Yuanzong was serving as the minister of justice (秋官尚書, Qiuguan Shangshu). In 692, Wu Zetian made him Luantai Shilang (鸞臺侍郎), the deputy head of the examination bureau of government (鸞臺, Luantai), and gave him the designation Tong Fengge Luantai Pingzhangshi (同鳳閣鸞臺平章事), making him a chancellor de facto. It was said that Cui was diligent while serving in office, and whenever he was on duty, he would stay late and take few breaks. He was also said to be careful in his actions and did not have any gourmet foods for over 20 years. However, he was also said to be, while appearing to be lenient on the outside, actually very harsh as a judge, and he picked faults with people and gave them heavy punishments, and therefore was feared. In 694, he was accused of crimes and exiled to Zhen Prefecture (振州, roughly modern Sanya, Hainan), and it was said that there was much rejoicing among other officials of his exile. At a later point, after a general pardon, he was recalled and served as imperial censor (監察御史, Jiancha Yushi).

During Emperor Zhongzongs reign

Wu Zetian was overthrown in a coup in 705, and her son Li Xian, formerly emperor, was restored to the throne (as Emperor Zhongzong). During Emperor Zhongzong's reign, Cui successively served as Shangshu Zuo Cheng (尚書左丞) -- a secretary general of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and as the prefect of Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), before retiring on account of age and illness. After retirement, he was said to be much involved in Taoist alchemist practices to try to prolong life. He lived to his 90s, but the date of his death is not known.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 90.https://web.archive.org/web/20071011103738/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/tan10.htm

• New Book of Tang, vol. 114.https://web.archive.org/web/20071011093344/http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/ntan15.htm

• Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 205.

家世

崔元綜出自于清河崔氏定著六房之一的鄭州崔氏，曾祖父崔君肅在唐高祖年間為黃門侍郎、鴻臚卿、秦王府長史、使持節襄州諸軍事、襄州刺史。祖父崔思約，和州刺史。父崔哲，任太原祁縣令，贈國子司業，武周年間為中大夫行并州盂縣令。

武則天年間

武則天天授年間（690年 - 692年），崔元綜累轉秋官侍郎。如意元年（692年）八月，武則天任他為鸞臺侍郎，授同鳳閣鸞臺平章事，為實質宰相。崔元綜為政勤勉，經常工作到很遲，幾乎不休息。他行事謹慎，二十餘年不享用美食大餐。但他外表寬容，內心嚴酷，對人們吹毛求疵課以重罰，人們因此畏懼且鄙視他。次年（693年）八月，他被彈劾有罪，流放振州，朝野都為此歡欣鼓舞。不久他被赦免，被召回任監察御史。

唐中宗年間

神龍元年（705年），武則天被政變推翻，她曾登基為帝的兒子李顯複闢，即唐中宗。唐中宗年間，崔元綜任尚書左丞，唐睿宗景雲二年（711年）六月，任蒲州都督，不久因老病而致仕。退休後，他學習道家的鍊金術，以求延年益壽。他活到九十餘歲，但卒年不詳。

軼聞

《定命錄》有兩則崔元綜的故事：

1.崔元綜曾任益州參軍，想結婚，已經定了吉日，忽然夢見有人對他說：「這家的女子不是你的妻子，你的妻子今天才出生。」他便在夢中隨此人來到洛陽履信坊十字街西道北的一戶人家，進到室內的東屋旁，看到一個婦女正好生了一個女兒，那人說：「這才是你的妻子。」崔元綜驚醒，不相信。這時傳來消息，他正要娶的女子暴亡。崔元綜直到五十八歲官居四品才娶了侍郎韋陟十九歲的堂妹。韋氏雖然覺得崔元綜年紀大，但還是嫁給了他，就在履信坊韋家宅院成親，新娘子原來果然是住在東屋的。推算起來，她出生的年月，正是崔元綜做夢的那一天，崔元綜後來官至三品官，活到九十歲。韋夫人與他白頭偕老，共同生活四十年，享盡了榮華富貴。

2.武則天年間，崔元綜官至宰相，令史奚三兒說：「您六十天以內要被流放到南海；六年之中有三次該死，但最終不會死。從這以後，你將更換官職，最後還會官複原職，壽數是一百歲，最終要餓死。」經過六十天，果然獲罪被流放到南海以南，幾年後得了血痢病，病了百日，病情極為危重卻沒有死。遇赦回京，乘船渡海遭遇大風浪，船被淹沒，一同乘船的人都死了，只有崔元綜一個人抱住一塊木板，隨波漂蕩，忽上忽下，漂泊到一個小島上，進入蘆葦叢。他抱的木板上有一個大釘子，正好從脊背扎進身體數寸，木板壓在釘子上，他只能在泥水中晝夜忍痛呻吟罷了。這時忽然有一船人來到這個島上，聽到呻吟聲，出于可憐把他救起來扶著上了船，並給他止血拔釘，很長時間才甦醒過來。盤問他的姓名，他說是原來的宰相，眾人更可憐他並給他糧食，他一路討飯吃。有一天他正在船上躺著，看見一個穿青綠色衣服的官員，他認出那官員是他當宰相時的令史，便招呼官員和自己說話，那官員又給他一些糧食，他才得以回到京城。六年以後，收錄司回來，選曹司把原宰相情況上奏，武則天下令破格給崔元綜官職。等到進宮拜謝那天，他被帶到殿堂上問話，因崔元綜穿著青綠色的衣服，則天見到後認出來曾見過，問他得到什麼官職，他就把實情說了。武則天下詔吏部，令任命崔元綜為赤尉。又等到進宮拜謝那天，武則天又特敕任他為御史。以後，他從御史做到郎官，多次升遷直到當了中書侍郎。他九十九歲時，子侄都死了，只有獨身一人病臥在床上，喚奴婢拿飯粥，奴婢們欺他年老病重，都笑而不動。崔元綜已沒有能力責罰他們了，他們也都受不到處分。崔元綜感嘆氣憤之下不吃東西，幾天後死了。

評價

• 《舊唐書》

　• 則天時，宰相又有張光輔、史務滋、崔元綜、周允元等，並有名績。

　• 史臣曰：豆盧欽望、張光輔、史務滋、崔元綜、周允元等，或有片言，非無小善，登于大用，可謂具臣。

子孫

• 子：崔志廉，銀青光祿大夫、太子左庶子，歷任洺、魏、襄、澤、仙等五州刺史。

　• 孫：崔傑，14歲以五經擢第，20歲補授太子校書。歷任棣王府法曹、信王府士曹。天寶十一載（752年）終于東都洛陽，年五十一。

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