Figures of Taoism: Cui Shi 崔湜

Cui Shi (671~710) was a scholar of the Tang Dynasty. He was born in Anxi, Dingzhou (present-day Anguo County, Hebei Province).

He was known for his literary talent from a young age. He passed the imperial examination and held successive positions such as Kaogong Yuanwailang (Vice Director of the Personnel Assessment Department), Zhongshu Sheren (Palace Secretary), and Taizi Zhanshi (Administrator of the Crown Prince's Office). He privately attached himself to Princess Taiping. Later, he was promoted to Zhongshu Menxia (a key central government post) with the rank of Sanpin (third grade). He was eventually given death for the crime of plotting rebellion.

Philosophically, he leaned toward Taoism and developed Laozi's view of eliminating excess and extremity, asserting that "overly advancing leads to harm, and fullness leads to deficiency" (Ye Liao Fu [Ode to Wild Fire]). Taking the flame from rising to extinguishing as an example, he illustrated the idea that things turn to their opposites when they reach the extreme: "When the flame burns most intensely and reaches the peak, its path is exhausted and its power is destroyed; the blazing fire is reduced to ashes, extinguished into smoke and embers" (ibid.). He sought to avoid the fate of the fire being extinguished into ashes, advocating that things should not develop to the extreme. He said, "All things abhor excess, and fire is no exception. Gaining lies here, and losing also lies here" (ibid.), believing that when a thing reaches its peak, it is both the height of gain and the starting point of loss—which is what he meant by "gaining lies here, and losing also lies here".

He regarded power and influence as a flame that would inevitably be extinguished, holding that standing high must lead to danger. He described the time when power was at its peak: "When staying at home, one has bells struck and tripods displayed; when going out, one is accompanied by long halberds and banners. With a snap of the fingers, frost falls in summer; with a glance, rotten grass grows in winter. On the road, many bow down at the sight of the dust [raised by his carriage]; in the court, people expect [his influence] to turn the sun" (ibid.).

He believed that such supreme power would soon turn to its opposite: "Some are humiliated and their reputations ruined; some are dispirited and their wills broken; some lose the power of a minister in the morning, and some become an ordinary commoner in the evening. Guests gradually drift away and leave in large numbers; although friends are sought, they have already severed ties. The tall gate is overshadowed by clusters of sparrows; the winding pond is reduced to the ruts where fish dry up. The blazing flame cannot be contained, and it is naturally extinguished as it burns fiercely" (ibid.).

Although he talked extensively about guarding against excess and warning against fullness, he was actually insatiably greedy: "Cui Shi's virtue was far inferior to that of his ancestors. He thought power could be relied on and that advancing would bring no harm. Even when he reached the highest position among officials, his heart was never satisfied" (Old Book of Tang·Biography of Cui Shi with the historian's comment attached).

His biography can be found in Volume 74 of Old Book of Tang and Volume 99 of New Book of Tang. He participated in the compilation of San Jiao Zhu Ying (a comprehensive work on Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism). His works are included in Volume 280 of Complete Prose of Tang.