Cui Dunli

Cui Dunli (崔敦禮) (596 – August 29, 656), né Cui Yuanli (崔元禮), courtesy name Anshang (安上), formally Duke Zhao of Gu'an (固安昭公), was an official, general, and diplomat of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.

Cui Dunli was born in 596, originally named Cui Yuanli, His family was from the "The second house of Boling" of the prominent Cui clan of Boling,although by the end of Northern Wei it had already relocated to Yong Prefecture (雍州, roughly modern Xi'an, Shaanxi). Cui Dunli's grandfather Cui Zhongfang (崔仲方) served as the minister of ceremonies during Sui Dynasty. It was said that Cui studied biographies and had sought to keep himself faithful and righteous.

During the reign of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu, Cui Dunli served as a mid-low-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). It was said that he was skillful with his words and always acted appropriately, so much so that people were intimidated when they saw him. It was during Emperor Gaozu's reign that Emperor Gaozu changed his name from the original Yuanli to Dunli, although the reason was not stated in historical records.

In 626, Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, locked in an intense sibling rivalry with his older brother and Emperor Gaozu's oldest son, Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince, killed Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji the Prince of Qi at the Incident at Xuanwu Gate and effectively seized power. Emperor Gaozu's distant nephew Li Yuan (李瑗, different character than Emperor Gaozu's name) the Prince of Lujiang, who was then commandant at You Prefecture (幽州, roughly modern Beijing), was an ally of Li Jiancheng's, and when Li Shimin sent Cui to You Prefecture to summon Li Yuan to the capital Chang'an. Li Yuan became fearful, and at the instigation of his deputy Wang Junkuo (王君廓) started a rebellion. He seized Cui and tried to force Cui to reveal military secrets of the imperial army, but Cui refused. Soon, Wang himself rebelled against Li Yuan and seized him, surrendering to the imperial forces. Upon Cui's return to Chang'an, Li Shimin made him a commander of the imperial guards and awarded him with gold and good horse(s).

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