Zheng Congdang

Zheng Congdang (鄭從讜) (died 887?), courtesy name Zhengqiu (正求), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, twice serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong.

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).

...
Wikipedia