Zhou Chi

Life

Zhou passed the jinshi examination in 822, during Emperor Muzong’s Changqing era, and was appointed Patrol Officer at the Hunan Military Commission, Investigating Censor, and Academician of the Jixian Palace. By 830 he was serving as the prefect of Wu'an; toward the end of Wenzong’s Taihe era, he was promoted to Qiju Sheren and Kaogong Yuanwailang. In 837 he became a drafter of imperial edicts and a Hanlin Academician; in 838 he became Zhifang Langzhong, and in 839 was formally appointed a Secretariat Drafter.

Under Wuzong, he became Vice Minister of Works and was sent out as prefect of Huazhou; he also held the posts of Tongguan Defense Commissioner and E-Yue Circuit Observer. His prefectural appointments included Huayin, Hongzhou, Lingchang, and Zitong, while his circuit-observer appointments are variously given as Jiangxi, Jiangnan West, and Jiangnan East. At the beginning of Dazhong he became Military Governor of Yicheng, was created Baron of Runan, and, after flogging a veteran general who disobeyed orders, brought the army under firm discipline.

Under Xuanzong, his entry into the central government is dated either to the beginning of Dazhong or to its second year. He was recalled as Vice Minister of War, placed in charge of the Bureau of Revenue, promoted to Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and then made Vice Director of the Secretariat; he also held the rank of Silver-Green Grand Master for Glorious Happiness, supervised the compilation of the national histories, and concurrently served as Minister of Justice. After Tibet returned three prefectures and seven passes, Xuanzong summoned the chancellors to discuss the Hehuang region. Zhou’s response did not accord with the emperor’s wishes; he was removed and appointed Military Governor of Jiannan Dongchuan, but before taking up the post was made an honorary Right Pushe. Zhou died in office in 851, the fifth year of Dazhong, aged 59; the date is given as 23 March. He died at Chengdu Prefecture, was buried at Heyang in 852, and was posthumously granted the title Situ.

Family

Zhou Chi’s father was Zhou Ting (d. 815). His sons were Zhou Kuanrao, Zhou Xianxi, Zhou Chenggui, and Zhou Chengju (all d. 889); his son-in-law was Xue Meng (d. 878).

Literary work and associations

Zhou wrote in ancient prose, was learned in history, and was highly regarded by Wenzong; he is also identified as a poet and calligrapher. The Quan Tang Shi preserves two of his poems, and the Quan Tang Shi Xu Shi adds one preface to a poem.

Zhou sent poems and prose to Wang Qi and Li Jingrang; he received such gifts from Li Shangyin, Ge Lao, Lu Zhao, Zhang Hu, Chen Tao, Meng Ning, Gao Tuizhi, Huang Po, Li Qian, and Meng Qiu. He also received them from Tang Siyan, Wang Shenyi, Ding Leng, Shi Guan, Zhang Daofu, Pei Fan, and Cui Xuan. Li Xuangu, Kuai Xiyi, Fan Xiang, Lin Zi, Liu Geng, Qiu Shangqing, and Jin Houzai likewise sent him poems and prose.