Tan Goan-kong

{{short description|Tang Chinese general and official}} {{distinguish|Chen Guangyuan}} {{family name hatnote|[[Chen (surname)|Tan]]|lang=Chinese}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Chen Yuanguang | native_name = 陳元光 | native_name_lang = | image = Chisuntemple2.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = The [[Chih Shan Yen Hui Chi Temple|Zhishanyan Huijigong Temple]] in [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]]. This temple is dedicated to the "Sacred Prince, Developer of [[Zhangzhou]]," Chen Yuanguang | order = | office = | alongside =  | monarch = | governor_general = | governor = | predecessor = | successor = | prior_term = | birth_date = 657 | birth_place = [[Gushi County]], [[Henan]] | death_date = 711 | death_place = | citizenship = | party = | other_party =  | partner =  | relations = | children = | parents = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | known_for = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | awards =  | signature = | signature_alt = | website =  | nickname = | allegiance = | branch = | rank = | unit = | commands = | battles = | mawards =   | module = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes|t=陳元光|s=陈��光|p=Chén Yuánguāng|poj=Tân Goân-kong}} }} '''Chen Yuanguang''' ({{lang-zh|c=陳元光|p=Chén Yuánguāng|poj=Tân Goân-kong}}; 657–711), [[courtesy name]] '''Tingju''' ({{lang-zh|c=廷炬|p=Tíngjù}}), [[Art name|pseudonym]] '''Longhu''' ({{lang-zh|c=龍湖|p=Lónghú|labels=no}}), was a [[Tang dynasty]] general and official. He was from [[Gushi County]], [[Henan]]. The people of [[Zhangzhou]], [[Fujian]], along with the descendants of immigrants from Zhangzhou to [[Taiwan]], [[Singapore]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Malaysia]], all refer to him as the "Sacred Duke, Founder of Zhangzhou" ({{lang-zh|t=開漳聖王|p=Kāi Zhāng shèngwáng|poj= Khai Chiang Sèng-ông|labels=no}}).

==Joining the army== At the age of 13, he accompanied his father [[Chen Zheng (Tang dynasty)|Chen Zheng]] ({{lang-zh|t=陳政|s=陈政|p=Chén Zhèng}}), commander of the Southern China military expeditionary force,<ref>{{lang-zh|t=嶺南行軍總管|s=岭南行军总管|p=lǐng nán xíngjūn zǒngguǎn}}</ref> on a march to [[Fujian]], for the purpose of setting up a regional administration. In April of the second year of the [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang]] (677), Chen Zheng died in the line of duty, Chen Yuanguang took over his father's duties, and led the troops in place of his father. At this time, the emperor granted him the title "General of the left guard, and jade bell defender of the county seat".<ref>{{lang-zh|t=玉鈴衛翊府左郎將|s=玉铃卫翊府左郎将|p=yù líng wèi yì fǔ zuǒ láng jiàng}}</ref> He then proceeded to quell uprisings by local ruffians such as Chen Qian ({{lang-zh|t=陳謙|s=陈谦|p=Chén Qiān}}) of [[Guangdong]], as well as Miao Zicheng ({{lang-zh|苗自成|Miáo Zìchéng}}) and Lei Wanxing ({{lang-zh|t=雷萬興|s=雷万兴|p=Léi Wànxīng}}), both of whom were leaders of a bandit gang named the "savage colleagues".<ref>{{lang-zh|t=蠻僚|s=蛮僚|p=mán liáo}}</ref> As a result, the southern [[Fujian]] region was pacified, and Chen Yuanguang was promoted to the rank of senior magistrate of upright character,<ref>{{lang-zh|t=正議大夫|s=正议大夫|p=zhèng yì dàifū}}</ref> and granted the title of commander of the Southern China military expeditionary force.

==Settling Zhangzhou== The [[Zhangzhou]] of Chen Yuanguang's time was a place where dozens of various ethnic tribes, known in records by the name "[[She people|She]]", were mixed together with ethnic Han peoples. Chen Yuanguang believed that courtesy trumped the use of military force as a tactic for winning over the local people. In order to strengthen his authority, he submitted an application to the emperor to grant prefecture status to the areas between Zhangzhou and [[Quanzhou]]. In the second year of the [[Emperor Ruizong of Tang]] (686), [[Wu Zetian]] approved the application, and issued a decree which granted permission for the creation of the state of Zhangzhou. Zhangzhou was to have jurisdiction over Zhangpu and Huaien Counties. Wu Zetian also ordered that Chen Yuanguang be given the position of chief magistrate of Zhangzhou,<ref>{{lang-zh|漳州刺史|Zhāngzhōu cìshǐ}}</ref> as well as commissioner of Zhangpu County.<ref>{{lang-zh|t=漳浦縣令|s=漳浦县令|p=Zhāngpǔxiàn lìng}}</ref>

==Pacifying Fujian== After this, Chen Yuanguang established order among the various hamlets, built fortresses, trained troops, and [[Pacification (military action)|pacified]] the border areas. As a result, the entire area, from [[Quanzhou]] in the north to [[Chaozhou]] in the south, and from [[Ganzhou]] in the west to the islands in the [[Taiwan Strait]], became stable and prosperous. He then introduced advanced farming and production techniques to the area, and oversaw the planting of economically sound crops such as rice, flax, sugarcane, bananas, litchis, [[longan]] and flowers.

On November 5, in the second year of the second reign of the [[Emperor Ruizong of Tang]] (711), the children of Miao Zicheng and Lei Wanxing staged a rebellion in Chaozhou, then hid in the high mountains. After Chen Yuanguang heard the news, he led a troop of light cavalry to defend against the rebels. He fought the whole day long, but was killed by the sword of the enemy general, whose name was Lan Fenggao ({{lang-zh|t=藍奉高|s=蓝奉高|p=Lán Fènggāo}}). The people of Zhangzhou were devastated. To them, it was as if a parent had died. Chen Yuanguang was buried at Daqiyuan.<ref>{{lang-zh|大崎原|Dàqíyuán}}) near the Suian River ({{lang-zh|t=綏安溪|s=绥安溪|p=Suíānxī}}) (present day Zhangpu Pantuo Daqi Bay, {{lang-zh|t=漳浦盤陀大崎灣|s=漳浦盘陀大崎湾|p=Zhāngpǔ Pántuó Dàqí wān}})</ref> Later on, his remains were moved to Zhangzhou.

==Respect and admiration from his descendants== Chen Yuanguang's efforts at developing the regions near [[Zhangzhou]] and [[Chaozhou]], received praise from numerous succeeding emperors. In the first year of the [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang]] (712), the emperor granted Chen Yuanguang the title of "the great general, and defender of the leopard scabbard".<ref>{{lang-zh|t=豹韜衛大將軍|s=豹韬卫大将军|p=bào tāo wèi dàjiāngjūn}}</ref> He also gave him the title of "Marquis of Zhangzhou, the serene, loyal, resolute, and beneficent".<ref>{{lang-zh|t=漳侯，謐忠毅文惠|s=漳侯，谧忠毅文惠|p=Zhāng Hóu, mì zhōng yì wén huì}}</ref> Later he also gave him the title "Marquis of the Ying River",<ref>{{lang-zh|t=潁川侯|s=颍川侯|p=Yǐngchuān hóu}}</ref> and ordered a great shrine built in his honor. The [[Emperor Huizong (Song dynasty)|Emperor Huizong of Song]] donated a horizontal inscription which read, "Temple of Awesome Kindness" ({{lang-zh|t=威惠廟|s=威惠庙|p=wēi huì miào}}). The [[Emperor Xiaozong of Song]] granted Chen Yuanguang the title "Defender Prince of [[Guangdong]] and brilliant spirit who accommodates brightness and ferocity".<ref>{{lang-zh|t=靈著順應昭烈廣濟王|s=灵着顺应昭烈广济王|p=líng zhù shùnyìng zhāo liè guǎng jì wáng}}</ref> In the [[Ming dynasty]], his title was again changed, this time to "Marquis of brightness and ferocity".<ref>{{lang-zh|昭烈侯|zhāo liè hóu}}</ref> The people of the Zhangzhou region call him the "Sacred Duke, Founder of Zhangzhou." Temples dedicated to him have proliferated in [[Fujian]], [[Taiwan]] and Southeast Asia. There are more than 100 "Sacred Duke Temples" ({{lang-zh|t=聖王廟|s=圣王庙|p=shèng wáng miào}}) in Zhangpu County alone. There are also more than 100 temples dedicated to Kai Zhang Sheng Wang in [[Taiwan]]. Many people continue to worship at the temples dedicated to him, especially by the Tan (Chen) clans from Hokkien origin worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/po-chiak-keng-only-tans-could-pray-here-before-1982|title=Po Chiak Keng: Only Tans could pray here before 1982|publisher=straitstimes.com|date=2017-02-16|accessdate=2021-01-03}}</ref> In recent years, the Zhangzhou municipal government commemorated Chen Yuanguang by naming one of its main city streets Yuanguang North Road.

==Temples dedicated to Kai Zhang Sheng Wang== * [[Chih Shan Yen Hui Chi Temple]] in [[Shilin District]], [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]] * [[Shengwang Temple]] in [[Changhua City]], [[Changhua County]] [[Taiwan]] * [[Yong'an Temple (Mailiao)|Yong'an Temple]] in [[Mailiao]], [[Yunlin County]], [[Taiwan]] * [[Eng Chuan Tong Tan Kongsi]], [[Penang]], [[Malaysia]] * [[Tan Si Chong Su|Po Chiak Keng (Tan Si Chong Su)]], [[Singapore]]

==Bibliography== * 彭友智, ''非常道: 道教諸神不為人知的故事''

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Chen Yuan Guang}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen Yuanguang}} [[Category:Tang dynasty generals from Henan]] [[Category:657 births]] [[Category:Hokkien Taoism]] [[Category:711 deaths]] [[Category:Politicians from Xinyang]] [[Category:Political office-holders in Fujian]] [[Category:Ancestral shrines in China]] [[Category:Filial piety]] [[Category:Tang dynasty people killed in battle]]