Cui clan of Boling

Cui clan of Boling(博陵崔氏) is a notable Chinese family belonging to nobility that had been politically active from the Han dynasty toward the end of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The clan shares a common origin with Cui clan of Qinghe. The founder of Cui clan of Boling Cui Zhongmou(崔仲牟)'s elder brother Cui Ye(崔業) is the founder of Cui clan of Qinghe. Their father Jizi(季子) thus becomes the common ancestor of these two clans. The Boling Cui clan traditionally lived in Boling commandery. Members of this clan was active in the court of Han dynasty. Although there are several famous Confucianists from this clan, they did not seize significant political influence until the late Six dynasties. During Sui dynasty and the following Tang dynasty, the clan became extremely influential. When Emperor Taizong of Tang asked his minister which was the most influential family of his time, the minister responded that it was Cui clan of Boling. The emperor was enraged because he thought the royal family should be the most prestigious one. In total, there were 15 top chancellors of China appointed out of this clan during the Tang era. 1 chancellor was appointed from this clan in Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. After Song dynasty was established, the Cui clan of Boling's situation was unknown. Historians did not keep further records of this clan during Song dynasty. It is clear that most noble families Of China suffered from the wars during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and many of them, after the wars were ended, never appeared in the historian's book again.