Cen Wenben (595 – May 10, 645[1]), courtesy name Jingren, posthumously known as Viscount Xian of Jiangling, was a Chinese historian and politician who served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Taizong in the Tang dynasty.
His father, Cen Zhixiang (岑之象), served as a magistrate of Handan County late in the Sui dynasty.
Cen Wenben, who was already talented in writing and was calm and dexterious in his actions, went to the ministry of justice to proclaim his father's innocence and, when questioned, was able to answer and explain clearly.
Xiao Xi established his capital at Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), and he summoned Cen Wenben to serve as Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).
In 621, when the Tang dynasty general Li Xiaogong (a nephew of Emperor Gaozu, the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty) attacked Liang and put Jiangling under siege, Cen suggested to Xiao Xi that he surrendered, and Xiao Xi did so.
As Li Xiaogong was then put in charge of the former Liang capital, he invited Cen to serve on his staff.
On one occasion when Emperor Taizong carried out a field-tilling ceremony (to show ceremonial attention to farming), Cen wrote an ode to field-tilling, and on one New Year's Day when Emperor Taizong summoned the imperial officials to a feast, Cen wrote an ode to New Year's Day.
In 644, when Emperor Taizong, at an imperial gathering, stated to his key officials their strengths and weaknesses, he spoke, with regard to Cen: Later that year, he was made the head of the legislative bureau, but he rejected all attempts to congratulate him, stating "I will only receive condolences, not congratulations.
"[This quote needs a citation] When people suggested to him that he spend more time managing his properties, Cen responded: I was only a plain-clothed man from the South, and I walked into the Guanzhong (i.e., Chang'an) region on my own feet.
Emperor Taizong thus changed his mind, keeping Cen Wenzhao in the capital after summoning him and rebuking him.
Emperor Taizong saw that he was speaking in ways that were unusual for him, and became worried, stating, "Cen Wenben came on this campaign with me, but I am afraid he will not return with me."