[1]Name and datesThe English name is Mao Cheng; the birth year is disputed between 1460 and 1461, while the death year is 1523.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The main entry gives the name Mao Cheng, birth year 1461, and death year 1523.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The profile and biographies identify Mao Cheng and give 1523 as the death year; the biographies differ between 1461 and 1460 for the birth year.
WikidataCheng Mao (Q11127685)The English label is Cheng Mao, the aliases include Mao Cheng, and the date claims give 1460 as the birth year and 1523 as the death year.
[2]Rank and officeMao Cheng was a Ming-dynasty zhuangyuan and rose to become Minister of Rites.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The entry identifies him with the Ming, places him first in the first rank of the examination, and lists Minister of Rites.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The profile and biography identify him as a Ming-dynasty zhuangyuan who reached the office of Minister of Rites.
[3]Courtesy name and styleHis courtesy name was Xianqing, with variant written forms, his style was Baizhai, and he later used Sanjiang.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The name entries list Sanjiang, Xianqing in two written forms, and Baizhai, identifying the Xianqing forms as the courtesy name.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biography gives Xianqing and Baizhai and says that he adopted Sanjiang in later life.
WikidataCheng Mao (Q11127685)The traditional-character name list includes the Xianqing variants, Baizhai, and Sanjiang.
[4]HometownHe came from Kunshan County in Suzhou Prefecture, Zhili, now Kunshan in Jiangsu.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The address entries identify Kunshan as both his native place and household registration place.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The profile and biographies place him in Kunshan County, now part of Jiangsu.
[5]Early familyMao Cheng lost his father early and was raised by his grandfather Mao Bi; his father was Mao Sheng, his mother Lady Fan, and his great-grandfather Mao Bozhen.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biography says that he lost his father young and was raised by his grandfather Mao Bi.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The kinship list names Mao Bozhen as great-grandfather, Mao Bi as grandfather, Mao Sheng as father, and Lady Fan as mother.
[6]Immediate familyHe had two elder brothers, two younger brothers, a wife surnamed Xu, two sons, and one grandson.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The kinship list gives the names and relationships of his brothers, wife, sons, and grandson.
[7]ExaminationHe became the first-ranked jinshi of the guichou examination in the sixth year of Hongzhi and thus the zhuangyuan.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The examination entries identify him as a jinshi ranked first in the first class.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biographies place his jinshi success in the sixth year of Hongzhi, with one specifying the guichou first-place examination.
[8]Educational qualifications and first appointmentHe was also listed with provincial recommended-candidate and shengyuan qualifications, then became a Hanlin Academy Xiuzhuan, helped compile the Ming Huidian, and served as an imperial lecturer.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The examination and school entries list a provincial recommended candidate and a shengyuan, while the appointments list Hanlin Academy Xiuzhuan.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biographies describe his appointment as Xiuzhuan, work on the Ming Huidian, and service as an imperial lecturer.
[9]Career appointmentsHis career encompassed Eastern Palace, Hanlin, Classics Mat, examination, instructional, compiling, deputy, and tribute-examination posts.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The appointment list contains the Eastern Palace, Hanlin, Classics Mat, examination, instructional, compiling, deputy envoy, deputy chief compiler, and tribute-examination posts named here.
[10]Zhengde careerAfter the accession of Wuzong, Mao Cheng was promoted, demoted through Liu Jin's accusation, restored to scholarly posts, and eventually became Minister of Rites.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biography gives the promotion after Wuzong's accession, Liu Jin's accusation, the demotion to Shidu, subsequent Hanlin promotions, and the 1517 appointment as Minister of Rites.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The appointment list includes Left Shuzi, Shidu, Shijiang Xueshi, Hanlin Xueshi, the two Vice Ministers of Rites, and Minister of Rites from 1517 to 1523.
[11]Additional titlesHis appointments also included Shaobao, Shaofu, Taizi Shaobao, and Taizi Taifu.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The appointment list contains Shaobao, Shaofu, Taizi Shaobao, and Taizi Taifu.
[12]Southern tour and temple nameMao Cheng opposed Wuzong's southern tour and helped establish the temple name Wuzong after the emperor's death.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biography describes the 1519 southern-tour remonstrance, the 1521 death at the Leopard House without an heir, and the establishment of the temple name Wuzong.
[13]Accession and Great Rites ControversyAfter Wuzong's death, Mao Cheng helped bring Zhu Houcong to the throne and opposed granting an imperial title to the Xingxian emperor.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biography names the party that went to Anlu to welcome Zhu Houcong and describes the dispute over titles for his biological parents, known as the Great Rites Controversy.
[14]Retirement, death, and posthumous nameMao Cheng was bribed unsuccessfully, petitioned to retire because of illness, died on the way to Taicang, and received the posthumous name Wenjian; he was also respected and feared by Shizong.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biographies describe the eunuch's entreaty and bribe, Mao Cheng's repeated requests for retirement and retention, his 1523 retirement and death on the road to Taicang, his frank and unyielding remonstrance, and the respect and apprehension he inspired.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The address entry gives Xingji as the place of death, the name entry gives Wenjian as the posthumous name, and the status entry also marks illness-related dismissal.
[15]Epitaphs and biographiesMao Cheng wrote epitaphs, a spirit-way stele, and a biography for named contemporaries.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The association entries list epitaphs for Lin Yue, Guo Dongshan, Yang Jun, Yu Chen, and Liu Pu, a spirit-way stele for Sun Ming, and a biography for Shao Bao.
[16]Sacrificial textsHe wrote sacrificial texts for Luo Qinshun, Wang Tongzu, Mao Xian, and Chai Qi.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The association entries list sacrificial texts for Luo Qinshun, Wang Tongzu, Mao Xian, and Chai Qi.
[17]Postscripts and correspondenceMao Cheng wrote postscripts for Luo Qi's books and paintings, gave Lin Jun a farewell poem and preface, and sent a letter to Yang Lian.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The association entries list postscripts for Luo Qi's books and paintings, a farewell poem and preface received by Lin Jun, and a letter sent to Yang Lian.
[18]WritingsHis writings include Mao Wenjian ji in two juan and several other associated titles.
Souyun毛澄 (50604)The biography explicitly names Mao Wenjian ji.
CBDBMao Cheng (68094)The associated titles include Tongjian zuanyao, Leigao (Mao Cheng) in eighteen juan, Mao Wenjian ji in two juan, and Shengjia Lin'yong lu in one juan.
CBDB
