Yuan Mingshan

出自全球本体聚合平台

公开 可引用 更新于 2026-09-13

Life

His father was Yuan Gong (元貢; 1243–1289).[5] He had three sons—Yuan Meng (元蒙), Yuan Hui (元晦), and Yuan Gao (元暠); Yuan Hui died in 1323, and Yuan Gao was born in 1317.[6]

At the age of twenty, he traveled in Wuzhong and, on the recommendation of the Zhejiang Eastern Circuit commissioner, was appointed school principal at Anfeng and Jiankang; the Jiankang appointment is also styled lùxuézhèng.[7] He was later appointed a clerk in the Mobile Privy Council, whose Associate Commissioner Dong Shixuan treated him as an honored guest; he was repeatedly appointed to clerical posts in the central and provincial offices, but was dismissed after a false accusation and took up residence in Huainan.[8] Other career titles included a clerk in the traveling court, a clerk in the Jiangxi Branch Secretariat, Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, Lecturer-Academician of the Hanlin National History Academy, and Academician of that academy.[9]

When Renzong was still crown prince, Yuan was first selected as Junior Erudite of the Eastern Palace[10]; after Renzong’s accession (1311)[11], he successively served as Hanlin Direct Academician, Hanlin daizhi, Direct Academician, drafter of edicts, co-editor of the national history, and Reader-Academician[12], eventually becoming a Hanlin Academician.[13] By imperial command, he rendered into Mongolian the passages of the *Shangshu* concerning affairs of government.[14] In the second year of Yanyou (1315), he became the first chief examiner for the nationwide metropolitan examination of jinshi; at the palace examination he served as reader of the papers, and many of the candidates he selected later became distinguished ministers.[15] During Yanyou he became Minister of Rites, was promoted to participant in the affairs of the Secretariat, and returned to the Hanlin[16]; at the end of the year he was appointed Vice Commissioner of the Huguang Branch Secretariat (the office is also styled *xing zhongshu sheng canzheng*), summoned as Reader-Academician of the Jixian Hall, and advanced to Hanlin Academician.[17]

In the second year of Zhizhi (1322)[18], he died in office at the age of fifty-four.[19] He was posthumously granted the rank of Zishan daifu and Left Assistant of the Henan Branch Secretariat, ennobled as Duke of Qinghe Commandery[20], and given the posthumous name Wenmin.[21]

Scholarship and prose

He could remember a text after reading it once, had studied all the Classics under teachers, and was particularly learned in the *Spring and Autumn*.[22] From early in life he took pride in his prose, working within the tradition of Qin and Han writing; in his later years his attainments grew increasingly refined.[23]

His works include *Qinghe ji* (《清河集》).[24] His writings span prefaces, biographies, epitaphs, spirit-way inscriptions, tomb inscriptions, farewell prefaces and poems, colophons, and Daoist temple inscriptions.[25] Wu Boqing praised his prose for escaping the narrow conventions of contemporary writing and recovering the legacy of ancient authors; Ma Boyong described it as forceful without showing its workmanship and original without seeming derivative, praised its luxuriant brilliance and ancient resonance, and ranked Yuan with Yao Sui as one of the great prose masters who revived ancient learning in their age.[26] Yu Bosheng likewise called his prose vigorous and impassioned, with a disdainful view of Qin and Han models.[27]

Associations

Yuan Mingshan’s friends included Zhao Mengfu and Guo Yu.[28] While in Jiangxi and Jinling, he often engaged Yu Bosheng in vigorous disputation, yet the two enjoyed one another’s company; in the capital they again refused to yield to each other.[29] The Daoist adept Wu Xianxian was especially close to him and once asked him to compose a piece.[30]

After one such piece was completed, Yuan anticipated that Yu Bosheng would criticize it and asked Wu Xianxian to prepare a feast and invite him. Yu advised cutting more than a hundred characters; Yuan immediately handed him the brush, and after 120 characters were deleted the prose became more precise, whereupon the two friends restored their former intimacy.[31]

Office recordsCBDB

Year unknown12
OfficeEraPosting
中書省左丞相Era unknownUnknown
太子文學Era unknownUnknown
禮部尚書Era unknownUnknown
翰林國史院學士Era unknownUnknown
翰林國史院待制Era unknownUnknown
翰林國史院翰林侍講學士Era unknownUnknown
翰林國史院翰林侍講學士Era unknownUnknown
翰林國史院翰林侍講學士Era unknownUnknown
行中書省參政Era unknown湖廣行中書省
行中書省掾Era unknown江西行中書省
行院令史Era unknownUnknown
路學正Era unknown建康路

FamilyCBDB

RelationNameLife
父元貢1243–1289
長子; 第一子元蒙–
次子元晦–1323
三子元暠1317–

AliasesCBDB

  • 復初 字
  • 文敏 諡號

StatusCBDB

  • [為官者：文]
  • 工於古文
  • 思想家

AssociationsCBDB

PersonRelationYears
趙孟頫友–
郭郁友–
吳澄書序由吳澄所作1322–
馬祖常墓誌銘由馬祖常所作1322–
張養浩墓誌銘由張養浩所作1322–
史棣卿(袁洪妻)為史棣卿(袁洪妻)作墓誌銘–
袁洪為袁洪作墓誌銘–
董俊為董俊作墓誌銘1322–
董文炳為董文炳作墓誌銘1322–
伯顏為伯顏作墓誌銘1322–
董文直為董文直作墓誌銘1322–
馬氏為馬氏作傳–
張淳為張淳作傳–
李衎為李衎之書、畫作跋–
董俊為董俊作世系碑記–
董文炳為董文炳作世系碑記–
吳澄為吳澄作臨別贈言(送別詩、序)–
馬祖常為馬祖常作臨別贈言(送別詩、序)–
李直夫為李直夫作臨別贈言(送別詩、序)–
張養浩臨別得到張養浩所作贈言(送別詩、序)1322–
陳益稷臨別得到陳益稷所作贈言(送別詩、序)–
柳貫諡議由柳貫所作–
吳澄神道碑由吳澄所作–
馬祖常神道碑由馬祖常所作–
張養浩神道碑由張養浩所作–
文陞為文陞作神道碑–
伯顏為伯顏作神道碑–
董文直為董文直作神道碑–
高興為高興作神道碑–
奧屯貞為奧屯貞作神道碑–
廉希憲為廉希憲作神道碑–
阿里罕為阿里罕作神道碑–
安童為安童作神道碑–
月赤察兒為月赤察兒作神道碑–
李謙為李謙作墓表–
張成為張成作墓表–
董樸為董樸作墓表–
袁桷挽詩、詞由袁桷所作–
張養浩挽詩、詞由張養浩所作–
李源道為李源道之建築物題詠、記、命名–
王道孟為王道孟作道觀記–

ExaminationsCBDB

RecordRank
薦舉 (保任,保舉)

WorksCBDB

TitleRoleYearEra
清河集

Citations

  1. [1] Name and dates Yuan Mingshan, also presented as Mingshan Yuan, lived from 1269 to 1322.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The main record gives the English name Yuan Mingshan and the years 1269 and 1322.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The profile and biographical text identify the person as 元明善 and give the lifespan 1269–1322.
    • WikidataMingshan Yuan (Q15895892)The English label and aliases give Mingshan Yuan and Yuan Mingshan, while the time claims give 1269 and 1322.
  2. [2] Identity Yuan Mingshan was a Yuan-dynasty civil official, a writer skilled in classical prose, and a thinker.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The record places him in the Yuan dynasty and classifies him as a civil official, a writer skilled in classical prose, and a thinker.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The profile and biography show his Yuan-dynasty official career and his reputation for prose.
  3. [3] Courtesy name His courtesy name was Fuchu.
  4. [4] Native place His native place was Qinghe in Daming.
  5. [5] Father His father was Yuan Gong, who lived from 1243 to 1289.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The kinship entry identifies 元貢 as his father and gives the years 1243 and 1289.
  6. [6] Children The kinship list gives three sons—Yuan Meng, Yuan Hui, and Yuan Gao; Yuan Hui died in 1323 and Yuan Gao was born in 1317.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The kinship entries identify 元蒙, 元晦, and 元暠 as the first, second, and third sons and give the available dates.
  7. [7] Early career At twenty he traveled in Wuzhong, entered office through recommendation, and became school principal at Anfeng and Jiankang; the Jiankang post is also styled lùxuézhèng.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography describes his youthful journey to Wuzhong, recommendation by the Zhejiang Eastern Circuit commissioner, and appointment at Anfeng and Jiankang.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The entry record identifies recommendation as the mode of entry, while the office record gives lùxuézhèng at Jiankang.
  8. [8] Dismissal and residence He served as a clerk in the Mobile Privy Council, was treated as a guest by Dong Shixuan, was dismissed after a false accusation, and lived in Huainan.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The two biographies describe his clerkship, Dong Shixuan’s treatment of him, repeated appointments, dismissal after false accusation, and residence in Huainan.
  9. [9] Additional offices Other career titles included a traveling-court clerk, a Jiangxi Branch Secretariat clerk, Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, a Hanlin National History Academy Lecturer-Academician, and an Academician of that academy.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The office list gives 行院令史, 江西行中書省掾, 中書省左丞相, Hanlin Lecturer-Academician appointments, and 翰林國史院學士.
  10. [10] Eastern Palace While Renzong was crown prince, Yuan was first selected as Junior Erudite of the Eastern Palace.
  11. [11] Renzong’s accession Renzong’s accession is dated here to 1311.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biographies mention Renzong’s accession, and the associated date annotation assigns it to 1311.
  12. [12] Hanlin and historiographical offices After the accession, he held Hanlin Direct Academician, Hanlin daizhi, Direct Academician, drafter of edicts, co-editor of the national history, and Reader-Academician posts.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biographies list the Hanlin direct academician, Hanlin daizhi, direct academician, edict drafting, national-history, and reader-academician appointments.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The office list also gives Hanlin National History Academy daizhi and Academician posts.
  13. [13] Hanlin Academician He ultimately became a Hanlin Academician.
  14. [14] Translation of the Shangshu By imperial command, Yuan translated into Mongolian passages of the Shangshu concerning government.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography describes the imperial order to translate the relevant passages of the 尚書 into Mongolian.
  15. [15] Examination official In the second year of Yanyou, dated to 1315, he first served as chief examiner for the nationwide jinshi examination and as reader of papers at the palace examination; many selected candidates later became famous ministers.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography gives the Yanyou examination appointments and later prominence of the selected candidates; the date annotation assigns Yanyou’s second year to 1315.
  16. [16] Yanyou offices During Yanyou he became Minister of Rites, participated in the affairs of the Secretariat, and returned to the Hanlin.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography gives the Yanyou sequence of Minister of Rites, participation in Secretariat affairs, and return to the Hanlin.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The office list includes Minister of Rites.
  17. [17] Huguang appointment At the end of the year he became Vice Commissioner of the Huguang Branch Secretariat, a title also given as xing zhongshu sheng canzheng, then held the Jixian Reader-Academician and Hanlin Academician posts.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography gives the Huguang Vice Commissioner, Jixian Reader-Academician, and Hanlin Academician sequence.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The office list gives the variant Branch Secretariat participation title and the Hanlin Academician title.
  18. [18] Death Yuan Mingshan died in office in the second year of Zhizhi, corresponding to 1322.
  19. [19] Age at death He died in office at the age of fifty-four.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography gives his death in office and age as fifty-four.
  20. [20] Posthumous honors He received the posthumous rank of Zishan daifu and the office of Left Assistant of the Henan Branch Secretariat, and was ennobled as Duke of Qinghe Commandery.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography lists the posthumous grant of 資善大夫 and 河南行省左丞 and the ennoblement as 清河郡公; the profile also lists the title.
  21. [21] Posthumous name His posthumous name was Wenmin.
  22. [22] Classical learning He could remember a text after one reading, studied all the Classics under teachers, and was especially learned in the Spring and Autumn.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)Both biographies describe his exceptional memory, classical study, and particular mastery of the Spring and Autumn.
  23. [23] Prose development He took pride in his prose from early in life, worked within Qin–Han models, and became more refined in later years.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography describes his early pride in prose, relation to Qin and Han writing, and later refinement.
  24. [24] Collected work His collected work includes Qinghe ji.
  25. [25] Writing genres His writings span prefaces, biographies, epitaphs, spirit-way inscriptions, tomb inscriptions, farewell pieces, colophons, and Daoist temple inscriptions.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The associated-work categories list prefaces, biographies, epitaphs, spirit-way inscriptions, tomb inscriptions, farewell pieces, colophons, and Daoist temple writing.
  26. [26] Literary assessments Wu Boqing praised Yuan’s recovery of ancient authors, while Ma Boyong praised the force, originality, brilliance, and ancient resonance of his prose and ranked him with Yao Sui as a prose master of the revival of ancient learning.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography preserves Wu Boqing’s and Ma Boyong’s assessments of Yuan’s prose and the comparison with Yao Sui.
  27. [27] Yu Bosheng’s assessment Yu Bosheng called his prose vigorous and impassioned and said that it looked down on Qin and Han models.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography records Yu Bosheng’s description of the prose as 發揚蹈厲 and 藐視秦漢.
  28. [28] Friends His friends included Zhao Mengfu and Guo Yu.
    • CBDBYuan Mingshan (29105)The association entries classify Zhao Mengfu and Guo Yu as friends of Yuan Mingshan.
  29. [29] Association with Yu Bosheng In Jiangxi and Jinling he often debated Yu Bosheng vigorously while remaining close, but in the capital the two again refused to yield to each other.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography describes the debates in Jiangxi and Jinling, their mutual enjoyment, and their later inability to concede to one another in the capital.
  30. [30] Wu Xianxian The Daoist adept Wu Xianxian was especially close to him and once requested a composition.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography calls Wu Xianxian especially close to Yuan and says that he once requested a composition.
  31. [31] Editing anecdote Yuan anticipated Yu Bosheng’s criticism, invited him through Wu Xianxian, accepted a cut of more than one hundred characters, and after 120 characters were removed his prose became more precise and the two friends reconciled.
    • Souyun元明善 (37874)The biography gives the complete story of the invitation, the proposed deletion, the removal of 120 characters, the improved prose, and the restoration of their friendship.