[6]EducationHe received family instruction, studied the classics, understood their main principles, and studied with Wu Cheng.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographical texts describe his family education, study of the classics, and association with Wu Cheng.
[7]Mother and elder brotherHis mother was Yang and his elder brother was Yu Cai.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The kinship data list Yang as his mother and Yu Cai as his elder brother.
[8]Younger brotherYu Pan was Yu Ji's younger brother.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The kinship data identify Yu Pan as a younger brother.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographical text refers to his younger brother Pan.
[9]Other relativesHis paternal cousin was Yu Deguan, his son was Yu Anmin, and Zhan Tong was the husband of his niece.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The kinship data list Yu Deguan as a paternal cousin, Yu Anmin as a son, and Zhan Tong as the husband of a niece.
[10]The two studiosYu Ji and his younger brother Yu Pan established two studios named for Tao Yuanming and Shao Yong, which gave rise to his being called Master Shaoan.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographical texts describe the two rooms, their associations with Tao Yuanming and Shao Yong, and the resulting name Master Shaoan.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The alternate-name data identify Shaoan as a studio name or sobriquet.
[11]FriendshipsYu Ji was associated as a friend with Ouyang Xuan, Zhao Mengfu, and Ke Jiusi.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The association data mark Ouyang Xuan, Zhao Mengfu, and Ke Jiusi as friends.
[12]First appointmentIn early Dade, Yu Ji received a recommendation and was appointed Professor of Confucian Learning for the Dadu Route; the appointment is dated to 1302, the sixth year of Dade, and was followed by several academic offices.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographies say that he was recommended and appointed professor for the Dadu Route in early Dade, then held assistant-instructor and boshi posts.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The recommendation entry and office data provide the recommendation, the professorate, the date 1302 in Dade 6, and the subsequent academic posts including the boshi of the Court of Imperial Rites.
[13]Renzong and educational policyUnder Renzong, Yu Ji became an editor at the Jixian Academy, discussed educational affairs, advocated appointing morally cultivated classical scholars rather than relying indiscriminately on qualifications, and then became a Hanlin attendant.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography gives his Renzong appointment, his discussion of school affairs, his standard for selecting school officials, and his subsequent Hanlin appointment.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The office data list the Jixian Academy editorial post and the Hanlin National History attendant post.
[14]Taiding appointmentIn Taiding 1, corresponding to 1324, Yu Ji served as guozi siye at the Imperial College.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The office data date the Imperial College guozi siye post to 1324, Taiding 1.
[15]Later officesYu Ji later became vice supervisor of the Palace Library and a direct Hanlin academician concurrently serving as director of the Imperial College.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography lists his promotion to vice supervisor of the Palace Library and direct Hanlin academician concurrently serving as director of the Imperial College.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The office data list the Palace Library vice supervisor and direct Hanlin academician posts.
[16]Wenzong appointments and compilationUnder Wenzong, Yu Ji became a shishu xueshi at the Kuizhang Pavilion, directed the compilation of the Jingshi Dadian, and was promoted to lecturer.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographies record his Kuizhang Pavilion appointment, direction of the Jingshi Dadian, and promotion to lecturer under Wenzong.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The office data list the Kuizhang Pavilion shishu xueshi post.
[17]RetirementAfter Wenzong died, Yu Ji withdrew because of an eye ailment and the displeasure of powerful favorites.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographies say that after Wenzong's death he retired because of eye disease and the hostility of powerful favorites.
[18]DeathYu Ji died in the fifth month of Zhizheng 8, corresponding to 1348, at the age of seventy-seven.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography states that he died in the fifth month of Zhizheng 8 at seventy-seven.
[19]Posthumous honorsAfter his death, Yu Ji received an honorary provincial office, the title Renshou Commandery Duke, and the posthumous name Wenjing.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographical texts give the Jiangxi provincial office, Renshou Commandery Duke, and Wenjing; one text uses the wording that he was enfeoffed as Renshou Commandery Duke.
CBDBYu Ji (2) (10801)The alternate-name data identify Wenjing as his posthumous title.
[20]Poetry and proseYu Ji was broadly talented and learned and excelled at poetry and prose.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography calls him broadly talented and learned and says that he excelled at poetry and prose.
[21]Consultation and remonstranceWhen consulted, Yu Ji gave detailed answers and remonstrated according to circumstances.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography says that he answered consultations fully and remonstrated as circumstances required.
[22]Official and commemorative writingDuring Zhizhi and Tianli, Yu Ji produced state ritual and court documents and the inscriptions of high officials, developing a distinctive style.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographies associate his flourishing career with Zhizhi and Tianli and say that court documents and officials' inscriptions came from his hand and formed a unified style.
[23]Poverty and hospitalityAlthough his household was poor, he returned the fees and gifts he received for entertaining guests and did not resent his poverty.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography describes his poverty, his use of instructional payments and gifts for guests, and his lack of concern despite want.
[24]Poetic reputationYu Ji was ranked with Yang Zhonghong, Fan Deji, and Jie Manshuo and counted among the Four Great Masters of the Yuan.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographical texts say that his poetry was ranked with the three poets, that the group was called Yu, Yang, Fan, and Jie, and that he was one of the Yuan's four great masters.
[25]Poetic comparisonYu Ji compared the three poets to a battle-hardened soldier, a Tang copy of a Jin model, and a flower-adorned beauty, and compared his own poetry to an old Han court clerk.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography preserves Yu Ji's comparisons of the three poets, his self-description, and the favorable contemporary judgment.
[26]CalligraphyYu Ji mastered regular, running, cursive, and seal scripts, each rounded, graceful, and disciplined.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biography says that his regular, running, cursive, and seal scripts were rounded, graceful, and governed by rules.
[27]Compilation of writingsHe wrote ten thousand pieces, of which only twelve or thirteen survived; his disciples arranged several groups of drafts into fifty volumes called Daoyuan Xuegu Lu, while the poetry manuscripts were also known as Zhi ting yong yan.
Souyun虞集 (40386)The biographies state that he wrote ten thousand pieces with only twelve or thirteen surviving, that disciples compiled the named drafts into fifty volumes, and that the poetry manuscripts had another title; the shorter notice also gives the fifty-volume count.
CBDB
