Naixian

Life

His clan had long been settled west of Jinshan; after the Yuan rose in the northwest, many members of the groups that served the central court were dispersed through the interior, and Naixian was consequently known as a native of Nanyang. With his brother Tahai, he traveled through Jiangnan on official business, settled in Yin, and later returned to the capital, where he became known for his literary ability. Han Yuyu was skilled in calligraphy and Wang Zichong in classical prose; Naixian arrived with them, and the three were acclaimed as the “Three Wonders of Jiangnan.”

His examination status is uncertain: he is called a jinshi in one version, while another says that his brother Tahai Zhongliang rose through the jinshi degree and that Naixian obtained an office only late in life without fulfilling his potential. He disliked the pursuit of official emoluments and devoted himself to poetry and prose; his return to the capital was intended to broaden his experience and contribute to his poetry.

He later returned to eastern Zhejiang and was recruited as head of Donghu Academy; on recommendation, he was appointed a Hanlin compiler, an office also styled Compiler of the Hanlin Academy's National History Institute. He later went out to take part in Sangge Shili's military affairs and died in that service.

Literary achievement

He excelled in prose and was especially accomplished in lyric poetry; his poems were repeatedly circulated and recited by scholar-officials. His works include Jintai ji (《金臺集》) and Haiyun qingxiao ji (《海雲清嘯集》).

The preface to Jintai ji praised his poetry as fresh and elegant, with a warm and finely textured quality; Gong Shitai described his diction as clear, polished, and delicate, comparing his five-character verse to Xie Tiao, Liu Yun, and Jiang Yan, his seven-character verse to Zhang Ji, Wang Jian, and Liu Yuxi, and his yuefu to the lingering style of Xie Lingyun and Bao Mingyuan. Li Haowen praised the balanced and harmonious spirit he possessed as a man from the northwest.

Jintai ji had a preface by Ouyang Yuangong; Gong Shitai wrote another preface, while Yu Ji and Zhang Qiyan contributed poems at the end. He exchanged poems with Zhang Zhu and Wu Sidao; he wrote farewell poems or prefaces for Yang Zhu, Baizhu, Dalimashili, Duo'erzhiban, and Tuotuo. He also composed inscriptions, notes, or names for buildings associated with Xue Yifu, Xie Yaozhang, and Zhang Lu, and wrote postscripts to works by Jie Xisi and Han Wenyu.