Mao Kai

Life

He was a prefectural school student and a provincial graduate before taking the jinshi degree in the 14th year of the Jiajing reign (1535), in which he ranked 131st in the third class. In 1536 he was appointed a messenger in the Court of Messengers; in 1539 he was promoted to investigating censor; and in 1540, having offended the throne by his remonstrance, he was demoted to judge of Ningguo prefecture. In 1542 he was appointed a secretary in the Nanjing Ministry of Works, rising there to vice-director and then director of the Waterways Bureau.

In 1548 he was transferred to the Ministry of Justice as director of its Sichuan bureau, and in 1549 he was made prefect of Ruizhou. In 1554 he became defence vice-commissioner of Tianjin, in 1556 right counsellor of Shanxi, and in 1558 surveillance commissioner of Henan, afterwards serving as right provincial administration commissioner of Henan; in 1561 he entered the Censorate as right assistant censor-in-chief. In 1562 he was made right vice censor-in-chief and director-general of grain transport, with concurrent command of military affairs and jurisdiction over Fengyang; in the same year he became left vice censor-in-chief, and in 1565 right vice-minister of personnel.

In 1566 he was promoted to left vice-minister of personnel and in the same year appointed minister of rites at Nanjing, then minister of personnel at Nanjing. In 1567 he became minister of justice, holding that office until 1570. He was afterwards dismissed to the ranks and restored at the beginning of the Wanli reign. In 1584 he was granted the title of junior guardian of the heir apparent.

Family

His great-grandfather was Mao Youde, his grandfather Mao Shi'an, his father Mao Benrong, and his mother née Wu; his father's elder brother was Mao Zhen'an. He had three elder brothers, Mao Zili (毛子禮), Mao Ziyi (毛子義) and Mao Zicai (毛子才), and four younger brothers, Mao Zizhi (毛子智), Mao Ziti (毛子悌), Mao Zigong (毛子貢) and Mao Ziyi (毛子儀); he married a member of the Yang family. His remote ancestors were Mao Xiong (毛敻) and Mao Qu (毛璩). He was recorded as the 116th in order of birth within his generation, and was known for his filial piety.

Friends and colleagues

He studied under Zhang Xie. Wang Zongmu, Zhang Han and Xu Pei wrote to him; Zhang Juzheng and Xu Pei sent him replies; Wan Yi presented him with poems and prose; and Wu Chengen offered him congratulations. His conduct record (行狀) was composed by Zhao Tang.

Works

He was the author of a collection of memorials (奏議) in eight juan, a collected works (文集) in four juan, and the Dushu lu chaoshi (讀書錄抄釋) in two juan.