Wu Yipeng

Life

In the sixth year of the Hongzhi era (1493), he earned the jinshi degree, placing twenty-seventh in the second class; he was selected as a shujishi and, in the eighth year of Hongzhi, appointed a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy. He took part in compiling the Da Ming Huidian and later returned home to observe mourning for his father.

At the beginning of the Zhengde era, he became a Hanlin Reader and an expositor at the Classics Mat. Because he offended Liu Jin, he was pushed out of the capital, demoted to an associate secretary in the Guangdong Office of the Nanjing Ministry of Justice, and later served as Director of the Sacrificial Office in the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. After Liu Jin’s downfall, he was restored as a Hanlin Reader, later became a Hanlin Academician-Reader, and went on to serve as Academician-Reader, Director of the Imperial College, and Grand Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

At the beginning of the Jiajing era, he was repeatedly promoted to Left Vice Minister of Rites. Alongside Mao Cheng and Wang Jun, he vigorously opposed the grand rites, arguing against the construction of a temple in the capital for the emperor’s biological father; he also impeached the remonstrance official Chen Guang for his sycophantic participation in the ritual debate, but none of these efforts prevailed. After Wang Jun left office, Wu acted for the ministry; he entered the cabinet to handle imperial edicts and concurrently took charge of the Zhanshi Office, eventually rising to Minister of Rites. After Zhang Cong (張聰; also written 張璁) and Gui E gained power, they regarded him as an opponent and sent him out as Nanjing Minister of Personnel. Two years later, when the court impeached Wang Qiong and others, Wu was also impeached and requested retirement to his native place.

After his death, he received the posthumous name Wenduan and was posthumously granted the rank of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent; during his career he had held the rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and had served as Nanjing Minister of Personnel.

Writings and associations

He wrote the Wu Wenduan Collection, in forty juan, and served as a compiler of the Veritable Records of Xiaozong. Xu Jie wrote a preface for one of his books, while Wen Zhengming wrote his epitaph. When he departed, Zhang Bangqi, Lü Nan, Xu Jin, and Liu Long composed farewell pieces for him; Luo Qinshun and Zhan Ruoshui presented him with poems and prose.

Family

His great-grandfather was Wu Jing, his grandfather Wu Cong, and his father Wu Xing; his mother was Lady Si and his stepmother Lady Zhao. His wife was Lady Xuan, and he later had two successive wives, Lady Yao and Lady Xue. His son was Wu Zixiao (吳子孝, 1496–1563), and his son-in-law was Yao Cheng; his grandchildren were Wu Shangpu, Wu Shangsun, and Wu Shangjie, and his great-grandson was Wu Anguo.