Mao Cheng

Life

His father died when he was young, and he was raised by his grandfather Mao Bi. His father was Mao Sheng, his mother Lady Fan, and his great-grandfather Mao Bozhen. He had two elder brothers, Mao Hong and Mao Hao, two younger brothers, Mao Jin and Mao Yuan, a wife surnamed Xu, two sons, 毛希元 and 毛希原, and a grandson, 毛與立.

In the sixth year of the Hongzhi reign, he passed the guichou examination as the first-ranked jinshi and became the zhuangyuan; he also held the qualifications of provincial recommended candidate and shengyuan. He was then appointed Hanlin Academy Xiuzhuan, helped compile the Ming Huidian, and served as an imperial lecturer.

His career included Right Yude, Right Shuzi, and Left Shuzi of the Eastern Palace, an Eastern Palace lecturer, a Classics Mat lecturer, and the Hanlin posts of Shidu Xueshi, Shijiang Xueshi, Shidu, Shijiang, and Xueshi. He also served as examiner for the provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations, as a reader of palace examination papers, as an instructor of shujishi, as a compiler, and as deputy envoy, deputy chief compiler, and chief of the tribute examinations.

After the accession of the Wuzong emperor, Mao Cheng was promoted to Left Shuzi. In the fourth year of Zhengde (1509), Liu Jin's false accusation led to his demotion to Shidu; he later rose again to Shijiang Xueshi and Xueshi, took charge of the Hanlin Academy, and served as a Vice Minister of Rites. In the twelfth year of Zhengde (1517), sixth month, he was appointed Minister of Rites. His appointments also included Shaobao, Shaofu, Taizi Shaobao, and Taizi Taifu.

During the dispute over Wuzong's southern tour in the fourteenth year of Zhengde (1519), Mao Cheng risked his life to submit a remonstrance, and the tour was abandoned. In the sixteenth year of Zhengde (1521), third month, Wuzong died suddenly at the Leopard House without an heir; arguing that the emperor had subdued foreign peoples like Emperor Wu of Han, Mao Cheng helped establish the temple name Wuzong.

After Wuzong's death, Mao Cheng went to Anlu with Grand Secretary Liang Chu, Marquis Zhang Heling of Shouning, the consort's husband Cui Yuan, and the eunuch Wei Bin to welcome Zhu Houcong to the throne as the Jiajing emperor, or Shizong. When Shizong sought honorific titles for his biological parents, Mao Cheng and his colleagues insisted that the Xingxian emperor should not be given an imperial title, submitting repeated remonstrances in what became known as the Great Rites Controversy.

A eunuch sent by Shizong knelt before Mao Cheng and offered him a large bribe; citing old age and illness, Mao Cheng repeatedly petitioned to retire, but was repeatedly retained. In the spring of the second year of Jiajing (1523), he was permitted to retire and died from illness on the way back to Taicang; his place of death is given as Xingji. In court debates he spoke frankly and without yielding, and consequently both commanded Shizong's respect and aroused his apprehension; his posthumous name was Wenjian.

Writings and literary relations

Mao Cheng wrote epitaphs for Lin Yue, Guo Dongshan, Yang Jun, Yu Chen, and Liu Pu; a spirit-way stele for Sun Ming; and a biography for Shao Bao. He also wrote sacrificial texts for Luo Qinshun, Wang Tongzu, Mao Xian, and Chai Qi.

He wrote postscripts for Luo Qi's books and paintings, Lin Jun received a farewell poem and preface from him, and he sent a letter to Yang Lian.

His writings include the two-juan Mao Wenjian ji; other titles associated with him include Tongjian zuanyao, the eighteen-juan Leigao (Mao Cheng), and the one-juan Shengjia Lin'yong lu.