Liu Jian

Life

His great-grandfather was Liu Shaozu, his grandfather Liu Rong, and his father Liu Liang; his mother was Lady Bai and his stepmother Lady Zhang. He had an elder brother, Liu Yin, younger brothers Liu Ji and Liu Wei, and a wife surnamed Wang. His grandsons were Liu Cheng'en and Liu Chengxue, and his great-grandson was Liu Dezhi.

He first held the status of shengyuan, ranked thirty-eighth among the students, and was also a provincial recommended candidate. In the fourth year of the Tianshun era (1460), he passed the jinshi examination, ranking thirty-ninth in the second class, entered the Hanlin Academy as a shujishi, and became a Hanlin compiler in 1462.

During Chenghua, he participated in the revision of the Veritable Records of the Yingzong Emperor and advanced to xiuzhuan. He later held the offices of compiler, You Yude, Zuo Shuzi, Shao Zhanshi, and Hanlin Academician, and served as an examiner for the provincial and metropolitan examinations. He also served as a lecturer to the heir apparent, as a deputy commissioner, and as a chief editor.

In the fourth year of the Hongzhi era (1491), he was promoted to Minister of Rites concurrently with Grand Secretary of the Wenyuange. In the seventh year (1494), he served as Wuyingdian Grand Secretary and Taizi Shaobao. In the eleventh year (1498), he advanced to Taizi Taifu, succeeded Xu Pu as chief grand secretary, and concurrently served as Minister of Revenue, Jingshendian Grand Secretary, and Shaofu. In the sixteenth year (1503), he served as Minister of Personnel, Shaoshi, Taizi Taishi, and Huagaidian Grand Secretary; during the Hongzhi era he repeatedly served as reader of palace-examination papers, in 1490, 1493, 1496, 1499, and 1505.

Outspoken in office, he sharply criticized administrative negligence and attributed financial difficulties to waste associated with court religious rites, weaving expenses, redundant offices, and construction. At the beginning of the Zhengde era, he repeatedly memorialized for the execution of the eunuch Liu Jin and others; when Liu Jin and his allies instead received imperial confidence, Liu Jian retired. He was subsequently named first among the “criminal party,” stripped of his official status and made a commoner, and was restored to office after Liu Jin was executed.

Learning and associations

Liu Jian studied Neo-Confucianism and was a disciple of Xue Xuan. He was a friend of Yan Yuxi and Bai Liangfu, a colleague of Xie Qian, and received letters from Zhang Mao, Zhang Yuanzhen, and Yang Lian.

He wrote an epitaph for Wang Ji, a spirit-way stele for Chen Dao, and a tomb memorial for Li Jie; Jia Yong wrote his epitaph, Liu Long his xingzhuang, and Zhang Shiyi his biography.

Works

His work includes the Huian Collection (晦庵集). He received the posthumous name Wenjing.