Tang Yuan

Life

Tang Yuan was known for his poetry and classical prose and was counted, together with Hong Yanzu (洪焱祖) and Yu Zhaolao (俞趙老), among the "Three Worthies of Xin'an". In the Taiding period he was appointed school recorder (學錄) of Pingjiang circuit on the strength of his literary learning, an appointment dated to 1327; he later rose to director (山長) of the Nanxuan Academy, and also served as instructor (教諭) of the Fenshui county school and as academy director in Jiqing circuit, retiring as professor of Confucian studies (儒學教授) of Huizhou circuit. His entry into service came through summons and recommendation, under the merit categories of "eminent talent" and "ability and conduct".

He had three sons — Tang Guifang (唐桂芳; 1299–1371), Tang Xuqing (唐徐卿; 1290–1356) and Tang Run (唐潤); Tang Tingrui (唐廷瑞) was his grand-uncle.

Literary circle

Fang Hui (方回) wrote a preface for Tang Yuan's collection Yipu xiaoji (藝圃小集), and Chen Li (陳櫟) wrote the farewell preface "Seeing Tang Changru Off to the Pingjiang School Recorder Post" (送唐長孺赴平江學錄序). He was on good terms with Hong Yanzu, for whom he wrote prefaces and colophons and a lament for him (哭亡友潛夫洪主簿); he exchanged matching poems with Ding Fu (丁復) and Wang Xunyuan (汪巽元), and poems and prose with Zheng Yu (鄭玉), Wang Zemin (汪澤民) and Dai Biaoyuan (戴表元). Du Ben (杜本) composed his funerary inscription as professor of Confucian studies of Huizhou circuit.

Works

Tang Yuan's works include the Yunxuan ji (筠軒集); he also wrote the Yi zhuan yi dayi (易傳義大意) and the Jianwen lu (見聞錄). The Yunxuan ji opens with a preface written by the author himself, and contains numerous prefaces and colophons, parting addresses, funerary inscriptions and postscripts written for contemporaries.