Cui Tong

Life

His father was Cui Kun; his grandfather was Cui Run; his great-grandfather was Cui Huang; his mother was Sheng. His younger brothers were Cui Lin, Cui Zhi, and Cui Ge; his wife was Li, and his son was Cui Youji.

His examination credentials included the licentiate status. In 1516, he ranked first in the Yingtian provincial examination and became the jieyuan; the following year, he placed 16th in the metropolitan examination and third in the palace examination, receiving the tanhua distinction and appointment as a Hanlin Academy Compiler.

While serving as a compiler, he remonstrated against Emperor Wuzong’s southern tour, knelt below the palace gate, was flogged, and lost his stipend. After Shizong’s accession, he returned home to recuperate. He recovered in April 1522 and was restored to his former office; in June 1525, after the Wuzong Veritable Record was completed, he was promoted to Hanlin Reader.

In the eleventh month of Jiajing 6 (1527), he became a Right Assistant Commissioner in Huguang; in the eighth month of Jiajing 8 (1529), he was promoted to a vice commissioner of the provincial surveillance commission and education supervisor. In the eleventh month of Jiajing 10 (1531), he was promoted to left assistant administrator in Fujian. In the sixth month of Jiajing 11 (1532), he was demoted one grade and transferred as a vice commissioner in Huguang.

In the fourth month of Jiajing 14 (1535), he became Junior Minister of the Nanjing Court of Imperial Studs. In the eleventh month of Jiajing 18 (1539), he became Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and superintendent of the Institute of the Four Foreign Languages. In the third month of Jiajing 19 (1540), he became Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, managed the Directorate of the National Academy, and was ordered to attend the Classics Lectures. In April Jiajing 20 (1541), he was promoted to Right Vice Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. In the intercalary fourth month of Jiajing 24 (1545), he was transferred as Right Vice Minister of Rites; in the eighth month of Jiajing 26 (1547), he was compelled to retire.

His career also included the offices of Assistant Commissioner, education supervisor, administrative assistant in Fujian, vice commissioner in the Zhejiang Provincial Administration, Minister of the Court of Imperial Studs, Vice Minister of Rites, and Vice Minister of Personnel.

Works and literary connections

He wrote Dongzhou ji (《東洲集》). The associated titles include Dongzhou ji in forty juan, Cui Dongzhou ji in twenty juan, and Cui Dongzhou ji, sequel in eleven juan.

His literary exchanges included prefaces for books by 朱懷幹, 盛儀, 暢華, and 蔣山卿, a preface exchange with 曹金, and a preface to poetry and prose by 戈銳. He also wrote epitaphs for 林公黼, 凌相, and 淩楷; tomb inscriptions for 王德明 and 李廷相; biographies of 范琛, 張萱, and 盛儀; and name and style essays for 王暐.

His funerary writings included sacrificial texts for 陸深 and 周用, as well as farewell writings for 陸深, 章拯, 楊繼盛, 周金, 王學夔, 嚴嵩, 文明, 安金, 南逢吉, 熊宇, and 劉淑相. 童承敘, in turn, wrote a farewell text for him. He also wrote a posthumous-title discussion for 潘鑑 and a genealogy preface for 錢嶫, and sent congratulations to 鄭曉, 吳桂芳, 曹金, and 張景賢.

He presented poetry and prose to 吳桂芳, 胡訓, 許宗魯, 曹金, 盛儀, 楊儀, 錢芝, and 魏尚綸; wrote inscriptions, notes, and names for buildings associated with 楊選, 吳桂芳, 陳其學, 黃國用, and 齊宗道; wrote academy records for 陳其學 and 楊瞻; and wrote a shrine record for 楊瞻. He also praised the political achievements of 王暐 and 吳桂芳.