Mao Bowen (1482–1545) was a Ming official and poet. His courtesy name was Ruli, written as 汝厲 and also 汝勵; his sobriquet was Dongtang, he was from Jishui in Jiangxi, and he was posthumously given the name Xiangmao.
Life
His examination career included the xianggong, or provincial recommended candidate, status and the jinshi degree. In the third year of the Zhengde era (1508), he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed judicial commissioner of Shaoxing Prefecture. In 1512 he served as a censor in the Henan Circuit and later as an itinerant censor in Fujian, Henan, and Huguang, taking the Henan and Huguang assignments in 1516 and 1518 respectively.
From 1522 to 1527, he served successively as Right and Left Assistant Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review. He was then promoted to Right Assistant Censor-in-chief and appointed governor of Ningxia, but was dismissed after an incident and returned home. After a recommendation restored him to office, he was assigned to govern Shanxi and then Shuntian, but took neither post; he returned to court administration, became Left Deputy Censor-in-chief, was dismissed again, and later resumed office as Right Censor-in-chief.
From 1536 to 1544, his offices included Right Censor-in-chief, Minister of Works, Left Censor-in-chief, and two terms as Minister of War. As Minister of War, he served as grand coordinator for military affairs in Xuan-Da and Shanxi and also held the post of grand-coordinator's staff adviser.
During unrest in Annam, the court debated military action and sent him south. After more than a year without a single arrow being shot, he brought the crisis to a peaceful settlement; for this achievement he was made Grand Protector of the Heir Apparent, having also held the offices of Junior Protector of the Heir Apparent and Guest of the Heir Apparent. His reforms in the Ministry of War provoked resentment among palace attendants; after Tatar forces penetrated deep into imperial territory, he was stripped of his official status and returned home. Early in the Longqing era, his official status was restored and relief was granted; at the beginning of the Tianqi era, he received the posthumous name Xiangmao.
Writings
His works include *Dongtang Poetry Collection* (10 juan), *Dongtang Collection* (10 juan), *Mao Xiangmao's Memorials* (20 juan), and *Collected Works of Mao Xiangmao* (18 juan). He exchanged poems with Xia Gongjin, Li Xianji, and Fang Sidao, and his poetry was described as distinctive in style.
Family
His great-grandfather was Mao Shixu. His sons were Mao Pu, Mao Dong, Mao Nan, and Mao Lian, and his grandson was Mao Maozong.
References
- CBDB Mao Bowen (68282)
- 搜韵 毛伯溫 (50792)
- Wikidata Mao Bowen (Q11126367)