Peng Guinian

Life

In the fifth year of the Qiandao era (1169), he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed assistant magistrate of Yichun in Yuanzhou, and was transferred to assistant magistrate of Anfu in Jizhou. He requested a temple-office appointment to care for his parents, and during this period associated with Zhang Shi and Zhu Xi, making further progress in learning. After Guangzong's accession, he was summoned as Taixue boshi and concurrently served as professor in the Prince of Wei's household; he subsequently held the offices of Guozijian assistant, Censorate secretary, assistant in the Court of State Granaries, palace-library secretary concurrently serving as expositor in the Prince of Jia's household, and rose to Qiju sheran and Zhongshu sheren.

Under Ningzong, he became a Secretariat Drafter, Instructor-in-Attendance, and Vice Minister of Personnel concurrently serving as Reader-in-Attendance. After repeatedly memorializing against Han Tuozhou, he was sent out as prefect of Jiangling and concurrently pacification commissioner of Hubei; he later served as prefect of Jiangning with the concurrent rank of Huanzhang ge daizhi. In the second year of the Qingyuan era (1196), he was removed from office and assigned to temple service; in the fifth year, he was stripped of three ranks and suspended because of his association with Zhao Ruyu's faction. In the third year of the Jiatai era (1203), he was recalled as prefect of Ganzhou but declined because of illness, and was appointed Jiying dian xiuzhuan and supervisor of the Chongyou Temple; late in life he retired as Baomo ge daizhi. He died in the second year of the Kaixi era (1206), at the age of sixty-five, and was posthumously granted the title Zhongsu during the Jiading era.

Scholarship and public service

He studied with Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi and advanced in learning. His learning was orthodox and substantial, his conduct at court unbending, his discussions loyal and forthright, and his personal conduct firm. During the Ningzong reign he repeatedly memorialized for Han Tuozhou's removal; when his advice was not followed, he sought to leave office, and the Han faction subsequently brought about his dismissal, loss of rank, and suspension.

Family

His father was 彭文通 and his father-in-law 趙伯攄; his collateral nephew was 彭銓. His eldest son was 彭欽 (1164–1228), followed by 彭鉅 and 彭鉉; his grandson was 彭沄 and his great-grandson 彭暐. His sons-in-law were 陳復之, 胡夢得, 章瑢, and 敖清之.

Writings

The 止堂集 comprised forty-seven juan and was lost; Qing Siku editors reconstructed eighteen juan from the 永樂大典 and other works, including three juan of poetry. Other works attributed to him include 止堂訓蒙, 內治聖鑑 (twenty juan), 經解, 祭儀, and 五致錄; 易覽圖 is also listed among his writings.