Zhao Fang

Life

Zhao Fang studied under Huang Ze Chuwang of Jiujiang, Xia Pu Dazhi of Yanling, and Huang Jin Jinqing of Yiwu, learning the Images of the Changes and the study of the Spring and Autumn. From Huang Ze he received the essential meaning of the sixty-four hexagrams; he later followed Yu Ji of Linchuan and learned the teachings of Wu Cheng. At the beginning of the Zhizheng era, Yu Ji saw his writings, held them in high esteem, and invited him into his household. Soon afterward, Zhao built the Dongshan Studio, withdrew into seclusion, and devoted himself to reading and writing; scholars respected him.

At the end of the Zhizheng era, he assisted Marshal Wang Tong in raising forces to protect the local community and was appointed a clerk of the Jiangnan Branch Privy Council. After the bingchen year, he built a thatched retreat at Xingxi Gulangshan and carried his books with him while living away from home. He later returned to Dongshan: his 《春秋集傳》, 《春秋屬辭》, and 《春秋左氏傳補注》 had all reached an advanced stage, and he continued his work on the Changes.

During the winter of the second Hongwu year, he was summoned to the capital with Zhao Xun and others to compile the History of Yuan. After the work was completed, he was allowed to return; he died of illness less than a month later, at the age of fifty-one. The following spring, in the second month, he was buried at Dongyan in his native village. His disciple Wang Yin first gathered his poems and prose, and Fan Zhun subsequently continued the compilation.

Learning and thought

Zhao's learning encompassed the classics, with particular depth in the Spring and Autumn. In reading the sages' classics, he made accumulated reflection, personal insight, and apprehension of the sages' minds his starting point; he then worked through the interpretations of earlier scholars to integrate what they had said with what they had left unsaid. He had developed lines of inquiry into the Images of the Changes, the Spring and Autumn's historiographical method, and the major and minor principles and ritual details of the rites.

His prose was often produced in response to requests or formal exchanges; his poems arose from feeling, and even long and short pieces alike were not written carelessly. His writing was plain, solid, and exact rather than ornate.

Works

His classical works include 《周易文詮》 in four juan; 《春秋集傳》 and 《春秋屬辭》, each in fifteen juan; 《春秋師說》 in three juan with a two-juan appendix; 《春秋金鎖匙》 in one juan; 《春秋左氏傳補注》 in ten juan; and 《葬書問對》 in one juan. 《東山存稿》 consists of seven juan with a one-juan appendix and preserves his poems and prose; it is also referred to as 《東山集》.

Family

His grandfather was Zhao Xiangyuan and his father was Zhao Keming; his family relations also included a collateral nephew, Zhao Suo, and a direct descendant, Zhao Guozhen.