Jin Youzi (1368–1431; alternative birth years are 1366 and 1367, and an alternative death year is 1432) was a Ming official, man of letters, and calligrapher. His personal name was Shan; Youzi was his courtesy name, by which he was known, and he came from Xingan in Jiangxi. He was third in birth order, used the sobriquets 退庵 and 退闇, and received the posthumous name Wenjing, also written 文清.
Life and career
He was first a shengyuan, became a juren in the jimao year of the Jianwen reign, and passed the Jinshi examination in Jianwen 2, placing fourth in the second class; he was appointed Huke jishizhong (戶科給事中). After the accession of the Chengzu Emperor, he was transferred to the Hanlin Academy as a compiler, served with Xie Jin and others in the Wenyuan Pavilion, and was promoted to Lecturer; he later held the Eastern Palace post You Chunfang You Yude (右春坊右諭德), served as You Yude (右諭德) and a Hanlin Academy Academician, and also held You Shuzi (右春坊右庶子).
In Yongle 7 he accompanied the emperor to Beijing, and in Yongle 8 joined the northern campaign. The emperor repeatedly ordered him to note the strategic features of mountains and passes, discussed enemy affairs with him, and thereafter took him on every northern expedition. Between Yongle 9 and 10 he served as a compilation official and an examiner for metropolitan examinations; in Yongle 18 he became a Grand Academician of the Wenyuan Pavilion. When Chengzu died on the return march in Yongle 22, Jin escorted the coffin back.
In the first year of Hongxi he became Vice Minister of Revenue, was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, concurrently became Grand Academician of the Wuying Hall, and was then promoted to Minister of Rites; he also served as chief editor. He died in the twelfth month of Xuande 6, was posthumously granted Shaobao, and received the posthumous name Wenjing.
Family and associations
His great-grandfather was Jin Deming and his grandfather Jin Zhongqing; his father is variously named Jin Shouzheng and Jin Gu, and his mother was Luo Shi. His younger brothers were Jin Youxue, Jin Youfu, and Jin Youxiao; his wife was Liu Shi, and his sons were Jin Zhaobo, Jin Bi, Jin Wenbo, Jin Wubo, Jin Jianbo, and Jin Shoubo. Lian An and Gong Tai were his friends, while Gao Xunzhi is linked to him in a master–disciple relationship; Jin also composed Gong Tai’s epitaph.
Writings and literary work
His works include the Beizheng lu (《北征錄》), one juan; the Hou Beizheng lu (《後北征錄》), one juan; the Chunqiu yaozhi (《春秋要旨》), three juan; and the Jin Wenjing ji (《金文靖集》). The collection is listed as ten juan; related titles include the Jin Wenjing gong ji (《金文靖公集》), ten juan, and the Jin Wenjing gong ji waiji (《金文靖公集外集》), one juan, while another account gives a twelve-juan collection. His literary activity covered northern-campaign poetry, epitaphs, sacrificial texts, prefaces, postscripts, and spirit-way inscriptions. He wrote an epitaph for Gong Tai, sacrificial texts for Hu Guang and Chen Qia, spirit-way inscriptions for Yang Rong and others, and prefaces to the poetry and prose of several writers.
References
- CBDB Jin Youzi (34486)
- 搜韵 金幼孜 (50120)
- Wikidata Jin Youzi (Q10268371)