Deng Yizan

Life

In the first year of the Longqing reign (1567), he placed thirtieth in the Jiangxi provincial examination and became a juren; in the fifth year (1571), he was huiyuan of the Xinwei examination, ranked third in the first class of the palace examination (tanhua), and was appointed a Hanlin compiler. In the same year, Chen Dong selected him first among candidates from the same commandery.

When Zhang Juzheng dominated the government, Yizan's remonstrance brought him into conflict with Zhang; when his advice went unheeded, he withdrew on grounds of illness. He was later recalled as Zhongyun, but abandoned the appointment on the way because he was concerned about his mother; he was subsequently appointed libationer of the Nanjing Imperial Academy. His career culminated in the office of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, although it is also described as the Nanjing post.

He submitted memorials urging the establishment of a crown prince and forcefully argued against the simultaneous enfeoffment of the three princes. More than twenty years after attaining the degree, he had served in office for less than one six-year evaluation term. He was esteemed in his local community. In 1599, the twenty-seventh year of the Wanli reign, he died during mourning for his mother, worn down by grief. He was posthumously granted the rank of Minister of Rites and received the posthumous name Wenjie.

Family

His great-grandfather was Deng Fu, his grandfather Deng Lang, his father Deng Yan, and his mother Lady Gong; his wife was Lady Yao. He had four elder brothers—Deng Yijian, Deng Yigao, Deng Yicheng, and Deng Yizhao—and a younger brother, Deng Yimo. His son was Deng Lüyuan, and his agnatic nephew was Deng Lüzhong.

Intellectual life and associations

In his youth he studied with Wang Ji alongside Zhang Yuanbian (also written 張元抃), transmitted Wang Shouren's learning of innate knowing, and belonged to the Jiangyou Wang school within the Yangming tradition. Zou Yuanbiao wrote a preface, an epitaph, and a sacrificial text for him. Yizan also wrote epitaphs for Wan Gong and Liu Cai, sacrificial texts for Xu Zhenming, Zhang Yuanbian, and Zhong Zhenji, and biographical accounts for Wang Zongmu and Wan Yukai.

Works

The title of his collected works appears in two forms, 《鄧定宇先生文集》 and 《定宇先生文集》; the former is designated as six juan. He also wrote 《定宇制義》, also titled 《定宇制義稿》, and 《文潔集》 in four juan; lost manuscripts are also mentioned.