Zheng Yu

Life

His father was Zheng Qianling (1265–1331); his younger brother was Zheng Lian (1317–1360), his agnatic cousin was Zheng Cong (1322–1343), his wife was Cheng, and his sons were Zheng Fengchen and Zheng Zuze (1337–1346), the latter being the second son.

Zheng Yu had little interest in office and lectured at Shishan Academy. His pupils became so numerous that his residence could not contain them, so he built the Shishan Academy to accommodate them; scholars called him “Master Shishan.”

During the Zhizheng era of Emperor Shun, he was summoned as Hanlin daizhi and Fengyi Dafu. In Zhizheng 14 (1354), an envoy was sent across the sea with ceremonial wine and gifts to summon him; he pleaded illness and declined, devoting himself to writing.

His life dates are given as 1298–1358, while his death is placed in Zhizheng 17 (1357). After the Ming emperor took Huizhou, one version says that Zhu Yuanzhang sent Deng Yu to force him into service, while another says that the local commander did so. Zheng Yu refused, asking how he could serve two dynasties; he bowed twice toward the north and hanged himself.

Scholarship and associations

He mastered the Five Classics, with particular expertise in the Spring and Autumn Annals. His prose avoided elaborate ornament and was highly praised by Yu, Jie, and Ouyang.

Ling Qingsi was his friend. His literary relations included Wang Yi and Hu Mo, for whom he wrote prefaces, and Cheng Wen, to whom he wrote letters. He composed farewell pieces for Tang Guifang, Wang Kuan, Wang Shi, Wang Xunyuan, and Ge Jiang; Zhao Fang and Yang Weizhen also sent him farewell writings.

Works

His works include 《春秋經傳闕疑》 in 45 juan and 《師山集》.

His writings span prefaces, epitaphs, tomb inscriptions, postscripts, letters, academy and school records, temple and Daoist-monastery inscriptions, mourning poems, and farewell poems and prefaces.

A poem attributed to him reads: “何時四海收兵甲，還向師山理舊書。”

Reception

Cheng Yiwen of the same commandery praised his conduct as lofty and his understanding of the Way as clear, saying that he had developed a voice of his own.

Later writings include Zhu Sheng’s 《祭鄭師山先生文》, 汪克寬’s 《師山先生鄭公行狀》, and 王褘’s 《書鄭子美文集後》; another piece is titled 《題鄭子美師山精舍》.