Ouyang Xuan

Life

His father, Ouyang Longsheng (歐陽龍生), rose under the Yuan to become a professor in the Daozhou Circuit; his younger agnatic cousin was Ouyang Gongjin (歐陽公瑾), and his son was Ouyang Dalao (歐陽達老; 1319–1340). As a child, he studied with Zhang Guanzhi and became known for his literary talent; he could recite texts at eight and compose polished prose at fourteen. In 1315, the second year of the Yanyou era, he was recommended first from the provincial tribute quota, passed the jinshi examination, and placed third among the successful candidates. Appointed associate prefect of Pingjiang, he was transferred to serve as magistrate of Wuhu and Wugang, then entered the Directorate of the Imperial Academy as a professor and supervisory officer, later becoming a Hanlin Academician-in-Waiting; at the beginning of the Tianli era, he became a vice director of the Directorate of Arts and helped compile the Jingshi dadian. In 1333, the sixth year of the Yuantu era, he became a Hanlin Direct Academician and was ordered to compile the Veritable Records of the Taiding, Mingzong, Wenzong, and Ningzong emperors. At the beginning of the Zhizheng era he took leave as an academician, but was soon recalled as chief editor of the histories of Song, Liao, and Jin; after their completion, he was appointed Academician-in-chief of the Hanlin Academy. His career lasted more than forty years: he served three times in the Directorate of the Imperial Academy and twice as its director, entered the Hanlin Academy six times, became its chief three times, repeatedly presided over literary examinations, and twice served as chief examiner while also acting as reader of examination papers. He also held the office of Right Vice Chancellor of the Huguang Branch Secretariat. He died in his lodgings in Dadu in 1357, the seventeenth year of the Zhizheng era, amid blocked communications in central China, at the age of eighty-five. He was posthumously granted the titles Grand Minister of State and Pillar of State, enfeoffed as Duke of Chu, and given Wen as his posthumous name.

Historical Work and Writings

Beyond the three dynastic histories, his compilations included the Taiping jingguo, Zhizheng tiaoge, and Jingshi dadian; he was also ordered to compile the Veritable Records of the Taiding, Mingzong, Wenzong, and Ningzong emperors. His prose supplied many of the court documents and proclamations used in ancestral and imperial institutions; mountains and rivers throughout the realm, Buddhist and Daoist establishments, and the tomb inscriptions of princes and eminent men all regarded it as an honor to obtain his writing. The Guizhai wenji was transmitted in fifteen juan. Other titles associated with his writings include the Hefang ji, Zhenghuang shilüe, Yuan xiantai tongji xuji, and Kuiche zhi in one juan; another tradition gives the title Kuidong ji. From the time he passed the examination, his writings reportedly reached more than one hundred fascicles; the manuscripts kept at his home in Liuyang were destroyed in warfare, and the extant portion was recorded during seven years in Yan.

Networks and Influence

He was a friend of Yu Ji and Jie Xisi, and had a close literary association with Zheng Shen. When Yu Ji’s father, Jingzhai, was teaching in Tan Prefecture, he read Xuan’s writing and was astonished; he sent a manuscript to Yu Ji and predicted that the two would one day rival each other, after which Yu Ji recommended Xuan to the court and their reputations became comparable. He also wrote prefaces for works by Su Tianjue, Yu Ji, Cheng Jufu, Liu Shen, and Song Jiong.