Mao Ji

Life and career

In the twenty-third year of the Chenghua reign, Mao Ji earned the jinshi degree, ranking 136th in the third class; he was also listed as a provincial recommended candidate and a licentiate.

His recorded family included his great-grandfather Mao Boquan, grandfather Mao Fuying, father Mao Min, mother Liu, and stepmother Zhao. His elder brothers were Mao Jing, Mao Lun, Mao Shou, and Mao Xiu; his wife was Lady Guan, his son Mao Gai, and his grandsons Mao Yanzhao and Mao Yankui.

In the twenty-third year of the Chenghua reign, he was selected as a shujishi and appointed to the Hanlin Academy as a junior compiler; early in the Hongzhi reign he advanced to compiler and became a lecturer at the Classics Mat. He subsequently served as a reader, expositor, and lecturer, became a Hanlin academician, and twice acted as a co-examiner for the metropolitan examination.

In the fifth year of the Zhengde reign (1510), he was promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue, transferred to Vice Minister of Rites, and later became Vice Minister of Personnel; in 1515 he became Minister of Rites, overseeing imperial edicts and the Directorate of the Heir Apparent.

In 1517 he entered the Grand Secretariat as a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Hall and participated in policy deliberations; he was granted the title Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, although another account gives Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He later became a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Hall.

By 1520 he had been advanced to Junior Guardian, Minister of Revenue, and Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall; in 1522 he served as chief compiler, and in 1524 became Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary of the Jingshen Hall before requesting retirement.

At the beginning of the Jiajing reign, he incurred the emperor’s displeasure over the Great Rites controversy and returned home; he was later stripped of office after being criticized over the rites issue and was restored by imperial favor. He died in 1545 and was posthumously granted Grand Guardian and the posthumous name Wenjian.

Writings and literary activity

His works include 《密勿稿》 in three juan, 《歸田雜識》 in two juan, and 《鼇峰類稿》; the last is given as either twenty-four or twenty-six juan.

Other manuscript titles associated with him include 《辭榮錄》 in one juan, 《聯句私鈔》 in four juan, 《乞停遣使西域疏》, and 《鰲頭類稿》.

His short poems were also described as having a clear and refined quality. In 《推讓名次疏》, he wrote that although Fei Hong had received his rank later, he had entered the Grand Secretariat earlier and surpassed Mao greatly in learning and talent; honors should not be judged solely by rank.

Literary and official exchanges

In literary and commemorative exchanges, Fei Hong wrote a preface for him and Fei Cai wrote his epitaph; Mao Ji wrote an epitaph for Li Xunxue and a tomb inscription for Li Kun.

On parting, Wang Ao and Liu Chun gave him farewell poems or prefaces, while Zhan Ruoshui sent congratulations; Yan Song composed his spirit-way stele, and Jiang Mian and Luo Qi wrote prefaces to his poetry and prose.