Yang Shouzhi · 全球本体聚合平台

Yang Shouzhi (1436–1512) was a Ming official and scholar.

He was listed as eighth in his family order. His style name was Weili (維立; also written 惟立), and his sobriquet was Bichuan (碧川). He came from Yin County in Zhejiang, now Yinzhou District of Ningbo.

Life and education

At six, he understood the general meaning of the classical texts; he later became a student, studied under his elder brother Yang Shouchen, read widely, and took the Six Classics and the Four Books as the foundation of his learning. He emphasized diligent practice rather than literary accomplishment alone.

In 1465 he placed first in the Zhejiang provincial examination, and in 1478 he placed second in the first class of the palace examination. These results made him the Zhejiang jieyuan and the bangyan.

Official career

After passing the metropolitan examination in 1478, he was appointed a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and later transferred to Nanjing as a Reader-in-Waiting. Early in the Hongzhi reign he helped compile the Veritable Records of the Chenghua Emperor, was promoted to Lecturer-in-Waiting, and eventually took charge of the Hanlin Academy.

From Hongzhi 8 to 11 (1495–1498) he served as a Hanlin Lecturer-in-Waiting; from Hongzhi 10 to 16 (1497–1503) he was a deputy chief editor, and from Hongzhi 11 to 16 (1498–1503) he served as Vice Minister of Personnel in Nanjing. From Hongzhi 16 to 18 (1503–1505) he was Left Vice Minister of Personnel, and from Hongzhi 18 (1505) he held the office of Minister of Personnel in Nanjing.

After the accession of the Hongzhi Emperor, he was summoned to serve as a lecturer for the daily court presentations. He urged the promotion of gentlemen and removal of petty men as the key to order and disorder, and, responding to an astral anomaly, submitted five proposals that the emperor accepted. Early in the Zhengde reign he requested retirement and was granted ministerial rank in retirement.

Learning and conduct

Scholars called him Master Bichuan. He was deeply devoted to learning and widely read, and his learning and conduct were said to equal those of his elder brother. Quiet by nature but warm and approachable, he would not yield when he believed a matter contrary to principle; when receiving a tribute envoy at home, he placed the visitor at the side of the mat and maintained a stern, formal manner, saying that a high minister must not compromise the dignity of China.

His great-grandfather was Yang Haoqing, his grandfather Yang Jiuchou, and his parents were Yang Zimou and Lady Zhang. His elder brothers were Yang Shouchen and Yang Shousui, his younger brother was Yang Shouxi, his wife was Lady Quan, and his son was Yang Maoshen.

He was devoted to his family. After Yang Shouchen died, he maintained a memorial place and mourned him for three years; when a younger brother died early, he raised the two orphaned children left behind, took the smaller share when the family divided its fields, and later used his accumulated emoluments to help the kinsman Kangjian Gong when the latter was penalized.

Writings

In literary affairs, he wrote prefaces for works by Yang Shouchen and Fan Li, composed an epitaph for Liu Fu, and wrote a biography and farewell verse or preface for Liu Yu.

His works include *Bichuan wenxuan* (《碧川文選》), *Bichuan wenshao* (《碧川文鈔》, 29 juan), *Zhejiang yuan san huilu* (《浙元三會錄》), *Kunxue guawen lu* (《困學寡聞錄》, 10 juan), *Cheng-Zhu yilun* (《程朱義論》), *Zawen chugao* (《雜文儲稿》), and *Shi* (《詩》, 20 juan), along with more than ten other collections of poetry, prose, and writings.

Death and posthumous honors

He died in the seventh year of the Zhengde reign (1512). The court posthumously granted him the title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and provided the customary sacrificial rites and burial.