Qian Qianyi (1582—1664), a native of Changshu County in the southern area of the Yangtze River (a part of today’s Suzhou), styled himself as Shouzhi and used the pseudonym Mu Zhai, which was later changed to Meng Sou and Dong Jian Lao Ren (meaning “an old man living near Dongjian River”). The 38th year of Emperor Wanli’s reign of the Ming Dynasty (1610) saw Qian pass the imperial exam and rank third. He was then assigned a position at the Imperial Academy responsible for editing and modifying work (Han Lin Yuan Bian Xiu). During Emperor Tianqi’s reign, Qian passed the civil-service examination in Zhejiang and was appointed as the senior secretary supervising the imperial tutoring (You Chun Fang Zhong Yun). He also participated in the editorial work of Shen Zong Shi Lu (meaning “the records of Emperor Shenzong”). Later, Qian was dismissed from office and sent back home due to his connection with the case of Wei Zhongxian’s Donglin Clique. At the beginning of Emperor Chongzhen’s reign, Qian started to work as the right chamberlain (You Shi Lang) of the Ministry of Rites while taking the part-time position as a royal tutor at the Imperial Academy (Han Lin Yuan Shi Du Xue Shi). During the same period, the practice of collective recommendation of court officials led to a power fight between Wen Tiren and Zhou Yande. Qian Qianyi was also involved and thus attacked, which led to his second dismissal. But he was appointed as director of the Ministry of Rites (Li Bu Shang Shu) during the Emperor Hongguang’s reign of the Southern Ming Dynasty and was a supporter of Prince Fu. The 2nd year of Emperor Shunzhi’s reign (1645) witnessed Qian’s surrender to the Qing court. He was appointed as an academician of the Inner Grand Secretariat Institution (Nei Mi Shu Yuan Xue Shi) while serving part-time as right chamberlain of the Ministry of Rites. Soon he quitted office and returned home with the excuse of poor health. Rumor has it that he was close with those who were determined to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and restore the reign of the Ming Dynasty. He was even imprisoned because of the involvement in the case of Huang Yuqi’s uprise in Jiangyin. After his release, Qian built Jiangyun Tower for book collection and focused on proofreading and criticism of literary works. His poetry and essays were so influential in those days that he was honored as “Great Master of Literature”. Qian was the leading poet of Yushan School as well. He, together with Wu Weiye and Gong Dingzi, was known as “Three Masters in the South of the Yangtze River”. In the 44th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1779), Qian’s writing was censored as absurd and arrogant. The pieces which had been recorded in the county annals were all deleted. Qian’s important works included Chu Xue Ji (Essays of Basic Learning), You Xue Ji (Essays of In-depth Learning), Tou Bi Ji (meaning “essays about casting the pen for a military career”), Kai Guo Qun Xiong Shi Lue, (meaning “biographical sketches of founding heroes”), Lie Chao Shi Ji (meaning “an anthology of poems of past dynasties”) and Nei Dian Wen Cang (meaning “selected pieces of the classic Buddhist scriptures”). Qian’s tomb is located at the southern foot of Yushan Hill in Changshu, Jiangsu Province.
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