Two Studies on Ming History by Charles O. Hucker

Author:Charles O. Hucker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kenneth G. Lieberthal and Richard H. Rogel Center for Chinese Studies
Published: 2020-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

K’AI-TU CH’UAN-HSIN*

At the time of the arrest of Wei Ta-chung (1575–1625),19 the former Ministry of Civil Service departmental vice-director Chou Shun-ch’ang was living at home in Wu-men (i.e., Su-chou). Shun-ch’ang had long enjoyed a great reputation for purity and resoluteness, and his whole life had been devoted to loyalty and patriotism. When Ta-chung passed through Wu, Shun-chang treated him cordially and through successive days was constantly in his company. In parting, he wept bitterly and betrothed his daughter to (Wei’s) grandson; and when mention was made of the new influence of the inner court (i.e., the palace eunuchs), he viciously gnashed his teeth and vigorously cursed, while everyone stared.

As always when the traitor-eunuch (Wei Chung-hsien) sent out guardsmen (t’i-ch’i i.e., members of the Imperial Guard, Chin-i wei), men had been sent along behind to spy in their wake. They saw Shun-ch’ang grasping hands and being affectionate with Ta-chung. And when, because the delay had become so extended, the guardsmen urged Ta-chung along and spoke disrespectfully to Shun-ch’ang, Shun-ch’ang in wide-eyed indignation abused them, saying: “Don’t you know there are men in the world who aren’t afraid to die? You go back and tell Chung-hsien that I am the former Ministry of Civil Service departmental vice-director Chou Shun-ch’ang!” Then he called out the name of Chung-hsien and cursed it ceaselessly. Observers gaped at one another and put out their tongues in astonishment, and his words were reported to Chung-hsien.

Later (Wei) Ta-chung was sent to prison. The censor Ni Wen-huan (chin-shih 1619) then impeached Shun-ch’ang because of the marriage agreement, and he was erased from the rolls (i.e., deprived of his status and prerogatives as an official).20

[The “wave minister of the five lakes” reports:” It had happened

*The translator gladly acknowledges indebtedness to his friends Mr. Chao Pao-ch’u and Professor Hiraoka Takeo for many suggestions that enhanced his understanding of this text; but he accepts full responsibility for the translation offered.

that the vice-prefect Yang Chiang 21 because he obstinately refused to cooperate with the eunuch supervisor of textile manufactures, Li Shih (ca. 1570-ca. 1636), 22 was falsely memorialized about and dismissed from office. Tradition was that eunuchs did not impeach functionaries of prefectures and districts or encroach upon the authority of governors and provincial inspectors. But when (Chou ) Ch'i-yüan (1572–1626),23 who was governor, attempted to defend (Yang), Ch'i-yüan himself was also dismissed. On the day when he departed from Wu, Shun-ch'ang as a parting gift to him wrote an essay of several hundred words dripping with lamentations, in which he made critical references (to Wei Chung-hsien) without the slightest concealment. 24 Thus he, too, aroused the hatred of Chung-hsien. Instructions were given to the new governor, Mao I-lu (chin-shih 1604),25 secretly to spy around. Shun-ch'ang put an end to all his interventions and pleadings; he remained in solitude and took no part in affairs. His house of a few rafters in a winding lane merely sheltered his body from wind and rain, and he ate poor-quality rice. His wife, Madame Wu had

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