Kong Yingda and Yan Shigu on the Biography

Author: Shen Tu Lu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Kong Yingda (574—648), styled Chongyuan, was a native of Hengshui (now northwest Hengshui City, Hebei Province) in Jizhou. The Kong family was a renowned Confucian scholar during the Tang Dynasty, and the Five Classics Rectification they compiled holds a landmark significance in the history of Chinese Confucian studies. Kong Yingda was a descendant of Confucius. The descendants of Confucius, dating back to the Han Dynasty, had Kong Fu, who was enfeoffed as a Guannai (Marquis of the Interior). Kong Fu’s seventh-generation descendant, Kong Yu, served as the Governor of Jizhou in the Later Han Dynasty and had a son named Kong Yang. Kong Yang was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xiabo, and his descendants settled there. Seven generations later, Kong Linggui served as a Guozisi (National University) scholar during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Kong Linggui had a son named Kong Shuo, who served as a Zhishushì (Imperial Censor) in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Kong Shuo had a son named Kong An, who served as a legal officer in Qingzhou during the Northern Qi Dynasty. Kong An was Kong Yingda’s father. From Confucius to Kong Yingda, spanning thirty-three generations, Kong Yingda was the thirty-third-generation descendant of Confucius. Kong Yingda was born in the fifth year of Wuping (574) during the reign of the Later Qi’s last ruler. In the first year of Kaigang (581) during the rule of Emperor Wen of Sui, Kong Yingda was eight years old and began his studies that same year. Kong Yingda was exceptionally intelligent, capable of memorizing over a thousand characters of Confucian classics daily. Within a few years, he had mastered the Zuo Zhuan (Leftist Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals), the Zheng Shi Shang Shu (Zheng’s Commentary on the Book of Documents), the Wang Shi Yi (Wang’s Commentary on the Book of Changes), the Mao Shi (Mao’s Commentary on the Book of Songs), and the Li Ji (Book of Rites). He was also proficient in mathematics and calendrical studies and excelled in writing. At the age of nineteen, Kong Yingda traveled to seek renowned masters. In his hometown, there was an elderly Confucian scholar named Liu Zhuo, who was highly esteemed nationwide. Kong Yingda went to study under him. Liu Zhuo (544—608), styled Shi Yuan, was a native of Changting (now Jixian County, Hebei Province) in Xindu. In his youth, he formed a close friendship with Liu Xuan of Hejian and studied the Book of Songs with Liu Gui’s disciple Liu Gui’si and the Zuo Zhuan with Guo Mao of Guangping and the Book of Rites with Xiong An of Fucheng. However, he did not complete his studies with any of them. Liu Zhuo and Liu Xuan studied at Liu Zhihai’s home, which was rich in ancient books. After ten years, both became renowned for their Confucian studies and were appointed as doctoral scholars for the prefecture. They were known as the “Two Lius.” During the Kaigang era of Emperor Wen of Sui, Liu Zhuo passed the talent examination and ranked first in the imperial examinations. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he was appointed as a professor at the Imperial Academy. He died in the fourth year of Daye (670) at the age of sixty-seven. Liu Xuan requested a posthumous title for him, but the court refused. Liu Zhuo’s Confucian works include the Five Classics Commentary. As a renowned scholar of the time, Liu Zhuo had many disciples, and he did not pay much attention to the young Kong Yingda. One day, Kong Yingda “asked questions that went beyond the conventional understanding.” Only then did Liu Zhuo “change his demeanor and show respect.” Kong Yingda requested to return home, but Liu Zhuo tried to persuade him but failed. After returning home, Kong Yingda made teaching his profession. After the Sui Dynasty was established, the nine-rank system was abolished, along with the system of appointing local officials by prefectural and county magistrates. Officials at all levels, including local officials, were appointed by the central government. The selection of officials was no longer restricted by lineage, and the imperial examinations were introduced to select talent, marking the formal implementation of the far-reaching imperial examination system. After Emperor Yang ascended the throne, to select talent, he issued an edict in the seventh month of the first year of Daye, stating, “Among those who are studying at home or in school, if there are those who are deeply devoted to ancient studies, passionate about classics, outstanding in learning and character, and capable of serving the times, they should be sought out and their names reported.” In the early years of Daye, Kong Yingda “passed the Mingjing examination with high honors” and was appointed as a doctoral scholar in He’nan Prefecture. The term “Mingjing” refers to proficiency in Confucian classics. Kong Yingda’s high score in the Mingjing examination was no coincidence, given his mastery of Confucian classics. Emperor Yang also gathered Confucian scholars from various prefectures to the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, and ordered the Guozisi scholars to debate with them. Kong Yingda stood out in the debates, youthful and confident, completely overshadowing many of the elder scholars of the time. These scholars were furious and secretly hired assassins to kill him. Yang Xuangan, the Minister of Rites who was overseeing the debates, heard about this and hid Kong Yingda.