Xiang Qiao Ji (Volume 1 and 2): Wenzhou Literature Series

Author: Xiang Qiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Xiang Qiao (1493–1552), styled Ziqian, styled Oudong, was a native of Yongjia Qijia (now Shacheng Town, Longwan District, Wenzhou City). Later, he moved to Jiuqu Cang in the city and took the title Jiuqu Mountain Man. In the eighth year of the Jiajing era (1529), he ranked second in the imperial examination and was appointed as the Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Works in Nanjing. He was assigned to the Yizhen Factory and later transferred to the Military Selection Office of the Ministry of War. Due to an incident involving falsified treasures, he was demoted to the position of Vice Magistrate of Fuding Prefecture (now Xiapu County, Fujian Province). Upon assuming office, he abolished the old practice of requiring local levies to provide banquets for doorkeepers and formulated the "Pastoral Ordinance" to be publicly announced. In the fourteenth year of the Jiajing era (1535), he was promoted to the position of Magistrate of Fuzhou (capital in present-day Linchuan County, Jiangxi Province). He issued a notice stating that the world fears no good officials but bad citizens, and that he would take up any proposals for beneficial undertakings or harmful reforms. He also gathered the scholars from the six counties under his jurisdiction, personally examining their writings and moral character, urging them to encourage one another, and converted the abandoned temple of Baoying Temple into a prefectural school. Later, he was transferred to Luzhou Prefecture (capital in present-day Hefei City, Anhui Province), where he lived close to the people, punished bandits, and strictly disciplined officials, resulting in a clear and upright administration. To improve transportation, he built two bridges—the Jipin Bridge and the Maowei Bridge. Soon after, he was dismissed from office due to the involvement of his assistant magistrate Zhao Ying, who was accused of libel for publishing books. After his reinstatement, he served as the Magistrate of Hejian (now Hejian County, Hebei Province) but was again implicated in a case involving Wang Lian, who was accused of false accusation and arrested in the imperial prison. Wang Lian was a native of Renqiu in Hejian Prefecture. While serving as the Magistrate of Yangwu County, he was punished and dismissed by the Hu Zongzong, who then confiscated Hu's ceremonial poem and accused him of slandering the court. As a result, Wang Lian was sentenced to death for false accusation. When the case was clarified, Xiang Qiao was promoted to Vice Director of the Hubei Provincial Inspection and Prosecution Office. In this region, the Prince of Chu, Zhu Xianrong, was tyrannical and ruthless, causing resentment both within and outside the court. Xiang Qiao told his colleagues that the Prince of Chu would surely meet misfortune and wrote the "Letter Urging Self-Reflection" to Zhu Xianrong, hoping to persuade him to reform. However, his advice was not accepted. Soon after, Zhu Yingyao assassinated Zhu Xianrong, and the authorities investigated the case. All those who had incited debauchery and evil within the royal palace were punished, and the events unfolded exactly as Xiang Qiao had predicted. Xiang Qiao later served as the Assistant Censor of Guangdong and retired to his hometown. He held office for over twenty years in total.