Hong Mai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hong Mai (Chinese: 洪邁, 1123, Poyang-1202, Hangzhou),[1] courtesy name Jinglu (景盧), art name Yechu (野處) and Rongzhai (容齋), was a Chinese statesman, Confucian scholar and writer during the Southern Song dynasty.[2]
He was the author of Yijianzhi (夷堅志)[3] and Rongzhai Suibi (容齋隨筆).[4]
Hong was born in the year of 1123 in Poyang. His father Hong Hao was a Song official who participated the negotiations between Song and Jin during the wars of Jingkang era. He also had two elder brothers whose name were Hong Kuo and Hong Zun respectively.[5]
In 1145, with the favor of Emperor Gaozong of Song, Hong Mai was given a government post in the department of transportation (Zhuanyun Si).[5]
In 1162, Hong Mai was sent to Jurchen Empire; which ruled the northern half of China at the time; as a diplomat. During his stay in the north, he tried to establish a truce in Shandong but the Jurchens were not ready to accommodate. Mai did not receive any response from the north and returned south by autumn.[5]
In 1166, Hong was appointed the magistrate of Jizhou. In the following years, he also governed Ganzhou and Wuzhou in turn.[5]
In 1175, Hong became a member of the national archive and participated in the compiling of Chronicles.[5]
In 1190, Hong was appointed the magistrate of Shaoxing. In Shaoxing, he rectified the population registry and petitioned a tax cut for the people of Shaoxing.[5]
Hong died in the year of 1202, aged 80. He was posthumously given the name "Wenmin" (文敏).[5]
