Biography of Gentleman He Xueyun (1841) (Text)

Biography of Gentleman He Xueyun

The surname of the gentleman was He, first name Yuanqi, and courtesy name Youren. In his later years, he used Xueyun [Plowing in the Snow] as his style name. He was from Guodong Hamlet in South Township in our county [Wuyi County]. The He lineage is a famous lineage in our county. There have been famous figures in every generation since the Song (960-1276) and Yuan (1276-1368) ontothe Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Gentleman was able to maintain the values of his lineage. Among those in our hamletknown for  knowledge of the Classics and refinement of conduct, all agreed that Gentleman was the best.

The Gentleman’s father, the Gentleman [He] Fanghan, passed away when he was only three years old. If it were not for his mother the Lady Tang’s sedulous rearing, he would not have been able to establish himself. As soon as he could speak, she taught him to read books by lamplight. During moments of  leisure, she would discuss ancient principles and politics with him; he could understand it all, and followed her instructions carefully. He was brilliant, and was diligent in study. Once he went to school his learning became ever more refined  and his accomplishment more profound. His writings often surprised the elders. He went to the county school when he was young, and soon became a Government Student.[1]  When the education officials examined the students, he always ranked in the top group. When he participated in the Provincial Examination, as soon as his examination essay became public, his friends were surprised and admiring. The discerning said that his essays were in the style of the Jiajing (1522-1566) and Longqing (1567-1572) reign periods of the former Ming dynasty[2]  and could serve as the model for the literati.

His ability did not match his fate. He participated in the civil service examinations ten times, but no matter how many times he participated in he failed. After [the county] nominated him to the National University[3]. he gave up taking examinations. His mother had already died by this time. He thought that since he no longer needed to “support [his mother] by holding the summons,”[4]  passing the examinations was not worth the honor.

His ancestors had already acquired a rich collection of books. The Gentleman kept on buying books that the collection lacked, so that it continued to grow. Day and night, eating and sleeping, he was in the library,  a book always in his hand. He read through them all, from the Classics and histories, to the hundred philosophers and unofficial records, to the modern collections of poetry and prose, and he could remember all he read. When young students had questions, re responded without any difficulty, analyzing the issue from beginning to end in detail. Besides composition in the examination format,[5] he was especially fond of ancient-style prose. However, he never composed anythin perfunctorily. When composed a piece, it achieved superiority. His writings were like unadorned jade and undecorated gold, one would know they were precious treasures at the first glance.

            At home he was famous of his filial piety and fraternality. He loved doing good deeds. He administered the affairs of the ancestral hall and established a community school; he built forts, and renovated bridges. He did not begrudge the enormous expense, he was only concerned with getting it done.  When among the neighbors and relatives there those who were poor and suffering, he would help them without being stingy. His family was wealthy but gradually it ran short of money. Yet whenever there was good to be done, he supported it without hesitation even if it bankrupted him. It must have been his nature.

            He lost several wives. His first wife was [surnamed] Zhu, the second Xu, and the third Tang. All were virtuous and pure. He  was past forty years old before he had his two sons. The first, Yingmeng, was a National University Student.[6] The second, Yinghao, was a Tribute Student.[7] When [Yinghao]was a Prefectural Graduate, he participated in the provincial examinations in the same year as I, and we associated with each other through writing. In his youth he was scholarly and gained literary fame. At the time he was expected to go far, but he died in the middle age, and ended up only as a Classicist.[8] People felt sorry for him and sad for his father.

Today, because they are recompiling the genealogy, his grandson has asked me to write his biography for the family history, in accord with his father’s will. Now those who do not receive just reward in their own lifetimes will certainly see it received by their descendants. Since the Gentleman had accumulated so muchvirtue and in addition to the richness of his book collection, we sincerely that his descendants to study and cultivate themselves, and thus to achieve fame and succeed in their work.

On the auspicious shangwan day of the tenth month, in the winter of the twenty-first year of Daoguang reign period, the xinchou year (1841),

Respectfully written by

Gu Zhuomao, his junior, who bears the title of Metropolitan Graduate, with the rank of Gentleman-litterateur, formerly Magistrate of Fuliang County in Jiangxi Province, having served as the Deputy of Magistrate of Boyang County in Yongfeng, Vice Magistrate of the Jingde Defense Command in Rao Prefecture, and Assistant Magistrate of Wucheng in Nanchang Prefecture.