The Lost Poems And Articles Collection Of Number One Scholar Tang Gao In Ming Dynasty

As the Number One Scholar(状元)in the ninth year (1514) of Zhengde Emperor(正德皇帝)in Ming Dynasty, Tang Gao(唐皋,1469-1526), styled himself as Shouzhi(守之),Xin’an(心庵),and Ziyang hermit(紫阳山人),was born in Yansi town(嚴寺镇),She county(歙县),Huizhou(徽州府),South Zhili(南直隸).Due to his premature death, the loss of his detailed biography and epitaph, even the obscure of his early life experience, the later scholars cannot get access to the life story of the Number One Scholar of Huizhou in details.Through searching traditional literatures combined with retrieving computer database, travelling or embodying official history and local records at all levels in various book series of Ming and Qing Dynasty, separate collections and notes of scholars, as well as many contemporary issues and Chinese classics distributed to Korea, this dissertation has totally collected51Tang Gao’s lost articles(佚诗),169Tang Gao’s lost pomes(佚文), besides there are many responsorial literatures and biographical materials in it,which is nearly60000words. On this basis, it can revert to the life, thoughts and poetic creation of Tang Gao.Tang Gao was born in literature aristocratic family of the Tang with deep Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism(程朱理学)academic tradition. For the family had fallen down on the hard time, he was poor in his early life but worked energetically. Although he failed in imperial examinations(科举)many times, he became the Number One Scholar(状元)at last. This is an act of "where there is a will, there is a way" produced a great response in scholars of each level at that time. After passing the imperial examination, he began his official career in the status of the Imperial History writer of Hanlin Academy(翰林院修撰兼修国史).In the fifth year of Jiajing Emperor, he died as an expositor of the academy(翰林院侍讲学士兼经筵讲官),and was58. In his short12political career, however, it was that the radical change time in various aspects, such as politics, economy, academic and literature between Zhengde and Jiajing Emperor(嘉靖皇帝)in Ming Dynasty.Tang Gao, who was erect in attitude and mature in nature, was generally considered to be the Prime Minister(宰辅)in the future. At the beginning of his official life, he has already posed a view that the government statutes(纪纲)should be strengthened. In the twelfth year of ZhengDe Emperor (1517), as the vice examiner of the metropolitan examination(会试同考官),he selected lots of talents. When Zhengde Emperor died, he served as an imperial envoy abroad Korea(钦差朝鲜正使)and issued the Imperial Edict of Jiajing Emperor’s Ascending Throne(登极改元詔),which could be said he reached his political career’s peak. During his visit in Joseon Dynasty(李氏朝鲜),he was acclaimed as the most righteous in the world by the King and officials there, due to his discipline and honesty. After he returned to China, Tang Gao wanted to realize his aspiration, and letter accused the employing problems of Jiajing Emperor. In the "Great Ritual Controversy"(“大礼议事件”),he mediated the two groups, and expressed his profound and lasting political foresight, which caused the discontent of the Emperor. In the fourth year of Jiajing Emperor,"The Factual Record of Ming Emperor Wu Zong"{《明武宗实录》)was finished. As a historiographer, he made a significant contribution to the historiography of Ming Dynasty.Tang Gao once pursued his studies in Zi Yang Academy(紫阳书院), the Prefectural School(府学)of Huizhou, where the Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism was deeply rooted. He advocated pragmatism, focused on the ways of the world and the heart of humans, so that his early works all agreed with the concept of Neo-Confucianism. However, in his late years, he resorted to WangYangming’s Idealistic Theories(阳明心学),and his articles then combined both the Cheng-zhu School and the Idealistic School. Besides, different from his early poems and essays, which regarded Taosim(道教)as heresy, his late works often cited Buddhist Scriptures(佛典)And thanks to the unique copy he reserved, the representative work of the convergence of three religions(三教合一)entitled "Xing-Ming-Gui-Zhi"(《性命圭旨》)were thus circulated.Tang Gao advocated pragmatism, thus his works focused on the documentary form. Influenced by the former seven scholars, his writing style tended to revert to old ways. The several existing Yue Fu(乐府诗)drafted by him all seemed extraordinary with a trace of Yang Weizhen(杨维桢)’sstyle. The poems were once selected into Qian Qianyi(线谦益)’s"Lie-Chao-Shi-Ji’’(《列朝诗集》),which represented his retro trend. He especially admired Li Mengyang(李萝阳)and was also on good terms with some retro scholars like Wang Jiusi(王九思)During his diplomatic mission, he versified together with some civil officials of Joseon Dynasty such as Li Xing(李荇),and introduced the opinions of the "Tormer Seven Scholars"(“前七子”)such as Li Mengyang from the official level. The "Xin-Si-Huang-Hua-Ji"(《辛巳皇华集》)versification and the direct result-the spread of Li Mengyang’s poetry eastwards, have a far-reaching effect on the literature innovation in the mid and late period of Joseon Dynasty.In addition, several of his travel poems carried a style of Xie Lingyun(谢靈運)’sscenic poem. Among them, some particular ones also contained the style of Tang Ying(唐寅)’sWu School. Apparently, his poetic creation learned widely from others’ strong points and appealed to both refined and popular taste. This was quite similar to his good friend YangShen(杨慎).Tang Gao led a short life,which made many scholars once sympathize him not to fulfill himself. Tang Gao’s wife Yan(阎氏) left a single poem, with a prosperous charm of Tang Dynasty. His eldest grandson Tang Rulong(唐汝龙),who received a good education from Tang Gao, learned Li Bai(李白)’s poetic style and was highly appreciated by Qian Qianyi. He tried several times in the imperial exams but every time he just failed and was finally down and out.Although the research of Tang Gao is on the preliminary step, the dissertation is still of great reference value for scholars of classic Chinese bibliography engaged in collecting scattered documents, both in the number of poetry addendums, and in the method of the combination of traditional Gathering of Scattered Writings and computer retrieval.