Hu Guang (Ming dynasty)

Hu Guang (1370^[1]–1418), courtesy name Guangda, art name Huangan, was a prominent Chinese scholar-official during the Ming dynasty. He served as grand secretary during the reign of the Yongle Emperor from 1402 until his death.

Hu Guang
胡廣
A Ming dynasty illustration of young Hu Guang in the Ming zhuang yuan tu kao (明狀元圖考).
Senior Grand Secretary
In office 1407–1418
Monarch	Yongle
Preceded by	Xie Jin
Succeeded by	Yang Rong
Grand Secretary
In office 1402–1418
Monarch	Yongle
Personal details
Born	1370 Jishui, Jiangxi
Died	1418 (aged 47–48)
Education	jinshi degree (1400)
Other names	Hu Jing (胡靖)
Courtesy name	Guangda (光大)
Art name	Huangan (晃菴)
Posthumous name	Wenmu (文穆)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	胡廣
Simplified Chinese	胡广
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Hú Guǎng
Civil and honorary titles Grand Secretary of Pavilion of the Imperial Library (文淵閣大學士)

Hu Guang was from Jiangxi,^[2] specifically Jishui County (present-day Ji'an, Jiangxi). After studying Confucianism, he successfully passed all stages of the official examinations, including the highest stage, the palace examinations. In 1400, he was awarded the prestigious rank of jinshi, placing him among the top three candidates in all of China.

In September 1402, the Yongle Emperor appointed him as one of the seven personal secretaries, known as Grand Secretary. After the removal of Xie Jin in 1407, Hu Guang became Senior Grand Secretary and served in this position until his death in 1418. He was succeeded by Yang Rong.^[3]

As an aide to the emperor, he was known for his reliability and trustworthiness, particularly in matters of personnel. His reputation was further solidified by his refusal to attack officials who had made mistakes, and he even advised the emperor to exercise moderation in the purges of 1402. After his death, he was given an honorary posthumous name, making him one of only two civil officials to receive this honor during the Yongle Emperor's reign.^[4]

References

Citations

1. Tsai (2002), p. 13.
2. Tsai (2002), p. 97.
3. Dreyer (1982), p. 214.
4. Goodrich & Fang (1976), p. 1521.

Works cited

• Tsai, Shih-Shan Henry (2002). Perpetual Happiness: The Ming Emperor Yongle. Seattle, Wash.; Chesham: University of Washington Press; Combined Academic. ISBN 0295981245.
• Dreyer, Edward L. (1982). Early Ming China: a political history, 1355-1435. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-1105-4.
• Goodrich, L. Carington; Fang, Chaoying (1976). Dictionary of Ming Biography, 1368-1644. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-03801-1.