Chen Yu (陳遇) | 24 Histories

Overview

Chen Yu was a scholar and Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Zhongxing	中行	Zhongxing
Epithet	Master Jingcheng	靜誠先生	Jingcheng xiansheng

Life and dates

Death

AD 1384 十七年
At Bell Mountain burial granted 賜葬鐘山
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 29

Attested activity

AD 1350 to AD 1368 元末
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 4
AD 1384 十七年
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 29
AD 1368 即皇帝位
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 9
AD 1355 太祖渡江
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passages 6-7
AD 1364 to AD 1367 太祖為吳王
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 8
AD 1371 明年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passages 13-14

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AD 1370 洪武三年
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 11-12
AD 1360 to AD 1369 贊曰
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 135, passage 315

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Father of Chen Yu
father 父 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 135, passage 2
Descendant of Yifu (義甫)
great-grandfather 高祖 · paternal line · 3 generations
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 2
Parent of Chen Gong (陳恭)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 30
Sibling of Chen Yuan (陳遠)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 31

Kinship Role sons · Count 3
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 21

Origins and identity

forebears were men of Cao; great-grandfather Yifu relocated the line to Jiankang
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 1-2

Career and standing

grand academician of the Hongwen Hall 弘文館大學士
AD 1371 明年 · Declined · Concurrent true
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 14
Hanlin Academician 翰林學士
AD 1368 即皇帝位 · Declined · Quantity 3
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 9
deputy director of the Service Bureau 供奉司丞
AD 1364 to AD 1367 太祖為吳王 · Declined
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 8
vice minister of rites 禮部侍郎
AD 1371 明年 · Declined
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 14
left vice president of the Secretariat 中書左丞
AD 1370 洪武三年 · Declined
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 12
minister of rites 禮部尚書
Declined
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 18-19

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vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices 太常少卿
Declined
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 16-17
instructor at Wenzhou 溫州教授
AD 1350 to AD 1368 元末 · Held
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 4
ten guards as escort 衛士十人護出入
Bestowed
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 10
Master Jingcheng 靜誠先生
Called by scholars
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 5
received honor no less than Liu Ji 見禮不下劉基
Received
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 315
Entered
AD 1350 to AD 1368 元末 · Resigned and withdrew
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 4
Held
Confidential counselor
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 7
Refused
Declined ennoblement
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 28
Thereafter
Not forced into office
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 20

Places and affiliations

Polity Ming 明 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 7, 9
Polity Ming 明 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 135, passage 315
Polity Yuan 元 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 4
At Cao 曹 · Relation Ancestral
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 1
AD 1350 to AD 1368 元末
At Wenzhou 溫州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 4
AD 1384 十七年
At Bell Mountain 鐘山 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 29

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At Jiankang 建康 · Relation Family settled at
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 2

Learning and skills

Skill astronomy, calendrics, and divination 象數之學 · Level refined
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 3

Works and attributed material

Edict on Pacifying the West 平西詔
AD 1371 明年 · Relation Drafted
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 13
Speech · Speaker · With the Founder (太祖) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 21, 24

Events and relationships

Cited Han precedents against tribute horses
Remonstrance · Adviser
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 15
Granted a seat and ordered to draft edict
AD 1371 明年 · Audience · Summoned official · At Huagai Hall 華蓋殿
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 13
Investigated people grievances
AD 1370 洪武三年 · Inspection · Commissioner · At Zhejiang 浙江
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 11
Pleaded for reprimanded ministers
Legal intercession · Advocate
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 25
Retained for secret deliberations
Audience · Counselor · With the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 7
Served at the curtains from founding
AD 1356 to AD 1368 開基之始 · Counsel · Attendant
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 23

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Relation Compared in honor to · Person Liu Ji (劉基)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 315

Assessments and attributes

Assessment grave, refined, devoted scholar of wide learning · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 3
Assessment plans mostly kept secret; honor surpassed meritorious kinsmen and great ministers · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 26
Assessment stood aloof from salary and rank · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 315
AD 1370 洪武三年
Item gold and silk 金帛 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 11
Item one sedan chair 肩輿一乘 · Relation Bestowed · With the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 10

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 1
Value historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 315

References in the histories

Search passages

History

15 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 15 passages

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陳遇，字中行，先世曹人。 Chen Yu, courtesy name Zhongxing, came from a family originally of Cao.

遇天資沉粹，篤學博覽，精象數之學。 Chen was by nature grave and refined, a devoted scholar of wide learning who excelled in astronomy, calendrics, and divination.

學者稱為靜誠先生。 Scholars addressed him as Master Jingcheng.

太祖渡江，以秦從龍薦，發書聘之，引伊、呂、諸葛為喻。 After the Founder crossed the Yangzi, Qin Conglong recommended him; the Founder sent a letter of invitation comparing Chen to Yi Yin, Lü Shang, and Zhuge Liang.

遇至，與語，大悅，遂留參密議，日見親信。 When Chen arrived and they spoke together, the Founder was delighted and kept him for confidential counsel, growing more trusting of him each day.

太祖為吳王，授供奉司丞，辭。 While the Founder was still King of Wu, Chen was offered the post of deputy director of the Service Bureau, but he declined.

即皇帝位，三授翰林學士，皆辭。 After he took the throne, Chen was three times offered the rank of Hanlin Academician, and each time he refused.

西域進良馬，遇引漢故事以諫。 When the Western Regions sent fine horses as tribute, Chen cited Han-dynasty precedents in remonstrance.

帝嘗從容言欲官其子，遇曰：「臣三子皆幼，學未成，請俟異日。」 The Emperor once remarked in an easy tone that he wished to appoint Chen's sons. Chen replied, "Your servant's three sons are still young and have not finished their studies; I beg that Your Majesty wait for another day."

遇自開基之始，即侍帷幄。 From the very founding of the dynasty Chen had served at the imperial side.

帝嘗問保國安民至計，遇對：「以不嗜殺人，薄斂，任賢，復先王禮樂為首務。」 When the Emperor once asked him for the supreme policy to secure the realm and settle the people, Chen answered, "The foremost tasks are to refrain from bloodshed, keep taxes light, employ the worthy, and restore the ritual and music of the ancient kings."