Ming · Official

Gui Yougen 桂有根

Attested AD 1598

Passages: 1
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Gui Yougen was an official.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1598 Activity described in s0035
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 219, passage 35

Events and relationships

Criticized the ailing Zhao Zhigao.
Biographical event · Participant
Directly stated · History of Ming 219, passage 35

References in the histories

History of Ming, Chapter 219Volume 219 Biographies 107: Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Xu Guo, Zhao Zhigao, Zhang Wei, Zhu Geng · 1 passage

初，日本封貢議起，石星力主之．志臯亦冀無事，相與應和．及封事敗，議者蜂起，凡劾星者必及志臯．志臯每被言，輒疏辨求退，帝悉勉留．先嘗譴言者以謝之，後言者益切，則多寢不下，而留志臯益堅．迨封事大壞，星坐欺罔下獄論死，位亦以楊鎬故褫官，而志臯終不問．然志臯已病不能視事，乞休疏累上，御史于永清、給事中桂有根復疏論之．志臯身在牀褥，於罷礦、建儲諸大政，數力疾草疏爭，帝歲時恩賜亦如故． When debate over Japan's enfeoffment and tribute arose, Shi Xing strongly advocated it; Zhigao too hoped for peace and joined in assent. When enfeoffment failed, critics swarmed; whoever attacked Xing also implicated Zhigao. Whenever Zhigao was attacked he defended himself and asked to retire; the emperor always urged him to stay. At first he sometimes rebuked censorate officials to mollify Zhigao; later, as attacks grew fiercer, many memorials were shelved while Zhigao was retained all the more firmly. When the enfeoffment collapsed entirely, Xing was imprisoned for deception and sentenced to death; Wei was stripped of office over Yang Hao, while Zhigao was never questioned. Yet Zhigao was already ill and unable to conduct affairs; retirement memorials piled up, and Censor Yu Yongqing and Supervising Secretary Gui Yougen attacked him again. Confined to his sickbed, he repeatedly forced himself to draft memorials on great policies such as abolishing mining and establishing the heir; the emperor's seasonal gifts continued as before.