Yu Minzhong (於敏中)

Overview

Yu Minzhong was a Grand Secretary.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Wenxiang	文襄	Wénxiāng

Life and dates

Death

AD 1779 四十四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 231
already dead when later censure discussed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 248, 255

Attested activity

AD 1774 三十九年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 216-219, 227-228
AD 1770 to AD 1780 乾隆中後期軍機與甘肅捐監
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 244-245, 250
AD 1776 四十一年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 229
AD 1779 四十四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 230-231
AD 1773 國史館三通館正總裁任內
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 214-215
AD 1771 to AD 1776 定金川
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 318, passage 234

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Parent of Yu Deyu (於德裕之父)
grandfather 祖
child 子
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 264
Ancestor of Yu Deyu (德裕)
grandson 孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 233, 264
Kin of Yu Shihe (時和)
younger cousin's son 從侄 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 234
Parent of Yu Qixian (于齊賢)
son 子
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 232

Kinship Role descendants · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 256

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Lineage Yu lineage 於氏
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 232-234

Career and standing

Chief Tutor of the Upper Study 上書房總師傅
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 215
Grand Secretary 大學士
Former
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 243
Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy 翰林院掌院學士
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 215
Chief Director of the Santong Bureau 三通館正總裁
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 214
Chief Director of the State Historiography Bureau 國史館正總裁
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 214
Grand Councilor 軍機大臣
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 216, 245

Show 14 more source-backed claims

Grand Secretary 大學士
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 318, passage 234
First-rank Light Chariot Commandant, hereditary in perpetuity 一等輕車都尉，世襲罔替
AD 1776 四十一年 · Granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 229
entry into Shrine of Worthies 准入賢良祠
Bestowed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 248
condolence payments, sacrifices and burial by precedent 賜卹，祭葬如例
AD 1779 四十四年 · Granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 231
hereditary office (intended) 世職
Intended · With Zhang Tingyu (張廷玉)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 225-226
meritorious minister for pacification of Jinchuan (Purple Splendor Hall) 紫光閣功臣（定金川）
Received
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 318, passage 234
removal from Shrine of Worthies 撤出賢良祠
AD 1786 五十一年詔 · Revoked · Mode edict
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 260
First-rank Light Chariot Commandant 一等輕車都尉
AD 1776 四十一年 · Granted · Hereditary true
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 229
Light Chariot Commandant hereditary office 輕車都尉世職
AD 1795 六十年 · Held in line then revoked
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 263-264
ministry recommended dismissal 部議革職
AD 1774 三十九年 · Dismissal proposed · Deliberated
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 228
exempted from criminal punishment; severe deliberative discipline 免其治罪，嚴加議處
AD 1774 三十九年 · Exempted from criminal punishment · Granted · Authority Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 227
leniently allowed to remain in post 從寬留任
AD 1774 三十九年 · Retained in office · Granted · Authority Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 228
because already dead, garden-flattery case set aside 以已卒置不論
Matter set aside · Not prosecuted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 238
stern imperial rebuke 詔切責
AD 1774 三十九年 · Rebuked · Received · Authority Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 219, 227

Places and affiliations

Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 318, passage 234
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 242-243, 245, 261
AD 1779 四十四年
At Shrine of Worthies 賢良祠 · Relation Enshrined at
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 231

Works and attributed material

biography of Yu Minzhong 敏中列傳
AD 1795 六十年 · Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 261
Edict · Addressee · Speaker Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 219-227
Edict · Subject · Speaker Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 240-243

Events and relationships

Asked about appointment records
AD 1774 三十九年 · Political · Inquirer · With Gao Yuncong (高雲從)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 218
Associated with eunuchs and colluded with provincial officials
AD 1795 六十年詔 · Political · Accused · Mode edict
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 261-262
Backed Leerjin policy
Political · Backer · With Le'erjin (勒爾謹)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 252
Confessed guilt
AD 1774 三十九年 · Legal · Accused · With Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 219
Drew in dependents and accepted secret gifts
Political · Patron
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 244
Enshrined
AD 1779 四十四年 · Ritual · Honoree · At Shrine of Worthies 賢良祠
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 231

Show 9 more source-backed claims

Entreated prefect
AD 1774 三十九年 · Legal · Intercessor · With Jiang Ciqi (蔣賜棨)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 218
drafting edicts during the Sichuan campaign 川省用兵承旨
Military administrative · Drafter of edicts · Had merit · At Sichuan 川省
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 224
Listed among meritorious ministers
AD 1771 to AD 1776 定金川 · Honorific · Honoree
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 318, passage 234
Physicians sent
AD 1779 四十四年 · Medical · Patient
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 230
listed among meritorious officials after Jinchuan pacification 仍列功臣
AD 1776 四十一年 · Military administrative · Meritorious official · Praised · At Jinchuan 金川
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 229
metropolitan examination 會試
Examination · Chief examiner · Presided
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 215
Urged opening Gansu jian sheng sales
Political · Advocate · With Shuhede (舒赫德)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 250
hereditary office precedent of Zhang Tingyu 如張廷玉例
Relation Precedent taken from · Person Zhang Tingyu (張廷玉)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 225
retrospective comparison to Yan Song 念及嚴嵩專權
Relation Compared to · Person Yan Song (嚴嵩)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 240, 243

Assessments and attributes

Assessment accepted flattery of local officials · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 238
Assessment faults forgivable; labor praised · Mode named-source-report Speaker Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 229
Assessment influence expanded while Grand Council lacked seasoned men · Mode edict
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 245
Assessment long tenure with somewhat greater imperial favor · Mode named-source-report Speaker Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 243
Assessment only attended duty and drafted edicts; favor less than Oertai and Zhang Tingyu · Mode edict
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passages 246-247
Assessment traced blame for later official corruption · Mode named-source-report Speaker Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝) · With Wang Tanwang (王亶望)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 239

Show 4 more source-backed claims

Assessment wealth must have come from bribes by Wang Tanwang and others · Mode edict
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 254
fell ill with asthma
AD 1779 四十四年 · Illness
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 230
AD 1779 四十四年
Item ginseng 人蓡 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 230
Item garden built by Zhang Pan'gui 花園 · Relation Received · With Zhang Pan'gui (章攀桂)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 237

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 318, passage 234; Draft History of Qing 319, passage 216

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 318Volume 318 Biographies 105: A Gui, A Di Si, A Bi Da · 1 passage

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定金川五十人：將軍阿桂，副將軍豐升額、明亮，大學士舒赫德、於敏中，尚書福隆安，參贊大臣親王色布騰巴爾珠爾，都統海蘭察，護軍統領額森特、舒常，領隊大臣都統奎林、和隆武、福康安，副都統普爾普，荊州將軍興兆，參贊大臣提督哈國興，領隊大臣提督馬彪、馬全、書麟，副都統三保、烏什哈達、瑚尼爾圖、珠爾格德、阿爾都、阿爾薩朗、舒亮、科瑪、伊蘭保、佛倫泰、富興、德赫布、莽喀察，總兵海祿、敖成、官達色、成德、欽保、曹順、保寧、特成額、烏爾納，總兵敦柱，侍衛額爾特、托爾托保、泰斐英阿、柏凌、達蘭泰、薩爾吉岱，佐領特爾惇澈，副將興奎。 For the pacification of Jinchuan, the fifty men honored were: General A Gui; Deputy Generals Fengsheng'e and Mingliang; Grand Secretaries Shuhede and Yu Minzhong; Minister Fulong'an; Assisting Commander Prince Sebeteng Baljur; Commander-in-Chief Hailancha; Guard Commanders Esente and Shuchang; Column Commanders Kuilin, Helongwu, and Fuk'anggan; Vice Commander-in-Chief Pu'erpu; Jingzhou General Xingzhao; Assisting Commander and Regional Commander Ha Guoxing; Column Commanders and Regional Commanders Ma Biao, Ma Quan, and Shu Lin; Vice Commanders Sanbao, Wushi Hada, Huni'ertu, Zhu'ergede, A'erdu, A'ersalang, Shuliang, Kema, Yilanbao, Foluntai, Fuxing, Dehebu, and Mangkacha; Regional Commanders Hailu, Aocheng, Guandase, Chengde, Qinbao, Caoshun, Baoning, Techeng'e, and Wu'erna; Regional Commander Dunzhu; Guards E'erte, Tuo'ertuobao, Taifeiying'a, Boling, Dalantai, and Sa'erjidai; Adjutant Te'erdun Che; and Vice General Xingkui.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 319Volume 319 Biographies 106: Yu Minzhong, He Shen Son: Feng Shenyinde, Younger Brother: He Lin, Su Linga · 21 passages

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敏中為軍機大臣久，頗接外吏，通聲氣。 Minzhong had long been a Grand Councilor and frequently received outside officials, maintaining channels of communication.

雲從言敏中嘗向詢問記載，及雲從買地涉訟，嘗乞敏中囑託府尹蔣賜棨。 Yuncong said Minzhong had once asked him about the records, and that when Yuncong became involved in a lawsuit over a land purchase he had begged Minzhong to entreat Prefect Jiang Ciqi on his behalf.

上面詰，敏中引罪，詔切責之曰：「內廷諸臣與內監交涉，一言及私，即當據實奏聞。 The emperor questioned him in person; Minzhong confessed guilt, and an edict sternly rebuked him, saying, "When inner-court ministers deal with eunuchs, if a single word touches private affairs, they must report it truthfully to the throne.

於敏中侍朕左右有年，豈尚不知朕而為此隱忍耶？ Yu Minzhong has attended at my side for years—can he still not know me and yet practice such concealment?

於敏中日蒙召對，朕何所不言？ Yu Minzhong is summoned to audience daily—what do I not speak of?

自川省用兵以來，敏中承旨有勞。 Since military operations began in Sichuan, Minzhong has had merit in drafting edicts.

今事垂成，敏中乃有此事，是其福澤有限，不能受朕深恩，寧不痛自愧悔？ Now, just as the matter neared completion, Minzhong has done this—his blessings are limited and he cannot receive my deep grace; should he not bitterly repent?

卒，優詔賜卹，祭葬如例，祀賢良祠，諡文襄。 He died; a favorable edict granted condolence payments, sacrifices and burial followed precedent, he was enshrined in the Shrine of Worthies, and was given the posthumous title Wenxiang.

敏中從侄時和，擁其貲回籍，德裕訟之。 Minzhong's younger cousin's son Shihe seized his wealth and returned home; Deyu sued him.

蘇松糧道章攀桂為敏中營造花園，事覺，褫攀桂職。 Zhang Pan'gui, grain intendant of Su-Song, built a garden for Minzhong; when the matter came to light, Pan'gui was stripped of office.

敏中受地方官逢迎，以已卒置不論。 Minzhong had accepted the flattery of local officials; because he was already dead, the matter was set aside.