Ming · Official and Statesman

Zhou Yanru 周延儒

Attested AD 1629 - AD 1635

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhou Yanru was an official and Statesman.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1633 六年正月
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passage 284
AD 1629 崇禎二年
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passages 236-237
AD 1634 to AD 1635 崇禎間為輔臣
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 256, passage 171

Family

Kin of Chen Yutai (陳於泰)
relative by marriage 姻婭 · Marriage
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passage 171

Career and standing

Chief Grand Secretary 首輔
AD 1633 六年正月 · Held
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 256, passage 284
Grand Secretary 輔臣
Held
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passage 171

Places and affiliations

Polity Ming 明 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passages 171, 237, 284
At Yanru native place 延儒原籍 · Relation Native of
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passage 238

Events and relationships

Private audience over wine until midnight
AD 1629 崇禎二年 · Political · Summoned · With Chongzhen Emperor (崇禎帝)
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 256, passages 236-237

Assessments and attributes

Assessment conduct-in-office-and-at-home-unfit-to-mention · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Liu Zhifeng (劉之鳳)
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passage 238

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 256, passage 171

References in the histories

History of Ming, Chapter 256Volume 256 Biographies 144: Cui Jingrong, Huang Kezuan, Bi Ziyan, Li Zhanggeng, Liu Zhifeng · 5 passages

御史余應桂劾自嚴殿試讀卷，首薦陳於泰，乃輔臣周延儒姻婭。 Censor Yu Yinggui impeached Ziyan for reading palace examination papers and ranking Chen Yutai first—Chen was a relative by marriage of Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru.

六年正月，修撰陳於泰疏陳時弊，宣府監視中官王坤力詆之，侵及首輔周延儒。 In the first month of the sixth year compiler Chen Yutai memorialized on current abuses; the Xuanfu supervising palace eunuch Wang Kun vigorously denounced him, extending his attack to Chief Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru.

帝召周延儒燕見，宵分始出。 The emperor summoned Zhou Yanru for a private audience over wine; he did not leave until midnight.

之鳳偕同官上疏曰：「臣等待罪陪京，去延儒原籍三百里，其立身居鄉，不堪置齒頰。 Zhifeng joined his colleagues in memorializing, "We await punishment while attending the capital, three hundred li from Yanru's native place; his conduct in office and at home is not fit to be mentioned.

今乃特蒙眷註，必將曰舉朝盡欺，獨延儒一人捐軀為國，使陛下真若廷臣無可信，而延儒乃得翦所忌，樹所私，曰為馮銓、霍維華等報怨。 Now he is specially favored; it will surely be said that the whole court deceives while Yanru alone gives his body for the state, making Your Majesty believe no court minister is trustworthy—whereupon Yanru can cut down those he resents, advance those he favors, and say he is avenging Feng Quan, Huo Weihua, and the like.