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列傳一百五十一
Biography 151
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阮元汪廷珍湯金釗
Ruan Yuan, Wang Tingzhen, and Tang Jinzhao
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阮元，字伯元，江蘇儀徵人。 祖玉堂，官湖南參將，從征苗，活降苗數千人，有陰德。
Ruan Yuan, courtesy name Boyuan, came from Yizheng in Jiangsu. His grandfather Yu Tang had been a Hunan deputy commander; on campaigns against the Miao he had spared several thousand who surrendered, accumulating hidden merit.
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元，乾隆五十四年進士，選庶吉士，散館第一，授編修。 逾年大考，高宗親擢第一，超擢少詹事。 召對，上喜曰：「不意朕八旬外復得一人！」 直南書房、懋勤殿，遷詹事。 五十八年，督山東學政，任滿，調浙江。 歷兵部、禮部、戶部侍郎。
In Qianlong 54 he became a jinshi, entered the Hanlin as a bachelor, placed first when leaving the academy, and received appointment as compiler. The following year, in the palace examination, the Gaozong Emperor personally placed him first and exceptionally promoted him to junior vice-president of the Secretariat. When summoned for audience, the emperor said with delight, "I never thought that after my eightieth year I should gain another man like this!" He was assigned to the Southern Study and Maqin Hall, and was promoted to grand preceptor. In year 58 he served as educational commissioner of Shandong; when his term ended he was moved to Zhejiang. He served in succession as vice-minister of War, Rites, and Revenue.
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嘉慶四年，署浙江巡撫，尋實授。 海寇擾浙歷數年，安南夷艇最強，鳳尾、水澳、箬黃諸幫附之，沿海土匪勾結為患。 元徵集群議為弭盜之策，造船砲，練陸師，杜接濟。 五年春，令黃岩鎮總兵岳璽擊箬黃幫，滅之。 夏，寇大至，元赴台州督剿，請以定海鎮總兵李長庚總統三鎮水師，並調粵、閩兵會剿。 六月，夷艇糾鳳尾、水澳等賊共百餘艘，屯松門山下。 遣諜間水澳賊先退，會颶風大作，盜艇覆溺無算，餘眾登山，檄陸師搜捕，擒八百餘人。 安南四總兵溺斃者三，黃岩知縣孫鳳鳴獲其一，曰倫貴利，磔之。 九月，總兵岳璽、胡振聲會擊水澳幫，擒殲殆盡。 土匪亦次第殲撫。 浙洋漸清，而餘盜為蔡牽所並，閩師不能制，勢益熾，复時犯浙。 李長庚巳擢提督，元集貲與造霆船成，配巨砲，數破牽於海上。 八年，奏建昭忠祠，以歷年捕海盜傷亡將士從祀。 盜首黃葵集舟數十，號新興幫，令總兵岳璽、張成等追剿，逾年乃平之。 偕總督玉德奏請以李長庚總督兩省水師，數逐蔡牽幾獲，而玉德遇事仍掣肘。 十年，元丁父憂去職，長庚益無助，復與總督阿林保不協，久無成功，遂戰歿。
In Jiaqing 4 he acted as Zhejiang governor and soon received the substantive post. Pirates had harassed Zhejiang for years; Annamese junks were the strongest, with the Fengwei, Shui'ao, Ruohuang, and other gangs in their train, while coastal bandits colluded to spread the disorder. Yuan gathered officials to plan suppression of piracy—building warships and guns, training land troops, and blocking resupply. In spring of year 5 he ordered Huangyan commander Yue Xi to strike the Ruohuang gang and annihilate it. That summer the raiders came in strength; Yuan went to Taizhou to direct the campaign, asked that Dinghai commander Li Changgeng command all three fleets, and mobilized Guangdong and Fujian forces for a joint campaign. In the sixth month the foreign junks gathered Fengwei, Shui'ao, and other pirates in more than a hundred vessels and anchored below Songmen Mountain. He used agents to set the Shui'ao pirates retreating first; a typhoon then struck, drowning countless pirate craft; the survivors fled ashore, and he ordered land forces to hunt them down, capturing more than eight hundred. Three of four Annamese commanders drowned; Huangyan magistrate Sun Fengming seized one named Lun Guili and had him torn apart. In the ninth month commanders Yue Xi and Hu Zhensheng jointly attacked the Shui'ao gang and nearly wiped it out. Land bandits were likewise suppressed or pacified in turn. Zhejiang waters grew calmer, but remnants were absorbed by Cai Qian; Fujian troops could not contain him, his power swelled, and he again raided Zhejiang. Li Changgeng had been promoted to provincial commander; Yuan raised funds to build "thunder" warships with heavy guns and repeatedly defeated Qian at sea. In year 8 he memorialized to build the Zhaozhong Shrine for officers and men killed in years of anti-pirate fighting. Bandit leader Huang Kui gathered dozens of vessels as the Xinxing gang; Yuan ordered commanders Yue Xi and Zhang Cheng to pursue them, and peace came only after more than a year. With Governor Yu De he asked that Li Changgeng command both provinces' fleets; Li several times nearly took Cai Qian, but Yu De still obstructed him. In year 10 Yuan left on mourning for his father; Changgeng lacked backing, quarreled again with Governor Alinbao, made no headway for long, and finally fell in battle.
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十一年，詔起元署福建巡撫，以病辭。 十二年，服闋，署戶部侍郎，赴河南按事。 授兵部侍郎，復命為浙江巡撫，暫署河南巡撫。 十三年，乃至浙，詔責其防海殄寇。 秋，蔡牽、硃濆合犯定海，親駐寧波督三鎮擊走之，牽复遁閩洋。 時用長庚部將王得祿、邱良功為兩省提督，協力勦賊，元議海戰分兵隔賊船之策，專攻蔡牽。 十四年秋，合擊於漁山外洋，竟殄牽，詳得祿等傳。 元兩治浙，多惠政，平寇功尤著雲。
In year 11 an edict recalled him to act as Fujian governor; he declined because of illness. In year 12, when mourning ended, he acted as vice-minister of Revenue and went to Henan on an investigative mission. He was appointed vice-minister of War, again ordered to Zhejiang as governor, and temporarily acted as Henan governor. In year 13 he finally reached Zhejiang; an edict rebuked him to guard the coast and destroy the pirates. That autumn Cai Qian and Zhu Fen jointly attacked Dinghai; he personally stationed at Ningbo to direct the three commands in driving them off, and Qian fled again to Fujian waters. Wang Delu and Qiu Lianggong, former subordinates of Changgeng, were made commanders of the two provinces and cooperated against the pirates; Yuan urged dividing forces at sea to cut off enemy ships and focus on Cai Qian. In autumn of year 14 they united in battle off Yushan in the open sea and finally destroyed Qian; details appear in the biographies of Delu and others. Yuan governed Zhejiang twice with many benevolent measures, and his success in pacifying pirates was especially notable.
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方督師寧波時，奏請學政劉鳳誥代辦鄉試監臨，有聯號弊，為言官論劾，遣使鞫實，詔斥徇庇，褫職，予編修，在文穎館行走。 累遷內閣學士。 命赴山西、河南按事，遷工部侍郎，出為漕運總督。 十九年，調江西巡撫。 以捕治逆匪胡秉耀，加太子少保，賜花翎。 二十一年，調河南，擢湖廣總督。 修武昌江堤，建江陵范家堤、沔陽龍王廟石閘。
While commanding at Ningbo he asked educational commissioner Liu Fenggao to supervise the provincial exams in his place; linked examination numbers were exposed; censors impeached him; an investigator confirmed it; an edict rebuked his favoritism, stripped his rank, and gave him compiler duty in the Wenyin Hall. He was promoted in succession to grand secretary of the Grand Secretariat. Ordered to inspect Shanxi and Henan, he was moved to vice-minister of Works and then appointed director-general of grain transport. In year 19 he was transferred to governor of Jiangxi. For capturing the rebel Hu Bingyao he was made junior guardian of the heir apparent and granted peacock feathers. In year 21 he was transferred to Henan and promoted to governor-general of Huguang. He repaired the Wuchang river dike and built the Fan family dike at Jiangling and the stone sluice at the Dragon King Temple in Mianyang.
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二十二年，調兩廣總督。 先一年，英吉利貢使入京，未成禮而回，遂漸跋扈。 元增建大黃、大虎山兩砲台，分兵駐守。 迭疏陳預防夷患，略曰：「英吉利恃強桀驁，性復貪利。 宜鎮以威，不可盡以德綏。 彼之船堅砲利，技長於水短於陸。 定例外國貨船不許擅入內洋，儻違例禁，即宜隨機應變，量加懲創。 各國知彼犯我禁，非我輕啟釁也。」 詔勗以德威相濟，勿孟浪，勿葸懦。 道光元年，兼署粵海關監督。 洋船夾帶鴉片煙，劾褫行商頂帶。 二年，英吉利護貨兵船泊伶丁外洋，與民鬥，互有傷斃，嚴飭交犯，英人揚言罷市歸國，即停其貿易。 久之拆閱多，託言兵船已歸，俟復來如命。 乃暫許貿易，與約船來不交犯乃停止。 終元任，兵船不至。 元在粵九年，兼署巡撫凡六次。
In year 22 he was transferred to governor-general of the Two Guangs. The year before, an English tribute mission had entered the capital and returned without completing the rites, after which they grew increasingly arrogant. Yuan additionally built batteries at Dahuangpao and Dahu Mountain and stationed troops in detachments. In repeated memorials on guarding against foreign trouble he wrote in summary: "England relies on force and is fierce and overbearing, and by nature greedy for gain. They should be restrained by awe; one cannot wholly win them by kindness alone. Their ships are strong and their guns effective; they are skilled on water and weak on land. Regulations forbid foreign merchant ships to enter inner waters without permission; if they break the rule, one should adapt to circumstances and punish them proportionally. Other nations will see that they broke our rules and that we did not lightly pick a quarrel." An edict urged him to combine kindness and severity, neither to be rash nor timid. In Daoguang 1 he also acted as superintendent of the Guangdong customs. Foreign ships smuggled opium; he impeached the licensed merchants and stripped their rank. In year 2 English convoy warships anchored off outer Lingding, fought with locals with casualties on both sides; he sternly demanded the culprits; the English threatened to quit trade and go home, and he at once stopped their trade. After a long interval, with many dispatches examined, they claimed the warships had left and would return when ordered. He then temporarily allowed trade, on condition that if ships came without surrendering the culprits trade would stop. Throughout Yuan's term the warships never returned. Yuan spent nine years in Guangdong and acted as governor six times in all.
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六年，調雲貴總督。 滇鹽久敝，歲絀課十餘萬，元劾罷蠹吏，力杜漏私； 鹽井衰旺不齊，調劑抵補，逾年課有溢銷，酌撥邊用。 騰越邊外野人時入內地劫掠，而保山等處邊夷曰枲僳，以墾山射獵為生，可用，乃募枲僳三百戶屯種山地，以御野人，即以溢課充費，歲有擴充。 野人畏威，漸有降附者。 十二年，協辦大學士，仍留總督任。 車里土司刀繩武與叔太康爭鬥，脅官求助，檄鎮道擊走之，另擇承襲乃安。 越南保樂州土官農文云內閧，嚴邊防勿使竄入，亦不越境生事，尋文云走死。 詔嘉其鎮靜得大體。 十五年，召拜體仁閣大學士，管理刑部，調兵部。 十八年，以老病請致仕，許之，給半俸，瀕行，加太子太保。 二十六年，鄉舉重逢，晉太傅，與鹿鳴宴。 二十九年，卒，年八十有六，優詔賜卹，諡文達。 入祀鄉賢祠、浙江名宦祠。
In year 6 he was transferred to governor-general of Yunnan and Guizhou. Yunnan salt had long been corrupt, with annual tax shortfalls exceeding a hundred thousand taels; Yuan impeached corrupt officials and worked to stop smuggling; As well productivity varied, he adjusted accounts; after more than a year receipts exceeded quota, and he allocated the surplus to frontier needs. Wild tribes beyond Tengyue sometimes raided inland; border tribes called Xilu around Baoshan lived by farming and hunting and could be used; he recruited three hundred Xilu households to farm uplands against the wild tribes, funding it from surplus salt revenue, with yearly expansion. The wild tribes feared his power, and some gradually submitted. In year 12 he was made assistant grand secretary while remaining governor-general. Cheli chieftain Dao Shengwu fought his uncle Taikang and pressured officials for aid; Yuan ordered commanders to drive them off and chose another successor, restoring order. Vietnamese Baole chieftain Nong Wenyun had internal strife; Yuan guarded the border so he would not flee in but did not cross to interfere; soon Wenyun fled and died. An edict praised his calm grasp of the larger situation. In year 15 he was summoned as grand secretary of the Tiren Hall, directing the Ministry of Punishments, then moved to War. In year 18 he asked to retire for age and illness; permission was granted with half pay, and on departure he was made senior guardian of the heir apparent. In year 26 he again celebrated the provincial exam anniversary, was promoted to grand tutor, and attended the deer-ming banquet. In year 29 he died at eighty-six; an edict granted favorable burial rites, with posthumous title Wendà. He was enshrined in the local worthies hall and the Zhejiang hall of eminent officials.
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元博學淹通，早被知遇。 敕編石渠寶笈，校勘石經。 再入翰林，創編國史儒林、文苑傳，至為浙江巡撫，始手成之。 集四庫未收書一百七十二種，撰提要進禦，補中秘之闕。 嘉慶四年，偕大學士硃珪典會試，一時樸學高才搜羅殆盡。 道光十三年，由雲南入覲，特命典試，時稱異數。 與大學士曹振鏞共事意不合，元歉然。 以前次得人之盛不可復繼，歷官所至，振興文教。 在浙江立詁經精舍，祀許慎、鄭康成，選高才肄業； 在粵立學海堂亦如之，並延攬通儒：造士有家法，人才蔚起。 撰十三經校勘記、經籍篡詁、皇清經解百八十餘種，專宗漢學，治經者奉為科律。 集清代天文、律算諸家作疇人傳，以章絕學。 重修浙江通志、廣東通志，編輯山左金石志、兩浙金石志、積古齋鐘鼎款識、兩浙輶軒錄、淮海英靈集，刊當代名宿著述數十家為文選樓叢書。 自著曰揅經室集。 他紀事、談藝諸編，並為世重。 身歷乾、嘉文物鼎盛之時，主持風會數十年，海內學者奉為山斗焉。
Yuan was erudite and versatile and early won imperial favor. He was ordered to compile the Shiqu baoji and collate the stone classics. Re-entering the Hanlin, he began the Ruilin and Wenyuan sections of the national history; only as Zhejiang governor did he finish them himself. He gathered 172 works omitted from the Siku Library, wrote synopses, and presented them to the throne, filling gaps in the imperial collection. In Jiaqing 4, with Grand Secretary Zhu Gui he presided over the metropolitan exams and gathered nearly all leading evidential scholars of the day. In Daoguang 13, coming from Yunnan to audience, he was specially ordered to preside over the exams — then called an unprecedented honor. Working with Grand Secretary Cao Zhenyong, he found their views did not align, and Yuan felt regret. Knowing such excellence could not be repeated, wherever he served he promoted literary and educational culture. In Zhejiang he founded the Gujing Academy, honoring Xu Shen and Zheng Xuan, and selected gifted students to study there; In Guangdong he founded the Xuehai Hall likewise, recruited leading scholars, trained students by sound methods, and talent flourished. He wrote Collation Notes on the Thirteen Classics, the Jingji cuangu, and more than 180 Qing commentaries, devoted to Han Learning, which classicists treated as canon. He compiled Biographies of Calculators from Qing astronomers and mathematicians to honor supreme learning. He revised the Zhejiang and Guangdong gazetteers, compiled Shandong and Zhejiang epigraphic gazetteers, Jigu zhai inscriptions, the Liang-Zhe imperial procession record, the Huaihai anthology, and published dozens of contemporary masters as the Wenxuan lou congshu. His own collected works are titled the Yangjing shi ji. His other chronicles, art criticism, and compilations were also highly prized. He lived through the Qianlong-Jiaqing flowering of culture, led scholarly fashion for decades, and scholars nationwide revered him as a towering figure.
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汪廷珍，字瑟庵，江蘇山陽人。 少孤，母程撫之成立。 家中落，歲兇，饘粥或不給，不令人知。 母曰：「吾非恥貧，恥言貧，疑有求於人也。」 力學，困諸生十年，始舉於鄉。 成乾隆五十四年一甲二名進士，授編修。 大考，擢侍讀。 未幾，遷祭酒。 六十年，以事忤旨，降侍講。 嘉慶元年，直上書房。 大考，擢侍講學士。 母憂歸，服闋，補原官。 七年，督安徽學政。 任滿，复督江西學政。 累遷侍讀學士、太僕寺卿、內閣學士，皆留任。
Wang Tingzhen, courtesy name Se'an, came from Shanyang in Jiangsu. Orphaned young, he was raised to maturity by his mother Cheng. The family fell on hard times; in famine years they sometimes lacked even thin gruel, yet he let no one know. His mother said, "I am not ashamed to be poor; I am ashamed to speak of poverty, as if we had something to ask of others." He studied hard; after ten years as a licentiate he finally passed the provincial exam. In Qianlong 54 he placed second in the first rank of jinshi and was appointed compiler. In the palace examination he was promoted to reader. Soon he was transferred to chancellor of the National University. In year 60 he offended the throne on a matter and was demoted to expositor. In Jiaqing 1 he served in the Upper Study. In the palace examination he was promoted to expositor of the Hanlin Academy. When mourning for his mother ended, he resumed his former post. In year 7 he served as educational commissioner of Anhui. When his term ended he again served as Jiangxi educational commissioner. He rose in succession to Hanlin expositor, minister of the Imperial Stud, and grand secretary, while retaining his educational post.
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廷珍學有根底，初為祭酒，以師道自居，選成均課士錄，教學者立言以義法，力戒摹擬剽竊之習。 及官學政，為學約五則以訓士：曰辨塗，曰端本，曰敬業，曰裁偽，曰自立。 與士語，諄諄如父兄之於子弟。 所刻試牘，取易修辭之旨曰立誠編。 士風為之一變。 萬載棚民入籍，舊分學額，後裁之，土客訐訟久不決； 廷珍請復分額，爭端乃息。 十六年，授禮部侍郎。 复直上書房，侍宣宗學。 十八年，典浙江鄉試，留學政，任滿回京。 二十二年，署翰林院掌院學士，擢左都御史，充上書房總師傅。 二十三年，遷禮部尚書。 二十四年，仁宗六旬萬壽，慶賀期內遇孝慈高皇后忌辰，部臣未援故事疏請服色，坐率忽，降侍郎。 逾年，复授禮部尚書。
Tingzhen had deep learning; as chancellor of the National University he held himself to the teacher's role, compiled lecture records, taught students to write by sound principles of meaning and form, and strictly forbade imitation and plagiarism. As educational commissioner he issued five rules for students: discern the right path, rectify fundamentals, honor one's studies, reject falsity, and maintain independence. In advising scholars he was earnest and kindly, like a father or elder brother with his sons. He published examination essays under the title Licheng bian, taking the Changes' teaching on sincere expression. Scholarly manners were transformed. Shed-dwellers of Wanzai had been registered and once had a separate degree quota; when it was later cut, natives and newcomers litigated for years without resolution; Tingzhen asked to restore the separate quota, and the dispute ended. In year 16 he was appointed vice-minister of Rites. He again entered the Upper Study to instruct the future Xuanzong Emperor. In year 18 he presided over the Zhejiang provincial exams, stayed on as educational commissioner, and returned to the capital when his term ended. In year 22 he acted as Hanlin chancellor, was promoted to left censor-in-chief, and made chief tutor of the Upper Study. In year 23 he was transferred to minister of Rites. In year 24, during the Renzong Emperor's sixtieth birthday celebrations, Empress Xiaocigao's death anniversary fell within the congratulatory period; ministry officials failed to cite precedent on mourning dress; he was punished for negligence and demoted to vice-minister. After more than a year he was again appointed minister of Rites.
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道光二年，典會試，教習庶吉士。 車駕謁陵，命留京辦事。 三年，宣宗釋奠文廟禮成，臨幸辟雍，詔曰：「禮部尚書汪廷珍蒙皇考簡用上書房師傅，與朕朝夕講論，非法不道，使朕通經義，辨邪正，受益良多。 朕親政後，畀以尚書之任，盡心厥職，於師道、臣道可謂兼備。 今值臨雍，眷懷舊學，加太子太保。 子報原，以員外郎即補用，示崇儒重道之意。」 四年，仁宗實錄成，賜子報閏主事，孫承佑舉人。 南河高堰潰決阻運，上以廷珍生長淮、揚，命偕尚書文孚往勘，劾河督張文浩、總督孫玉庭，譴黜有差。 疏籌修濬事宜，交河督辦理。 五年，回京，協辦大學士。 七年，卒，上震悼，優詔賜卹，贈太子太師，入祀賢良祠，命大阿哥賜奠，賜銀千兩治喪，諡文端。 江蘇請祀鄉賢，特詔允之。
In Daoguang 2 he presided over the metropolitan exams and instructed Hanlin bachelors. When the emperor visited the tombs he was ordered to remain in the capital to handle affairs. In year 3, after the Confucian sacrifice and the emperor's visit to the Imperial College, an edict said: "Minister of Rites Wang Tingzhen was chosen by my late father as Upper Study tutor; he discussed the classics with me daily, spoke only what was lawful, helped me master the classics and distinguish right from wrong, and benefited me greatly. After I took the throne I gave him ministerial office and he devoted himself to duty; in both teacher's and minister's roles he fulfilled his charge. On this visit to the College, cherishing old studies, I grant him senior guardian of the heir apparent. His son Baoyuan is appointed directly as vice director of a bureau, showing honor for Confucian learning." In year 4, when the Veritable Records of Renzong were completed, his son Baoyuan was made junior director of a bureau and his grandson Chengyou was granted licentiate status. The Gaoyan embankment on the Southern Canal burst and blocked transport; as Tingzhen had grown up in the Huai-Yang region, the emperor sent him with Minister Wen Fu to inspect; they impeached canal director Zhang Wenhao and Governor Sun Yuting, who were punished accordingly. He memorialized dredging and repair plans for the canal director to carry out. In year 5 he returned to the capital and was made assistant grand secretary. In year 7 he died; the emperor grieved deeply, granted favorable rites, posthumously made him grand tutor of the heir apparent, enshrined him in the Shrine of Worthy Ministers, ordered the eldest imperial son to offer sacrifice, granted a thousand taels for the funeral, and gave the posthumous title Wenduan. Jiangsu requested his enshrinement among local worthies, and a special edict approved.
14
廷珍風裁嚴峻，立朝無所親附。 出入內廷，寮寀見之，莫不肅然。 自言生平力戒刻薄，凡貪冒諂諛有不忍為，皆守母教。 大學士阮元服其多聞淵博，勸著書，廷珍曰：「六經之奧，昔人先我言之，便何以長語相溷？ 讀書所以析義，要歸於中有所主而已。」 服用樸儉，或以公孫弘擬之，笑曰：「大丈夫不以曲學阿世為恥，而徒畏布被之譏乎？」 後進以文謁，言不宗道，曰：「異日恐喪所守。」 屬官有例送御史者，持不可，曰：「斯人華而不實，何以立朝？」 後皆如所言，人服其精鑑。
Tingzhen was stern in bearing and joined no faction at court. In the inner court colleagues who met him were invariably awed into respect. He said he strove all his life against harshness; whatever greed, corruption, or flattery he could not bear to do, he avoided by his mother's teaching. Grand Secretary Ruan Yuan admired his learning and urged him to write; Tingzhen said: "The depths of the Six Classics were spoken of first by others — why should I add long talk to muddy them? Reading is to analyze meaning; what matters is a settled conviction within." He dressed plainly; when compared to Gongsun Hong he laughed: "Should a true man fear crooked learning and fawning on the world, yet only dread ridicule for a cotton quilt?" When juniors presented writings that did not honor the Way, he said: "Some day you may lose what you should uphold." A subordinate wished to recommend someone for censor; he refused: "This man is showy without substance — how can he serve at court?" Later events proved him right, and people admired his judgment.
15
湯金釗，字敦甫，浙江蕭山人。 嘉慶四年進士，選庶吉士，授編修。 十三年，入直上書房。 金釗端謹自持，宣宗在潛邸，甚敬禮之。 母憂服闋，擢侍講，督湖南學政。 累遷內閣學士。 二十一年，复直上書房。 典江南鄉試，留學政，詔勉以訓士不患無才，務培德，經學為本，才藻次之。 金釗闡揚詔旨，通誡士子。 會匪以禍福煽惑鄉愚，金釗著福善辨，刊發曉諭。 徐州俗悍，武生不馴者，繩之以法。 遷禮部侍郎，任滿，仍直上書房。
Tang Jinzhao, courtesy name Dunfu, came from Xiaoshan in Zhejiang. In Jiaqing 4 he became a jinshi, entered the Hanlin as a bachelor, and was appointed compiler. In year 13 he entered the Upper Study. Jinzhao was upright and self-restrained; when the future Xuanzong Emperor was still heir apparent he treated him with great respect. When mourning ended he was promoted to expositor and served as Hunan educational commissioner. He was promoted in succession to grand secretary of the Grand Secretariat. In year 21 he again entered the Upper Study. He presided over the Jiangnan provincial exams and stayed as educational commissioner; an edict urged him to teach scholars not to fear lack of talent but to cultivate virtue, ground students in classical learning, and rank literary ornament second. Jinzhao expounded the edict and widely admonished scholars. Secret societies used fortune and misfortune to delude villagers; Jinzhao wrote the Fushan bian and published it to enlighten them. Xuzhou customs were fierce; unruly martial licentiates he restrained by law. He was transferred to vice-minister of Rites; when his term ended he again served in the Upper Study.
16
宣宗即位，調吏部，益鄉用。 時用尚書英和議，命各省查州縣陋規，明定限制。 金釗疏言：「陋規皆出於民，地方官未敢公然苛索者，畏上知之治其罪也。 今若明定章程，即為例所應得，勢必明目張膽，求多於例外，雖有嚴旨，不能禁矣。 況名目碎雜，所在不同，檢察難得真確，轉滋紛擾。 無論不當明定章程，亦不能妥立章程也。 吏治貴在得人，得其人，雖取於民而民愛戴之，不害其為清； 非其人，雖不取於民而民嫉仇之，何論其為清？ 有治人無治法，惟在督撫舉措公明，而非立法所能限制。」 會中外大臣亦多言其不便，金釗疏入，上手批答曰：「朝有諍臣，使朕胸中黑白分明，無傷於政體，不勝欣悅！」 予議敘。
When Xuanzong succeeded he was moved to the Ministry of Personnel and increasingly entrusted with important duties. Following Minister Ying He's proposal, the throne ordered each province to investigate irregular local levies and set clear limits. Jinzhao memorialized: "Irregular levies all come from the people; local officials dare not extort openly only because they fear punishment if the throne learns of it. If limits are now fixed in writing, they become what officials may take by precedent; they will openly demand more beyond the rule; even stern edicts cannot stop it. Moreover the items are numerous, scattered, and differ by place; investigation can hardly be accurate and will only increase disorder. Regulations should not be fixed in writing — nor can sound regulations really be established. Good government depends on the right men; with the right man, even taking from the people they love him and he remains clean; with the wrong man, even taking nothing they hate him — what talk of cleanliness? There is government by men, not by laws; it depends on governors acting fairly, not on legislation." Ministers at court and provinces also said it was impracticable; when Jinzhao's memorial arrived the emperor endorsed it: "The court has remonstrating ministers, so black and white are clear in my mind without harm to government — I am exceedingly pleased!" He was granted merit promotion.
17
道光元年，兼署戶部侍郎。 兩江總督孫玉庭以南漕浮收不能盡去，議請八折徵收，學政姚文田、御史王家相皆奏言不可。 金釗既同部臣議覆，复疏爭曰：「康熙中奉永不加賦之明詔，此大清億萬年培養國脈之至計也。 前有議加耗米及公費銀者，戶部以事近加賦議駁。 今准其略有浮收，不肖者益無顧忌，而浮收且多於往日，雖告以收逾八折即予嚴參，然前此逾額者何嘗不干嚴譴，卒不聞為之減少，獨於新定之額，恪遵而不敢逾，此臣之所不敢信也。 在督撫奏定之後，不慮控告浮收； 在州縣縱有發覺，又將巧脫其罪。 是限制仍同虛設，徒為盛朝開加賦之端，臣竊惜之！」 疏入，下江、浙督撫妥議，事乃寢。 尋以吏部事繁，罷直上書房。 典江南鄉試，道經銅山，見運河支渠為黃流淤塞，歲苦潦，回京奏請疏濬，如議行。 二年，典會試，調戶部，父憂歸。 六年，服闋，署禮、工二部及倉場侍郎，仍直上書房，授皇長子奕緯讀。 實授戶部侍郎。 七年，連擢左都御史、禮部尚書、上方倚畀，迭命赴山西、直隸、四川、湖北、福建鞫獄按事，四年之中，凡奉使五次。 所至持法明慎，悉當上意。 充上書房總師傅，調吏部尚書。 十一年，皇長子遘疾不起，忌者因以激上怒，罷總師傅，降兵部侍郎。 逾兩年，復自左都御史授工部尚書，轉吏部。 連典江南、順天鄉試。 十六年，陝西巡撫楊名颺被劾，命偕侍郎文慶往按，暫署巡撫； 又往四川按事，名颺復與臬司互訐，得其冒工庇屬狀，劾罷。 會京察，以奉使公明，予議敘。 又赴張家口、太原鞫獄。 十八年，以戶部尚書協辦大學士，仍調吏部。
In Daoguang 1 he also acted as vice-minister of Revenue. Governor-General Sun Yuting of the Two Jiangs, because surplus collection on southern tribute grain could not be wholly stopped, proposed an eighty-percent levy; Educational Commissioner Yao Wentian and Censor Wang Jiaxiang both said it must not be done. Jinzhao had joined the ministry reply but memorialized again: "In Kangxi's reign the edict declared the land tax would never increase — this is the supreme plan by which the Great Qing nourishes the nation's lifeblood for ten thousand years. Earlier proposals to add surcharge grain and public-fee silver were rejected by Revenue as tantamount to increasing the tax. Now to allow some surplus collection, the unscrupulous will grow bolder and collection will exceed former days; though told that collection beyond eighty percent brings severe impeachment, those who exceeded quotas in the past were often punished yet collection never decreased — that they will scrupulously keep the new quota is what I cannot believe. After governors fix the rate, they will not fear accusations of surplus collection; if district officials are caught, they will cleverly escape punishment. Limits will be empty, opening a door to increased taxation for this glorious dynasty — I deeply regret it!" The memorial was sent to Jiangsu and Zhejiang governors for discussion, and the matter was dropped. Soon, as Personnel affairs were heavy, he left the Upper Study. Presiding over the Jiangnan provincial exams, he passed Tongshan and saw canal branches choked by Yellow River silt and yearly flooding; back in the capital he memorialized for dredging, and it was done. In year 2 he presided over the metropolitan exams, was moved to Revenue, and returned home on mourning for his father. In year 6, when mourning ended, he acted as vice-minister of Rites and Works and of granary stores, again served in the Upper Study, and instructed the eldest imperial son Yizhi. He received substantive appointment as vice-minister of Revenue. In year 7 he was promoted in succession to left censor-in-chief and minister of Rites; the emperor relied on him and sent him five times in four years to Shanxi, Zhili, Sichuan, Hubei, and Fujian to try cases. Wherever he went he applied the law clearly and cautiously and fully met the emperor's intent. He was made chief tutor of the Upper Study and transferred to minister of Personnel. In year 11 the eldest imperial son fell ill and died; enemies stirred the emperor's anger; Jinzhao was removed as chief tutor and demoted to vice-minister of War. After more than two years he was again promoted from left censor-in-chief to minister of Works and then to Personnel. He presided in succession over the Jiangnan and Shuntian provincial exams. In year 16 Shaanxi Governor Yang Mingyang was impeached; Jinzhao was sent with Vice Minister Wen Qing to investigate and temporarily acted as governor; he went again to Sichuan; Mingyang quarreled again with the provincial judge; Jinzhao proved he had falsely claimed work and shielded subordinates and impeached him into dismissal. At the capital personnel review he received merit promotion for fair conduct on his missions. He again went to Zhangjiakou and Taiyuan to try cases. In year 18, as minister of Revenue he was made assistant grand secretary and again moved to Personnel.
18
十九年，命按事安徽、江蘇、浙江。 自禁煙議起，海疆久不靖。 林則徐既罷，琦善主撫，復不得要領。 金釗素不附和議，與穆彰阿等意齟《齒吾》。 一日召對，上從容問廣東事可付諸何人，金釗以林則徐對，上不悅。 至二十一年，事且益棘，詔予則徐四品卿銜赴浙江軍營，亦未果用之。 未幾，有吏部司員陳起詩規避倉差，金釗還其呈牘禁勿遞，為所訐，坐降四級調用。 逾年，授光祿寺卿。 以衰老乞罷，住京養疴，許以二品頂戴致仕。 久之，上仍眷念，二十九年，皇太后之喪，具疏上慰，賜頭品頂戴。 咸豐四年，重宴鹿鳴，加太子太保。 六年，卒，詔以尚書例賜卹，諡文端。
In year 19 he was ordered to investigate affairs in Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. Since the opium prohibition debate, the maritime frontier had long been unsettled. Lin Zexu had been dismissed; Qishan favored appeasement yet again failed to grasp essentials. Jinzhao had never favored appeasement and was at odds with Muzhanga and others. One day at audience the emperor casually asked whom Guangdong affairs could be entrusted to; Jinzhao named Lin Zexu; the emperor was displeased. By year 21 affairs grew urgent; an edict gave Lin Zexu fourth-rank vice-minister rank and sent him to the Zhejiang army, yet he was still not effectively used. Soon a Personnel clerk, Chen Qishi, tried to evade granary duty; Jinzhao returned his petition and forbade submission; Chen impeached him and he was demoted four ranks and transferred. After more than a year he was appointed minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. He asked to retire for age and illness, stayed in the capital to nurse his health, and was permitted to retire with second-rank button. Long afterward the emperor still cherished him; in year 29, at the empress dowager's mourning, he submitted a memorial of condolence and was granted the first-rank button. In Xianfeng 4 he again attended the deer-ming banquet and was made senior guardian of the heir apparent. In year 6 he died; an edict granted ministerial posthumous rites, with posthumous title Wenduan.
19
金釗自為翰林，布衣脫粟，後常不改。 當官廉察，負一時清望，雖被排擠，卒以恩禮終。 子修，通政司副使。
From his Hanlin days Jinzhao wore plain cloth and ate simple grain, and seldom changed afterward. In office he was incorrupt and bore the age's reputation for integrity; though pushed aside, he ended with imperial favor. His son Xiu was vice commissioner of the Office of Transmission.
20
論曰：阮元由詞臣出膺疆寄，竟殄海寇； 開府粵、滇，綏邊之績，並有足稱； 晚登宰輔，與樞臣曹振鏞異趣，惟以文學裁成後進，世推耆碩。 汪廷珍、湯金釗正色立朝，清節並著； 金釗雖以直言被擯，宣宗終鑑其忠誠，易名曰「端」，胥無愧焉。
The historian comments: Ruan Yuan rose from the literary service to frontier command and at last destroyed the sea pirates; he governed Guangdong and Yunnan, and his border-pacification achievements are likewise praiseworthy; late in life he reached the chief counselors; he differed in outlook from Grand Councilor Cao Zhenyong, yet shaped the young through literary learning alone, and the age hailed him as a venerable master. Wang Tingzhen and Tang Jinzhao stood with stern integrity at court, their spotless conduct equally renowned; though Jinzhao was cast out for blunt counsel, the Xuanzong Emperor ultimately recognized his loyalty and granted the posthumous name Wenduan — none of them fell short of honor.