Kong Xiuyuan, courtesy name Qingxu, came from Shaoxing, Zhejiang. He was the eighth-generation descendant of Kong Chong, the Prefect of Danyang during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. His great-grandfather Kong Yaozhi served as the Minister of Water in the Song Dynasty. His father Kong Pei was a military officer in the Qi Dynasty, but he died young.
Xiuyuan became an orphan at the age of eleven. He was extremely filial, often crying uncontrollably when reading the words his father had written before his passing, and others couldn't help but cry along with him. Later, he went to Wuxing to study classics with Shen Linshi and developed a solid grasp of the classics. In the fourth year of Jianwu, he was recommended for the title of scholar by local officials. General Xu Xiaosi was impressed by his writings and praised him, saying, "Dong Zhongshu, Hua Xin, and others are no match for him. This young man is truly impressive! His essays are like a rare talent that can assist the king!" Prince Rong of Langya had a good relationship with him and recommended him to Prince Jingling of SITU, who appointed him as a scholar at the West Pavilion. After the establishment of the Liang Dynasty, he and Liu Zhilin of Nanyang were appointed as doctors of the Imperial Academy, which was considered a good choice by everyone.
Upon arriving in the capital, Xiuyuan stayed at the residence of Kong Deng, the Minister of the Imperial Clan. Once, he attended a temple ceremony and was complimented by Grand Preceptor Fan Yun on his looks. Fan Yun later visited Kong Deng's residence but went straight to Xiuyuan's house instead. They chatted for a long time and then headed home together. Kong Deng felt embarrassed about it. At that time, the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, Shen Yue, was quite powerful and had many visitors every day. However, even when Xiuyuan came by later, Shen Yue always welcomed him politely, sitting next to him to discuss literature and historical allusions. Everyone respected Xiuyuan for his character.
Before long, he was appointed as a military advisor in the Prince of Linchuan's household. Emperor Gaozu once asked the Minister of Personnel, Xu Mian, "Now that the country has just been established, we need someone who is knowledgeable and understands court etiquette to serve as the Minister of Ceremonies. Can you help me think of someone suitable?" Xu Mian replied, "Kong Xiuyuan has a wide range of knowledge, is familiar with historical allusions, and can recite various historical texts from the Jin and Song Dynasties, as well as the 'Records of Daily Life.' Emperor Gaozu had already heard of him, and that very day, he appointed him as the Minister of Ceremonies. At that time, there were many things in the court that needed to be changed, and whenever past events needed to be referenced, Xiuyuan could quickly make judgments based on his well-memorized historical materials without hesitation. The Minister of Personnel, Ren Fang, often referred to him as 'Kong Dusong.'
Kong Xiuyuan became the warden of the Jiankang Prison, handling cases and making fair judgments, with very few miscarriages of justice. Later, when someone was selected as a prison official, Emperor Gaozu used Xiuyuan as an example to motivate them.
Later, he was promoted to the position of Imperial Secretary, then served as a military officer in the Prince of Linchuan's household, and later was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of Ceremonies. He reorganized the ceremonial examinations, and everyone thought he did a great job, meeting everyone's expectations. At that time, the Prince's Grand Tutor, Zhou She, wrote a book called 'Li Yiyi,' which compiled and organized the ceremonial systems from the Han through the Liang Dynasties, and Xiuyuan's memorials were also included.
He was then appointed as the Yellow Gate Attendant, and later promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Censor. He was known for his integrity and fairness, never allowing personal bias to influence his judgments, and all the officials in the court respected him. He was later promoted to the position of Minister of Revenue and also held the title of Intendant of Danyang.
Later, he was appointed as the Chief Historian of the Jin'an Prince's residence, the Governor of Nanjun County, and also acted in charge of Jingzhou's affairs. Emperor Gaozu said to him, "Jingzhou is located in a strategically important position upstream, and its status is very important. Now I am entrusting such an important task to a 'ten-year-old child' (meaning a young and promising individual). You must assist him well and not be afraid to speak frankly like Zhou Chang!" Xiu Yuan replied, "I may be of mediocre ability, but I am honored to receive such great trust from you. I will do my best to emulate even a little of your achievements." The Emperor was quite pleased with his reply and ordered Jin'an Wang to be informed, "Kong Xiu Yuan is a dragon and phoenix among men. You are still young, so you must learn from him in all things."
Not long after, Prince Shi Xing replaced Jin'an Wang to guard Jingzhou, and Xiu Yuan again took on the role of Chief Historian at the Jin'an Prince's residence, the Governor of Nanjun County, continuing to act in charge of the prefectural affairs. During his tenure in Jingzhou, he made significant political contributions, was known for his fairness and integrity, and never showed favoritism or corruption. Emperor Gaozu greatly appreciated him.
Later, he was appointed as the Attendant Cavalry of the Imperial Guards, overseeing the Imperial Feather Guard. He was later transferred to the Secretariat, promoted to General of Mingwei, again taking on the role of Chief Historian at the Jin'an Prince's residence, the Governor of Nan Lanling, and given special authority to manage the affairs of South Xuzhou. Xiu Yuan assisted the princes many times, was greatly respected by the people, and the princes also relied heavily on him. All military and local matters were first discussed with him. Jin'an Wang even had another bed placed in his study, saying, "This is Chief Historian Kong's seat," and no one else was allowed to sit there, demonstrating the respect Jin'an Wang had for him.
Kong Xiuyuan was first appointed as the Minister of Imperial Household Affairs, and not long after, he became the Minister of Personnel. Soon after, he also took on the role of Crown Prince's Chief of Staff. In the seventh year of the Ordinary Era, Wang Hong, the Governor of Yangzhou and Prince of Linchuan, passed away. Emperor Gaozu discussed with his ministers about who should succeed Wang Hong in Yangzhou, and this matter dragged on for quite a while. At that time, many high-ranking officials and royal relatives were hoping to secure this plum job. Emperor Gaozu said, "I have already found a suitable candidate. Kong Xiuyuan is exceptionally talented, with extensive knowledge, making him very fit for this position." Thus, he appointed Kong Xiuyuan as General Xuanhui, sending him to oversee Yangzhou.
Kong Xiuyuan initially served as an advisor to Prince Linchuan, and after the prince's death, he took over the governance of Yangzhou. At that time, everyone felt he was very fortunate. Yangzhou was a big city with complicated governance and mountains of official documents, but Kong Xiuyuan handled everything smoothly, without missing a beat, and he never engaged in favoritism or corruption; no one could sway him with pleas. By the second year of the Zhongdatong Era, he was further promoted to the title of Jinzi Guanglu Dafu and continued to oversee Yangzhou. He repeatedly submitted requests to resign, but the emperor always turned down his requests. In Yangzhou, he took care of court cases during the day and hit the books at night. Every time the emperor went on a tour, he would entrust him with various military and state matters.
Prince Zhaoming died, and the emperor summoned Kong Xiuyuan to the palace for a banquet that night to discuss making Prince Jin'an the crown prince with the ministers. Four years later, Kong Xiuyuan fell ill, and Emperor Gaozu sent messengers to visit him, sending a large quantity of medicine, more than ten doses each day. In May of that year, Kong Xiuyuan passed away at the age of sixty-four. He requested a modest burial, with only plain vegetarian offerings for the rituals. Emperor Gaozu shed tears and said to Xie Ju, "Kong Xiuyuan was upright, loyal, honest, and selfless. I had intended to work with him to govern the country and uphold the king's principles, but I did not expect him to suddenly pass away. I am very saddened!" Xie Ju replied, "Such integrity and righteousness are rarely seen today. I privately lament for Your Majesty." The emperor issued an edict: "To mourn the deceased and honor our ancestors is a tradition upheld by past dynasties. Commend the meritorious; this is the system of the ancient kings. General Xuanhui, Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light, and Supervisor of Yangzhou Kong Xiuyuan, of noble character and broad-minded, elevated in rank and title, celebrated for his accomplishments. He governed the realm with great wisdom, praised for his political achievements, just about to promote benevolence and longevity, and consolidate ritual and teaching, but he suddenly passed away. We are deeply grieved. Posthumously appoint him as a Cavalier Attendant, Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light, awarding one top-quality coffin, fifty pieces of cloth, fifty thousand coins, and two hundred pounds of candles. Select an appropriate day for mourning. All necessary funeral expenses can be freely withdrawn. His posthumous title is 'Zhenzi'." The crown prince also issued a decree: "Kong Xiuyuan, Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light, was upright and honest in his actions. He assisted in political affairs in the Zhugong Palace on the west side and the Fenrang Palace on the east side, putting his heart and soul into his work. He was meticulous in his work, honest and upright, incomparable to anyone else. Now that he has suddenly passed away, I am deeply saddened. We will mourn for him now, and the funeral will be conducted in accordance with the proper rites."
Kong Xiuyuan was orphaned at a young age, but he was ambitious, had an upright character, and was skilled in governance. He lived a simple life, had extensive knowledge, and in his official duties, he was unafraid of power and always placed the affairs of the state first. The emperor had great trust in him, and throughout his various important positions, he made no mistakes. He was cautious and meticulous, with few personal interests. He never discussed palace matters while in or out of the court, which earned him universal respect. He amassed a collection of over seven thousand books, all personally proofread by him. His memorials and impeachment writings were compiled into fifteen volumes.
His eldest son, Kong Yuntong, inherited his father's admirable qualities but was deeply devoted to Buddhism and strictly adhered to its precepts. He held positions including consultant to the Prince of Yueyang and deputy in East Yangzhou.
Zong Gui, who was intelligent and perceptive from a young age, served as a Lang in the Ministry of Works, a Left Western Clerk, and a Gentleman of the Palace Library, steadily advancing in rank.
Jiang Ge, courtesy name Xiuying, was from Jiyang Kaocheng. His grandfather, Jiang Qizhi, served as an official in the Ministry of Finance during the Song Dynasty; his father, Jiang Rouzhi, served as an official in the Ministry of Granaries during the Qi Dynasty. He was filial, but unfortunately died young from overwhelming grief over his mother's passing. Jiang Ge was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, displaying exceptional talent early on, even writing essays by the age of six. His father held him in high regard, saying, "This child will definitely bring honor to our ancestors in the future!" At the age of nine, Jiang Ge lost his father and became an orphan with his younger brother, Jiang Guan. Despite living in poverty without teachers or friends, the brothers encouraged each other, studied diligently, and never slackened. At the age of sixteen, he lost his mother and became known for his devotion to filial duty. After the mourning period ended, he and his brother went to the Imperial Academy, achieving top results in the exams. The Middle Councilor of the Qi Dynasty, Wang Rong, and the Minister of Personnel, Xie Ao, both were impressed by him. One night, Xie Ao returned from night duty and visited Jiang Ge. That day, heavy snow was falling, and seeing Jiang Ge studying hard despite being wrapped in tattered cotton and lying on a thin mat, Xie Ao sighed deeply. He took off his own short coat, tore half of his felt blanket to give to Jiang Ge as a cover, and then left. Hearing of Jiang Ge's reputation, the Prince of Jingling, Sima, appointed him as a Western Pavilion Scholar. Jiang Ge passed the provincial examination for Nanxu Prefecture at less than twenty years old. At that time, Hu Xiezhi, the Prefect of Yuzhang, was serving in Nanxu Prefecture. Wang Rong wrote a letter to Hu Xiezhi, recommending Jiang Ge. Hu Xiezhi was about to recommend Wang Fan of Langya but opted for Jiang Ge instead. Jiang Ge was soon appointed as a court envoy.
The Minister of State Jiang Shi valued him greatly. At that time, Jiang Shi served as the Crown Prince's Grand Preceptor and recommended Jiang Ge to be his Deputy Minister. Jiang Shi held significant power and believed Jiang Ge was very talented and capable of assisting the state, so he allowed him to participate in government affairs. All imperial edicts, announcements, and proclamations were entrusted to Jiang Ge for drafting. Jiang Ge worked very cautiously without drawing attention, leaving outsiders completely unaware. Later, when Jiang Shi was killed, his guests were caught up in the fallout, but only Jiang Ge managed to escape disaster through his own wisdom.
He initially served as an official in the Department of Rites. In the first year of the Restoration, when Emperor Gaozu attacked Shitou City, Yuan Ang, the Governor of Wuxing at that time, occupied the county seat to resist the rebel forces, so Emperor Gaozu sent him to write a letter to Yuan Ang. He completed it on the spot, with elegant language and brilliant prose, which earned him high praise from Emperor Gaozu. As a result, he was appointed to manage documents along with Xu Mian. Later, when Prince Jian'an became the Inspector of Yongzhou, he submitted a request for Jiang Ge to be his secretary, and thus he became a military officer for the northern campaign while also serving as a secretary. He had a close bond with his brother Ge Guan, and they lived together, reluctant to part. He earnestly requested that his brother accompany him, so Ge Guan was also appointed as a military officer for the northern campaign, concurrently serving as a secretary. At that time, Shen Yue from Wuxing and Ren Fang from Le'an both admired the two brothers. Ren Fang even wrote to him saying, "The Yongzhou government has really picked some top-notch talent this time; the work of documents will be handled by you brothers, which is truly like 'guiding two dragons on a long journey and racing a fine steed over a thousand miles!'" On the way to Yongzhou, while passing through Jiangxia, his brother Ge Guan tragically fell ill and passed away.
He was in Yongzhou at that time, receiving the favor of Prince Jian'an, as if he were just an ordinary friend. Later, when Prince Jian'an was summoned by the court to serve as the Intendant of Danyang in Jiankang, he appointed him as his secretary and also as an official in charge of the Five Offices, later promoted to the Supervisor of the Writing Officials and the Chief of Jiankang's administration. He was subsequently promoted multiple times, successively serving as the Magistrate of Moling and the Magistrate of Jiankang. He ruled with integrity and strictness, and those powerful landlords all held him in high regard. Later, he returned to the court, serving successively as the Gentleman-in-Waiting of the Palace Writers, the Left Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and the Minister of Agriculture, then being sent out to serve as the Chief Clerk of Prince Jin'an of Yunhui, the Administrator of Xunyang, and serving as the acting Prefect of Jiangzhou. He was then transferred to serve as the Chief Clerk and Prefect of Renwei Luling Prince, still acting as the Prefect; because of his integrity and strictness, all the people in the states and counties respected him. At that time, many aides of minor princes flattered their superiors, but he upheld his principles and never sat with those who were corrupt. Soon he was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness on the Left, Chief Clerk of Prince Nanping, and Chief Censor, fearlessly daring to impeach the powerful. Mr. Jiang Ge first served as the Minister of Works, then was dispatched, serving successively as the General of Zhengwei, Chief of the Southern Army of Prince Nankang, and Administrator of Guangling, then reassigned as Chief Clerk of Prince Yunan of Zhenbei, while retaining both his positions as general and administrator. At that time, the Inspector of Xu Province of Wei, Yuan Faseng, defected to Northern Wei, and Jiang Ge was ordered to remain in Pengcheng with the prince. After Pengcheng was lost, Jiang Ge, not skilled at riding horses, sailed home, passing through Xiapi, where he was captured by the Wei army.
Yuan Yanming, the governor of Xu Province in Wei, had heard of Jiang Ge's reputation and showed him great courtesy. Jiang Ge explained that his feet were hurting and he could not perform the kneeling salute. Yuan Yanming initially intended to harm him, but upon seeing Jiang Ge's resolute attitude and serious expression, he began to see him in a new light and treated him with respect. At that time, Zu Chen had also been captured, and Yuan Yanming ordered Zu Chen to write the "Inscription on the Tilted Vessel" and the "Inscription on the Water Clock." Jiang Ge scolded Zu Chen, saying, "You enjoy the court's great favor, yet have not had the chance to repay it, and now you are truly letting down the court!" Hearing this, Yuan Yanming ordered Jiang Ge to write the inscription for the Zhangba Temple and the sacrificial text for Peng Zu. Jiang Ge declined, saying he had been imprisoned for so long that he had no desire to write these. Yuan Yanming pressed him further, even threatening to beat him. Jiang Ge glared angrily and said, "I am Jiang Ge, and I am sixty years old. I cannot sacrifice myself for the country to repay the court; if I die today, that would already be a blessing. I will never write for you, even if it costs me my life!" Seeing his fierce resolve, Yuan Yanming knew he could not make him submit and had no choice but to give up. He was given only three sheng of coarse grains each day, just enough to keep him alive.
Later, when the Wei ruler launched a campaign against the rebellion led by King Yuan Lue of Zhongshan, Jiang Ge and Zu Chen were released and sent back to the court. The court issued an edict that said: "The former General of Zhenwei, Long History of the Northern Garrison, and Governor of Guangling, Jiang Ge, is quick-witted, upright in the court, and unwavering in critical moments; he is a pillar of the court. He has been appointed as the Long History of the Prince of Linchuan."
Emperor Gaozu was very devout to Buddhism, and many ministers in the court requested to be ordained. Jiang Ge held a sincere belief in karma, but Emperor Gaozu did not know this and mistakenly believed he was not a Buddhist, so he gave him a five-hundred-character poem called "Awakening Intentions," which stated: "Only through diligent effort can one strengthen oneself and excel in cultivation; how can one act recklessly, like a condemned prisoner?" He used this as a warning to Jiang Ge and other high-ranking officials. Emperor Gaozu also handwritten a letter stating: "The law of cause and effect in this world must be believed. How can you be as rude and unreasonable as you were to Yuan Yanming?" Jiang Ge then petitioned the court to receive the Bodhisattva precepts.
The emperor appointed Jiang Ge as Minister of the Imperial Stables, Chief Historian, and Colonel of the Guards. At that time, the Prince of Wuling was acting rather arrogantly in the Eastern Province. The emperor summoned Jiang Ge and directly commanded him: "The Prince of Wuling is young, and Zang Dun is weak-willed and cannot control him. I want you to take his place. Besides you, no one else can handle it, so don't refuse!" So Jiang Ge was appointed as General of Cheshou, Chief Historian to the Prince of Wuling, and Magistrate of Kuaiji County, and oversaw the affairs of the Prefecture and State.
Many of Jiang Ge's former students and subordinates were in Dongzhou. When they heard that Jiang Ge was coming, they all went to greet him with gifts. Jiang Ge said, "I never accept gifts. I can't just accept gifts from old friends alone." When he arrived at the prefecture, he relied solely on his government salary for his living, and he never cared much about his food or drink. Kuaiji County was vast and densely populated, handling hundreds of official cases each day. Jiang Ge was able to adjudicate each case without any backlog. Rewards were given where due, and punishments were enforced where necessary, ensuring that the common people could live and work in peace. The officials respected and feared him, and the entire prefecture held him in fear. While Langye Wang Qian was the magistrate of Shanyin County, corruption and bribery were rampant. Hearing that Jiang Ge was coming, he was so frightened that he quickly resigned. Wuling Wang also came to respect Jiang Ge, and their relationship grew strong. Every time he attended banquets with Wuling Wang, Jiang Ge would discuss the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents with him, which inspired Wuling Wang to take an interest in studying and appreciating literature. Jiang Ge's aide Shen Chiwen presented the poems written by Wuling Wang to the Emperor Gaozu, who remarked to Xu Mian, "Jiang Ge is indeed fit for his role." Consequently, Jiang Ge was promoted to Minister of Justice. When Jiang Ge was about to leave Kuaiji County to return to the court, the people were saddened to see him go and offered him gifts, but he refused them all. According to custom, the officials preparing to see him off had prepared a large ship for him, but Jiang Ge declined it, opting instead for a small boat provided by the government. This small boat was narrow and unsteady, making it hard to sleep comfortably. Someone warned Jiang Ge, "This boat is so unstable that crossing the river could be dangerous." Jiang Ge had nothing valuable, so he picked up more than ten rocks from the shore of Xiling and placed them in the bottom of the boat to stabilize it. He was so impoverished that he had to resort to this. Later, he was appointed the governor of Wu County.
Wu County was quite desolate, and banditry was rampant. When Jiang Ge took office, he was assigned just twenty guards by the government, and the people worried they couldn't suppress the bandits; even the patrolling soldiers were afraid of them. Jiang Ge extended his kindness to appease the people, strictly enforced the laws, and as a result, the banditry was brought under control, and both the people and officials were settled.
The King of Wuling sent Jiang Ge to Jiangzhou, saying, "I have such an outstanding talent for literature in Jiang Ge; how could I ever forget him for a day? We must enjoy life together." So he submitted a memorial to the court, requesting Jiang Ge to accompany him. Later, Jiang Ge was promoted to General of Mingwei, Chief Clerk of Nanzhong, and Prefect of Xunyang. Later, he was summoned to the capital to serve as Minister of Revenue. Jiang Ge liked to promote and reward common people, helping young people build a good reputation, so many knowledgeable scholars at that time flocked to him.
Back then, Grand Secretary He Jingrong was in charge of selecting officials, but many chosen were unsuitable. Jiang Ge was known for being upright and strong-willed, and every time he attended court banquets, he always spoke his mind about the officials, thus offending some of the powerful. He then resigned and returned home, claiming illness. Later, he held positions such as Grand Master of Splendor, Commander of Infantry, and Grand Corrector of Southern and Northern Yanzhou, living a leisurely life filled with poetry and wine. In February of the first year of Datong, Jiang Ge passed away and was posthumously given the title "Qiangzi." He left behind twenty volumes of collected works, which have been handed down through generations. Jiang Ge served as Chief Clerk of eight prefectures, Chief Clerk of four kings, and held high official positions three times, but he had no concubines and his family was so poor they could barely afford to eat, and that's why later generations respected him.
Jiang Ge's eldest son Jiang Xingmin, a talented and studious individual, rose to the position of Imperial Attendant. Unfortunately, he died young, leaving behind five volumes of collected works. His second son, Jiang Congjian, demonstrated literary talent early on. At the age of seventeen, he wrote a poem "Picking Lotus Words" to satirize He Jingrong, which received much acclaim at the time. He later served as a Sima Attendant. During the chaos of the Hou Jing rebellion, he was killed by Ren Yue. His son, Jiang Jian, knelt and kowtowed, blood streaming down his face, and pleaded to die in his father's stead, using his own body to protect his father. As a result, both father and son were killed, leaving the people in deep mourning.
Historical accounts note: Emperor Gaozu placed great importance on politics and ethics, and Kong Xiuyuan was recognized for his insight and talent at a fortuitous moment. What a stroke of luck that was! Jiang Ge was intelligent, quick-witted, principled, and robust, and was also renowned as a prominent minister of his era!
