Ji Yun, a prominent Qing dynasty scholar and politician born in 1724, served as the chief editor for the Siku Quanshu, the most extensive collection of books compiled in Chinese history. Navigating the complex hierarchies of the imperial court, he held various high-level positions, including Minister of War, while leaving a lasting legacy through his prolific writings on the supernatural.
Political Career and Exile
Ji Yun achieved the jinshi degree in 1754, marking his entry into the Hanlin Academy. His trajectory faced a significant interruption in 1768 when he was implicated in a bribery case. This led to his banishment to Dihua in Ili. Following a pardon in 1771, his fortunes reversed when he impressed the Qianlong Emperor with his literary compositions regarding the Turgut Mongols, ultimately leading to his appointment as a secretary of defense and later Minister of Personnel.
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Beyond his political duties, Ji Yun was a significant writer of strange tales. Between 1789 and 1798, he released five distinct collections of supernatural narratives, later published together in 1800 as Yuewei Caotang Biji. These works explored paranormal phenomena, parables, and satirical critiques of Neo-Confucian officials. He is frequently categorized alongside Pu Songling and Yuan Mei as a master of the strange in Qing literature.
Personal Habits and Daily Life
In his personal life, Ji Yun was noted for his preference for fatty pork and strong tea, alongside a distinct dislike for staple foods such as rice and wheat. He was a habitual pipe smoker who preferred walking over using sedan chairs. Residing for three decades in a mansion formerly belonging to General Yue Zhongqi, he maintained a scholarly environment where he hosted his literary pursuits until his death in 1805.
Fast facts
- Born: 1724, Xi'an
- Died: 1805, Beijing
- Academic Degree: Jinshi
- Notable Work: Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tiyao
- Religion: Confucianism
- Minister of War: Appointed 1796
- Minister of Personnel: Appointed 1797
Questions readers ask
What was the Siku Quanshu?
It was the largest collection of books in Chinese history, compiled by Ji Yun under an imperial edict from the Qianlong Emperor.
Why was Ji Yun banished to Xinjiang?
In 1768, he was found to be an accessory in a bribery case after tipping off a relative regarding pending charges.
Achievements
- Notable work: Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tiyao
