Cheng Jinfang (Chinese: 程晋芳; pinyin: Chéng Jìnfāng) (1718–1784) was a well-known poet and scholar of the Qing Dynasty who followed the Tongcheng school of literary prose.[1] His courtesy name was Yumen (鱼门) and his pseudonym was Jiyuan (蕺园).
Cheng was born in Huaian, Jiangsu province. His father was a merchant in the salt business. Huishang (徽商), that is to say, businessmen from Huizhou (徽州), not only did well in business, but also played an important role in cultural field. There were many Huizhou merchants who were excellent in academic fields. Cheng was such a Huishang (徽商) who did well both in business and Confucianism. He earned much while being interested in cultural investments. He achieved the Imperial examination degree of Jinshi in 1771 and he was appointed to the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). After that, he continued to take the imperial examination several times but failed all. In 1773, Cheng was appointed to edit Siku Quanshu.
Cheng married in 1736 to his cousin Xiao who was the daughter of his mother's brother.[2] When he got elderly, he took two concubines.
Cheng carried on the family business in selling salt. Wu Jingzi (吴敬梓), who hated salt merchants, also became his friend. When the two became friends, Cheng was 24 and Wu was 41. But their friendship wasn't influenced by the difference of age and their sincere friendship lasted a lifetime.[3] He often discussed academic problems with scholars.[2] In his early life, Cheng made friends with Shang Pan (商盘) and Yuan Mei (袁枚). In his later years, he often traveled with Zhu Yun (朱筠) and Dai Zhen (戴震).[3] Cheng was so dedicated in social and cultural work that he had no time to manage his business and eventually went bankrupt.[4]
In April 1784, Cheng decided to go to Shaanxi Province to ask his friend Bi Yuan (毕沅) for help because of his financial problem. However, soon after Cheng's arrival at Bi Yuan's place, he died of illness on 21 June 1784.[5]
Cheng learnt Confucianism from one of his family member named Cheng Tingzuo (程廷祚), who was a famous specialist in Confucianism at that time. In Cheng's later years, he also learned Confucianism from master Dai zhen (戴震) and Zhu Yun (朱筠).[6] Even though he was born rich, he immersed himself in studying Confucianism and he spent almost all his money in buying books and helping poor scholars. He bought over 50,000 books on Confucianism and the poor scholars were free to read them. He even offered them shelters and food and he enjoyed sharing ideas with those scholars.
Cheng is one of Wu Jingzi’s (吴敬梓) most intimate friends in his late years. Wu Jingzi's Scholars was first published by Cheng, which is one of the greatest contributions to the world for him. Meanwhile, Cheng is also the first scholar to make an all-around comment on Wu and his Scholars. Cheng's records of Wu's life, his analysis of Wu the person and his thoughts, and his comments on the ideological theme of the Scholars are all of very high academic value. But his review of the author and the opus is biased, more or less, which shows the limitations of the time and the individual vision.[7]
Cheng held the opinion that it was more important for scholars to be practical than to be academic. He was in favor of both innovation and seeking the truth from facts. Cheng pointed out that scholars should explore the true meaning of Confucius and Mencius rather than be pursuing the fame of Imperial Examination. Cheng also suggested that people should be proficient in both study and archery.[5]
1753, Cheng went to Beijing and composed Song of Mare’s Milk and Grapes马乳葡萄歌 before he went back to Nanjing.
1754, Cheng composed A poem for chronicles纪事诗 after watching traditional Chinese opera Zaju. The same year, inscribing a poem on a painting called Similar to living in a secluded valley类谷居图 .
1758, Cheng composed yuefu-like Ditty of selling flowers卖花唱, Ballad of Zhang Le张乐谣, in total 20 poems.
1762 March, Qianlong Emperor travelled to Jiangsu, Cheng composed 4 chapters of rhymed prose called Yangtze River goes to court 江汉朝宗赋 to the emperor and greatly pleased him. Qianlong Emperor announced Cheng's poems to be the best and offered him an official position as a member of the cabinet so Cheng moved to Beijing. He lived there until April 1784.
1763, Cheng gathered together with Ruan Kuisheng (阮葵生) and some other friends in Beijing and composed Conjunctions of fighting quails斗鹌鹑联句 which was titled with some kind of folk custom.
1764, Cheng inscribed Picture for safety on the boat in homeward journey归舟安稳图 for Jiang Shiquan (蒋士铨) and saw Jiang off back to the south.
1766, Cheng composed a somber song called Poem of mice's gnawing鼠啮诗 for Wang Chen (王宸).
1768, 10 May, Cheng composed Chronicle of reed cottage in Huaiyin淮阴芦屋记 to record the past of Bian Shoumin (边寿民). Besides, he composed Biography of Mr Wenmu文木先生传 to record the life of Wu Jingzi (吴敬梓).
1769, Cheng inscribed Picture of papers and classics in a cottage in snow雪屋笺经图 for Ren Dachun [zh] (任大椿) from Xinghua [zh], Jiangsu.
1770, Cheng went sightseeing in Suzhou with Wang Wenzhi (王文治), Wu Tailai (吴泰来) and some others and composed Song of fishing and watching lanterns by pleasure-boat钓戈行灯歌 . He came to Suzhou to meet Hua Song (华淞) who just came back to his hometown. After that, he went to the north passing by Anhui ending with meeting Shen Dacheng (沈大成), Jin Zhaoyan (金兆燕) and some others in Yangzhou and composed Song of enjoying fragrance in Zhuxi竹西访桂歌.
1771, Cheng became presented scholar and worked in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. Afterward, he also took charge of another department.
1772, Cheng compiled The list of Guihuan collection of books桂宦藏书目 .
