Xuyuanmeng (1655–1741),

courtesy name A courtesy name ( zh, s=字, p=zì, l=character), also known as a style name, is an additional name bestowed upon individuals at adulthood, complementing their given name. This tradition is prevalent in the East Asian cultural sphere, particula ...

Shanchang (善長),

art name An art name (pseudonym or pen name), also known by its native names ''hào'' (in Mandarin Chinese), ''gō'' (in Japanese), ' (in Korean), and ''tên hiệu'' (in Vietnamese), is a professional name used by artists, poets and writers in the Sinosp ...

Dieyuan (蝶園) was a

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

official from the

Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic peoples, Tungusic East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized Ethnic minorities in China, ethnic minority in China and the people from wh ...

Šumuru Šumuru (Manchu language, Manchu: ; zh, c=舒穆祿氏) was one of the eight great clans of Manchu nobility (满清八大姓). After the Imperial Edict of the Abdication of the Qing Emperor, demise of the dynasty, some of its descendants sinic ...

clan and the

Plain White Banner The Plain White Banner () was one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. It was one of the three "upper" banners (Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, and Plain White Banner) d ...

of the

Eight Banners The Eight Banners (in Manchu language, Manchu: ''jakūn gūsa'', , ) were administrative and military divisions under the Later Jin (1616–1636), Later Jin and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasties of China into which all Manchu people, Manchu househol ...

. Xuyuanmeng obtained the highest degree (''

jinshi ''Jinshi'' () was the highest and final degree in the imperial examination in Imperial China. The examination was usually taken in the imperial capital in the palace, and was also called the Metropolitan Exam. Recipients are sometimes referre ...

'') in the imperial examination and was selected a ''

shujishi Shujishi (; Manchu: ''geren giltusi'') which means "All good men of virtue" is a scholastic title during the Ming and Qing dynasty of China. It can be used to denote a group of people who hold this title as well as individuals who possess the ti ...

'' of the

Hanlin Academy The Hanlin Academy was an academic and administrative institution of higher learning founded in the 8th century Tang China by Emperor Xuanzong in Chang'an. It has also been translated as "College of Literature" and "Academy of the Forest of Pen ...

in 1673. He was fluent in Chinese,

and

Mongolian Mongolian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Mongolia, a country in Asia * Mongolian people, or Mongols * Bogd Khanate of Mongolia, the government of Mongolia, 1911–1919 and 1921–1924 * Mongolian language * Mongolian alphabet * ...

, the

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 165420 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, personal name Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign of 61 ...

praised that "No one in the contemporary era can surpass Xuyuanmeng's translation level." (徐元夢繙譯，現今無能過之) (

Draft History of Qing The ''Draft History of Qing'' () is a draft of the official history of the Qing dynasty compiled and written by a team of over 100 historians led by Zhao Erxun who were hired by the Beiyang government of the Republic of China. The draft was publ ...

Volume 289) He was very interested in Chinese culture and was proficient in

Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...

; Three Manchu emperors, Kangxi,

Yongzheng The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735), also known by his temple name Emperor Shizong of Qing, personal name Yinzhen, was the fourth emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The ...

and

Qianlong The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 17117 February 1799), also known by his temple name Emperor Gaozong of Qing, personal name Hongli, was the fifth emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. He reigned ...

, respected him very much and regarded him as the tutor. His archery ability was very poor, and the Qing emperor always attached great importance to the military training of the bannermen. Once, Kangxi Emperor taught the princes how to shoot arrows in Yingtai Island,

Zhongnanhai Zhongnanhai () is a compound that houses the offices of and serves as a residence for the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the State Council of the People's Republic of China, State Council. It was a former imperial gard ...

. Xuyuanmeng, as the tutor of the Crown Prince

Yinreng Yunreng (6 June 1674 – 27 January 1725), born Yinreng, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the second among the Kangxi Emperor's sons to survive into adulthood and was designated as Crown Prince for two terms between 1675 and ...

, went accompanied with them. Xuyuanmeng couldn't shoot arrows and was scolded by Kangxi. Xuyuanmeng defended himself a few words. Kangxi was furious and beat him up. The emperor ordered to search his home and confiscate his property, then exile his parents to

Heilongjiang Heilongjiang is a province in northeast China. It is the northernmost and easternmost province of the country and contains China's northernmost point (in Mohe City along the Amur) and easternmost point (at the confluence of the Amur and Us ...

. In the next day, the emperor calmed down his anger the next day, regretted the irrational decision made yesterday, and ordered the revocation of yesterday's order. During Qianlong's reign, he and Ortai were ordered to modernize the '' Manwen Laodang'' from old Manchu script (''tongki fuka akū hergen'') version to the new Manchu script (''tongki fuka sindaha hergen'') version, and kept in the imperial library. Xuyuanmeng died 1741. Qianlong Emperor sent Prince Hongzhou to express condolences. He was given the

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary Personal name, name given mainly to revered dead people in East Asian cultural sphere, East Asian culture. It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. ...

Wending (文定) and awarded posthumous appointment of Grand Tutor (太傅). One of his grandson was Šuhede (舒赫德).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xuyuanmeng 1655 births 1741 deaths Imperial tutors in Qing dynasty Grand secretaries of the Qing dynasty Assistant grand secretaries Manchu Plain White Bannermen Qing dynasty government officials