__NOTOC__ Fang Xiaoru (; 1357 – 25 July 1402),

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 ...

Xizhi (希直) or Xigu (希古), a native of Ninghai County, Zhejiang (present-day

Ningbo Ningbo is a sub-provincial city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. It comprises six urban districts, two satellite county-level cities, and two rural counties, including several islands in Hangzhou Bay and the Eas ...

Zhejiang ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = ( Hangzhounese) ( Ningbonese) (Wenzhounese) , image_skyline = 玉甑峰全貌 - panoramio.jpg , image_caption = View of the Yandang Mountains , image_map = Zhejiang i ...

), was a Chinese official and Confucian scholar of the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

. He was an orthodox

Confucian 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, religion, theory of government, or way of life. Founded by Confucius ...

scholar-bureaucrat The scholar-officials, also known as literati, scholar-gentlemen or scholar-bureaucrats (), were government officials and prestigious scholars in Chinese society, forming a distinct social class. Scholar-officials were politicians and governmen ...

, famous for his continuation of the Jinhua school of

Zhu Xi Zhu Xi ( zh, c=朱熹; ; October 18, 1130April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese philosopher, historian, politician, poet, and calligrapher of the Southern Song dynasty. As a leading figure in the development of Neo-Confuci ...

and later for his loyalty to the former

Jianwen Emperor The Jianwen Emperor (5 December 1377 – probably 13 July 1402), personal name Zhu Yunwen, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Huizong of Ming and by his posthumous name as the Emperor Hui of Ming, was the second emperor of the Ming d ...

(Zhu Yunwen), who died in the rebellion of the Prince of Yan (Jingnan rebellion).

Life

During the Jingnan rebellion, Fang served as one of the

's closest advisors. He was famed for his connection to Song Lian and the scholars of the

Jinhua Jinhua is a prefecture-level city in central Zhejiang province in eastern China. It borders the provincial capital of Hangzhou to the northwest, Quzhou to the southwest, Lishui to the south, Taizhou, Zhejiang, Taizhou to the east, and Shaoxin ...

school as well as for his own talent and lucid composition. After Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, usurped the throne to become the

Yongle Emperor The Yongle Emperor (2 May 1360 – 12 August 1424), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Chengzu of Ming, personal name Zhu Di, was the third List of emperors of the Ming dynasty, emperor of the Ming dynasty, reigning from 1402 to 142 ...

in 1402, Fang Xiaoru refused to serve the new Emperor and was put to death at the age of 46.

Death

There are several different accounts of Fang's death. The official

History of Ming The ''History of Ming'' is the final official Chinese history included in the '' Twenty-Four Histories''. It consists of 332 volumes and covers the history of the Ming dynasty from 1368 to 1644. It was written by a number of officials commissio ...

, compiled by Qing-era scholars, records that the Yongle Emperor summoned Fang Xiaoru, and demanded Fang write an inaugural address that would compare his usurpation of the throne with the regency of the

Duke of Zhou Dan, Duke Wen of Zhou, commonly known as the Duke of Zhou, was a member of the royal family of the early Zhou dynasty who played a major role in consolidating the kingdom established by his elder brother King Wu. He was renowned for acting as ...

during the reign of his nephew

King Cheng of Zhou King Cheng of Zhou (; 1055–1021 BC), personal name Ji Song, was the second king of the Chinese Zhou dynasty. The dates of his reign are 1042–1021 BCE or 1042/35–1006 BCE. Ji Dan, Duke of Zhou served as regent during his minority. His pare ...

in ancient China. Fang asked, "Then where is King Cheng?" Zhu replied, "He was killed by his own fire." Fang continued to press the issue, asking Zhu, "Why not enthrone King Cheng's son?" Zhu answered, "The country requires a mature ruler." Fang again asked, "What about the Emperor's brother?" Zhu answered: "That is my family matter. The address must be written by you." Fang threw his pen on the ground and refused to write the address. He was executed by

lingchi ''Lingchi'' ( IPA: , ), usually translated "slow slicing" or "death by a thousand cuts", was a form of torture and execution used in China from roughly 900 until it was banned in 1905. It was also used in Vietnam and Korea. In this form of ex ...

(), and several of his family members lost their lives. Another account, found in the 17th century text, ''Annals of Ming History'', records a similar exchange, but adds that Fang was threatened with the extermination of nine kinships. Fang then responded: "I would be fine with ten!" Thus, along with his extended family, many of his students and peers were arrested and executed as the "10th kinship". Altogether, 873 people are said to have been executed. The 19th century text, ''Comprehensive History of Ming'', records an additional exchange: After the Emperor insisted on having Fang write an address, Fang picked up his pen and wrote on a paper the words "燕賊篡位" ("The Bandit of Yan usurped the throne."). The Emperor was furious and ordered his death. The second and third account are generally considered by historians to be apocryphal; it is speculated that they were invented posthumously by Chinese literati of later generations who sympathized with Fang.李谷悦, 2014. 方孝孺殉难事迹的叙事演化与 “诛十族” 说考. 史学月刊, (5), pp.37-47.

Legacy

People in

Fujian Fujian is a provinces of China, province in East China, southeastern China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capital is Fuzhou and its largest prefe ...

(闽南人) regard Fang Xiaoru, along with

Tie Xuan Tie Xuan (; 1366–1402), courtesy name Dingshi (鼎石), was a Chinese politician during the Ming dynasty. born in Dengzhou, Henan during the Yuan dynasty to a Semu Hui family, he served as a loyal officer to the deposed Ming dynasty emperor ...

and Jing Qing ( 景清), as the Sanfu Qiansui (三府千岁; "three houses, a thousand years"), or Sanwang (三王; "three king"), deities in the

Wang Ye worship Ong Yah () are deities in Hokkien folk religion in Fujian and Taiwan, frequently considered an aspect of the Taoism, Taoist belief system. Ong Yah is particularly worshipped in Southern Taiwan and also among Hoklo communities worldwide. The cust ...

(王爷神).

Gallery

File:Fang-xiaoru.jpg, alt=, Portrait of Fang Xiaoru by Ren Yourong (任有容) of the

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 ...

File:Tomb of Fang Xiaoru in Nanjing 01 2012-10.JPG, alt=, Tomb of Fang Xiaoru File:Tomb of Fang Xiaoru in Nanjing 02 2012-10.JPG, alt= File:方孝孺（1357-1402）墓 fang xiao ru - panoramio.jpg, alt= File:方孝孺墓 - panoramio.jpg, alt= File:方孝孺墓道 - panoramio.jpg, alt= File:方孝孺铜像 - panoramio.jpg, alt=

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fang, Xiaoru 1357 births 1402 deaths 15th-century executions by China Executed people from Zhejiang Ming dynasty scholars People executed by cutting in half Politicians from Ningbo Victims of familial execution