Sewinch Qaya (; 1286—30 May 1324) or Guàn Yúnshí (), art name Chengzhai (), later Suanzhai () was an

Uyghur Uyghur may refer to: * Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia (West China) ** Uyghur language, a Turkic language spoken primarily by the Uyghurs *** Old Uyghur language, a different Turkic language spoken in the Uyghur K ...

scholar, songwriter and a famous ''

sanqu ''Sanqu'' () is a fixed-rhythm form of Classical Chinese poetry or "literary song".Crump (1990), 125 Specifically ''sanqu'' is a subtype of the '' qu'' formal type of poetry. ''Sanqu'' was a notable Chinese poetic form, possibly beginning in th ...

'' and '' shi'' author lived in

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

Background

He was born in 1286,

Yongzhou Yongzhou () is a prefecture-level city in the south of Hunan province, People's Republic of China, located on the southern bank of the Xiang River, which is formed by the confluence of the Xiao River, Xiao and Xiang Rivers, and bordering Guang ...

to Guan Zhige (贯只哥) who was an ethnic Uyghur official and a son of general Ariq Qaya (1226-1286) who brought his family from

Beshbalik Beshbalik ( zh, t=別失八里, s=别失八里, first=t) is an ancient Turkic archaeological site, now located in Jimsar County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. The ancient city was initially called Beiting () or Ting Prefectu ...

to newly conquered Chinese provinces of Mongol Empire. Sewinch followed his father to adopt surname Guan. According to one information, his sister was married to Lian Ximin, elder brother of

Lian Xixian Lian Xixian (, 26 June 1231 — 12 December 1280), born Hindu () was an Uyghur politician, general and advisor to Kublai Khan, eventually rising to a position of vice-chancellor of Yuan Empire. His courtesy name was Shanfu () and art name was Ye ...

. However, according to another information, his mother was Lian Ximin's daughter.

Career

During his teen years he was distinguished by his mastery of martial arts and physical prowess. He left home at the age of 17 to serve in government. About 3 years, he served as

darughachi ''Darughachi'' (Mongol form) or ''Basqaq'' (Turkic form) were originally designated officials in the Mongol Empire who were in charge of taxes and administration in a certain province. The singular form of the Mongolian word is ''darugha''. They ...

Jiangxi ; Gan: ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = , translit_lang1_type3 = , translit_lang1_info3 = , image_map = Jiangxi in China (+all claims hatched).svg , mapsize = 275px , map_caption = Location ...

. He was appointed as garrison commander of Yongzhou in 1306, following his father's depart for chief administratorship of

Huguang province Huguang was a province of China during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. It was founded by the Yuan dynasty in 1274. During the Yuan dynasty it included the areas of modern Hubei south of the Yangtze river, Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. During the Min ...

. He held this post for 2 years until his resignation in February 1308. He was succeeded by his brother Quduq Qaya in this post. Sewinch himself left for

Khanbaliq Khanbaliq (; , ''Qaɣan balɣasu'') or Dadu of Yuan (; , ''Dayidu'') was the Historical capitals of China, winter capital of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in what is now Beijing, the capital of China today. It was located at the center of modern ...

. He became a disciple of Yao Sui following his arrival in Yuan capital. Sewinch prepared his first vernacular exegesis of ''

Classic of Filial Piety The ''Classic of Filial Piety'', also known by its Chinese name as the ''Xiaojing'', is a Confucian classic treatise giving advice on filial piety: that is, how to behave towards a senior such as a father, an elder brother, or a ruler. The ...

'' under his tutelage in 1308. Following recommendation of Yao, Guan became a tutor to

Shidibala Gegeen Khan (Mongolian: Гэгээн хаан; Mongol script: ; ''Shidebal Gegegen qaγan''; ), born Shidibala (; 碩德八剌), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Yingzong of Yuan (; February 22, 1302 – September 4, 1323), was an empe ...

, heir of Ayurbarwada until 1313. He married around this time and adopted his father's surname Guan as well. In February-March 1313 he was appointed as a member of

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 ...

with the rank reader-in-waiting (). While working here, he participated in discussions about whether the court should adopt the Mongol system of hereditary appointments or the Chinese method of impartial exams to select officials. His tenure in academy also brought him to contact and acquaintance of scholars like

Zhao Mengfu Zhao Mengfu (; courtesy name Zi'ang (子昂); pseudonyms Songxue (松雪, "Pine Snow"), Oubo (鷗波, "Gull Waves"), and Shuijing-gong Dao-ren (水精宮道人, "Master of the Water Spirits Palace"); 1254–1322), was a Chinese calligrapher, p ...

, Yu Ji (虞集), Ouyang Xuan (欧阳玄), Cheng Jufu (程鉅夫), Deng Wenyuan (邓文原) and others. However, Guan resigned on 24 March 1317 unexpectedly and was succeeded by a Mongol academician - Öljei Buqa.

Later life

He tried to focus on poetry,

Chan Buddhism Chan (; of ), from Sanskrit '' dhyāna'' (meaning " meditation" or "meditative state"), is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and Song ...

and

Taoism Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...

following resignation from his post, meeting master

Zhongfeng Mingben Zhongfeng Mingben (; ), 1263–1323 was a Chan Buddhist master who lived at the beginning of Yuan China. He adhered to the rigorous style of the Linji school and influenced Zen through several Japanese teachers who studied under him. Biograph ...

. He spent some time traveling South China, for example, he visited

Mount Putuo Mount Putuo (, from Sanskrit: " Mount Potalaka") is an island in Putuo District, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China. It is a renowned site in Chinese Buddhism and is the bodhimaṇḍa of the bodhisattva Guanyin. Mount Putuo is one of the four sa ...

during summer of 1317 before settling in

Hangzhou Hangzhou, , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ; formerly romanized as Hangchow is a sub-provincial city in East China and the capital of Zhejiang province. With a population of 13 million, the municipality comprises ten districts, two counti ...

for the rest of his retirement in 1318. He lost contact with most of his friends at the time, lived in seclusion and kept correspondence only with poet Zhang Kejiu (张可久) who visited his villa here. He worked as medicine trader for the rest of his life. He died on 30 May 1324 and was given posthumous name Wenjing (文靖) and ennobled Duke of Jingzhao (京兆公).

Family

He was married to a daughter of Shi Tianlin (1218-1309). They had two sons called Arslan Qaya (b. ) and Bars Qaya, as well as a daughter who was married to Duan Qian, garrison commander of Huaiqing. Additionally, he had two concubines named Donghua and Youcao towards the end of his life.

Legacy and works

Sewinch Qaya remains an influential figure in

poetry, his songs still played as part of

kunqu Kunqu (), also known as Kunju (), K'un-ch'ü, Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from a music style local to Kunshan, part of the Wu (region), Wu cultural area, and later came to dominate ...

s. While his contemporaries like Yao Sui and Deng Wenyuan praised his works and character,

Zhu Quan Zhu Quan (; 1378–1448https://web.archive.org/web/20161006082912/http://www.history.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/documents/readings/robinson_culture_courtiers_ch.8.pdf p. 398), the Prince of Ning (), was a Chinese historian, military comman ...

, relegated him to second tier poet. Known works include:

Books

* ''Vernacular exegesis of Classic of Filial Piety'' (1308)

Songs

* ''Song on a Painting a Dragon'' (1309-1313) * ''Palace Song'' (1313) * ''Songs, newly edited in the spirit of cloud-stopping melodies of old'' (), with Yang Zhaoying (楊朝英) * ''The new sounds of the songs of great peace gathered from all over the land'' (), preface dated 1351 with Yang Zhaoying * ''Song of Princess Mountain'' (1317) * ''Song of Pick Rocks Mountain'' (1317) * ''Music for Tatar Pipe'', ''made for Ali Xiying'' (1317)

Calligraphy

* ''Middle Boat'' () * ''Postscript to Cicadas and Crows in Winter'' ()

Poetry

* ''Peach Blossom Cliff'' (1313) * ''The Fair One'' (1313-1317) * ''On Viewing the Sunrise'' (1317) * ''The Grief of Parting'' (1317) * ''Reed-Floss Quilt'' (1318-1323) * ''Feelings Aroused by the Autumn River'' (1317) * ''Triune Retreat'' (1318-1323) * ''Longing for My Mother'' (1313) * ''The Hall of the Great Peace on Mount Lu'' (1317/8) * ''

Yueyang Tower Yueyang Tower () is an ancient Chinese pavilion in Yueyang, Hunan Province, on the shore of Lake Dongting. Alongside the Pavilion of Prince Teng and Yellow Crane Tower, it is one of the Three Great Towers of Jiangnan. Yueyang Tower became famous ...

'' (1317) * ''Tiger Run Spring'' (1318-1324) * ''Farewell to the World'' (1324)

References

External links

''Vernacular exegesis of Classic of Filial Piety''
(Original Chinese text) *
The new sounds of the songs of great peace gathered from all over the land
' (Original Chinese text)

Sources

* {{Authority control Yuan dynasty writers Yuan dynasty government officials Yuan dynasty calligraphers Yuan dynasty Taoists Uyghur writers 13th-century Confucianists