Yang Xian (Ming dynasty)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Yang.
Yang Xian
楊憲
Born1321
Yangqu, Taiyuan (present-day Taiyuan, Shanxi, China)
Died1370
OccupationStatesman

Yang Xian (simplified Chinese: 杨宪; traditional Chinese: 楊憲; pinyin: Yáng Xiàn; 1321–1370), born Yang Bi (simplified Chinese: 杨毕; traditional Chinese: 楊畢; pinyin: Yáng Bì), courtesy name Xiwu (Chinese: 希武; pinyin: Xīwǔ), was a Chinese official of the Ming dynasty, part of the East Zhe (Zhedong) faction (Liu Ji).

In 1356, Zhu Yuanzhang seized Jiankang (present-day Nanjing), and Yang Xian joined him and took charge of the documents. He also accused Zhang Chang (張昶) of cherishing the Yuan dynasty,[1] which was highly valued by Zhu Yuanzhang.

In 1368, he was appointed as the Assistant Administrator of the Imperial Secretariat (參知政事). The following year, he was promoted to the position of Vice Chancellor of the Right (右丞) and given the name Yang Xian.[2] During his tenure, he impeached Vice Chancellor of the Left, Wang Guangyang, for "failing to uphold his mother" (奉母無狀).[3] Yang Xian was known for his acute personality.[4] Hu Weiyong once said to Li Shanchang, "If Yang Xian were to become Grand Chancellor, we Huai people would not be able to become high officials".[5]

In 1370, he was appointed Vice Chancellor of the Left (左丞). Later, Li Shanchang impeached him for "bringing false charges against a minister" (排陷大臣) and "acting wantonly as a traitor" (放肆為奸), and he was killed.[6][7]

Yang Xian and Liu Ji were close friends,[8] and Yang Xian's death intensified the dispute between the East Zhe faction and the West Huai faction.[9] After Yang Xian's death, Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong's West Huai faction officially took control of the government.[10]

  1. ^ (Ming) Dong Lun (董倫). Veritable records of Highest Ancestor, Emperor Gao (大明太祖高皇帝實錄), Vol. 23:「昶臥病，憲往候，偶於昶臥內得書槁，遂奏之。」
  2. ^ (Ming) Wang Shizhen (王世貞). Alternative series of Yanshan Hall (弇山堂別集), Vol. 14:「髙帝時靖江王鐵柱賜名煒，再賜名守謙；鄧衞公友德賜名愈；李曹公保兒賜名文忠；楊左丞畢賜名憲。」
  3. ^ History of Ming, Vol. 127:「時右丞楊憲專決事。廣洋依違之，猶為所忌，嗾御史劾廣洋奉母無狀。帝切責，放還鄉。憲再奏，徙海南。」
  4. ^ History of Ming, Vol. 128:「帝欲相楊憲，憲素善基，基力言不可，曰：『憲有相才無相器。夫宰相者，持心如水，以義理為權衡，而已無與者也，憲則不然。』」
  5. ^ (Ming) Liu Chen (劉辰). Guochu Shiji (國初事蹟), Vol. 1:「胡惟庸謂善長曰：『楊憲為相，我等淮人不得為大官矣。』」
  6. ^ (Ming) Liu Chen (劉辰). Guochu Shiji (國初事蹟), Vol. 1:「憲因劾汪廣洋不公不法，李善長排陷大臣、放肆為奸等事，太祖以極刑處之。」
  7. ^ (Ming) Qian Qianyi (錢謙益). Chu xue ji (初學集), Vol. 104:「洪武三年七月，中書省左丞楊畢伏誅。」
  8. ^ History of Ming, Vol. 128:「基與憲素厚。」
  9. ^ 吳晗：《朱元璋傳》第七章《統治階級的內部矛盾》
  10. ^ 劉基晚年畏懼，作《犁眉公集》中有《旅興》詩云：「身世且未保，況敢言功勳。」最後死因不明。