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Wen Tianxiang

Southern Song top examination graduate and chief minister who fought the Mongol conquest to the end and was executed in Dadu after four years' refusal to serve the Yuan

Also known as Zi Lushan · Hao Wenshan · Xinguo Gong · Zhonglie · Zi Songrui

Wen Tianxiang, first named Yunsun, courtesy names Lushan and Songrui, styled Wenshan, came from Luling in Jizhou (modern Ji'an, Jiangxi). He took first place in the palace examination of 1256, and when Yuan armies came down the Yangzi in 1275 he spent his family fortune raising troops at Ganzhou. In 1276, with the enemy near Lin'an, he went to the Yuan camp as chief minister of the right to negotiate and was detained; escaping at Zhenjiang, he returned south by sea to keep fighting and was later made Duke of Xin. Captured at Wupoling in 1278, he wrote Crossing the Lingding Sea while being carried past it the next year, and after Yashan he was taken to Dadu. In prison there he wrote the Song of the Upright Spirit (Zhengqi ge) and refused to serve the Yuan until he was executed at the Chai market in January 1283. The Ming court named him Zhonglie in 1456, and his writings were gathered as the Collected Works of Master Wenshan.

Life and times

  1. 1236 CEBornSongYuan
  2. c. 1278Wen Tianxiang Writes Lingding Sea Odeage 42Captured at Wupoling, Wen Tianxiang was taken past the Lingding sea and answered a demand for a surrender letter with his poem of loyalty.
  3. c. 1279Wen Tianxiang Dies Unyielding at Daduage 43After the Battle of Yamen, Wen Tianxiang was held in Dadu for three years, refused Kublai's offers, wrote the Song of Righteousness in prison and was executed at the Chaishi market.
  4. 1283 CEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Sayings8
    1. A Shattered Land Like Catkins in the WindSongAphorism from Wen Tianxiang's Crossing Lingding Sea: grief for a broken homeland
    2. Ox and Thoroughbred at One TroughSongIdiom from Wen Tianxiang's Song of Righteous Spirit: the worthy and the base thrown together
    3. A Life Tossed Like Duckweed in the RainSongLine from Wen Tianxiang's Crossing the Lingding Sea: a life tossed like duckweed in the rain
    4. Boiling Cauldrons Sweet as Malt SugarSongIdiom from Wen Tianxiang's Song of Righteousness: execution faced as if it were sweet
    5. Since Ancient Times, Who Has Escaped Death: Wen Tianxiang at LingdingSongIdiom from Wen Tianxiang's Crossing Lingding Sea: all must die, so die for something worthy
    6. +3 more
      1. The Ancients' Way Shines on My FaceSongFamous line from Wen Tianxiang's Song of Righteous Spirit: ancient heroes light his face
      2. Leaving a Loyal Heart to Shine in the Annals of HistorySongFamous line from Wen Tianxiang's Crossing Lingding Sea: a loyal heart to shine in history
      3. Duckweed Battered by the RainSongFamous line from Wen Tianxiang's Crossing the Lingding Sea: a life tossed like duckweed in rain
  2. Literature · Poetry2
    1. Passing LingdingyangSongWen Tianxiang's regulated verse as a Yuan captive, refusing surrender for his fallen Song
    2. Song of the Upright SpiritSongWen Tianxiang's long poem from a Yuan prison, calling up the loyal heroes of the past

Connections

  1. Shared events2
    1. Zhang Hongfanc. 1238 CE–1280 CE
    2. Zhang ShijieBirth unknown–127…
  2. Interactions1
    1. Kublai KhanPolitical: Surrender offer refused · 1215 CE–1294 CEWen Tianxiang Dies Unyielding at Dadu