Writers › Writer / Poet

Ren Fang

Liang-dynasty man of letters, one of the Eight Friends of Jingling, famed for official prose and often paired with Shen Yue as the master of prose to Shen's verse.

Also known as Yansheng · Childhood name Adui

Ren Fang, courtesy name Yansheng, was a native of Bochang in Le'an and a leading writer of the Qi and Liang. One of the Eight Friends of Prince Xiao Ziliang of Jingling, he served as Erudite of Ceremonies, record-keeping officer to the prince, Palace Attendant Secretary and governor of Yixing and Xin'an. He excelled at memorials and official prose, such as his impeachment of Fan Zhen. The Shuyi Ji is traditionally credited to him, and his other works include the Zazhuan, Dizhi and Wenzhang Yuanqi, with a collected works in twenty-three scrolls.

Life and times

  1. 460BornNorthern and Southern
  2. 508 CEDied

Records

Ren Fang Rises to Censor-in-Chief and Director of the Palace Library

Liang

Ren Fang was recommended as a Gifted Scholar of Yanzhou and made Erudite of Ceremonies, then Colonel of the Crown Prince's Infantry in charge of the palace's writing. After the emperor's accession he became Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and Director of the Personnel Bureau, went out as governor of Yixing, was made Censor-in-Chief and Director of the Palace Library, and later governor of Xin'an.

References (1)

Ren Fang Writes Memorials for Princes and Compiles Collected Biographies

Liang

Ren Fang was skilled at composition and best at the writing brush; princes and dukes of his day all asked him to draft their memorials, and he finished each draft without revising. He compiled Miscellaneous Biographies in 247 fascicles, Records of Lands in 252 and his own writings in 33, some hundreds of thousands of characters in all.

References (1)