| Abstract |
Cheng Jufu (程鉅夫, 1249-1318) was a scholar from southern China (江南) who received the favor of Mongolian rulers during the early years of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). He was actively involved in Yuan dynasty politics, and used his influence to improve the treatment of southern Chinese at the hands of the Mongolians. The existence and importance of Cheng Jufu is revealed to us by biographies, epitaphs, and chronicles, all of which testify to the high position he held under Kublai (reigned 1260-1294). Cheng’s rise to power, however, is not as straightforward as it is often made out to be. This paper re-examines Cheng’s career by looking at his role in government and by examining two documents from the Miaoxue Dianli, a monograph on education written during the Yuan dynasty. It also consider Cheng’s role in the impeachment of Sangha (桑哥). Instead of discussing Cheng’s contributions to the government’s adoption of a policy of Confucianism, this paper focuses on how Cheng’s personal influence might have shaped government policies. By portraying the political realities that Cheng was faced with, it seeks to contribute to our understanding of Cheng and his times. |
