Ma Rong
Ma Rong (79–166), courtesy name Jichang (季長), was a Chinese essayist, poet, and politician of the Eastern Han dynasty. He was born in Youfufeng (zh-Hant) in the former Han capital region, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi Province. His father Ma Yan (馬嚴) was a son of Ma Yu (馬余), an elder brother of the famed general Ma Yuan.
Also recorded as Ma Yung
Ma Rong

Anonymous Unknown author · Digitized by National Palace Museum · Public domain
- Born
- 79
- Died
- 166
- Nationality
- Eastern Han
- Occupation
- poet · philosopher · politician · writer · philologist · pundit
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Documentary summary
Ma Rong (79–166), courtesy name Jichang (季長), was a Chinese essayist, poet, and politician of the Eastern Han dynasty. He was born in Youfufeng (zh-Hant) in the former Han capital region, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi Province. His father Ma Yan (馬嚴) was a son of Ma Yu (馬余), an elder brother of the famed general Ma Yuan.
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Authority files
gnd · 1202735142 · wikidata · Q657368 · wikipedia · Ma Rong
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was known for his commentaries on the Five Classics, the first scholar known to have written commentaries on them, and he also developed the double column commentary for his project. His notable students were Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan. He was suspended for ten years due to critical comments, but was eventually restored to the Governor of Nan Commandery (modern Hubei). His biography appears in the Book of Later Han (volume 60, part 1). He wrote the Rhapsody on Long Flute (長笛賦); the Song dynasty Classic of Loyalty (忠經), patterned after the Classic of Filial Piety, bears attribution to his name. His daughter Ma Lun (122 - 184) later married Yuan Wei, an uncle of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. Ma Lun also had a younger sister, Ma Zhi.

Ma Rong, 陆曜六逸图卷
Lu Yao (陆曜) · https: minghuaji.dpm.org.cn/paint/detail?id=3c1a66fa6d814d4087fa2e444449726c

马融坦卧吹箫(陆曜六逸图卷局部)
Lu Yao (陆曜) · This file was derived from: 陆曜六逸图卷.png
Key facts
Key facts
• T — 馬融 • S — 马融 • P — Mǎ Róng • W — Ma 3 Jung 2 • Y — Máah Yùhng • Tl — Má Iông Ma Rong (79–166), courtesy name Jichang (季長), was a Chinese essayist, poet, and politician of the Eastern Han dynasty. He was born in Youfufeng (zh-Hant) in the former Han capital region, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi Province. His father Ma Yan (馬嚴) was a son of Ma Yu (馬余), an elder brother of the famed general Ma Yuan. He was known for his commentaries on the Five Classics, the first scholar known to have written commentaries on them, and he also developed the double column commentary for his project. His notable students were Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan. He was suspended for ten years due to critical comments, but was eventually restored to the Governor of Nan Commandery (modern Hubei). His biography appears in the Book of Later Han (volume 60, part 1). He wrote the Rhapsody on Long Flute (長笛賦); the Song dynasty Classic of Loyalty (忠經), patterned after the Classic of Filial Piety, bears attribution to his name. His daughter Ma Lun (122 - 184) later married Yuan Wei, an uncle of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. Ma Lun also had a younger sister, Ma Zhi.
Identity
Identity
Ma Rong is recorded as poet, philosopher, politician, writer and philologist.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
166
Ma Rong died.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q657368: Ma Rong
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Ma Rong”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1202735142, Ma, Rong.
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Not to be confused with Ma Zhong's son of the same name.
- 2.According to Ma Rong's biography in Book of the Later Han, he died aged 88 (by East Asian age reckoning) in the 9th year of the Yanxi era of Emperor Huan's reign. (年八十八,延熹九年卒于家。) Houhanshu, vol.60 part 1
- 3.(...将作大匠严之子。....严,援兄余之子。 Houhanshu, vol.60 part 1)
- 4.(融才高博洽,为世通儒,教养诸生,常有千数。涿郡卢植,北海郑玄,皆其徒也。) Houhanshu, vol.60 part 1
- 5.Liu Kwang-ching. Orthodoxy In Late Imperial China. University of California Press. 69. 1990. 9780520065420.
- 6.(维光和七年,司徒袁公夫人马氏薨,其十一月葬。....春秋六十有三,....) Cai Zhonglang Ji, vol.06. Lady Ma was buried in the 11th month of that year, which corresponds to 21 Dec 184 to 18 Jan 185 in the Julian calendar. Her biography in Book of the Later Han only recorded that she died "in her 60s". (年六十馀卒。) Houhanshu, vol.84.
- 7."Lun" was Lady Ma's courtesy name (汝南袁隗妻者,扶风马融之女也。字伦。) Houhanshu, vol.84.
- 8.(伦妹芝...) Houhanshu, vol.84.
References
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1202735142, Ma, Rong.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
38,342 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Ma HuanAuthor
- Ma JianAuthor
- Ma KaiAuthor
- Ma Kwang-sooAuthor
- Ma WanAuthor
- Ma ZhiyuanAuthor
- Ma ZhouAuthor
- Ma'ruf BalkhiAuthor
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