Ruan Yuan

Luo Shilin and Li Rui are recorded as having studied under Ruan Yuan. The recorded working language is Chinese. The field of work recorded is Chinese philosophy, compilation and publishing. Employment is recorded with Hanlin Academy. Positions recorded include viceroy of Huguang and Grand Secretary of Tiren Cabinet. Works named in the authority record are Chou ren zhuan. Work by Ruan Yuan is recorded in the collections of Shanghai Museum.

• Name — Ruan Yuan 阮元 • Office — Grand Secretary of the Tiren Library • Term Start — 1835 • Term End — 1838 • Office1 — Assistant Grand Secretary • Term Start1 — 1832 • Term End1 — 1835 • Order2 — Viceroy of Huguang • Term Start2 — 1816 • Term End2 — 1817 • Predecessor2 — Sun Yuting • Successor2 — Qingbao • Order3 — Viceroy of Liangguang • Term Start3 — 22 October 1817 • Term End3 — 22 June 1826 • Predecessor3 — Jiang Youxian • Successor3 — Li Hongbin • Order4 — Viceroy of Yun-Gui • Term Start4 — 1826 • Term End4 — 1835 • Predecessor4 — Zhao Shenzhen • Successor4 — Yilibu • Order5 — Viceroy of Rivers and Waterways • Term Start5 — 1812 • Term End5 — 1814 • Predecessor5 — Xu Zhaochun • Successor5 — Guifang • Occupation — Historian, politician, writer • Born — February 21, 1764 • Birthplace — Yizheng, Qing dynasty • Died — November 27, 1849 (aged 85) • Place of death — Yangzhou, Qing dynasty

• Mi — yuan • Wuu — Niun-nyy • Tl — Ńg Guân Ruan Yuan (1764–1849), courtesy name Boyuan (伯元), art name Yuntai (芸臺), posthumous name Wenda (文達), was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer of the Qing dynasty who was the most prominent Chinese scholar during the first half of the 19th century. He won the jinshi degree in the imperial examinations in 1789 and was subsequently appointed to the Hanlin Academy. He was known for his work Biographies of Astronomers and Mathematicians and for his editing the Shisan Jing Zhushu (Commentaries and Notes on the Thirteen Classics) for the Qing emperor. Ruan Yuan was a successful official as well as a scholar. He was the Viceroy of Liangguang, the most important imperial official in Canton (Guangzhou), during the critical years 1817–1826, just before the First Opium War with Britain. It was a crucial time when Chinese trade with the outside world was allowed only through the Canton System, with all foreigners confined to Canton, the capital of Guangdong Province. During his tenure in Canton, Ruan is estimated to have earned more than 195,000 taels of silver. He was widely recognized as an official, scholar, and patron of learning both by his contemporaries and by modern scholars. He was also praised as an honest official and an exemplary man of the ‘Confucian persuasion’. His name is mentioned in almost all works on Qing history or Chinese classics because of the wide range of his research and publications. A number of these publications are still reprinted. Ruan Yuan was a follower of the Han Learning tradition and as such, with the encouragement of Liu Fenglu, he edited and organized publication of the compendium of the imperial achievements in kaozheng scholarship, the Huang Qing Jingjie (皇清经解) published in 1829. Kong Luhua (relative of the Duke Yansheng) was the second wife of Ruan Yuan.

Ruan Yuan was recorded at birth as 伯元. The authorities additionally record the headings Xiaocanglang, Wenxuanlou, Xiaolanghuanxianguan, Queliruankongjinglou and I-hsing Lao-jen. His recorded language was Chinese. His recorded confession was Confucianism. He was the child of Ruan Chengxin. He married Jiang Shi, Kong Luhua and Tang Qingyun. 4 children are recorded: Ruan Fu, Ruan You, Ruan Konghou and Ruan Kongjing.

Ruan Yuan worked in Chinese philosophy, compilation and publishing. He was employed by Hanlin Academy. Recorded positions include viceroy of Huguang, Grand Secretary of Tiren Cabinet, Liangguang Governor, Viceroy of Yun-Gui and Shujishi of Qing dynasty. He belonged to Jian jia xue pai.