承壽 Chéngshòu

Chengshou, son of Degong

Chengshou ended his career as Commissioner of the Southern Workshop, and was posthumously made Prefect of De Prefecture and Marquis of Wudang. He had four sons. Keji understood music, and once composed music for a Picture of Elegant Music and presented it. Attending a banquet at the Taiqing Tower, he presented the calligraphy he had learned in the style of Yu Shinan, and was given vessels beyond the usual scale. He ended his career as General-in-Chief of the Right Personal Guard, and was posthumously made Defence Commissioner of Shen Prefecture and Marquis of Raoyang. His son Shushao, courtesy name Junhe, in the sixth year of Qingli copied Zhenzong's calligraphy before the emperor together with other young men of the clan and was placed first. At the beginning of Huangyou he presented his writings, was summoned for examination at the Hanlin Academy and placed in the middle grade, and was granted the presented scholar (jinshi) degree. From Vice Commandant of the Right Gate Guard Command of the Heir Apparent he was promoted to General of the Right Encampment Guard. When he came to court to give thanks, he was told to sit and given tea. Renzong said, "Many young men of the clan love learning, but you alone have passed the jinshi examination on the strength of your writing. This has never happened before. I want the empire to know that there are worthy men in the clan register; you must not forget your learning." Shushao kowtowed in thanks, and when he had withdrawn the emperor also sent out the Nine Classics as a gift to him. He was promoted to General-in-Chief of the Right Garrison Guard. In the Zhihe years he wrote asking to be tried in a demanding post, and was additionally given the title of Prefect of He Prefecture. He ended his career as Defence Commissioner of He Prefecture, and was posthumously made Acting Military Commissioner and Surveillance Commissioner of Zhendong and Duke of Kuaiji Commandery. Kexiu, courtesy name Zizhuang, had been allowed to go in and out of the palace to study with Renzong when Renzong was an imperial prince, and so Renzong treated him with special generosity. The emperor once went to the Taiqing Tower and summoned the clansmen to a calligraphy test, and judged Kexiu's work good. He ended his career as General-in-Chief of the Right Divine Militant Army and Militia Commissioner of Chengzhou, and was posthumously made Surveillance Commissioner of Tongzhou and Marquis of Fengyi. His son Shuchong lost his father early; his half-brother Shumao was very young, and Shuchong cared for him, taught him and brought him up. Before this there was no rule for giving titles to stepmothers; Shuchong petitioned the court, an edict granted it, and it became the fixed rule. He collected as many as ten thousand scrolls of books. He had nine sons, three of whom passed the examinations. He died in office as Defence Commissioner of Tang Prefecture, and was posthumously made Military Commissioner of the Chongxin Army and Duke of Yin, with the posthumous name Xiaoqi. In his last memorial he asked for office for a son by hereditary privilege, but the officials in charge held it back under the regulations. His son Fuzhi submitted a memorial pleading his own case and asking that the rule for outer officials be applied. The court granted his request. The granting of such favour on the death of clansmen holding substantive posts began from this. Edit