| dc.description.abstract | Hsia Yan was a successful candidate of the highest imperial examination and earned Jinshi in the 12th year of Zhengde (1517) and was conferred Shou-Hsing-Ren and Shi-Hing-Ren. His first official position was low-level. In the 17th year of Jia-Jing (1538), he was promoted as prime minister, the highest position. Among prime ministers of Ming Dynasty, he was one of few political figures who started their political careers from a low-level position to became a member of cabinet through special selection and was promoted as the prime minister by emperor. But his political life experienced dramatic twists and turns before he was convicted to death. Hsia Yan is a special case in political figures in Ming Dynasty whose official careers were wide fluctuation.
In the early years of Jia-Jing, as a Ji Shizong, Hsia Yan’s acting style was resolute integrity. During the time, Emperor ShiZhong just ascended the throne and was aspiring for political reforms so he appreciated Hsia Yan’s defying dignitaries and straightforward speaking. The emperor ordered him to eliminate redundancy and give a survey of farmland that contributed significantly to the Jia Jing New Policy. After Great Rite Review event, the emperor was more enthusiastic about the reforms of rites. Hsia Yan catered to the emperor by advocating suburban sacrifice ritual and was extraordinarily promoted to higher positions. In addition, Emperor ShiZhong worshiped Taoism and combined closely the political power and religious belief. Hsia Yan, good at writing poems, was furthered appreciated by the emperor for writing Green Poems and had a meteoric rise in official circles.
With full confidence from the emperor, Hsia Yan began to exclude dissidents. In the internal strives among powerful ministers, Hsia Yan climbed on the top of power and became prime minister in the 17th year of Jia-Jing (1538). However, as prime minister, Hsia Yan was more and more arrogant and was caught in political struggles. He was gradually edged out by ministers. Despite depending on Hsia Yan’s suggestions and planning and adopting his opinions, Emperor ShiZhong could not tolerate Hsia Yan’s arrogance and disrespectfulness. Finally, in discussing recovery of He Tao, set up by Yan Song, Hsia Yan was tragically beheaded.
The life of Hsia Yan ended in tragedy. The purpose of his reforms of various rituals was mainly to carter the emperor to solidify his own base of power. However, Hsia Yan still had some political performances that were realized in three aspects: governance and finance, education and identifying outstanding talents, military affairs and national policy, that had added the fuel to the Jia-Jing political situation.
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