, was from Qufu, Shandong. He is the sixty-fourth generation descendant of
. During the
, he served as the Hereditary Duke of Yansheng.
Life and Career
Kong Shangxian was born on July 2, 1544 (the second day of the seventh month in the Jiajing era) during the reign of Emperor Shizong of Ming. His mother, Lady Zhang, passed away when he was eight years old. At fourteen, his father, Kong Zhenkan, also died. Due to his young age, Emperor Shizong first sent him to the Imperial Academy for studies. In September 1556 (the thirty-fifth year of the Jiajing era), he inherited the title of Hereditary Duke of Yansheng.
Kong Shangxian served under five emperors: Emperor Shizong, Emperor Muzong, Emperor Shenzong, Emperor Guangzong, and Emperor Xizong. He is the longest-serving Hereditary Duke of Yansheng in history. On November 24, 1622 (the first year of Emperor Xizong's reign), Kong Shangxian passed away at the age of seventy-eight; however, according to the epitaph written by Yao Ximen, he died at the age of seventy-one.
Family
• Father: Kong Zhenkan (1519–1556), sixty-third generation descendant of Confucius, Hereditary Duke of Yansheng during the Ming Dynasty
• Mother: Lady Zhang (1521–1551), niece of Empress Zhang of Emperor Xiaozong, daughter of Marquess of Jianchang, Zhang Yanling.
• Primary wife: Lady Yan (1547–1602), from Fenyi, Yanzhou; granddaughter of Yan Song, and eldest daughter of Yan Shifan.
• Secondary wife: Lady Zhang (1552–1627), mother of Kong Yinchun and Kong Yinggui.
• Eldest son: Kong Yinchun (1571–1619), died early without children.
• Elder daughter-in-law: Lady Yin, daughter of Grand Secretary Yin Shidan.
• Second son: Kong Yinggui (? – 1595)
• Younger daughter-in-law: Lady Wang (1578–?), daughter of the President of the Court of Judicial Review, Wang Xiang. She was honored for raising her two daughters to adulthood after the death of her husband.
• Adopted son: Kong Yingzhi (1592–1648), born to Kong Shangxian's cousin, Kong Shantan. In 1619 (the forty-seventh year of the Wanli era), he was granted the title of Doctor of the Five Classics and officially approved as Hereditary Duke of Yansheng on May 24, 1632 (the second year of the Tianqi era).
Images
Notes
References
References
• 孔尚賢 (Chinese)
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Kong Shangxian (July 21, 1544 - 1622), courtesy name Xiangzhi, style names Longyu and Xianan, was from Qufu, Shandong. He is the sixty-fourth generation descendant of Confucius. During the Ming Dynasty, he served as the Hereditary Duke of Yansheng.