生平

高祖程量人自歙遷揚州業鹽，祖父程文階由揚州遷居淮安，累世巨富，「程氏尤豪侈，多畜聲色狗馬。」好讀書，史書稱程晉芳「群獨好儒，罄其貲購書五萬卷，窮日夜討論之。」乾隆元年，娶揚州表妹蕭氏。好交友，「遇文學人，喋然意下，敬若嚴師。雖出已下者，亦必推轂延譽，使其滿意。」「延接賓客，讌集無虛日」，「江淮耆宿，一時若無錫顧震滄、華半江，宜興儲茗坡，松江沈沃田諸君子，咸與上下其緒論。」乾隆二十六年，至金陵，結識詩人陳古漁。乾隆二十七年（1762年）三月，乾隆帝南巡，程晉芳獻賦，作《江漢朝宗賦》四章，拔置第一，賜舉人，授中書舍人。乾隆二十九年，為蔣士銓題《歸舟安穩圖》，贈其南歸。

乾隆三十六年（1771年）中進士，授翰林院編修，《四庫全書》總目協勘官。與當時的翰林院尚書劉墉共事，成為莫逆之交。晚年與朱筠、戴震游，乃治經，究心訓故。程晉芳為人「好周戚友，求者應，不求者或強施之」「付會計于家奴，任盜侵……負券山積，勢不能支」。老年時貧病交迫，自稱「與子往還今五春，子貧如故我貧新」。好友吳敬梓執其手說：「子亦到我地位，此境不易處也，奈何？」乾隆四十四年因為家貧不得已，賣出所藏的石濤《竹西歌吹圖卷》。客死陝西，巡撫畢沅「經紀其喪，贍其遺孤」，松太巡道章攀桂贈給葬地，袁枚焚毀程晉芳所欠五千兩白銀的借據。葬于金陵馮家山。

著作

著有《蕺園詩》30卷、《勉和齋文》10卷、《群書題跋》6卷、《禮記集釋》、《諸經答門》12卷、《春秋左傳翼疏》32卷、《詩毛鄭異同考》10卷、《尚書古文解略》6卷、《尚書今文釋義》40卷，《周易知旨編》30餘卷等。

注釋

參考書目

• 《續纂山陽縣誌》卷10

• 袁枚《程君魚門墓誌銘》

Life

Cheng was born in Jiangdu, Jiangsu province. His father was a merchant in the salt business. Huishang (徽商), that is to say, businessmen from Huizhou (徽州), not only did well in business, but also played an important role in cultural field. There were many Huizhou merchants who were excellent in academic fields. Cheng was such a Huishang (徽商) who did well both in business and Confucianism. He earned much while being interested in cultural investments. He achieved the Imperial examination degree of Jinshi in 1771 and he was appointed to the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). After that, he continued to take the imperial examination several times but failed all. In 1773, Cheng was appointed to edit Siku Quanshu.

Cheng married in 1736 to his cousin Xiao who was the daughter of his mother's brother. When he got elderly, he took two concubines.

Cheng carried on the family business in selling salt. Wu Jingzi, who hated salt merchants, also became his friend. When the two became friends, Cheng was 24 and Wu was 41. But their friendship wasn't influenced by the difference of age and their sincere friendship lasted a lifetime. He often discussed academic problems with scholars. In his early life, Cheng made friends with Shang Pan (商盘) and Yuan Mei (袁枚). In his later years, he often traveled with Zhu Yun (朱筠) and Dai Zhen (戴震). Cheng was so dedicated in social and cultural work that he had no time to manage his business and eventually went bankrupt.

In April 1784, Cheng decided to go to Shaanxi Province to ask his friend Bi Yuan (毕沅) for help because of his financial problem. However, soon after Cheng's arrival at Bi Yuan's place, he died of illness on 21 June 1784.

Studies

Confucianism

Cheng learnt Confucianism from one of his family member named Cheng Tingzuo (程廷祚), who was a famous specialist in Confucianism at that time. In Cheng's later years, he also learned Confucianism from master Dai zhen (戴震) and Zhu Yun (朱筠). Even though he was born rich, he immersed himself in studying Confucianism and he spent almost all his money in buying books and helping poor scholars. He bought over 50,000 books on Confucianism and the poor scholars were free to read them. He even offered them shelters and food and he enjoyed sharing ideas with those scholars.

Study on Wu Jingzis scholars 儒林外史

Cheng is one of Wu Jingzi』s most intimate friends in his late years. Wu Jingzi's Scholars was first published by Cheng, which is one of the greatest contributions to the world for him. Meanwhile, Cheng is also the first scholar to make an all-around comment on Wu and his Scholars. Cheng's records of Wu's life, his analysis of Wu the person and his thoughts, and his comments on the ideological theme of the Scholars are all of very high academic value. But his review of the author and the opus is biased, more or less, which shows the limitations of the time and the individual vision.

Thoughts on education

Cheng held the opinion that it was more important for scholars to be practical than to be academic. He was in favor of both innovation and seeking the truth from facts. Cheng pointed out that scholars should explore the true meaning of Confucius and Mencius rather than be pursuing the fame of Imperial Examination. Cheng also suggested that people should be proficient in both study and archery.

Works

• Jiyuan Poetry 蕺园诗 in 30 volumes

• Opinion of the Book of Rites 礼记集释

• Study on similarities and differences of Mao』s and Zheng』s poems 诗毛郑异同考 in 10 volumes

• Interpretation of minister in modern style prose 尚书今文释义 in 40 volumes

• Brief explanation of minister in ancient style prose 尚书古文解略 in 6 volumes

• The purpose of the Book of Change 周易知旨编 in more than 30 and less than 40 volumes

• Artical of Mianhezhai 勉和斋文 in 10 volumes

• Questions and Answers about Confucianism 诸经答问 in 12 volumes

• Comments of Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan 春秋左传翼疏 in 32 volumes

• Inscriptions of books 群书题跋 in 6 volumes

Chronicle of Chengs works

• 1749, Cheng composed Yearning for my friends 怀人诗, including a poem for Wu Jingzi.

• 1752, Cheng took The imperial examination in Nanjing.

• 1753, Cheng went to Beijing and composed Song of Mare』s Milk and Grapes 马乳葡萄歌 before he went back to Nanjing.

• 1754, Cheng composed A poem for chronicles 纪事诗 after watching traditional Chinese opera Zaju. The same year, inscribing a poem on a painting called Similar to living in a secluded valley 类谷居图 .

• 1758, Cheng composed yuefu-like Ditty of selling flowers 卖花唱, Ballad of Zhang Le 张乐谣, in total 20 poems.

• 1762 March, Qianlong Emperor travelled to Jiangsu, Cheng composed 4 chapters of rhymed prose called Yangtze River goes to court 江汉朝宗赋 to the emperor and greatly pleased him. Qianlong Emperor announced Cheng's poems to be the best and offered him an official position as a member of the cabinet so Cheng moved to Beijing. He lived there until April 1784.

• 1763, Cheng gathered together with Ruan Kuisheng (阮葵生) and some other friends in Beijing and composed Conjunctions of fighting quails 鬥鵪鶉联句 which was titled with some kind of folk custom.

• 1764, Cheng inscribed Picture for safety on the boat in homeward journey 归舟安稳图 for Jiang Shiquan (蒋士铨) and saw Jiang off back to the south.

• 1766, Cheng composed a somber song called Poem of mice's gnawing 鼠啮诗 for Wang Chen (王宸).

• 1768, 10 May, Cheng composed Chronicle of reed cottage in Huaiyin 淮阴芦屋记 to record the past of Bian Shoumin (边寿民). Besides, he composed Biography of Mr Wenmu 文木先生传 to record the life of Wu Jingzi.

• 1769, Cheng inscribed Picture of papers and classics in a cottage in snow 雪屋笺经图 for (任大椿) from , Jiangsu.

• 1770, Cheng went sightseeing in Suzhou with Wang Wenzhi (王文治), Wu Tailai and some others and composed Song of fishing and watching lanterns by pleasure-boat 钓戈行灯歌 . He came to Suzhou to meet Hua Song who just came back to his hometown. After that, he went to the north passing by Anhui ending with meeting Shen Dacheng (沈大成), Jin Zhaoyan (金兆燕) and some others in Yangzhou and composed Song of enjoying fragrance in Zhuxi 竹西访桂歌.

• 1771, Cheng became presented scholar and worked in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. Afterward, he also took charge of another department.

• 1772, Cheng compiled The list of Guihuan collection of books 桂宦藏书目 .

• 1773, Cheng was appointed to edit Siku Quanshu

• 1776, Cheng compiled Comments of Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan 春秋左传翼疏 with others.

• 1777, When Yan Changming (严长明) came to Huaian, Cheng wrote a preface for Yan's Guiqiu cottage collections of poems 归求草堂诗集 .

• 1779, Because of poverty, Cheng sold his collection Picture of Zhuxi Gechui 竹西歌吹图卷 (a picture which was painted by Shitao).