生平

父親袁士瑜，頗熱衷仕途。宏道少敏慧，四歲即能作對子。一日，袁宏道著新鞋之，其舅舅對他說「足下生雲」，袁應聲答到「頭上頂天」。十六歲為諸生，結社於城南，自任社長。三十歲以下之社友皆以袁為師。在地方上名氣響亮，與陶望齡、董其昌、湯顯祖等有往來。萬曆二十年登進士第，後為吳縣（今江蘇蘇州）知縣，歷任禮部主事、吏部驗封主事、稽勳郎中等職。

宏道任吳縣縣令時，在任僅二年，就使「一縣大治」，「吳民大悅」。但認為任官是其久病之因，常寫信與友人訴苦，聲稱自己是迫于父親的壓力而出仕。前後七次因病由請辭，最終遭上級批准養病，痊癒後再回以補職。辭去縣令後，「為人貸得百金」，作妻室生活費用。在辭官期間閒遊四方，先後三遊西湖，留下十六篇短篇遊記，〈晚遊六橋待月記〉即屬其一。首輔申時行贊嘆說：「二百年來，無此令矣！」萬曆二十六年（1598），袁宏道收到其兄袁宗道的信，邀其前去北京，被授予順天府（治所在北京）教授。在京城期間，由於經常租房子住，一直搬家，沒有辦法自己種花，熱衷於插花，寫成《瓶史》一書。萬曆二十八年三月，授禮部儀制清吏司主事，七月被差往河南周藩瑞金王府掌行喪禮。是年秋，其弟伯修病逝，受此打擊，自此宦情冷卻，於柳浪隱居六年。萬曆三十五年（1607年）十二月，宏道被任命為吏部驗封主事，攝選曹事，遂返回北京赴任。數月後即請告歸。後遷官至稽勳郎中，不久又以病歸里。袁宏道一生三仕三隱，從萬曆二十年至三十八年間，十八年間，為官僅七年，家居十一年。萬曆三十八年九月六日（1610 年）卒，年四十三。著有袁中郎集。長女嫁蘇惟霖的長子，次女嫁惟霖弟蘇惟沾的長子。

註腳

外部鏈接

Poems

THE CAPITAL

Bright are the city walls of the capital;

Red-robed officials shout on broad streets.

There is a white-headed destitute scholar;

Hanging from his mule's saddle, sheaves of poems.

Clasping his calling card, he knocks on doors for work;

The gate keepers smirk at one another.

Ten try and ten fail;

Walk the streets, his face is haggard.

Always fear in serving the rich;

Sorry your flattery isn't quick enough.

Over an eye a black eyepatch;

Half blind, the fellow is old!

A STRANGE PRIEST

Bought his mantle to escape draft and taxes;

Now he's the head priest amid his splendor.

Recites incantations, but sounds like a bird;

Writes Sanscrit that looks like twisted weeds.

With his begging bowl he distributes food of the spirit;

On his seat he faces the lamp of Buddha;

If you don't devote you whole body and soul,

How can there be anywhere Buddhism at all?

Prose writings

He was also a notable author of the xiaopin, a form of short literary essay.