Cui Yuan

Cui Yuan, a native of Daizhou, whose birth and death years are unknown, and whose courtesy name is also not recorded, was an official of the Ming Dynasty. His father was Cui Ru, a Director of the Imperial Academy. Cui Yuan married Princess Yongkang in the sixth year of Hongzhi (1493), during the Dingxu year of the lunar calendar, and was granted the title of Grand Master Escort. The couple had two sons and two daughters. When Emperor Shizong of Ming ascended the throne, Cui Yuan was rewarded and honored as Marquis of Jingshan for his contribution to the imperial succession. The Ministry of Rites once suggested that such awards should strip recipients of their noble titles, citing no ancient precedent; however, Emperor Shizong approved the idea, citing the case of Emperor Ming Chengzu awarding Prince Wang Ning the title of marquis as an example. Later, Auditor Gao Yue submitted a memorial opposing these rewards, but Emperor Shizong did not adopt his advice. As a result, the granting of the marquis title was no longer solely based on military merits. Cui Yuan was renowned for his excellent relationships with literary men and enjoyed a high reputation among officials and relatives of the imperial family. He died in the 28th year of Jiajing (1549), and was posthumously awarded the title of Left Pillar Minister and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, with the posthumous name Ronggong.