The Rise and Frustration of a Ming Dynasty Luminary

Liu Bowen (Liu Ji), one of the most renowned strategists and scholars of late imperial China, began his career under the tumultuous rule of the Yuan Dynasty. His early administrative posts in Jiangxi—first as a county magistrate in Gao’an and later as a provincial secretary in Nanchang—reveal the systemic discrimination Han Chinese officials faced under Mongol rule. Despite his talents, Liu’s career was stifled by ethnic hierarchies and bureaucratic corruption, foreshadowing his eventual disillusionment with the Yuan regime.

The Yuan Dynasty’s Ethnic Hierarchy and Han Marginalization

The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) institutionalized ethnic stratification, placing Mongols and Semu (Central Asian allies) above Han Chinese in governance. Liu Bowen, a Han scholar who had earned the prestigious jinshi degree, found himself trapped in a system where meritocracy was secondary to ethnic loyalty. His superior in Jiangxi bluntly reminded him:

“You should be grateful we Mongols haven’t gutted you. Work hard—you’re a jinshi, so rising in rank is only natural.”

Yet, the same official dismissed the value of civil examinations, reflecting the Yuan elite’s contempt for Han intellectual traditions. Liu, though privately appalled, recognized the regime’s paradoxical advantage: the absence of literary inquisition (wenzi yu), which spared scholars from persecution but also marginalized their influence.

The Toxicity of Yuan Officialdom

Liu’s role in Nanchang exposed him to a venal bureaucracy where moral integrity was a liability. Unlike his earlier position in Gao’an, where he could adjudicate cases independently, his new post reduced him to drafting reports. The political environment demanded conformity, but Liu’s adherence to Confucian ethics—loyalty, integrity, and moral rigor—made him an outsider.

Colleagues accused him of arrogance:
– “He refuses banquets—who does he think he is?”
– “Just another southern Han hypocrite.”

His superior chastised him for lacking “official decorum,” to which Liu responded with parables like “Three Men Make a Tiger” (highlighting how falsehoods gain credence through repetition) and a fable about magpies and tigers (illustrating mob mentality). These analogies only deepened his isolation.

The Yinhe Zhao Incident: Divination and Destiny

Amidst bureaucratic strife, an enigmatic episode underscored Liu’s reputed mastery of divination. In 1337, the rebel “Club-wielding Hu” sought guidance from a hermit, Zeng Yishan, who prophesied Hu’s defeat using the Yinhe Zhao—a cryptic I Ching-derived text. Before dying, Zeng instructed his family to gift the text to Liu Bowen, predicting Liu’s imminent departure from office.

When Liu received the manuscript en route to Nanchang, he dismissed it due to official duties. Yet within a year, his clash with corrupt superiors validated Zeng’s omen. A colleague, Qian Shineng, resigned immediately, but Liu hesitated—a testament to his lingering sense of duty.

Legacy: From Yuan Bureaucrat to Ming Architect

Liu’s resignation in 1340 marked a turning point. His Jiangxi experience crystallized his disdain for Yuan corruption, later fueling his role in Zhu Yuanzhang’s rebellion and the Ming Dynasty’s founding. The Yinhe Zhao episode, whether factual or apocryphal, symbolizes his transition from frustrated official to legendary strategist.

His struggles also reflect broader tensions:
– Ethnic Discrimination: Han scholars under the Yuan faced systemic barriers, foreshadowing the dynasty’s collapse.
– Moral vs. Pragmatic Governance: Liu’s conflict epitomized Confucian ideals clashing with realpolitik.
– Divination and History: The Yinhe Zhao legend underscores how Liu’s mystique was woven into his historical narrative.

Modern Relevance

Liu Bowen’s career offers parallels to contemporary debates on meritocracy, bureaucratic dysfunction, and ethnic equity. His eventual pivot from administration to rebellion mirrors the choices of intellectuals in oppressive regimes—a theme resonating across cultures and eras. The Yinhe Zhao tale, meanwhile, invites scrutiny of how history blends fact and myth to construct heroic legacies.

In the end, Liu’s Jiangxi ordeal was not just a personal trial but a microcosm of the Yuan’s fatal flaws—a system that alienated its brightest minds, hastening its demise.