Fei Hong

Fei Hong (1468–1535) was a Chinese scholar-official during the Ming dynasty. He served in high-ranking positions in the central government during the reigns of the Zhengde and Jiajing emperors in the early 16th century, including grand secretary and head of the Grand Secretariat from 1524 to 1526.

Fei Hong was born in 1468 in Yanshan, located in the northeastern region of the southern Chinese province of Jiangxi. He received a Confucian education and successfully passed the civil service examinations. In 1487, at the age of 19, he achieved the highest level of the examinations, known as the palace examination, in Beijing. He was not only the youngest candidate to pass, but also ranked first among all candidates. Following his success, he began his civil service career as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy.

In 1511, Fei Hong was promoted to the rank of grand secretary. However, after three years, he was dismissed and retired to his hometown. He later returned to the Grand Secretariat in 1521, following the accession of the Jiajing Emperor. In 1524, a series of resignations occurred due to the Great Rites Controversy, and Fei Hong rose to the head of the Grand Secretariat. He faced hostility from Zhang Cong and Gui E, who wanted to limit his influence. They arranged for Yang Yiqing, who had previously served in the Grand Secretariat in 1515–1516, to return in 1526. As Yang had seniority, he took over the Grand Secretariat and joined Fei's critics. In March 1527, they succeeded in having Fei dismissed. The Emperor recalled him in 1535, but Fei Hong died shortly after. Provided by Wikipedia