Chang Chü-cheng (1525-1582), grand secretary under the emperors Lung-ch'ing and Wan-li, was one of the most outstanding Chinese ministers of the Ming dynasty.

Aprecocious child from an impoverished family in what is now Hupei, Chang Chü-cheng achieved the highest academic degree, the chin-shih, in 1547, at the age of 22. At this time China was crippled by official corruption and court extravagance and endangered by the threat of Mongol invasion. The country was overdue for reform, but the time was not yet ripe for Chang. He served for 7 years in the Hanlin Academy, interrupted his career for 6 years, and then became vice president of the National University in 1560 and tutor to the future emperor Lung-ch'ing in 1563. In 1567 he was appointed assistant minister of rites and concurrently secretary of the Grand Secretariat. His initial proposal for reforms in government, however, met with negative responses, as he was...