1186-1255
Scholar

Early Life. Born in 1186, Yang Huan was the descendant of a wealthy landlord who had settled in a village in northern China. Huan began studying the classics under the guidance of his mother, a moral and educated woman, who sold her jewelry to buy a library for the family. She had a great impact on her children, especially Huan. In 1200 he took the prefectural examination for the first time and passed it. His name was at the top of the list of winning candidates. His talent caught the notice of the authorities, and two years later the local government employed him as an accountant in the prefectural office. Huan worked industriously; his supervisor was impressed by his talents and excellent work and encouraged him to further his studies under a local Confucian scholar. Three years of working as an accountant gave Yang many experiences...