生平

祖先：來自徽州的鹽商

程氏世居徽州府歙縣的岑山渡，是一個新安江邊的村莊。程晉芳自高祖程量入開始遷往揚州，世代經營鹽業，累世巨富，程量入、程之韺父子兩代連續擔任兩淮鹽務總商數十年。程晉芳的祖父程文階（字羽格）是程之韺最小的兒子，由揚州府遷居淮安府山陽縣，其族人大多仍在揚州。「程氏尤豪侈，多畜聲色狗馬。」。程家居住在淮安新城西門外的鹽商社區河下的乾魚巷西頭，程晉芳在此生長居住四十五年，直至為官。程晉芳家未入山陽籍，因此不見于淮安的舉人名錄。族人居淮者，尚有堂叔程夢鼐，曾捐修淮瀆廟，他在河下繩巷的豪宅懋敷堂楠木廳極為豪奢。

前四十五年：淮安河下

康熙五十七年（1718年）12月24日，程晉芳出生于淮安河下的乾魚巷。父親程夢州，號遷益，為程文階長子。母親蕭氏，通文史星相。弟兄三人，長兄名程志銓，字元衡，號溉堂，遷回揚州。三弟名程志銘(字述先)。程晉芳排行第二，幼時依族譜取名志鑰，後改名廷鐄。因夢天開榜，榜上有晉芳名，又改名晉芳。15歲時因讀劉念台《人譜》，以蕺園為號，又號魚門。乾隆元年，年19，娶揚州表妹蕭氏，系舅父蕭榛之女。

桂宧藏書

程晉芳雖然生長于富豪之家，然而他唯一的嗜好是酷愛讀書學問，「乾隆初，兩淮殷富，程氏尤豪侈。晉芳獨好儒，購書五萬卷，不問生產，罄其貲。」程晉芳的藏書樓，上下六間，在乾隆十七年（壬申，1752年）命名為「桂宧」（yí），重金求購善本達數萬卷。在「桂宧」的北面另有一室為「拜書亭」，每月朔望日對書進行揖拜。史書稱程晉芳「群獨好儒，罄其貲購書五萬卷，窮日夜討論之。」

程晉芳「少問經義于從父廷祚，學古文于劉大櫆。而與袁枚、商盤諸人往複唱和，甚相得也。」

交友

程晉芳好交友，喜歡風雅，「獨愔愔好儒，罄其貲購書五萬卷，招致方聞綴學之士，與共討論。海內之略識字、能握筆者，俱走下風，如龍魚之趨大壑」招攬學者文人到淮安家中討論學問，「遇文學人，喋然意下，敬若嚴師。雖出已下者，亦必推轂延譽，使其滿意。」「延接賓客，讌集無虛日」，「江淮耆宿，一時若無錫顧震滄、華半江，宜興儲茗坡，松江沈沃田諸君子，咸與上下其緒論。」

吳敬梓

乾隆六年（1741），程晉芳在南京結識吳敬梓，二人一見如故，即邀請吳到淮安作客，當年吳從南京前往淮安造訪程晉芳，住數月方歸。當時程晉芳二十四歲，吳敬梓四十一歲。

乾隆十七年（1752），程晉芳前往南京江南貢院考舉人，通過吳敬梓介紹，結識藏書家、金石學家嚴長明，同游太平門外的棲霞山。「風雨晨夕，三人往來最密也」。

乾隆十九年甲戌（1754年）十月，程晉芳訪揚州，偶遇好友吳敬梓，當時程晉芳也從富裕的鹽商開始陷入貧困落魄，吳敬梓執其手說：「子亦到我地位，此境不易處也，奈何？」七日程將返淮，先生指明月日：「與子別後，會不可期。即景悢悢，欲構句相贈，而澀于思，當俟異日耳。」二十八日吳敬梓與北京南下的王又曾在舟中痛飲銷寒。歸家後痰湧氣促，救治不及，頃刻辭世。程晉芳回到淮安後不久，即接到揚州吳敬梓死訊，程聞訊後作詩《哭敏軒》三首，和《文木先生傳》文一篇。這些詩文是研究吳敬梓生平，撰寫年譜、傳記的重要資料。

袁枚

程晉芳在南京又結識辭官隱居隨園的杭州錢塘人袁枚（1716－1797），結為密友，常討論詩文至深夜。袁枚不僅去淮安程家作客，還在程家的鹽業中投資持股，在發現程晉芳「高談心性，不事生產，家中豪奢，業已出千進一」，出現危機時，屢次規勸他「開源節流，量入為出」。二人友情極深，袁枚「明知其江河日下，而不忍抽提程本」。程家衰落後，前後借袁共五千銀子。程亦信靠袁，晚年離京之前，寫信請袁在南京為他購房歸老。不久程晉芳在西安去世，袁枚聞訊時正在廣東，安排程晉芳喪歸南京，在祭奠時將借券焚毀，又為程撰寫墓誌銘，撫養程一妻二妾共十餘口人。袁枚著作中多處涉及程晉芳，保存了許多與程晉芳的有關資料。

乾隆二十六年（1761年），程晉芳至金陵，結識布衣詩人陳古漁。

棄商從文

乾隆二十七年（1762年）三月，乾隆帝南巡過淮安，程晉芳獻賦，召試行在，作《江漢朝宗賦》四章，拔置第一，賜舉人，授中書舍人。這一年程晉芳45歲。

乾隆二十八年（癸未1763年），程晉芳遭遇一場經濟官司，包括「桂宧」「拜書亭」在內的房產為訟家所得。「葦間雁戶容鷗占，花底蜂衙任蝶過。」同年程晉芳棄商從文，步入仕途，全家移居北京，出任中書舍人。臨行時他將大部分藏書寄存在戚友家。

京城：翰林院纂修《四庫全書》

程晉芳在北京居住琉璃廠東門。乾隆二十九年（1763年），為蔣士銓題《歸舟安穩圖》，贈其南歸。

乾隆三十六年（1771年），程晉芳中進士二甲二十四名，授吏部主事，不久四庫館成立，因學識淵博，聘為纂修，編校《四庫全書》初稿，書成後，改授翰林院編修，《四庫全書》總目協勘官。在纂修《四庫全書》期間，獻出桂宧藏書多種，《四庫全書總目》中所注『編修程晉芳家藏本」就有350種，其中有183種書籍共332卷被用作為輯編《四庫全書》的底本，另有167種書籍被作為存目編入到《四庫全書總目提要》中。乾隆三十九年(l774)甲午秋，淮河水泛濫，河下程氏藏書「凡十六紗櫥痛絕泥沙埋。」桂宧藏書由此而湮沒。

他與當時的翰林院尚書劉墉共事，成為莫逆之交。晚年與朱筠、戴震游，乃治經，究心訓故。

程晉芳極重友情，疏財交友，為人「好周戚友，求者應，不求者或強施之」又罄資購書，坐吃山空，到老年時已經是貧病交迫，擔任京官而至于不能舉火，以書抵債，自稱「與子往還今五春，子貧如故我貧新」。乾隆四十四年因為家貧不得已，賣出所藏的石濤《竹西歌吹圖卷》。

客死西安

清乾隆四十八年（1783）年底，程晉芳在北京欠債太多，「付會計于家奴，任盜侵……負券山積，勢不能支」。只得向翰林院告假，舉家前往西安投奔好友、署理陝西巡撫畢沅。從北京去西安途中奔波三四個月，程晉芳染上重病，到西安一個月後，于清乾隆四十九年（1784年）六月二十一日客死于陝西西安畢沅府中，享年66歲。畢沅「經紀其喪，贍其遺孤」。

歸葬金陵

程晉芳在西安去世時，袁枚正在廣東遊玩，獲悉程晉芳死訊後，「驚泣至失匕著。歸舟惘惘，行五六千里，不能釋于懷。」請畢沅派人將程晉芳靈柩和無依無靠的一妻二妾子女共十餘口人送至金陵撫養，又請松太巡道章攀桂贈給葬地，墓地在金陵城南方山附近的馮家山。治喪費用由畢沅贈與袁枚。乾隆五十年（1785年），程晉芳靈柩由袁枚主持下葬金陵馮家山，袁枚在墓前當眾焚毀程晉芳生前所借五千多兩白銀的借據，又為程晉芳撰寫《翰林院編修程君魚門墓誌銘》，並整理出版程晉芳的著作如《周易知旨編》等。

家庭

• 妻蕭氏：乾隆元年，程晉芳年19，娶揚州表妹蕭氏，系舅父蕭榛之女。程晉芳妻蕭卒亦35歲，時在乾隆15年。塋地在河下北部之窯溝。

• 續娶汪氏，先卒。

• 嗣子程瀚（過繼兄子）

• 後得一子，程溧，晉芳卒時方5歲。

著作

程晉芳于易、書、詩、禮皆有撰述，著有《蕺園詩》30卷、《勉和齋文》10卷、《群書題跋》6卷、《禮記集釋》、《諸經答門》12卷、《春秋左傳翼疏》32卷、《詩毛鄭異同考》10卷、《尚書古文解略》6卷、《尚書今文釋義》40卷，《周易知旨編》30餘卷、《勉行堂詩文集》30卷等書。

注釋

參考書目

• 《續纂山陽縣誌》卷10

• 袁枚《程君魚門墓誌銘》

Life

Cheng was born in Huaian, Jiangsu province. His father was a merchant in the salt business. Huishang (徽商), that is to say, businessmen from Huizhou (徽州), not only did well in business, but also played an important role in cultural field. There were many Huizhou merchants who were excellent in academic fields. Cheng was such a Huishang (徽商) who did well both in business and Confucianism. He earned much while being interested in cultural investments. He achieved the Imperial examination degree of Jinshi in 1771 and he was appointed to the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). After that, he continued to take the imperial examination several times but failed all. In 1773, Cheng was appointed to edit Siku Quanshu.

Cheng married in 1736 to his cousin Xiao who was the daughter of his mother's brother. When he got elderly, he took two concubines.

Cheng carried on the family business in selling salt. Wu Jingzi, who hated salt merchants, also became his friend. When the two became friends, Cheng was 24 and Wu was 41. But their friendship wasn't influenced by the difference of age and their sincere friendship lasted a lifetime. He often discussed academic problems with scholars. In his early life, Cheng made friends with Shang Pan (商盘) and Yuan Mei (袁枚). In his later years, he often traveled with Zhu Yun (朱筠) and Dai Zhen (戴震). Cheng was so dedicated in social and cultural work that he had no time to manage his business and eventually went bankrupt.

In April 1784, Cheng decided to go to Shaanxi Province to ask his friend Bi Yuan (毕沅) for help because of his financial problem. However, soon after Cheng's arrival at Bi Yuan's place, he died of illness on 21 June 1784.

Studies

Confucianism

Cheng learnt Confucianism from one of his family member named Cheng Tingzuo (程廷祚), who was a famous specialist in Confucianism at that time. In Cheng's later years, he also learned Confucianism from master Dai zhen (戴震) and Zhu Yun (朱筠). Even though he was born rich, he immersed himself in studying Confucianism and he spent almost all his money in buying books and helping poor scholars. He bought over 50,000 books on Confucianism and the poor scholars were free to read them. He even offered them shelters and food and he enjoyed sharing ideas with those scholars.

Study on Wu Jingzis scholars 儒林外史

Cheng is one of Wu Jingzi's most intimate friends in his late years. Wu Jingzi's Scholars was first published by Cheng, which is one of the greatest contributions to the world for him. Meanwhile, Cheng is also the first scholar to make an all-around comment on Wu and his Scholars. Cheng's records of Wu's life, his analysis of Wu the person and his thoughts, and his comments on the ideological theme of the Scholars are all of very high academic value. But his review of the author and the opus is biased, more or less, which shows the limitations of the time and the individual vision.

Thoughts on education

Cheng held the opinion that it was more important for scholars to be practical than to be academic. He was in favor of both innovation and seeking the truth from facts. Cheng pointed out that scholars should explore the true meaning of Confucius and Mencius rather than be pursuing the fame of Imperial Examination. Cheng also suggested that people should be proficient in both study and archery.

Works

• Jiyuan Poetry 蕺园诗 in 30 volumes

• Opinion of the Book of Rites 礼记集释

• Study on similarities and differences of Mao's and Zheng's poems 诗毛郑异同考 in 10 volumes

• Interpretation of minister in modern style prose 尚书今文释义 in 40 volumes

• Brief explanation of minister in ancient style prose 尚书古文解略 in 6 volumes

• The purpose of the Book of Change 周易知旨编 in more than 30 and less than 40 volumes

• Article of Mianhezhai 勉和斋文 in 10 volumes

• Questions and Answers about Confucianism 诸经答问 in 12 volumes

• Comments of Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan 春秋左传翼疏 in 32 volumes

• Inscriptions of books 群书题跋 in 6 volumes

Chronicle of Chengs works

• 1749, Cheng composed Yearning for my friends 怀人诗, including a poem for Wu Jingzi.

• 1752, Cheng took The imperial examination in Nanjing.

• 1753, Cheng went to Beijing and composed Song of Mare's Milk and Grapes 马乳葡萄歌 before he went back to Nanjing.

• 1754, Cheng composed A poem for chronicles 纪事诗 after watching traditional Chinese opera Zaju. The same year, inscribing a poem on a painting called Similar to living in a secluded valley 类谷居图 .

• 1758, Cheng composed yuefu-like Ditty of selling flowers 卖花唱, Ballad of Zhang Le 张乐谣, in total 20 poems.

• 1762 March, Qianlong Emperor travelled to Jiangsu, Cheng composed 4 chapters of rhymed prose called Yangtze River goes to court 江汉朝宗赋 to the emperor and greatly pleased him. Qianlong Emperor announced Cheng's poems to be the best and offered him an official position as a member of the cabinet so Cheng moved to Beijing. He lived there until April 1784.

• 1763, Cheng gathered together with Ruan Kuisheng (阮葵生) and some other friends in Beijing and composed Conjunctions of fighting quails 鬥鵪鶉联句 which was titled with some kind of folk custom.

• 1764, Cheng inscribed Picture for safety on the boat in homeward journey 归舟安稳图 for Jiang Shiquan (蒋士铨) and saw Jiang off back to the south.

• 1766, Cheng composed a somber song called Poem of mice's gnawing 鼠啮诗 for Wang Chen (王宸).

• 1768, 10 May, Cheng composed Chronicle of reed cottage in Huaiyin 淮阴芦屋记 to record the past of Bian Shoumin (边寿民). Besides, he composed Biography of Mr Wenmu 文木先生传 to record the life of Wu Jingzi.

• 1769, Cheng inscribed Picture of papers and classics in a cottage in snow 雪屋笺经图 for (任大椿) from , Jiangsu.

• 1770, Cheng went sightseeing in Suzhou with Wang Wenzhi (王文治), Wu Tailai and some others and composed Song of fishing and watching lanterns by pleasure-boat 钓戈行灯歌 . He came to Suzhou to meet Hua Song who just came back to his hometown. After that, he went to the north passing by Anhui ending with meeting Shen Dacheng (沈大成), Jin Zhaoyan (金兆燕) and some others in Yangzhou and composed Song of enjoying fragrance in Zhuxi 竹西访桂歌.

• 1771, Cheng became presented scholar and worked in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. Afterward, he also took charge of another department.

• 1772, Cheng compiled The list of Guihuan collection of books 桂宦藏书目 .

• 1773, Cheng was appointed to edit Siku Quanshu

• 1776, Cheng compiled Comments of Chunqiu Zuo Zhuan 春秋左传翼疏 with others.

• 1777, When Yan Changming (严长明) came to Huaian, Cheng wrote a preface for Yan's Guiqiu cottage collections of poems 归求草堂诗集 .

• 1779, Because of poverty, Cheng sold his collection Picture of Zhuxi Gechui 竹西歌吹图卷 (a picture which was painted by Shitao).