by Xin Wenfang's 辛文房 (end 13th cent.)

130. The Biography of Han Yu (768-824)
Han Yu - his style was Han Tuizhi - came Nanyang (modern Henan). He became an orphan in early years and grew up in the house of his elder brother's wife, where he learned to read the old books, wrote diaries of several thousand words and learned of the Hundred Schools of philosophers. In the year 793 (Zhenyuan 8), he graduated the state examination, and he had to present his application to the ministry of rites three times before he obtained an office. Dong Jin presented a plead to give him the office of overseer of penal affairs in the military commission of Xuanwu (or Bian, modern Kaifeng). When the army of Bian rebelled (796), Han Yu submitted to Zhang Jianfeng and served in Zhang's provisory government. Later, when Han Yu served as prefectural censor, he presented a memorial to the throne about the interference of the court eunuchs in market affairs. Emperor Dezong furiously banished him to take over the post of magistrate of Yangshan (modern Guangxi). Exerting an excellent behaviour, he was moved to the post of army inspector in the prefecture of Jiangling (Hubei). During the era Yuanhe (exact: in 809), Han Yu graduated as national doctor and then became magistrate of Henan (Luoyang city). Han Yu had high abilites, like nobody else, but he had to leave his offices several times. Therefore, he wrote an essay called "How to be a successful academician" (Jinshijie), making his own career xamplarious. Because some mighty people feared Han Yu's ability, he was moved to the post of secretary in the ministry of public work, later he was in charge of decretes and edicts, and then he was employed in the central secretariat. Chancellor Pei Du installed the military commando in Huaixi (Henan) and wanted Han Yu to act as "marshal of the tactical army". After the rebellious army was defeated, Han Yu was promoted to secretary in the ministry of justice. When the party of Emperor Xianzong wanted some deposit some relics of the Buddha into the palace, Han Yu protested vehemently against Buddhism. The emperor became so angry that he wanted to have him executed, but the Pei Du and Cui Qun supported Han Yu, and he was only banished to the post as prefect of Chaozhou (Guangdong). During this period, he presented a memorial by which he discribed his situation with sad and touching words and was finally removed to the post of prefect of Yuanzhou (Jiangxi). Later, he entered the palace as overseer of national offering affairs in the ministry of military affairs, then to the ministry of personnel affairs, as overseer of the capital Chang'an, and as imperial censor. He died in 824 (Changqing 4). [...The last sentences are descriptions of Han Yu's overwhelming human and literary abilites.]