Yu Dayou’s Interpersonal Relations and the Civil Officer and Military Officer Patterns of the Ming Dynasty: Centered on His Two Convictions

Yu Dayou, a famous anti-Japanese general in the Ming Dynasty, experienced multiple convictions and restore position during his more than forty year career. In the two convictions of the 34th year of the Jiajing reign (1555) and the 38th year of the Jiajing reign (1559), Yu Dayou was not only stripped of his position but also worried about his life. However, in the end, he overcame the crisis, was exempted from capital punishment, and was restored position. Although the time, degree, and process of these two convictions were different, their causes were both related to the political situation at that time, and the process of ministers rescuing Yu Dayou was a typical reflection of Yu Dayou’s interpersonal relationships in the officialdom. His connections in the officialdom were closely related to the social situation of “appointing civil officers to control and restrain military officers” at that time. At this time, military officers were relatively weaker in power and status compared to civil officers. In this context, many military officers made friends with civil officers as aid, and Yu Dayou was no exception. This deeply reflects the civil and military pattern and relationship in the mid to late Ming Dynasty.