Abstract
Among all the southern Chinese who served as officials in the Yuan dynasty, Ye Li 葉李 (1242–1292) was the most powerful despite not being the highest ranking. This article scrutinizes the life and behavior of Ye Li, reexamining his seclusion and official career during the Song-Yuan transition, especially his political involvement and influence, to explore the position of the southern Chinese in the Yuan. Emperor Shizu of Yuan (Qubilai Qan, r. 1260–1294) had always trusted Ye Li, not only for his excellent military and political capabilities but also for his upright character, namely an unconcern for fame and wealth. Owing to such character, Ye Li avoided forming cliques and deliberately pursuing power, which made him an ideal tool of the ruler but also the primary target of attacks by political opponents. After the death of Ye Li, the policy of absorbing southern Chinese literati into the central government in the reign of Emperor Shizu came to an end, to the extent that it was too late when later rulers attempted to restore the previous system and remove the restrictions on southern officials.
Keywords
Ye Li; southern Chinese; politics in the early Yuan; emperor Shizu of Yuan (Qubilai Qan); Sangha
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