Ji Xiaolan

Ji Yun (1724–1805), also known by his courtesy name Ji Xiaolan, was a prominent Chinese philosopher, politician, writer, and scholar of the Qing dynasty. He was born in Xian County, Zhili Province. Ji Yun achieved intellectual prominence by ranking first in the provincial examinations in 1747 and later obtaining the jinshi degree in 1754, after which he entered the Hanlin Academy. His career was marked by a banishment to Dihua in 1768 due to an accessory role in a bribery case. Upon his return, he gained favor with the Qianlong Emperor, notably for composing a poem about the return of the Turgut Mongols. He was tasked with compiling the monumental Siku Quanshu. Ji Yun was also known for his personal habits, including his fondness for tobacco, rich foods, and women, and his preference for walking over sedan chairs. He died in Beijing at the age of 80. In his later years, he became recognized as one of the great writers of strange tales in Qing China, alongside Pu Songling and Yuan Mei.