宋褧(1294-1346)為元代漢儒之一,原籍大都,但出生於歸州,早年隨父宦遊於江漢之間。因家境清苦之故,宋褧自幼即從其兄宋本(1281-1334)苦心力學,而致學識日豐,文采益盛。泰定元年(1324),他獲登進士第,以元代漢儒進士之身,展開了日後的仕宦之途。宋褧在居官行政及撰著方面迭有具體表現。在行政經歷方面,他在二十三年間(1324-1346),先後歷任十一職,行事風格正直穩健,執法嚴明,是典型的清官類型人物之一。在學術方面,宋褧居官期間,除獻力於提昇教育品質外,也承擔了官方修纂《天曆實錄》及部分《宋史》之任務,深獲肯定。此外,他個人在文學方面也卓有成就,尤其詩詞之作傳世者不少,具體呈現在《燕石集》之中。整體而言,其詩詞文章表現出清新典雅的撰述特質,對於提振元代詩詞及文學方面的發展,自有其一定之貢獻。
Jiong Sung (1294-1346) was one of Confucians in Yuan Dynasty. Although he was born in Kuei-Chou (an administrative district in the southern province of China), his ancestral home was Da-Du (now Beijin). Due to his father's government offices, Jiong Sung traveled in many places of the southern China when he was young. Jiong Sung followed his elder brother Ben Sung to study so hard because the financial condition of the family was poor but clean and honest. For this reason, his erudition and elegant appearance in writing were getting better and better. And he was one of the members of Chin-Shin leading to political service in 1324.Jiong Sung had great performances in political, academic, and literary fields. In political field, he honored for 11 positions as a government official in 23 years (1324-1346). To do things steadily and to uphold the law strictly were his behavior patterns. And he was a typical officer with probity.In academic field, besides paying attention to enhance quality of education, Jiong Sung participated in editing contents of classical books of official edition such as ”The Record Facts of Tien-Li” and some parts of ”History of Sung Dynasty”.In literary field, Jiong Sung also owned very brilliant achievement. We can enjoy more his literary and other poetry writings in ”Yen-Shih Collection of Works” now. Jiong Sung's poetries contained refreshing and elegant characteristics. And these characteristics influenced and improved indeed the development of literary art and poetry writing in Yuan Dynasty.