A native of Ningbo, Yuan Jue is also known as Bochang or Qingrong Lodger. He was mentored by Dai Biaoyuan and Wang Yinglin successively but throughout his long political career, he primarily followed the example of Wang in terms of personality and bearing. During two decades in the court, he compiled historical records of the Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties as well as three reigning periods in the Song Dynasty as demanded by the regnant emperor. Besides, most of the imperial documents and inscriptions of meritorious officials were composed by him. As a bibliophile, Yuan collected a wide variety of books to put in his library— Qingrong Lodge. His book collection was so inclusive that it can be ranked first in East Zhejiang Region since the Yuan Dynasty. The 20-volume Yanyou Siming Annals authored by him, an important masterpiece to study the East-Zhejiang culture of annals,

is hailed as one of the six greatest historical records in the Song-Yuan Dynasties with its meticulous research.