Hong Mai, also known by his courtesy name Jinglu and literay name Rongzhai, was born in Poyang, Raozhou as the third son of Hong Hao. He was a man of letters and scholar in the Southern Song Dynasty. The highest position he held in the government was Hanlin Academician (hanlin), Secretary of the Dragon Library (longtuge) and Secretary of the Duanming Hall (duanmingdian).