chinesegeography

The Jingkang Incident-Sequel І



Towards the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, in the state of Liao in northern China, under the rule of King Tianzuo (r. 1101-1121), the Nuzhen people (later called Manchu) in the northeast were cruelly oppressed and exploited, and yearned to cast off the yoke of the Liao. Aguda, taking advantage of his people's sentiments against oppression, in the process of attacking Liao, established the state of Jin, and after its founding continued to lead his troops against Liao.



In 1120 Song and Jin signed the "Agreement over the Sea," which meant the two countries simultaneously launched an attack upon Liao. After conquering the Liao, the land south of the Great Wall was to fall under the jurisdiction of the Song, while the Jin would be entitled to the Annual Monetary Tributes, which used to be the Liao's privilege. In reality, the agreement maintained the humiliation of the Northern Song. However, the Song Emperor Huizong approved it readily and did not guard himself against the Jin.



In 1122, only after seeing the Jin troops score a series of victories in their attacks upon the Liao, did the Song court send Tong Guan and Cai You to command 100,000 troops, to march towards the capital of Liao, only to be badly defeated. The Liao troops were no match for the Jin, but this time they encountered a rival whose combativeness was even weaker. Before long, the Song deployed 200,000 troops for another invasion of Liao, but again suffered a crushing defeat. To cover up his incompetence and the defeats, Tong Guan conspired with the Jin to launch an attack on Yanjing, which was just what the Jin rulers wanted. For they had long harbored a plan to cross over the Great Wall, and seize more land. The Jin troops promptly drove towards Yanjing in three directions, and achieved this goal without hitch.



In 1125 the Jin King Taizong, after conquering the Liao, assembled his troops, and then drove south into the Northern Song. They advanced in two directions, seizing cities and military strongholds, crossing over the Yellow River successively, and pushing close to the capital (today's Kaifeng, Henan Province).



Previously, the Jin troops had once tried to fight their way into the capital. At that time, Song Emperor Huizong had fled south in panic, and conceded the throne to the Crown Prince, Emperor Qinzong. Faced with the initial attack of the Jin troops, the Song court managed to strike a deal by pleading for a humiliating peace. Once again the Song Emperor Qinzong still adhered to his old strategy of capitulation, and tried to plead for peace, rather than launch military preparations. This was conducive to the Jin's military strategy.

Shen Kuo's Meng Xi Bi Tan-Ending



Meng Xi Bi Tan is rich in content. Apart from writings on the natural and social sciences, there are anecdotes in poetry and prose form, as well as fantastic stories. This work of encyclopedic caliber, consisting of 26 volumes, enjoyed great popularity. And later, Meng Xi Bi Tan (Supplementary) (3 volumes) and Meng Xi Bi Tan (Continued) (1 volume) were also published.



The parts dealing with the natural sciences summarized ancient China's achievements in sciences, especially during the Song Dynasty, with a detailed record of the contributions made by laboring people in science and technology.



For the first time in history it was pointed out, by Shen Kuo, that there existed declination in geomagnetic fields; he recorded a simple method of artificial magnetization, i.e., the creating of a compass by "rubbing a thin stick against magnetite;" he elaborated on four ways to orient a compass; he advanced the "layering" method for terrain survey; he was the first to introduce the scientific term 石油 (shiyou, petroleum), which remains m use until today; and he also came up with the idea to devise a yearly calendar based on the sun.



In his lifetime, Shen Kuo maintained a firm belief in science and an original and creative mind. His works, apart from Meng Xi Bi Tan, include Chang Xing Ji (Analects of Revival), Liang Fang (Precious Prescriptions), and so on, totaling over 20 titles. Chang Xing Ji is an anthology of a comprehensive nature, containing Shen Kuo's important correspondence, reports, statements and tablet inscriptions, many of which relate to significant historic events during the Northern Song Dynasty, making it a valuable source of historical information.

The Three Su: a Father and Two Sons-Ending



Witnessing his children launch into fame at such an early age, how could Su Xun not be overjoyed! But after second thoughts, he also grew resentful at the fact that he himself would remain in obscurity all his life. Hearing that Ouyang Xiu recognized people of talent, he sent, through a third person, over twenty essays written by himself, asking for enlightenment. Ouyang found he liked Su's writings. Well versed in phrasing, and unique in style, they were really extraordinary. He then referred Su's works to Han Qi, the Prime Minister at the time, who also took a liking to them. Therefore, the court made an exception, and appointed Su Xun as Jiaoshulang at the Royal Secretariat.



Thus, the father and the sons were simultaneously launched into fame in the capital, to be known as the "Three Su."



Of the three, Su Shi was the best accomplished in literature, and his literary feats were also the greatest of the Northern Song Dynasty. Ouyang Xiu had a high regard for Su Shi. He once told his son: "Remember, in thirty years, people will forget me." What he said proved to be true. Ten years after Su Shi's death, just as Ouyang predicted, people were not talking about him but of Su Shi.



Su Zhe, Su Shi's brother, was also highly gifted. After the brothers had been both designated Jinshi, the Song Emperor Yinzong was so delighted that he said to the empress: "I have two talents for future prime ministers." Su Zhe was even more successful than his elder brother in his official career, eventually reaching the post of Prime Minister. His writings possessed both breadth and depth, making him well worth the name of a great master.



* Su Shi (Dongpo) Cooked a Famous Dish



It is said that when Su Shi (Dongpo) was in charge of Hangzhou, he organized people to dredge up the West Lake and build a long bank around it to prevent the lands from drought and flood. These measures benefited the peasants around Hangzhou a lot, so they always presented him pigs as gifts. Su Shi (Dongpo) couldn't decline their kindness, so he ordered to cut the meat into large cuts, braise them, and sent a cut to every worker who dredged up the lake. The common people also learnt to cook this so-called "Dongpo Meat," and passed it down till today.

The Three Su: a Father and Two Sons-Sequel І



During the Northern Song Dynasty, there lived a father and two sons who were all great men of letters renowned across the country. They were all ranked among the eight greatest masters of prose writing during the Tang and Song dynasties. They were the "Three Su": Su Xun, Su Shi and Su Zhe.



Su Xun, styled Mingyun, in his teens did not like to read, because he found the flowery, vain literary style of the time repulsive. His family and relatives were worried, telling his father: "Your son is shirking his lessons; why do you not interfere?" The father only smiled in response: "You do not understand him. I am not worried."



When Su Xun was 27, his first son Su Shi was born. Su Xun suddenly realized that, though he was a father now, he had accomplished nothing. Spurred on by the fact that his brothers and cousins had all excelled in the imperial examinations, he began to compel himself to study diligently. To master the writing techniques of the ancients, he fired off hundreds of his own essays. After strenuous efforts, he became a master of prose writing in his time.



Three years after the birth of Su Shi, Su Zhe was born. Su Xun, late in his accomplishments, therefore placed all hopes of success on his sons. He gave them lessons himself, bidding them to recite and imitate works by famous writers, and revised and commented meticulously on whatever they wrote.



In 1056 Su Xun took his sons to the capital for the imperial examination. That year, Su Shi was 21, and Su Zhe, 18. The brothers effortlessly passed the examination for Juren. and the examination sponsored by the Ministry of Rituals, as well as the Palace Hall Examination, and were awarded the title of jinshi.

Wang Anshi's Reforms



Wang Anshi (1021-1086), styled Jiefu, literary name in later years being "Half Mountain," was from Linchuan (in today's Jiangxi Province). Wang was awarded the academic title of jinshi in 1042, the 2nd year of the Kaiyuan reign. When Renzong and Yingzong were in power, he assumed a series of official ranks both at the local and central level, thus arriving at a deeper understanding of the social realities, political flaws and crises faced by the country. Gradually a set of political and economic principles began to form in his mind. Once, in a proposal submitted to Emperor Renzong, he came up with ideas for implementing reforms.



After the death of Emperor Renzong, Yingzong was the country's sovereign for four years. Later, Zhao Xu, Song Emperor Shenzong, succeeded. The young emperor was ambitious and capable. Seeing the country was in decline, he was eager to smooth over the difficulties the court had encountered. In 1069 Shenzong had a one-to-one meeting with Wang Anshi, asking him for proposals regarding the running of the country. Wang answered confidently: 'If the country is to be revived, the present habits should be discarded and new regulations and systems put into effect. "



In 1069 the Song Emperor Shenzong decided to press ahead with new laws in a comprehensive way. He appointed Wang Anshi as Canzhengzhishi (Vice Prime Minister), whose duty was to see that new laws were properly implemented; he also selected a number of young talented officials as Wang's assistants.



Wang Anshi's reforms mainly included the enactment of Crop-Cultivation Credit Law, Corvee Law, Farmland Rating and Regulated Tax Law, Agro-Irrigation Law and Household Management Law. The adoption of these laws consolidated state power, increased its revenue and lessened the people's burden, and thus enjoyed wide support among peasants, handicraft workers, small merchants and small and middle landlords. However, some aristocrats, bureaucrats and big landlords and merchants were dead set against the new laws, seeing them as an infringement against their vested interests.



Even Wang's learned, prominent friend Sima Guang also opposed his reforms, and over this the two friends fell out. Some princes and aristocrats slandered the new laws before Empress Dowager Cao, the emperor's grandmother, and Empress Dowager Gao, his mother. The two began to bear a grudge against Wang Anshi, and put pressure on Shenzong to abort the new laws.



In 1074 the Central Plains were hit by famine. Someone by the name of Zheng Xia painted a picture entitled Refugees from Famine. The painting was presented to Shenzong, who became very saddened at the sight of it. Some courtiers who were prejudiced against the reforms seized the opportunity, exclaiming in the presence of Shenzong, "The new laws have made a mess of the entire country!" The same year, Wang Anshi was dismissed from office and sent back to Jiangzhou Prefecture. In adverse circumstances, the new laws met with great obstacles in their implementation and were nearly abolished more than once.



In the 3rd month of 1085, Song Emperor Shenzong died, and the Crown Prince, Emperor Zhezong succeeded at the age of only 10. Empress Dowager Gao took over sovereign administration on his behalf. She appointed Sima Guang (1019- 1086) as Prime Minister, and formally abolished the new laws. This evoked strong emotions in Wang Anshi's heart, and he passed away about a month later, at the age of67.

Fan Zhongyan: the People's Well-being before All Else



Fan Zhongyan came from an impoverished family background. He enjoyed few familial joys in his childhood and hardly had enough food or decent shelter. He often took up lodging in Liquan Temple, working hard at his lessons, never resting for a moment. To lessen the burden on his family and to save time, every day he cooked a pot of rice gruel. When the food cooled down and hardened, he divided it equally into four with a knife, for two meals a day: two pieces for breakfast; and two for supper, plus salted vegetables to go with it.



In 1015 Fan was awarded the title of jinshi, after leading in the imperial examination. Later he was appointed Silicanjun in the Guangde Prefecture (today's Guangde, Anhui Province) embarking on a political career, which lasted over 40 years.



In 1021 Fan Zhongyan was sent to Taizhou Prefecture (now Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province) to work as Salt Administrator there. On taking up office, he at once went on an inspection tour of the sea walls and the local salt-making sites. The walls were dilapidated from years of disrepair. Not only had salt production been adversely affected, but farmlands and local houses had flooded whenever the sea waves had surged, leaving the locals to roam as refugees from famine. To address this, he submitted a report to his superiors, suggesting the construction of a long dyke along the sea coasts of Tongzhou, Taizhou, Chuzhou and Haizhou prefectures. After his proposal had been approved, in the autumn of 1024, Fan Zhongyan led tens of thousands of peasant laborers to the coast, undertaking a large-scale dyke project. Not long after, the project came to completion; and the dyke, winding its way across hundreds of li, ensured, from the havoc of the sea, production in salt fields as well as farmlands and houses. The grateful people felt so obliged to him, they named the dyke, the "Dyke of Fan."



Fan Zhongyan had a strong aversion against wicked people and wicked deeds, and was renowned for being candid and outspoken. During the ten years of his career as a court official, he was demoted and banished from the capital three times for telling the truth before the emperor, and offending influential interest groups in power.



In 1028 Fan Zhongyan was elevated to an official post responsible for the sorting and editing of the royal library collection, actually working as a royal literary servant. This position gave him an opportunity to gain easy access to the emperor himself as well as top court secrets. It was an admiring post. As long as Fan was obedient and tactful, promotion would not be difficult. Fan Zhongyan, however, preferred not to be "sophisticated." He raised opposition to the fact that, although Renzong was already 20 years of age, all decision-making power, whether political or military, still remained in the hands of Empress Dowager Liu. He appealed for the handover of state power from Liu to Renzong. Soon an edict was issued, expelling Fan Zhongyan from the capital and demoting him to the post of magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture (today's Yongji County, Shanxi Province).



Three years later, Empress Dowager Liu died. Emperor Renzong, cherishing the memory of Fan's loyalty and honesty, summoned him back to the capital and appointed him Yousijian, whose duty was to make criticisms regarding court affairs. In 1033 the emperor was taken in by the slander against the empress, cooked up by Lu Yijian, the Prime Minister, and decided to depose her. Fan Zhongyan, however, was a man who called things by their correct names; and he appealed to the emperor to change his decision. As a result, he was again demoted to the post of magistrate of Muzhou Prefecture (next to today's Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province).



A few years later, Fan was transferred to become magistrate of Suzhou Prefecture. On account of his merit in hydraulic works, he was again summoned back to the capital, and elevated to the positions of Daizhi of Tianzhangge and of magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture. Lu Yiwei, the Prime Minister, was despotic in his methods, and practiced nepotism. Fan Zhongyan, in the presence of the emperor, informed against Lu's practice of appointing people by favoritism. However, at that time Renzong had already placed all of his trust in Lu. Therefore, Fan Zhongyan was demoted a third time, and posted to Raozhou Prefecture as magistrate. In 1052 he died on the way to his new office in Yingzhou Prefecture.