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Young and high moral

Yan Shu was smart and studious since he was a child. He was known as a "child prodigy" at the age of 5. In the first year of Jingde (1004), Jiangnan Funeral Zhang Zhibai heard about this and recommended him as a child prodigy. The following year, 14-year-old Yan Shu and thousands of candidates from all over the country entered the palace to take the exam at the same time. Yan Shu's expression was not brave enough, and he quickly completed the answer with a pen. He was praised by Emperor Zhenzong of Song and was awarded the same Jinshi. Prime Minister Kou Zhun discriminated against the people of Jiangnan and wanted to suppress Yan Shu. Emperor Zhenzong said: "The court takes scholars only.

I hope, how can one of the world be limited to the vastness? Just like Zhang Jiuling, the previous generation, did he abandon it because of his remoteness?"[3] After two days, he was going to conduct a poem, fu, and discussion exam. Yan Shu submitted a memorial and said, "I have done these questions before, please use other questions to test me." His sincerity and talent were even more appreciated by Zhenzong. He was given the important affairs of the Secretariat and stayed in the Secretariat Pavilion to study. He studied hard and was highly valued by Chen Pengnian of the Zhiming Embassy. In the third year, he was summoned to take the examination of the Secretariat and served as the Taichang Temple Fenglilang.[2]

The ups and downs of officialdom

In the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1008), he served as the chief of Guanglu Temple. His father passed away. He returned to Linchuan (now Fuzhou, Jiangxi) to mourn. Before the mourning period was over, he was recalled to serve and followed the emperor to the Taiqing official to worship. The emperor ordered him to compile the Sermon and be the Taichang Liyuan. Soon after, his mother passed away, and he asked to wait until the service period was over before he served. The emperor did not allow it. He was transferred to Taichang Temple, promoted to Zuo Zhengyan, Zhishiguan, and promoted to the King's House to participate in the army.

, the master of writing papers. In the middle of the year, he was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue, and became the prince's servant. Soon he became the Zhizhizhi and the Jixian Academy. After a long time, he became a Hanlin scholar and was promoted to the left son. Every time the emperor asked Yan Shu about things, he would write the content of the question on a small piece of paper to him. After Yan Shu wrote his suggestions, he put them together and presented them to the emperor. The emperor admired his prudence and strictness. [4]

In the first year of Qianxing (1022), Song Renzong, who was only 12 years old, succeeded to the throne, and Empress Dowager Liu was in charge of politics. Prime Minister Ding Wei, Privy Councilor Cao Yu wanted to monopolize the power, and the officials in the court were talking a lot, and they were helpless. Yan Shu proposed the suggestion of "ruling the power from behind the curtain", which was supported by the ministers. For this reason, he was promoted to the right censor and the attendant's scholar, and was appointed as the chief minister. Later, he served as the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Rites, and was promoted to the Deputy Envoy of the Privy Council. Because he opposed Zhang Qi's promotion to Privy Councilor, he violated Empress Dowager Liu's orders. In addition, he was angry at the Yuqing Palace to knock the front teeth of the attendant with a court scepter, and was impeached by the censor. [5]

Founding education

In the fifth year of Tiansheng (1027), he was demoted to Xuanzhou as the Minister of Justice, and later changed to Yingtianfu. During this period, he attached great importance to the development of the academy, vigorously supported Yingtianfu Academy, and invited Fan Zhongyan to give lectures at the academy, and cultivated a large number of talents. The academy (also known as "Suiyang Academy") was collectively known as the four major academies in the early Song Dynasty, Bailudong, Shigu and Yuelu. This was the first time since the Five Dynasties that the school was repeatedly banned and abolished, and Yan Shu was the first to run major education. In the third year of Qingli, when he was appointed as the prime minister, he joined with Fan Zhongyan, deputy envoy of the Privy Council, to advocate prefectures and county schools and reform teaching content, and to establish professors in official schools. Since then, from the capital to the county, there were official schools. This is the famous "Qingli School Promotion".[6]

Life in old age

In the second year of Qingli (1042), Yan Shu was appointed as prime minister and was appointed as the Privy Councilor. In the second year, he was appointed as the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Justice, and was appointed as the Minister of Justice. In the second year of Qingli (1044), he was impeached by Sun Fu and Cai Xiang for the preparation of Li Chenfei's tombstone and other matters, and demoted to Yingzhou, the Minister of Works. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Justice, Chenzhou and Xuzhou. At the age of 60, he was appointed as the Minister of Revenue and the Grand Secretary of the Guanwen Hall, the Grand Secretary of the Guanwen Hall, and the Master of the Yongxing Army (now Xi'an, Shaanxi). Later, he was transferred to Henan Prefecture and his official title was transferred to the Ministry of War. In June of the first year of Zhihe (1054), Yan Shu requested to return to the capital for treatment due to illness. After he recovered from his illness, he would leave Beijing to serve. Renzong deliberately kept him and asked him to speak for himself.

The scriptures explained that he asked him to come to him once every five days and treat him according to the prime minister's specifications. After a year, Yan Shu's condition worsened, and Renzong wanted to see him. After Yan Shu knew about it, he immediately sent someone to send a message to Renzong, which said: "I am old and seriously ill and cannot do things anymore. It is not worth worrying by your Majesty." Soon he died on the 28th day of the first lunar month of the second year of Zhihe (February 27, 1055). Although Renzong went to mourn himself, he still felt regretful that he could not visit him when he was ill, so he did not attend court for two days. He was given the title of Yan Shu Sikong (one of the three dukes) and the Shizhong (official name, high-ranking official under his disciples). He was given the posthumous title of "Yuan Xian". The first seal of the inscription "The Monument of Old Learning" was written. [4]

Although Yan Shu has been in a key position for many years, he is approachable. He is a master of talent, Fan Zhongyan, Kong Daofu, Wang Anshi and others all came from his subordinates; Han Qi, Fu Bi, Ouyang Xiu and others were all cultivated and recommended by him, and they were all highly valued. Han Qi was re-elected as prime minister of Renzong, Yingzong and Shenzong; Fu Bi was the son-in-law of Yan Shu, but he was not afraid of relatives. When Yan Shu was the prime minister, Fu Bi was the deputy envoy of the Privy Council and later became prime minister.[7]

Literary Achievements

Yan Shu was fond of learning at a young age, good at poetry and lyrics. In his later years, he was still studying diligently and tirelessly, and made many achievements and contributions in literature. His articles are rich in content and gorgeous in vocabulary; his poems have leisurely and elegant interests and passionate thoughts; his calligraphy is all skillful. The achievements of Ci are the most prominent, and they are known as the "Prime Minister and Ci". He is not only a genius who led the Song Ci, but also a leader of the Jiangxi Ci School, but also a prolific poet in the history of Chinese poetry. [10]

Yan Shu's lyrics absorbed the elegant and flowing style of the Southern Tang Dynasty's "Huajian School" and Feng Yansi, and created the graceful style of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is called "the first ancestor of the Northern Song Dynasty's Yisheng Family". The lyrics are clear and harmonious, like their leisurely and elegant emotions, their open-minded embraces, and their writing about wealth and honor without being vulgar, their writing about erotic emotions but not frivolous, their writing about scenery and their spirits, and they are given to natural things with life, which can integrate rational thoughts into lyrical narratives, and within the emotions of sadness, resentment and parting.

, showing a rational reflection and manipulation, revealing a harmonious and open-minded view of rationality in the tenderness and sharpness, forming its own characteristics. Its good sentences such as "the flowers fall helplessly, and the swallows return like familiarity" ("Huanxisha"), "Last night the west wind withered the green trees. I went up to the tall building alone and looked at the road to the end of the world" ("Butterfly Love Flower"), "My thought of the red candle in the orchid hall, the long heart is short, and the flames are shed tears to others" ("Hanting the autumn") are widely circulated. [10]

Character evaluation edit

Ouyang Xiu's "History of the Song Dynasty: Biography of Yan Shu" said that others "were on duty, and then they entered the palace and ordered books, and were the masters of the world." Later, "from the kings and officials, the palace ministers, they finally became prime ministers. They were all concerned about the sages and virtues of the country, and they had old labor, and from the beginning to the death, for more than fifty years."[9]
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