Information about Wang Anshi

Wang Anshi (December 18, 1021 - May 21, 1086), named Jiefu and Banshan, Han nationality, was born in Linchuan, Fuzhou, Song Dynasty (now Fuzhou, Jiangxi). Gan County (now Xingan County, Jiangxi Province), a famous thinker, politician, writer and reformer in the Northern Song Dynasty.

In the second year of Qingli in the Song Dynasty (1042), Wang Anshi became a Jinshi. He has successively served as Yangzhou signing magistrate, Yinxian county magistrate, Shuzhou general magistrate, etc., with remarkable political achievements. In the second year of Xining (1069), he was appointed as the counselor of political affairs. The following year, he became the prime minister and presided over the reform.

Due to opposition from the conservative faction, Xi was dismissed as prime minister in the seventh year of Xining (1074). A year later, Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty took up the post again, then dismissed him and retreated to Jiangning. In the first year of Yuanyou (1086), the conservatives gained power and all new laws were abolished. Yuran died of illness in Zhongshan and was given posthumously to the Taifu. In the first year of Shaosheng (1094), he received the posthumous title "Wen" and was called Wang Wengong in his later life.

Wang Anshi devoted himself to the study of Confucian classics, wrote books and created "Jinggong New Study", which promoted the formation of the ancient style of study in the Song Dynasty. In philosophy, he used the "Five Elements Theory" to explain the generation of the universe, which enriched and developed ancient Chinese simple materialist thought; his philosophical proposition "new and old are eliminated" pushed ancient Chinese dialectics to a new height.

In literature, Wang Anshi has made outstanding achievements. His prose is concise and sharp, short and concise, with clear arguments, strict logic and strong persuasiveness. It gives full play to the practical function of ancient prose and ranks among the "Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties"; Focusing on reasoning and rhetoric, his poetic style in his later years was subtle, profound, profound and unobtrusive. His style of richness, spirit and far-reaching rhyme made him a unique style in the poetry world of the Northern Song Dynasty, and was known as "Wang Jing Gong Style" in the world.

Wang Anshi's poems are nostalgic for the past, with vast artistic conception and distant and simple images, creating an emotional world unique to scholar-bureaucrats and literati. There are "Wang Linchuan Collection", "Linchuan Collection Supplements" and so on.

Extended information:

Wang Anshi realized that reform is not only a struggle of interests between the state and the monopoly class, but also a battle between new ideas representing the spirit of reform and innovation and outdated, backward and conservative ideas. In the conceptual battle between old ideas, he realized that change would face huge resistance, especially the ideological confrontation would be very fierce, so he was ready from the beginning to "start with the choice of technique". .

In the face of heavy pressure, Wang Anshi relied on strategy and courage, showing great confidence and indomitable spirit, and encouraged Shenzong to use Confucianism to fight against the common people, not to retreat, but to advance bravely.

Wang Anshi systematically expressed the reform plan in 1059 AD when he submitted the "Book of Statements of Emperor Shang Renzong" to 1069 AD when he began to kick off the reform and innovation, which lasted for 10 years. During the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Song Dynasty, the emperor was weak and sick, and had a bad relationship with the Queen Mother. Wang Anshi, who was confident and confident, could not be summoned repeatedly. He was optimistic about fate and did not admire wealth. He knows very well that if the time has not come, it will be difficult to achieve anything by seeking progress.

In April 1067 AD, the 20-year-old Song Shenzong Zhao Xu ascended the throne. He had admired Wang Anshi's character and talents since he was a child, and he was a promising king with a revolutionary mind. Therefore, not long after Shenzong ascended the throne, he summoned Wang Anshi to Beijing. Wang Anshi believed that the time was ripe for reform, and thus kicked off the reform process.

Baidu Encyclopedia—Wang Anshi

People’s Daily Online—Li Xiyan: Contemporary Enlightenment of Wang Anshi’s Reform Wisdom