, was from Wu County, Suzhou (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). He was a political figure of the
. In the first year of Emperor Huizong's Huangyou era (1049), he passed the imperial examinations as a Jinshi and studied under
.
Biography
Fan Chunren was a man of integrity, sharing similar political views with the conservative faction led by Sima Guang. In July or August of the second year of Emperor Shenzong's Xining era (1069), Fan Chunren submitted a memorial to the emperor openly criticizing Wang Anshi for his "exploitation of financial gains." As a result of his opposition to Wang Anshi's reforms, he was exiled. However, when Sima Guang returned to power and insisted on abolishing the "Green Sprout Law" and "Labor Substitution Law," Fan Chunren expressed his disagreement. He told Sima Guang: "The new laws should be abolished, but only those that are excessively harsh. The restoration of the labor service system should be thoroughly discussed and implemented gradually; otherwise, it will become a burden to the people. Moreover, the duty of a chancellor is to seek talented individuals, not to prioritize reform. I hope you can listen to various opinions with an open mind and adopt any reasonable suggestions. If you insist on making all decisions yourself, flatterers will take advantage and curry favor!" He hoped that Sima Guang would be open-minded and consider different perspectives, adopting valuable ideas. Unfortunately, Sima Guang did not heed his advice, angrily saying: "I cannot agree with the views of Zizhan (Su Dongpo) and Yaofu. The labor recruitment law is harmful to both the people and the state, bringing nothing but harm and no benefit. The people are tired of it and complain about it. How can Zizhan and Yaofu be so emotionally attached and fail to understand!" Sima Guang dismissed Fan Chunren's views and abolished all the new laws. Su Dongpo, Fan Chunren, and others sighed in disappointment: "Alas, another stubborn chancellor."
Fan Chunren summarized his life by saying: "My entire life has been guided by the principles of loyalty and forgiveness, which I have never exhausted." He advised his descendants that the key to moral accomplishment lies in "treating oneself with the same strictness as one treats others, and forgiving others as one forgives oneself." After Fan Chunren's death, he was posthumously honored with the title "Zhongxuan." His wife was the daughter of Wang Zhi. He had five sons: Fan Zhengmin, Fan Zhengping, Fan Zhengsi, Fan Zhenglu, and Fan Zhengguo. His five daughters were married to the following individuals: chief clerk of the Office of Construction, Cui Baosun; court advisor, Zhuang Gongyue; counselor, Sima Hong; deliberation officer, Cai Gu; and assistant director, Guo Zhongxiao.
Works
Fan Chunren authored the Collected Works of Chancellor Zhongxuan (五十卷), Taijian Lunshi (五卷), and Bianfang Zouyi (二十卷). The collection was published by Shen Qi during the Jia Ding era of the Southern Song Dynasty, becoming a definitive edition. Subsequent generations have revised it. Today, The Collected Works of Chancellor Zhongxun consists of twenty volumes and is available in various editions, including those from the first year of the Yuan Tianli era (1328), the Ming Jiajing period, the Wanli thirty-sixth year edition by Mao Yilu, and the Qing Kangxi combined edition. The Siku Quanshu version includes eighteen volumes of essays, two volumes of memorials, one volume of posthumous works, and one supplementary volume.
Biography
Li Zhiyi's The Life of Chancellor Zhongxuan Fan Chunren (附于《范忠宣公集》), Zeng Zhao's Eulogy for Chancellor Zhongxuan Fan Chunren's Tomb (《曲阜集》卷三), and the biography in Volume 314 of the History of Song.
Notes
References
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References
• 范純仁 (Chinese)
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Fan Chunren (1027–1101), courtesy name Yaofu, was from Wu County, Suzhou (present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). He was a political figure of the Northern Song Dynasty and the second son of Fan Zhongyan. In the first year of Emperor Huizong's Huangyou era (1049), he passed the imperial examinations as a Jinshi and studied under Hu Yan and Sun Fu.