Translation of Shao Bowen's Rumors in Song Dynasty

"Song History" is one of the Twenty-Four Histories and is included in the official history category of the History Department of "Sikuquanshu". The following is the translation of Shao Bowen's rumors about Song Dynasty that I compiled. Welcome to read.

History of the Song Dynasty·Biography of Shao Bowen

Original text:

Shao Bowen, courtesy name Ziwen, was born in Luoyang and was the son of Yong, a scholar in Kangjie. Yong's reputation was high, and brothers such as Sima Guang, Han Wei, Lu Gongzhu, and Cheng Yi all came to his sect. When Bowen first heard about his father's teachings, he went to work for Sima Guang and others. Guang and others also lived in fame and positions, and became friends with Bowen again in the world. Therefore, they learned more and more, and became especially familiar with the affairs of the world.

When the light came into sight, I tried to recommend Bowen, but failed and died. Later, recommended by the envoy of Yin Yu Ministry of Henan Province, he was specially awarded the title of assistant teacher of Daming Prefecture and was appointed the governor of Luzhou County. When Sima Guangzi came to Kangyique, Xing Shu summoned Kang to Heyang. Bowen said to Kang, "I haven't seen you before the funeral, so it's not appropriate to waste your time meeting your friends." Kang said, "I promised you." He went. Kang died, and his son was young. Lu Dafang said that Kang Su could trust Bowen, and asked Bowen to be his professor in Xijing. After Bowen reached the official position, he taught Zhi: "The grandson of Duke Wen, the son of the great admonisher, is a wise and foolish person in the world, and is to be feared." After Zhi heard this, he was unremitting in his study, and his work was successful.

In the early days of Shaosheng, Zhang Ni was the prime minister. He wanted to use Bowen, but Bowen refused to go. The meeting was about to go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Cheng Yi said to Bowen: "I am in danger of my son's trip." Bowen said: "Don't you want to see the father-in-law in the underground?" When he arrived, he would first serve as an official in the department and then see him. Prime Minister. Despite his recommendation to the court, Bowen was willing to supplement the county officials, but Dun was dissatisfied, so he was imprisoned by the Yongxing Army and made a money prison. At that time, the sages of the Yuan Dynasty and the scholars who had migrated south rarely visited Bowen, who saw Fan Zuyu in Chengping and Fan Chunren in Yingchang. Perhaps he was afraid of it and would send troops to the west to restore the Xia people's hometown. There were many soldiers who joined the army. Bowen should do it. They always push the same row. Rank is full, disobedience is still in phase. Bowen Yi did not go to the capital, so he set up a military curtain on Huanqing Road from the outer platform, which was actually to avoid fear.

Ding's mother was worried, so she obeyed and took charge of the official affairs of Sanbaiqu, Yaozhou, Yongxing Army. Tong Guan was the envoy of Xuanfu, and the scholar-bureaucrats fought to get out of his house. When Bowen heard about his arrival, he went out of other states to avoid him. When he was promoted to prison on Chengdu Road, the thief Shi Bin broke through Wu Xiu, entered the Han Dynasty, and peeked at Jianmen. Bowen conspired with Lu Fayuan, the commander-in-chief of Chengdu, to guard Jianmen, but the thief could not enter. The Shu people were virtuous. He died in the fourth year of Shaoxing at the age of seventy-eight.

Zhao Dingshao traveled from Bowen and became prime minister, begging for records, and then gave it to the Secret Pavilion for compilation. Tasting Biao Bowen's tomb said: "He started Yuanyou with his learning and practice, lived in Shaosheng with his name and festival, and wasted in Chongning with his words." These three words are the source of Bowen in the world.

(Excerpt from "History of the Song Dynasty: Biography of Shao Bowen")

Translation:

Shao Bowen, courtesy name Ziwen, was a native of Luoyang, Henan, and was the son of Shao Yong, a minister of Kangjie. . Shao Yong was quite famous during his lifetime and had close contacts with Sima Guang, Han Wei, Lu Gongzhu, Cheng Yi, Cheng Hao, etc. Shao Bowen listened to his father's teachings at home, and took Sima Guang and others as his teachers outside. Sima Guang and others formed a close friendship with Shao Bowen regardless of their seniority. Shao Bowen benefited a lot from this, became more knowledgeable, and was particularly able to understand current affairs.

When Sima Guang was appointed prime minister, he planned to recommend Shao Bowen, but unfortunately he died of illness before he could be recommended. Later, due to the recommendation of Henan Yin and other officials, Shao Bowen was specially awarded the assistant teaching of Daming Prefecture and was transferred to the county captain of Luzhou Prefecture.

When Sima Kang, the son of Sima Guang, entered the court, Xing Shu asked Sima Kang to go to Heyang first. Shao Bowen said to Sima Kang: "When your mourning period is over, you should go to see the emperor first. It is not advisable to take a detour." Heyang first met his friend. "Sima Kang said, "But I have already agreed to Xing Shu." Soon after, Sima Kang died, leaving his young son Sima Zhi, who was pitied by Queen Xuanren. Lu Dafang told Queen Xuanren that Sima Kang was friendly with Shao Bowen during his lifetime, and originally entrusted his son to Shao Bowen. Shao Bowen could be a professor in Xijing, which would facilitate the education of Sima Zhi. After Shao Bowen became a professor in Xijing, he said to Sima Zhi: "You are the grandson of Sima Guang and the son of Sima Kang. Whether you are virtuous or foolish, you are the focus of the world. You should take this as an encouragement and take your own responsibility." Sima Zhi listened. Finally, I studied hard and never slackened off, and finally got the results.

In the early years of Shaosheng's reign (1094), Zhang Ni was appointed prime minister. Zhang Ni once served under Shao Yong, so after he became prime minister, he planned to appoint Shao Bowen, but Shao Bowen was unwilling to follow Yan's trend.

As usual, Shao Bowen should go to the Ministry of Personnel to listen to the selection. Cheng Yi said to Shao Bowen: "I'm worried about your trip to the Ministry of Personnel." Shao Bowen said: "What are you worried about? Don't you plan to meet the late father underground?" "So, Shao Bowen first went to the Ministry of Personnel to wait for orders, and then went to see Zhang Ni. However, Zhang Tan still recommended Shao Bowen to the court, but Shao Bowen did not want to be an official in the court, but wanted to work in counties. Zhang Bi was very unhappy about this. Shao Bowen and Sui's prison were Yongxing Army Cast Iron Prison. At this time, most of the Yuanyou party members moved south, and many people did not dare to visit them. But Shao Bowen was not afraid. He met with Fan Zuyu in Xianping and Fan Chunren in Yingchang. Later, Xixia provoked a war and wanted to regain the homeland of Xixia. The Song Dynasty promised that all generals who participated in the war against Xixia could be promoted several levels. Shao Bowen was supposed to participate, but he gave the opportunity to his colleagues. After Shao Bowen's term as Supervisor of the Yongxing Army's Cast Iron Supervisor expired, Zhang Ni still served as prime minister in the imperial court. In order to avoid getting involved with Zhang Ni, Shao Bowen insisted not to become an official in the capital, and instead elected to serve as a staff member of the Huanqing Road Marshal's Mansion.

After the mourning period for his mother expired, he took charge of the official affairs of Sanbaiqu, Yaozhou, Yongxing Army. At this time, Tong Guan was appointed as the governor of the region, and many scholar-bureaucrats rushed to visit him to curry favor with him. However, when Shao Bowen heard that Tong Guan was coming, he quickly left other states to avoid Tong Guan. When Shao Bowen was in Zhiguozhou, he wrote a letter requesting that hundreds of thousands of damasks and silk cotton be exported to Lunan states every year to increase the people's strength. Later, he was ordered to inform Xingyuan Prefecture, Suining Prefecture, and... Prefecture. They all excused themselves and refused to take up their posts. Finally, he was promoted to Tidian Chengdu Road Penal Prison. At that time, Shi Bin, the leader of the peasant uprising, led his troops to conquer Wuxiu, entered Hanzhong and Lilu, and planned to seize Jianmen Pass. Shao Bowen conspired with Chengdu Marshal Lu Qingyuan to guard Jianmen, causing Bin to be unable to pass. The Shu people were very grateful to Shao Bowen.

In the fourth year of Shaoxing (1134), Shao Bowen died at the age of seventy-eight. Shao Yong once said: "The world is very chaotic, but Sichuan and Shu are stable and can be avoided." In the last years of Xuanhe (1125), Shao Bowen moved his family to Sichuan, thus avoiding the wars in the late Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhao Ding studied under Shao Bowen when he was young. Later, when Zhao Ding became prime minister, he petitioned for Shao Bowen to be granted the posthumous title, and the court posthumously gave Shao Bowen a posthumous title to compile for the Secretariat. Zhao Ding made an epitaph for Shao Bowen and said: "Shao Bowen started in the Yuan Dynasty with his knowledge, lived in the Shaosheng period with his reputation, and was demoted in the Chongning period with his speech." Everyone thinks that these three sentences of Zhao Ding sum up Shao Bowen's life journey.