[1]Name, dates, and originSong Shou was a Northern Song official, born in 991; his death is dated to 1040 in some evidence and to 1041 in other evidence. His courtesy name was Gongchui, his posthumous name Xuanxian, and his native place was Pingji in Zhao Prefecture.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)These values provide the romanized and Chinese name, birth in 991, death in 1040, Song-dynasty affiliation, courtesy name Gongchui, posthumous name Xuanxian, and Pingji origin.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The profile identifies him as a Northern Song man from Pingji in Zhao Prefecture, with the courtesy name Gongchui; the three biographical texts present both 1040 and 1041 as death-year readings and identify present-day Zhao County, Hebei.
WikidataSong Shou (Q10195745)The entity is labelled Song Shou and described as a Song-dynasty person; its name claims give Gongchui, Xuanxian, a 991 birth date, and a 1041 death date.
[2]FamilyThe available kinship entries identify Song Shou's father, maternal grandfather, wife's grandfather, younger brother, collateral nephew, two sons, and grandson.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The kinship entries name Song Gao as father, Yang Huizhi as maternal grandfather, Bi Shian as wife's grandfather, Song Yin as younger brother, Song Changyan as collateral nephew, Song Minqiu and Song Minxiu as sons, and Song Gangshu as grandson; Song Minqiu's dates are 1019–1079.
[3]Early examinations and appointmentsAt fifteen Song Shou was summoned for an examination; his early appointments included Taichang Temple Taizhu and Dali Temple Pingshi, with access to the Palace Library. In 1008 he retook an examination, became a Jixian Institute collator, received tong jinshi chushen status, and was promoted to Dali Temple Cheng.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The three biographical texts together provide the summons at age fifteen, the Taichang Temple and Dali Temple appointments, access to the Palace Library, the 1008 examination and Jixian Institute appointment, and the subsequent tong jinshi chushen and Dali Temple promotion.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The examination entry lists an en-granted or specially granted degree status, supporting the account of tong jinshi chushen.
[4]Patronage and literary serviceYang Huizhi valued Song Shou and gave him the books in the family collection; Song Shou was recommended by Geng Fu and wrote Feng Zheng's epitaph in the first year of Tiansheng, 1023.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The kinship and association entries identify Yang Huizhi as the maternal grandfather and state that he prized Song Shou and gave him the family books; they also mark Geng Fu as a recommender and date Song Shou's epitaph for Feng Zheng to the first year of Tiansheng, 1023.
[5]Early official careerSong Shou held early posts including Left Rectifier, Joint Commissioner of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Drafter of Imperial Edicts, Historiographer, co-editor of the Veritable Record of Emperor Zhenzong, Hanlin Academician and Reader, Academician of the Longtu and Duanming halls, Secretariat Drafter, Vice Minister of Works, Director of the Ministry of Revenue, Acting Director of the Academy of Academicians, Director of the Court of Reviewing Officials, and Director of the Zhaowen Library; he served in the Cuiqian and Sansi Dupingyou offices from 1018 to 1020.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The biographical texts provide the posts of Left Rectifier, Joint Commissioner of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Drafter of Imperial Edicts, Historiographer, co-editor of the Veritable Record of Emperor Zhenzong, Hanlin Academician and Reader, Academician of the Longtu and Duanming halls, Secretariat Drafter, and Vice Minister of Works.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The office entries confirm the Drafter, Historiographer, Acting Director of the Academy, Director of the Court of Reviewing Officials, Director of the Zhaowen Library, Director of the Ministry of Revenue, and the Cuiqian and Sansi Dupingyou offices, with dates of 1018 and 1018–1020.
[6]Career under RenzongAt the beginning of Renzong's reign Song Shou became prefect of Yingtian after offending the empress dowager; he became a vice chief councillor in 1033. His dismissal in 1037 followed disagreement among the chief councillors, and the accounts give the subsequent offices as acting director of the Department of State Affairs, Left Vice Director, Academician of the Zizheng Hall, Grand Academician, and prefect of Henan.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The biographical texts provide the Yingtian appointment after offending the empress dowager, the 1033 appointment as vice chief councillor, the 1037 dismissal and its cause, and the subsequent Department of State Affairs, Rites, Zizheng Hall, Grand Academician, and Henan appointments.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The office entry dates one appointment as vice chief councillor to 1033.
[7]Final offices and disputed death yearIn 1040 Song Shou returned to the Privy Council in March and became Minister of War concurrently serving as vice chief councillor in September; he died in the twelfth month on a guimao day at age fifty. The death year is disputed, with 1041 also given.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The three texts provide the Kangding-year Privy Council and vice-chief-councillor appointments, the December guimao death at age fifty, and the conflicting 1040 and 1041 death-year readings.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The entries list the 1040 Privy Council and Minister of War posts, an additional vice-chief-councillor entry beginning in 1041, and a basic death year of 1040, documenting the chronological discrepancy.
[8]HonorsAfter his death Song Shou received the posthumous name Xuanxian, and the title entries include Kai Guo Hou, Shanghu Jun, the State Duke of Yan, Situ, Zhong San Dafu, an appanage, and purple insignia.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The name and office entries provide the posthumous name Xuanxian and the titles Kai Guo Hou, Shanghu Jun, purple insignia, State Duke of Yan, Situ, Zhong San Dafu, and an appanage.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)All three biographical texts confirm the posthumous name Xuanxian.
[9]Learning and proseSong Shou was intelligent and well read from childhood, broadly versed in the classics, histories, and the hundred schools, with a large library and a practice of personally collating books. His calligraphy and prose were highly regarded, and he made many determinations in major court debates.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The biographical texts describe his childhood intelligence, reading, knowledge of the classics and histories, large library, personal collation, refined calligraphy, prose style, Yang Yi's admiration, and many determinations in major court debates.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The status entries classify him as a collector of books and a textual collator, consistent with the biographical account.
[10]Writings and poetrySong Shou is associated with several collections, notes, and works on ritual and institutional matters; 《文館集》 is given as fifty juan in one entry and fifty ji in another, alongside 《鹵簿圖》 and other titles. Five poems are included in the present selection.
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The biographical texts mention 《鹵簿圖》, list 《常山秘殿集》, 《託居集》, 《常山遺札》, 《文館集》 as fifty ji, and 《天聖鹵簿記》, and state that five poems are included.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The title entries list 《鹵簿圖》 in ten juan, 《文館集》 in fifty juan, 《天聖鹵簿記》 in ten juan, 《景祐南郊鹵簿圖記》 in ten juan, 《內東門儀制》 in five juan, and 《五服敕》 in one juan; the latter four entries are marked as authored works.
[11]Reception of his calligraphy and poetryWen Yanbo, Lou Yue, Chen Fulian, and Chao Gongsu are associated with postscripts on pieces identified as Song Xianxian's calligraphy, while Huang Jue praised Song Shou's poetry.
CBDBSong Shou (1575)The association entries link Wen Yanbo, Lou Yue, Chen Fulian, and Chao Gongsu to postscripts titled for Song Xianxian or his calligraphy, and mark Huang Jue's relationship as praise of his poetry.
CBDB
Souyun宋綬 (24785)The profile identifies him as a Northern Song man from Pingji in Zhao Prefecture, with the courtesy name Gongchui; the three biographical texts present both 1040 and 1041 as death-year readings and identify present-day Zhao County, Hebei.
WikidataSong Shou (Q10195745)The entity is labelled Song Shou and described as a Song-dynasty person; its name claims give Gongchui, Xuanxian, a 991 birth date, and a 1041 death date.