Su Song

TimelineCBDB

1. 1072 尚書省工部工部司郎中
2. 1072 知某州軍州事
3. 1073 知某州軍州事
4. 1076 知某州軍州事
5. 1076 集賢院學士
6. 1079 上護軍
7. 1079 知某州軍州事
8. 1090 尚書省左丞
9. 1092 尚書左僕射兼門下侍郎
10. 1093 右僕射兼門下侍郎
11. 1093 知某州軍州事

Office recordsCBDB

FamilyCBDB

AliasesCBDB

• 子容 字

StatusCBDB

• 好金石
• [宰執]

AssociationsCBDB

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ExaminationsCBDB

WorksCBDB

Citations

1. [1] Identity and dates Su Song lived from 1020 to 1101 and was a Northern Song statesman and scientist.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The basic record supplies Su Song’s name, life dates, and Song-dynasty affiliation.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical record identifies him with the Northern Song and describes his official career and scientific work.
   • WikidataSu Song (Q1265657)The English name and the description of him as a Chinese polymath and statesman with these life dates corroborate the identification.
2. [2] Courtesy name and residence Su Song’s courtesy name was Zirong; he came from Tongan in Quanzhou and moved to Danyang after his father Su Shen was buried there, taking Danyang registration.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The basic record gives the courtesy name Zirong, Danyang as the migrant residence, Quanzhou as the native place, and Su Shen as his father.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts explain his Tongan origin, his father’s burial at Danyang, and his subsequent move and registration there.
   • WikidataSu Song (Q1265657)The English aliases also give the courtesy name as Zi Rong or Zirong.
3. [3] Family Su Song’s grandfather was Su Zhongchang and his paternal uncle was Su Jian.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The kinship record identifies Su Zhongchang as grandfather and Su Jian as a paternal uncle.
4. [4] Examination and first appointments After passing the jinshi examination in 1042, Su Song held posts at Suzhou, Jiangning, and Nanjing.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The examination information identifies him as a jinshi, while the associated biographical note specifies the second year of Qingli.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The three biographical accounts give the examination date and his initial appointments as 宿州觀察推官, 知江寧縣, and 南京留守推官.
5. [5] Palace-library career In 1053 Su Song entered the palace-library service after examination and became joint administrator of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts describe the 1053 examination, appointment as 館閣校勘, and appointment as 同知太常禮院.
6. [6] Jixian and Yingzhou In 1059 Su Song became 集賢校理, helped compile library books, and went out as governor of Yingzhou in the sixth year.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The office record lists the post 集賢院校理.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts give the 1059 promotion to 集賢校理, the book-compilation assignment, and the subsequent posting to Yingzhou.
7. [7] Mid-career offices Su Song served in the Three Offices’ finance directorate and as Huainan transport commissioner, then was promoted to 知制誥 and held posts in the Silver Terrace and Criminal Court.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The office record lists the Three Offices’ finance-directorate judgeship.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts give the Zhiping appointments, the Huainan transport commission, and the Xining promotion to 知制誥 and subsequent offices.
8. [8] Li Ding episode and provincial posts After challenging the procedural propriety of Li Ding’s appointment, Su Song lost 知制誥 and served successively as governor of Wuzhou and Bozhou.
   • CBDBSu Song (8116)The office records list the corresponding governor posts for Wuzhou and Bozhou.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts explain the memorial concerning Li Ding, the loss of 知制誥, and the transfers to Wuzhou and Bozhou.
9. [9] Secretariat and local offices In the seventh year of Xining, Su Song received the posts 秘書監 and 知銀臺司, then served at Yingtian and Hangzhou.
   • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts state that in the seventh year he received 秘書監 and 知銀臺司 and soon went to Yingtian and Hangzhou.
10. [10] Yuanfeng demotion In 1078 Su Song served as acting governor of Kaifeng, was demoted to Haozhou over a judicial case, transferred to Cangzhou, and later recalled to preside over the Ministry of Personnel.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts give the Yuanfeng appointment at Kaifeng, the judicial demotion to Haozhou, the transfer to Cangzhou, and the later Ministry of Personnel appointment.
11. [11] Yuanyou advancement In Yuanyou Su Song presided over the Ministry of Personnel, worked on the Veritable Records, served as an imperial reader and Hanlin Academician, and rose to 左丞 and 右僕射兼中書侍郎.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The office record lists the post 尚書省左丞.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts describe his Yuanyou assignments and promotions through Hanlin Academician, 左丞, and 右僕射兼中書侍郎.
12. [12] Policy as chief councillor As chief councillor, Su Song emphasized legal and administrative discipline and appointment according to ability.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical account says that as chief councillor he required officials to observe the law, perform their duties, and receive appointments according to ability.
13. [13] Retirement After leaving the chief councillorship, Su Song served at Yangzhou and moved to Henan, retiring in 1097 as tutor to the heir apparent.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The office records list 觀文殿大學士, 太子少師, and the Yangzhou governorship.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts describe the Yuanyou eighth-year change of office, Yangzhou posting, move to Henan, and retirement in the fourth year of Shaosheng.
14. [14] Associations and recommendations Su Song was friendly with Cui Tangchen and Lü Jun and joined Pu Zongmeng in recommending Yang Xiaoben, a recluse of twenty years’ standing.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The association records describe Cui Tangchen’s friendship with Su Song and Lü Jun and the joint recommendation by Su Song and Pu Zongmeng of Yang Xiaoben.
15. [15] Contemporary praise Fu Bi called Su Song an ancient gentleman and, with Han Qi, commended his self-effacing conduct.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The associated biographical notes report Fu Bi’s description of him as an ancient gentleman and the joint commendation by Fu Bi and Han Qi.
16. [16] Death and posthumous honors Su Song died in the fifth month of 1101 at age eighty-two, received the honors Sikong and Duke of Wei, and was posthumously named Zhengjian under the Southern Song.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The basic record gives the death year, while the office records list the posthumous honors 國公 and 司空.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts give the Jianzhong Jingguo death date and age, the honors, and the later posthumous name 正簡.
17. [17] Astronomical work Su Song’s expertise in lüli led to his supervision of a new armillary instrument and a water-powered astronomical instrument platform, as well as the work 《新儀象法要》; the account calls him an outstanding Song scientist.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The writings record lists 《新儀象法要》.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts describe his expertise in lüli, supervision of the new armillary instrument and water-powered astronomical platform, authorship of 《新儀象法要》, and status as an outstanding Song scientist.
18. [18] Medical texts Su Song collated 《神農本草》 and several other medical works.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical account says that he collated 《神農本草》 and several other medical books.
19. [19] Compilation of the Xinlu Su Song was commissioned to compile 《魯衛信錄》.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical account says that he was ordered to compile 《魯衛信錄》.
20. [20] Variant title and length The work 《魯衛信錄》 is also titled 《華戎魯衛信錄》, with its length given as either 200 or 250 juan.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The writings record lists 《華戎魯衛信錄》 as two hundred and fifty juan.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts use both titles and give a two-hundred-juan version as well as the two-hundred-juan compilation statement.
21. [21] Collected works Su Song’s prose was refined; his seventy-two-juan collection, also known by two titles, included fourteen juan of poetry and was compiled by his son in 1139.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The writings record lists the seventy-two-juan 《蘇魏公集》.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts describe the refined prose, variant collection titles, seventy-two juan including fourteen of poetry, compilation by his son in 1139, and continuing circulation.
22. [22] Other titles Other titles associated with Su Song include 《本草圖經》, 《注本草》, 《魏公題跋》, 《邇英要覽》, and 《元祐編敕》.
    • CBDBSu Song (8116)The writings record lists 《注本草》, 《魏公題跋》 in one juan, 《邇英要覽》 in twenty juan, and 《元祐編敕》 in twelve juan.
    • Souyun蘇頌 (29870)The biographical accounts list 《本草圖經》 among his works.