Shi Miyuan

Shi Miyuan
Grand Chancellor of the Song Dynasty
In office
November 19, 1208 – December 31, 1208[1]
MonarchEmperor Ningzong
Preceded byHan Tuozhou
Succeeded byQian Xiangzu
In office
June 7, 1209 – November 27, 1233[2]
MonarchsEmperor Ningzong
Emperor Lizong
Preceded byQian Xiangzu
Succeeded byZheng Qingzhi
Personal details
BornFebruary 23, 1164
Ningbo, Ming Prefecture, Southern Song
DiedNovember 27, 1233(1233-11-27) (aged 69)
Lin'an, Southern Song
ParentShi Hao
OccupationPolitician

Shi Miyuan (Chinese: 史彌遠; Wade–Giles: Shih Mi-yüan; February 23, 1164 – November 27, 1233) was a Chinese politician during the Southern Song Dynasty. He was instrumental in installing Emperor Lizong on the throne, despite the fact that Lizong was not in the line of succession. Under Lizong's rule, Shi was appointed Grand Chancellor.[3][4]

Shi hailed from a family of bureaucrats and was adept in politics. He took the Imperial examinations at the age of only seventeen, and placed first in his class. After the dismissal of Han Tuozhou as Chief Councillor, Shi was appointed to the position in 1208[3] (a number of historians accuse Shi of orchestrating Han's murder).[4][5] Once in power, he reversed many of Han's policies, making peace with the Jin and revoking proscriptions against the Neo-Confucianism of Zhu Xi,[6] although he still did not allow adherents of Zhu Xi's theories any great political power. He generally promoted officials on merit and was able to restore a degree of stability to government.[7]

  1. ^ History of Song, vol. 39.
  2. ^ History of Song, vol. 41.
  3. ^ a b Frederick W. Mote (2003). Imperial China 900-1800. Harvard University Press. p. 316. ISBN 978-0-674-01212-7.
  4. ^ a b Lily Xiao Hong Lee; Sue Wiles (13 March 2014). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Tang Through Ming, 618-1644. M.E. Sharpe. p. 535. ISBN 978-0-7656-4316-2.
  5. ^ Grace S. Fong (14 July 2014). Wu Wenying and the Art of Southern Song Ci Poetry. Princeton University Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-4008-5897-2.
  6. ^ John A.G. Roberts (13 July 2011). A History of China. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-230-34536-2.
  7. ^ Kenneth Pletcher (15 August 2010). The History of China. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-61530-109-6.

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