Zeng Gong

Zeng Gong

Zeng Gong (September 30, 1019 - April 30, 1083), whose name is Zi Gu, was born in Nanfeng, Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. He was born in Nanfeng County, Jianchang Army (now Nanfeng County, Jiangxi Province), and later lived in Linchuan. He was a writer, historian and politician of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Zeng Gong's grandfather, Zeng Zhiyao, and his father, Zeng Yizhan, were both famous officials in the Northern Song Dynasty. Zeng Gong was gifted and intelligent. He had an excellent memory. When he was a child, he read poetry and books. He was able to recite and write at the age of 12. In the second year of Jiayou's reign (1057), he became a Jinshi and served as a judicial officer in Taiping Prefecture. He was famous for his study of laws and regulations and proper sentencing. In the second year of Xining reign (1069), he was appointed to review the record of song Yingzong, and was soon released to Yuezhou. After the fifth year of Xining (1072), he successively served as prefects of Qizhou, Xiangzhou, Hongzhou, Fuzhou, Mingzhou, Bozhou, Cangzhou, etc. In the fourth year of Yuanfeng (1081), he was appointed as a historiographer to write, manage the editing academy, and judge Taichang temple as a ritual. In the sixth year of Yuanfeng (1083), he died in Jiangning prefecture (now Nanjing, Jiangsu Province). His posthumous title is "wending".

Zeng Gong was honest in his administration, diligent in politics and concerned about people's livelihood. Together with Zeng Zhao, Zeng Bu, Zeng Yu, Zeng Dan, Zeng Xie and Zeng Dun, he was called "Nanfeng Qizeng". Zeng Gong's literary achievements are outstanding. His works are "quaint, fair, and harmonious". He is one of the eight great writers in Tang and Song Dynasties and is known as "Mr. Nanfeng" in the world.

Life of the characters

Zeng Gong was born in 1019. After he became a scholar in the middle of 1057, he first served as a judicial officer in Taiping Prefecture. Recommended by Ouyang Xiu in 1060, he served as a manager and judge of Guange school and Jixian school respectively. In Beijing nine years, has been engaged in the collation of ancient books. Later, at my request, he successively served as a general judge in Yuezhou, knowing the states of Qi, Xiang, Hong, Fu, Ming and Hao. He served as governor for 12 years. He is dedicated to serving the people and cares for and helps solve the people's sufferings wherever he goes. When he was the prefect of Qizhou, there was a Zhou family, who ran rampant in the countryside and oppressed the people. Officials did not dare to interfere. After Zeng Gong took office, he put the Zhou family's chief villain in the law and solved the people's worries. Qizhou was low-lying and often suffered from floods. He advocated the construction of water conservancy, thoroughly harnessing the internal and external water levels, building channels and water halls, which not only solved the floods in the city, but also was conducive to agricultural production and beautified the environment. He has done a lot of good things for the people. After he left office, local people built a "Nanfeng Temple" on the Bank of Daming Lake to commemorate him. When he was in zhixiangzhou, he found that a case left over by his predecessor was seriously unjust. After his assessment, he released more than 100 prisoners for the original crime. When he was in Hongzhou, he was confronted with a plague. He quickly took measures to make all counties and towns prepare medicines and deliver them to patients in time. For the sick people who could not take care of themselves, the government adopted them and provided them with official accommodation and medicine. The epidemic situation was effectively controlled and many people were rescued from the death line. When he learned about Fuzhou, he found that the government orchards occupied a large area, competing with the people for profits. Zeng Gong ordered the government to cancel this income to benefit the people. In 1080, Zeng Gong was ordered to work in Cangzhou. When he passed by Bianjing, Shenzong listened to Zeng Gong's views on finance and felt that he was very talented. He stayed in the capital and served in sanbanyuan. In 1082, Zeng Gong was appointed as Zhongshu Sheren and died of illness in 1083.

Young and intelligent

Zeng Gong was a scholar for generations. His grandfather Zeng Zhiyao was a doctor of Shangshu Hubu, and his father Zeng Yizhan was a doctor of Taichang. Zeng Gong was gifted and had a strong memory. When he was a child, he read poems and books and recited them. Together with his elder brother Zeng Ye, he studied hard and showed a good talent from an early age. When he was 12 years old, he tried to write "six treatises", which was very impressive. From 1032 to 1034, Zeng Yizhan, the father of Zeng Gong, was appointed magistrate of Rugao County, Taizhou prefecture (there was a memorial ceremony in the "Minghuan Temple" of Rugao Confucian Temple). Because of the honest style of study in Rugao, Hu Yuan, Wang Weixi, Wang Guan, Wang Zhen and Wang Junyi all had great achievements. Therefore, Zeng Yizhan brought 14-year-old Zeng Gong to Rugao to study in the East Chamber of Zhongchan temple. Zeng Gong spent two cold and hot days in Rugao. By the age of 20, Zeng Gong's reputation had spread to all quarters.

Make good friends

When Zeng Gong was 18 years old (in 1037), he went to Beijing with his father. He met Wang Anshi in writing and became a close friend. After he went to Ouyang Xiu's door, he recommended Wang Anshi to Ouyang Xiu and went to Beijing. After that, he not only got to know Ouyang Xiu and made friends with Wang Anshi, but also had correspondence with Du Yan and Fan Zhongyan. He contributed articles, discussed current affairs and stated his attitude towards life. Since then, it has been famous all over the world. However, because he is good at game theory, light than the exam essay, so repeatedly.

In 1047, his father died, so he had to leave school to return to his hometown and serve his stepmother. Zeng Gong was filial to his parents and friendly with his brothers. After his father died, he served his stepmother meticulously and declined in his family. He raised four younger brothers and nine younger sisters.

In the second year of Jiayou reign (1057), Ouyang Xiu presided over the examination. He insisted on giving priority to ancient prose and game theory, supplemented by poetry and Fu. Zeng Gongcai, his younger brother Zeng mu, Zeng Bu and his cousin Zeng Fu joined the imperial examination.

Career

In the fourth year of Jiayou (1059) of the Northern Song Dynasty, he served as a judicial officer in Taiping prefecture (now Dangtu County, Anhui Province).

In the fifth year of Jiayou (1060) of the Northern Song Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu recommended him to collate and collate in the imperial palace. He collated a large number of ancient books, such as Warring States policy, Shuoyuan, Xinxu, Liangshu, Chenshu, tangling, Li Taibai collection, Baorong poetry collection and lienvzhuan. He did a lot of sorting work and wrote a large number of prefaces.

In the second year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (1069), he was appointed to review the records of song Yingzong, and was soon released to Yuezhou (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province) for a general sentence. There was a famine in that year. Zeng Gong put up notices to the counties where he belonged, persuading the rich people to truthfully declare their grain reserves, with a total of 150000 stones, so that they could sell the grain to the common people a little higher than the normal price. People can easily buy food nearby, but they don't go out of their hometown, and they have more than enough food. Zeng Gong also asked the government to lend the farmers seeds, so that they could repay with the autumn tax, so that farming did not delay.

After the fifth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty (1072), he successively served as the governors of Qizhou, Xiangzhou, Hongzhou, Fuzhou, Mingzhou (Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province), Bozhou, etc.

Zeng Gong was honest in his administration, diligent in political affairs and concerned about people's livelihood. According to the purpose of Wang Anshi's new law, he implemented it in combination with the actual situation. They are committed to redressing unjust prisons, maintaining public order, cracking down on the powerful, providing disaster relief and epidemic prevention, dredging rivers and bridges, setting up post offices, repairing cities, setting up schools, reducing official documents, rectifying the administration of officials, and abolishing exorbitant taxes and levies, which are deeply supported by the masses.

Life in old age

In the third year of Yuanfeng (1080) of the Northern Song Dynasty, he was appointed governor of Cangzhou (now Hebei). When he passed through Kaifeng, the capital city, he was summoned by Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty. Song Shenzong greatly appreciated his proposal of "saving is the key to financial management", and he stayed in office as the third class court.

In the fourth year of Yuanfeng (1081) of the Northern Song Dynasty, the imperial court believed that Zeng Gong's historiography was comparable to that of the literati and was suitable for taking charge of the historical affairs of the Five Dynasties. He was appointed as a historiographer to write, and was in charge of the editing Academy. He also judged Taichang temple as a matter of etiquette.

In April of the fifth year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty (1082), he was promoted to Zhongshu Sheren. Zeng Gong said that he was old, and he hoped to choose another talent. There is a "letter of acceptance of Liu Zhen from the scholar of the book of the middle school", which shows that he is modest. In September of the same year, Zeng Gong was dismissed because his mother died.

In April of 1083, the sixth year of Yuanfeng in the Northern Song Dynasty, Zeng Gong died in Jiangning prefecture (now Nanjing, Jiangsu Province) at the age of 65. Later, he was buried on the right side of chongjue temple in the source of Nanfeng.

Main achievements

Zeng Gong was an important backbone of the Song Dynasty's new ancient prose movement. He advocated the combination of literature and Taoism. The style of writing originates from the six classics, and combines the advantages of Sima Qian and Han Yu. It is plain, gentle and elegant, which is well received by people and later generations. Wang Anshi said: "Zengzi's articles are not available, the river of water, the battle of Han and stars." Su Shi thought: "Zengzi alone surpasses the anecdote, the solitary Fang humble group Yan." Zhu Xi also praised him for "reading Zeng's books, not without a sigh, he Shizhi know public shallow also." His poems have been translated into English and published abroad.

Zeng Gong also attached great importance to promoting education and encouraging learning and cultivating talents. There is a "Xinglu academy" on the side of the residence in Fuzhou, which sets its own learning rules and teaching seats to promote the style of study in Fuzhou. In the "Zigu Park" in Nanfeng, there are reading places for Zeng Gong when he was a child, such as shubuyan, Zeng wending ancestral hall, Yangfeng Pavilion, Sixian hall, and the County Museum. There is a Zigu road in Nanchang, which is also named in memory of this sage.

Zeng Gong has achieved a lot in his life. Especially in literary creation. He actively participated in Ouyang Xiu's poetry innovation movement. His prose has a wide range of contents, profound meaning, slow rhythm, mellow feelings, and inner temperament. His theme is clear, and his reasoning is orderly. He is good at refining sentences, and his language is clean, especially using parallelism sentences and antithesis sentences. Zeng Gong's biography of the history of the Song Dynasty calls him a writer who gallops up and down and works better and better as he comes out. The original six classics, considering Sima Qian and Han Yu, is a writer who works on CI for a while. He is also known as a writer who "abandons and does not worry, is simple and abstruse but does not regret, and has become a writer of his own.". The biography of Zeng Gong in the history of the Song Dynasty also said that he was "a filial friend in nature, his father died, his stepmother benefited him, and his fourth and ninth younger brothers were caressed by Wei, Wei and Wei. He is not only a dutiful son who serves his parents with virtue, but also a good elder brother who takes care of his younger brothers and sisters in difficult times.

Literary achievements

Prose

Zeng Gong was an active participant in the innovation movement of poetry and prose in the Northern Song Dynasty and the backbone of the new ancient prose movement in the Song Dynasty. He accepted Ouyang Xiu's ideas on the creation of ancient prose. In the aspect of ancient prose theory, he advocated the combination of literature and Taoism. Most of his proses are works of "understanding the way", and his style is known as "quaint, plain and harmonious". Han's style of writing is more rigorous and elegant than that of Ma's,

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