Fan Zhongyan
Fan Zhongyan (* 989 in Wuxian (吴县), Suzhou ( today's Jiangsu Province ); † 1052 ) (Chinese范仲淹, Pinyin Fan Zhongyan ) was a Chinese politician and writer of the Song Dynasty.
Bureaucratic career
At the age of 26 years Fan Zhongyan began his official career. At first he was employed in Xinghua, where he had built on the shore breakwater to prevent the destruction of the shore by waves.
In the years 1034-36 he cataloged together with Ouyang Xiu, the Imperial Library.
In the war against the Tangut ( Western Xia ) ( 1040-1044 ), he was appointed Deputy Military Representative of Shaanxi and 1041 tasked with organizing the defense. The negotiated in the year 1044 peace treaty was seen in the Song Dynasty as a success Fan Zhongyans, although high tribute of silk, silver and tea had to be done.
After the war ended, he sat down as vice-chancellor (副 宰相) for a number of reforms in different policy areas.
Reforms Fan
Fan Zhongyan led by a ten-point comprehensive reform project, which changed the tax system as well as the examination system of civil servants among others. He ushered in the "new politics during the Qingli period ", which prevailed social change against the resistance of conservative forces.
The reforms are classified today as compared to the programs implemented under Wang Anshi radical changes only as " modest improvements of already existing institutions."
One large problem Fan Zhongyan looked at the possible lack of officials with a good education. In addition to the change in the selection and promotion process, he campaigned for the opening of new schools.
Literary work
Fan Zhongyans most famous work is the " essay from the Yueyang Tower " ( Yueyang Lou Jí岳阳 楼 记). He also wrote many Ci - poems.