Between Profession of Confucianism and Career of Officialdom: A Life History of Sun Yingshi

This project explores the profile and personal history of Sun Yingshi, one of Shi-literati in Southern Song Dynasty, discussing the process of promoting political affairs and the meaning of developmental Neo-Confucianism. Being born into a poor family thus moving up to government service by the imperial examination, Sun Yingshi was invited to Donghu Academy by Shi Hao for instructing juniors of Shi family. Then, he followed some illustrious philosophic scholars of Neo-Confucianism including Lu Jiuyuan, Lü Zuqian and Zhu xi, and also closely contacted with their students; He therefore was subsequently affected by a political contest resulted in his advancement of officialdom. Hence Sun had a quite wide-experienced life. While investigating into Sun Yingshi’s family background, the changing interest of being an adherent, his interpersonal relationship network and the unsuccessful career as an official, we are able to survey the present research by portraying the life story of a mid-class administrative official in Song Dynasty. I have studied for the preliminary issues of Sun Yingshi, including the academic judgments for sun, the edition of writings and the relationship with his teachers and friends; as well as an essay has been published. On the next stage, I am planning to combine these foregoing points and to discuss Sun’s efforts and praxis for pursuing ideal virtues of Neo-Confucianism, from the straitened circumstances of family during his early life to the process of being a disciple and an official. Moreover, the issue will be emphasized Sun Yingshi’s inseparable social network and distressful political reality, presenting the influence of “jianju” (a system of recommendation for officials) in imperial court of Southern Song Dynasty. By way of combing out the developmental context of the political and academic-cliqued competition, it is possible to extend the existing outlook on the social-political culture in Song Dynasty.

Project ID:PE10301-0177
External Project ID:NSC102-2410-H182-005-MY2