Shen Lun ( 909 – 16 November 987, courtesy name Shunyi), known as Shen Yilun before 976, was a scholar-official who successively served the

Later Han Later Han (後漢) may refer to two dynastic states in imperial China: *Eastern Han (25–220), the second period of the Han dynasty, also called Later Han * Later Han (947–951), a dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period See al ...

, Later Zhou and Song dynasties. He was one of the Song dynasty grand councilors between 973 and 982. Emperor Zhenzong's Consort Shen was his granddaughter.

During the Five Dynasties

Early in his career, Shen Yilun studied the "Three Rites" (''

Rites of Zhou The ''Rites of Zhou'' (), originally known as "Officers of Zhou" () is a work on bureaucracy and organizational theory. It was renamed by Liu Xin to differentiate it from a chapter in the ''Book of History'' by the same name. To replace a lost ...

'', '' Book of Rites'', and '' Etiquette and Ceremonial'') and taught these classics between Luoyang and Sōng Prefecture to support himself. During

, he joined the staff of Bai Wenke (), the prefect of

Shǎn Prefecture Shanzhou or Shan Prefecture () was a '' zhou'' (prefecture) in imperial China, centering on modern Shan County, Henan, China. It was created in 487 by the Northern Wei and existed (intermittently) until 1913 after the establishment of the Republ ...

. In 954 during the Later Zhou, Shen Yilun was referred by a friend and became a retainer to general Zhao Kuangyin, then a military governor administering Hua Prefecture,

Xǔ Prefecture Xuzhou or Xu Prefecture () was a '' zhou'' (prefecture) in imperial China centering on modern Xuchang in Henan, China. It existed (intermittently) from 581 to 1913. Geography The administrative region of Xuzhou in the Tang dynasty is in central Hen ...

, and

Sòng Prefecture Songzhou or Song Prefecture () was a '' zhou'' (prefecture) in imperial China centering on modern Shangqiu, Henan, China. It existed (intermittently) from 596 to 1006. The Song dynasty was named after this prefecture because its founder Emperor ...

. Shen was able to manage the finances of all 3 prefectures, and had an incorruptible reputation.

During the Song dynasty

In February 960, Zhao Kuangyin usurped the Later Zhou throne and founded the Song dynasty. At that time, Shen Yilun was a mere surveillance circuit judge stationed in Sòng Prefecture, but now that his former boss had become the emperor, he was summoned to the capital (and his hometown) Kaifeng and made director of the Census Bureau. In early 962, returning from a diplomatic trip to Song's tributary state

Wuyue Wuyue (; ), 907–978, was an independent coastal kingdom founded during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960) of Chinese history. It was ruled by the Haiyan Qian clan (海盐钱氏), whose family name remains widespread in t ...

, Shen offered more than 10 recommendations to the new emperor, all of which were accepted. One of recommendations was loaning out grain from military granaries to relieve the mass starvation Shen witnessed in Si and

Yang Prefecture Yangzhou or Yang Prefecture (揚州) was a '' zhou'' (prefecture) in imperial China, centering on modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China. It existed (intermittently) from 589 until 1912. In the 10th century, during Wu and Southern Tang it was known as J ...

s. Shen argued that peasants would repay the loan come harvest time in the autumn. However, another minister soon objected: :"If starvation continues, where would the repayment come from? And who would be accountable for that?" To which Shen responded: :"A nation should govern humanely. This will automatically ensure peace, prosperity and a ripe harvest." Zhao Kuangyin was pleased with the reply and ordered government officials in Huainan Circuit to dispense grain to starved people. In 962, Shen was made a supervising secretary. The following spring he was made fiscal commissioner of Shaanxi Circuit. When the Song dynasty

invaded An invasion is a military offensive in which large numbers of combatants of one geopolitical entity aggressively enter territory owned by another such entity, generally with the objective of either: conquering; liberating or re-establishing con ...

the Later Shu in 964, Shen was in charge of the military finances.

Notes and references

* * 900s births 987 deaths Later Zhou politicians Later Han (Five Dynasties) politicians Song dynasty politicians from Henan Song dynasty chancellors People from Taikang County Song dynasty Buddhists Politicians from Zhoukou {{China-hist-stub