Yan Shu (, 991 – 1055) was a Chinese calligrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

. He was given the

posthumous title A posthumous name is an honorary name given mostly to the notable dead in East Asian culture. It is predominantly practiced in East Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and Thailand. Reflecting on the person's accomplishments or ...

of Yuanxian () as well as bestowed the title of Duke of Linzi. Yan Shu was born in modern-day

Linchuan District Linchuan District () is one of two districts of the city of Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Before A.D. 762, the administration region located in Chi gang, since then, the administration region moved to western bank of Lianfa ...

Fuzhou, Jiangxi Fuzhou (,), also known as Gandong (), is a prefecture-level city in the northeastern part of Jiangxi province, People's Republic of China. Fuzhou is located to the south of the provincial capital Nanchang, bordered in the east by Fujian Province ...

. He was considered to be a child prodigy and at the age of 14, passed the imperial examinations. During his lifetime, Yan Shu had composed over 10,000 Ci poems, but most have been lost. Of the remaining, the Pearl Jade (), of which 136 poems remain, is considered to be one of his most notable works. Other major works in existence today include parts of 《晏元獻遺文》 and 《類要》. Together with

Ouyang Xiu Ouyang Xiu (; 1007 – 1072 CE), courtesy name Yongshu, also known by his art names Zuiweng () and Liu Yi Jushi (), was a Chinese historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, and politician of the Song dynasty. He was a renowned writer a ...

, they were referred to as "Yan-Ou". He was a scholar of the

Hanlin Academy The Hanlin Academy was an academic and administrative institution of higher learning founded in the 8th century Tang China by Emperor Xuanzong in Chang'an. Membership in the academy was confined to an elite group of scholars, who performed sec ...

, one of the initiators of the

Qingli Reforms The Qingli Reforms or Qingli New Deal (), or Qingli New Policies, also called Minor Reforms (小改革), took place in China’s Song dynasty under the leadership of Fan Zhongyan and Ouyang Xiu. Taking place from 1043 to 1045 and so called for fa ...

and served as prime minister to Emperor Renzong.

Early life

Yan Shu was able to compose poems by the age of five and when he was fourteen, he passed the imperial examinations with ease after competing with over a thousand other scholars across the kingdom. During the Ci poem essay composition part of the examination, he informed the examiner that he had previously already worked the problem being asked, and if whether there were any other problems he can do instead.

Emperor Zhenzong Emperor Zhenzong of Song (23 December 968 – 23 March 1022), personal name Zhao Heng, was the third emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 997 to his death in 1022. His personal name was originally Zhao Dechang, but was change ...

praised him and bestowed upon him the title of Tong Jin Shi (). The then prime minister Kou Zhun () expressed that Yan Shu was an outsider from which Emperor Zong replied: “Was not

Zhang Jiuling Zhang Jiuling () (678 or 673–740), courtesy name Zishou (), nickname Bowu (), formally Count Wenxian of Shixing (), was a prominent minister, noted poet and scholar of the Tang dynasty, serving as chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. ...

also an outsider at the time?”

Beginnings of Officialdom

Starting from 1008, Yan Shu served as an assistant to a ''Guanglushi'' official and was tasked to edit imperial decrees. He later became an assistant to the

Ministry of Ceremonies (Han dynasty) The Ministry of Ceremonies () was one of the nine ministries of the Chinese Han dynasty. The Minister of Ceremonies (), also known as Grand Master of Ceremonies, was the chief official in charge of religious rites, rituals, prayers, and the maint ...

and promoted to become a keeper of the imperial seal. After ascension to becoming an entry-level official () of the

Hu Bu The Ministry or Board of Revenue was one of the Six Ministries under the Department of State Affairs in imperial China. Name The term "Ministry" or "Board of Revenue" is an English gloss of the department's purview. It is also similarly translate ...

(Ministry of Revenue), he became a close confidant to the crown prince. He also became a scholar of the

.Yanshen Song, Zhiting Li and Tongce Wang, edited by Yuliang Sun, History of the Twenty Six Dynasties - Song Dynasty, Northern Women and Children Publishing Group, 1996, page 138

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yan, Shu 991 births 1055 deaths 11th-century Chinese calligraphers 11th-century Chinese poets Artists from Fuzhou Poets from Jiangxi Politicians from Fuzhou, Jiangxi Song dynasty calligraphers Song dynasty essayists Song dynasty poets Song dynasty politicians from Jiangxi