Liu Hang: Prime Minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, how powerful was he? Below, the History Encyclopedia editor will bring you a detailed article introduction.
In the eighth year of the Tian Sheng reign of the Northern Song Dynasty, 1030 AD, two prime ministers were selected through the imperial examination in Jizhou. One is Emperor Wenzong Ouyang Xiu, and the other is Liu Hang. When Ouyang Xiu passed the imperial examination, he was from Shaxi Village, Mingde Township, Jishui County, Jizhou. When Liu Hang passed the second place exam, he was from Yongxin County, Jizhou.
Shaxi Village, Mingde Township, Jishui County, Jizhou in ancient times, is now Shaxi Town, Yongfeng County, Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province. The ancient Yongxin County in Jizhou is now Yongxin County in Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province. In this imperial examination, two prime ministers were selected from the top ranked candidates in Ji’an, Jiangxi, shining like two stars.
Liu Hang’s achievements are second place, ranking second in the imperial examination in the eighth year of the Tian Sheng era, while Ouyang Xiu ranked fourteenth in the same year. In terms of fame and literary status, Ouyang Xiu is much more powerful than Liu Hang. From the perspective of imperial examination achievements, Liu Hang was more powerful than Ouyang Xiu.
Ouyang Xiu’s career was not very smooth. In his early years, Ouyang Xiu offended conservative factions such as Wang Gongchen by supporting Fan Zhongyan’s Qingli New Policy. The conservative faction falsely accused Ouyang Xiu of having an affair with his niece, resulting in Ouyang Xiu being demoted and released. Ouyang Xiu did not support Wang Anshi’s reform in his later years and actively applied for external release.
Ouyang Xiu’s career was full of ups and downs. Although he had served as a political advisor, he did not have a long time as a prime minister. Ouyang Xiu’s ability to become a prime minister is still attributed to the glory of Han Yu.
Emperor Renzong of Song believed that it was a pity that Han Yu, who was so famous, had never been a prime minister. Emperor Renzong of Song did not want Ouyang Xiu to have the same regrets as Han Yu, so he appointed Ouyang Xiu as a political counselor.
Liu Hang’s career was much smoother than Ouyang Xiu’s. When Ouyang Xiu was unlucky, Liu Hang served as a political counselor. Ouyang Xiu’s greatest official position was to participate in political affairs. Liu Hang was promoted to the position of Pingzhangshi under the Tongzhongshu Sect after serving as a political counselor.
Although he is a prime minister, he holds the position of deputy prime minister, while he is the chief prime minister under the same position as the deputy chief minister of the Imperial Secretariat. In terms of position, Liu Hang is half a level higher than Ouyang Xiu. Liu Hang served as Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister for 7 years, much longer than Ouyang Xiu’s tenure as Deputy Prime Minister.
In 1054 AD, the unlucky Ouyang Xiu was falsely accused and was once again demoted. At a critical moment, Liu Hang, a fellow villager from Ji’an, gave Ouyang Xiu a hand. Liu Hang, who was then the prime minister, suggested to Emperor Renzong of Song to keep Ouyang Xiu in the capital to compile the “New Book of Tang”.
The evaluation of Liu Hang in historical books is that he was appointed as a jinshi and promoted to the position of prime minister, with Hang as the leader of Jijun. Liu Hang was skilled in governing the country and his contributions to the nation in politics far exceeded those of Ouyang Xiu.
Ouyang Xiu is not outstanding in politics, and his fame lies in his writing. Liu Hang was skilled in official affairs and lacked literary skills, making him far inferior to Ouyang Xiu in literature.
Liu Hang and Ouyang Xiu, the twin stars of Ji’an, one excels in governance and the other excels in literature and ink. They are both the pride of Ji’an. My article today focuses on career prospects. In this sense, Liu Hang, a fellow villager from Yongxin, is slightly more capable than Ouyang Xiu, a fellow villager from Yongfeng.
