Recently, many people have been asking about the story of Cai Jing, and many have also said, who exactly is Cai Jing? What kind of story does he have? Many people say that they don’t know if this person is a good person, so what kind of person was Cai Jing in real history? This question is also quite interesting. Let’s analyze and uncover it in detail together.
1. Introduction to Cai Jing
Cai Jing was the longest serving prime minister in the history of feudal dynasties in China. During his tenure, he made many commendable contributions to the social, economic, cultural, and educational development of the late Northern Song Dynasty. He was once hailed as the “Prime Minister of Taiping” before his death, but was later cursed as the “leader of the six bandits”. Jing was an elder statesman of the Three Dynasties, who had been appointed as a prime minister five times. He was ambitious in reform and dared to act impartially. He vigorously promoted Wang Anshi’s new laws, reformed officials, developed the economy, suppressed the powerful, and did a lot of good deeds for the people of the Great Song Dynasty. He established Anji Fang residential nursing homes and Luoze Garden. Anji Fang is used to provide relief for those who are unable to receive medical treatment due to illness. It was initially established by various counties and later implemented in counties. The residential nursing home is designated for widows, widowers, and lonely individuals. It is decreed that the property of each household be given to them, regardless of the number of months. Beggars will be given rice and beans, and if the amount is insufficient, they will receive money from the Changping Bureau. Louze Garden is a land designated by the government specifically for burying poor people who are unable to hold funerals. He also includes these social welfare measures in the assessment of local officials’ performance and supervises their implementation. He further improved the selection of educational materials during the Wang Anshi period and vigorously developed schools in education. The historical saying of “Chongning Xingxue” established schools in various states and counties, implementing the “Three Houses Law”. County students could be admitted to state schools, while state students could contribute to Taixue, forming a nationwide network of schools. Economically, he successfully carried out reforms in tea and salt production, which brought the prosperity of the Song Dynasty to its peak.
2. Cai Jing’s Achievements
Cai Jing ranked ninth in the imperial examination in the third year of the Xining reign (1070 AD). From the fourth to the ninth year of the Xining reign, he served as a training officer for the Shuzhou Regiment and a county magistrate in Qiantang. At this time, Wang Anshi was implementing new laws in Jianjiang Yin County (Ningbo), and Cai Jing was an active executor and promoter of Wang Anshi’s “Xining Reform”. In the eighth year of the Xining reign (1075), Wang Anshi implemented the “Water Conservancy Law” for five years, and the reform of agricultural water conservancy in various parts of the country was at its peak. The Beijing government had a strong sense of serving the people and hometown, and repeatedly requested the government to raise funds for the construction of Mulan Pond due to the “cross flow of thoughts and ideas”. The completion of Mulan Pond was the most complete ancient large-scale water conservancy project in China to prevent floods, irrigate grain fields, and benefit the people. It was also an important historical witness left by the Cai Jing regime of the Northern Song Dynasty to implement reforms and strengthen the country. Only then did it have the reputation and praise of “Hushan Lanshui is eternal, Qingli Xining is the first person” in history.
Cai Jing is still exempt from military service, and other new laws such as the importation of green seedlings have been recognized and implemented accordingly. According to historical records, the economic prosperity brought about by Cai Jing’s improved new laws at that time had surpassed that of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, each character in the painting ‘Along the River during Qingming Festival’ has a comfortable expression, which vividly illustrates and displays the harmony and prosperity of the society at that time.
Cai Jing is not only a political figure, but also an outstanding artist with exceptional artistic talent. He is known as a talented scholar and has achieved great success in many fields of literature and art such as calligraphy, poetry, prose, and opera. He is also an influential calligrapher in the history of Chinese calligraphy. There is a popular saying in history that the so-called “Four Masters of the Song Dynasty” in the calligraphy world were Su (Dongbo), Huang (Tingjian), Mi (Fu), and Cai (Jing). History records that the calligraphy of Jing was “vigorous and powerful, with a clear and composed brushwork.” During the Shaosheng period, there was no one in the world who could write better than Duke Lu (Cai Jing). “Large characters are unparalleled in ancient and modern times, and there are few of them.” “Broken paper and ink, people compete for treasures. Thus, it became a law of its own and was revered by the sea. This is a high evaluation of Cai Jing’s calligraphy achievements.
In the seventh year of Xuanhe (1125), the Jin army invaded the south, and Song Weizong abdicated to Zhao Huan as Emperor Qinzong. At this time, the capital was nearly eighty years old and weak, so he had no choice but to flee south. Emperor Qinzong used this as a pretext
He was exiled from Beijing to Shaozhou, and later to Danzhou (now Hainan Island), where he died of illness while passing through Tanzhou, Hunan (now Changsha). A few months before his death, he wrote a poem called “Xijiang Yue”, which read: “At the beginning of the 80th year, there was no home three thousand miles away. He wandered alone to the ends of the earth, gazing at the divine capital and shedding tears. The Golden Hall once paid respects to the prime minister five times, and the Jade Hall announced hemp ten times, reminiscing about the past prosperity. At this point, it became an old saying. My sons died, were captured, and fled. It was truly a country and a family that was destroyed.
3. The ending of Cai Jing
After Cai Jing’s death, no one praised his merits. As a result, most of the historical records recording his achievements were deliberately tampered with and artificially destroyed, and even falsely accused him. In addition, later literati and scholars attempted to set the capital in eternal danger by fabricating and processing literary works, altering Cai Jing’s historical appearance beyond recognition. For example, folk authors such as “Water Margin” and “The Plum in the Golden Vase” arbitrarily accused Cai Jing through processing and modification. The author of “Water Margin” created a representative figure named Liang Zhongshu, who plundered the wealth of the people, and raised 100000 gold, silver, and jewelry to celebrate his father-in-law Cai Taishi’s birthday. Isn’t it absurd? Cai Jing had no daughter in her life, how could she have a son-in-law. Even Su Huangmi from the “Song Four Families” and Cai Jing from Cai in the literary world at that time had people give gifts to Yi and Cai Xiang.
The enthronement of Emperor Qinzong coincided with the large-scale southward invasion of the Jin army. As the highest ruler at that time, Emperor Qinzong did not gather wise and capable individuals to conspire for resistance. On the contrary, in order to stabilize his feudal autocratic rule, he created internal strife and punished Cai Jing, who had contributed to the Northern Song Dynasty, as the “leader of the six thieves”. If he really wanted to be punished, there was no excuse for it. Looking at the historical records of the Song Dynasty, there is no evidence to trace the evil deeds of traitors, corrupt officials, and oppressors in the capital. There is also no evidence of forming cliques for personal gain or framing loyal and righteous individuals. Therefore, what is the basis for the “thieves” and “traitors” in the capital.
To evaluate the merits and demerits of a ruler, the standard of right and wrong should be based on whether they have worked for the benefit of the general public and made contributions to the country and the nation during their tenure. History is history, and the true history cannot be buried or altered. Although the history of Cai Jing has been over 900 years, with incomplete and maliciously edited historical materials, we can still explore the truth from the biographical materials left by many officials who were attacked by the current dynasty at that time. During Cai Jing’s 20 years as prime minister, he served as an upright and honest official, bringing unprecedented social prosperity to the people of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, regarding Cai Jing’s claim of being a “treacherous minister”, those who have expressed their grievances can use poetry as evidence:
Who said Jing Gong is a sycophant? San Chao Yuan Lao Wu Kuang Jun.
To uphold the integrity of officials and promote the prosperity of thousands of benefits, while suppressing the powerful and benefiting the people.
Improve and innovate the application of rain and dew, and build water conservancy facilities to connect Longjin.
The reversal of right and wrong and the addition of false accusations are truly inhumane.
4. Cai Jingping opposes
Thirty seven years after Cai Jing was exiled and starved to death, Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Gou, issued an edict that Cai Jing’s remains should be buried in Fengting, his hometown, according to the Prime Minister and treated with courtesy by the Duke. He also pardoned the descendants who were executed by him that year. Five years later, Cai Jing’s remains returned to his hometown, with fallen leaves returning to their roots and buried in peace. This can be said to be the restoration of Cai Jing’s political reputation as a “vindication”. Cai Jing is no longer a “treacherous minister”. Emperor Gaozong of Song’s major move was included in the “Continuation of Aid in Government Comprehensive Mirror” and is widely known and passed down to future generations. It can be seen that Cai Jing’s rebellion was not a groundless path. However, until now, the ancient tomb of Cai Jing, which was at the level of a prime minister and a state official, would still be a barren hill and a wild tomb if it were not rebuilt by righteous people. His descendants have not been seen sweeping tombs to worship their ancestors, only the thick soil and green grass, blue sky and white clouds, and sunshine and rain that have been applied to the lonely tomb, are a little warm. It’s really the reason why human emotions are cold and warm, and the world is cold and hot! On the contrary, for Cai Xiang’s historical achievements, some of our relatives vigorously promote and praise him, and rebuild his golden body, build the Zhonghui Temple and Spirit Garden, etc. We sincerely admire their righteous deeds, but we also have a sense of favoritism towards them. Moreover, there are still some descendants of Cai Jing who, in order to avoid being labeled as treacherous officials, do not acknowledge their ancestors and turn to others, which is truly pitiful. They ignored Cai Jing with cold eyes, which is not unfair. Of course, we are not opposed to praising Cai Xiang’s achievements, but we sincerely hope that our relatives can comprehensively verify the historical facts of Cai Jing, speak with facts, and restore Cai Jing’s innocence. Let’s call for the deeds of Cai Jing, a historical figure of the Northern Song Dynasty! to shout! To restore the true historical face of Cai Jing.
