Abstract

The reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty （1022-1063） represents a pivotal historical phase during which significant changes in thought，literature，and politics took place，leading to the distinct characteristics of the Song era.During this period，the revival of Confucianism，literary innovations，and political shifts intertwined，with the Qingli庆历scholar-officials，a new type of elite group during the Northern Song，playing a central role.Hence，to deeply understand the diverse facets and novelties of the scholar-official culture during Renzong's reign，it is imperative to pay close attention to the intellectual and spiritual temperament of these key figures.

The Qingli scholar-officials primarily emerged as a political group，sharing a set of political subcultures distinct from the mainstream.This encompassed the value idea，behavioral patterns，and a discourse system rooted in Confucian idealism.Their most notable political achievement was not necessarily the Qingli Reform，but the introduction and promotion of this new ideology in the world of power，pushing the political culture of the Song Dynasty from being monolithic to diverse.Despite their marginalized status and stigmatization，the Qingli scholar-officials managed to break through and bring about a cultural shift.Their resilience stemmed from their own initiative.Specifically，it referred to the “actions” and “words” that was persistent and corresponded to each other.Through various political actions，such as administrative discussions，border defense，central decision-making，and local governance，they practiced Confucian idealism，consistently opposed veteran officials like Lü Yijian吕夷简，and initiated reforms once in power.By emphasizing the practicality of their “Yingjun英俊”（noble talent） concept，they showcased an image of upright，proactive，and united “Junzi君子”.Crucially，they recognized the efficacy and potential of speech as a form of social action.Relying on critiques and speeches inside and outside the system，and various literary writings of public and private attributes，they resisted authority，participated in debates，elucidated ideas，propagated opinions，guided public opinion，successfully defended themselves，critiqued traditional norms and mainstream perspectives，thus reestablishing the legitimacy of Confucian idealism，which served as the primary driving force behind the cultural transformation of the Northern Song.

The political careers of the Qingli scholar-officials can be categorized into three phases.The first phase，during the early reign of Emperor Renzong （1022-1045），witnessed their initiation of various ideological reform movements through political and ideological disputes.The underlying tension between the Qingli and the veteran scholar-officials lay in their structural opposition in political philosophy.The“Laocheng老成”（veterans） possessed a diverse yet incohesive knowledge structure and were adherents of the cautious and prudent political culture that had persisted since the beginning of the Song Dynasty.They viewed Confucianism and politics as separate entities.As for the politics，they advocated governance based on law and restraint and believed the government should not do everything.In contrast，the Qingli scholar-officials integrated ancient principles into all aspects of life，revered Confucian ideals，and championed proactive governance and reforms.The two groups examined each other from their respective perspectives，leading to widespread misunderstandings.They both regarded the other side as disruptors or impediments to a rightful order，deeming their exclusion of the other as just.The Fan-Lü factional conflict can be understood as the manifestation of these scholars’ alignments and confrontations based on specific ideas.Both sides disparaged the character and actions of their opponents while justifying their own political maneuvers，tearing apart the whole speech field.Often，the Qingli scholar-officials acknowledged accusations directed at them，legitimizing previously stigmatized actions like factionalism，reform，candid speech，and the pursuit of fame，promoting the multi-dimensional shift in political culture through the transformation of political rhetoric.

Amidst political struggles，the Qingli scholar-officials were committed to elevating the power of public opinion，bringing about a shift in the scholars’ views on discourse.The public discourse space during Emperor Renzong's reign wasn’t always liberal；its boundaries shifted over time.After Emperor Renzong began his personal rule，he generally encouraged open discourse，leading to a gradual expansion of the public discourse space，which peaked during the Qingli Reform.Qingli officials carved out spaces for public opinion，hoping to create a conducive environment for reform.After the failure of the reform，Emperor Renzong，siding with the “Laocheng”，curbed “private opinions私说”，shrinking the discourse space，yet it retained its dynamism.Within this fluctuating environment，three landmark events occurred：the debate between Fan Zhongyan范仲淹 and Yan Shu晏殊，the Jingyou景祐 factional conflict，and the “Zoudiyu Case奏邸狱”.Fan Zhongyan's letter to Yan Shu is a foundational document elucidating the Qingli officials’ views on discourse.Through defense，counter-attacks，and avoidance of slander，they emphasized the logic of acting according to principles，the responsibility of speaking for the nation，and the posture of being cautious both in speech and conduct.This led to the renewed appreciation of speaking candidly as a form of loyalty.The Jingyou factional conflict signaled the rise of political opinion writing during Emperor Renzong's reign.Qingli officials valued public opinion and utilized various channels to voice their perspectives，establishing an independent mechanism for political judgment through writing.The “Zoudiyu Case” represented a crude intervention in a specific scholar culture by the authorities at a critical moment，reflecting Emperor Renzong and the “Laocheng”'s suppression of Qingli officials for their unorthodox discourse and deeds.

During the early part of Renzong's reign，Qingli officials sought to combat the negative reputation perspectives that had persisted since the early Song Dynasty.They initiated a movement to put a positive spin on “pursuing fame近名”，emphasizing the societal functions of reputation to encourage virtue and deter vice，integrating it into mainstream political culture.This paralleled the emergence of “reputation politics” in the mid-Northern Song period.With the independent development of a reputation system and the vitality of public opinion，a group of Confucian idealists was endorsed by scholars as charismatic leaders.Relying on public esteem，they were often able to enter the decision-making circles at critical moments，pushing for political reforms or shifts in political directions.Letters from scholars which admonished the recipient by praise and the Qingli Shengde Song庆历圣德颂are typical texts in the context of reputation politics.The former showed the intense morality，idealism，public opinion consciousness and public concept of the new scholar group in the Northern Song Dynasty as a moral community，and reflected the important position and dual attributes of reputation.In the context of reputation politics，epistolary writing was the primary way for those below to transfer pressure upwards.Attaching importance to reputation while also worrying about responsibility became the premise of decision-making and writing for those in power.However，the Qingli Shengde Song adopted the mode of singing together，which was the performance of reputation politics projected on the text.This text echoed Shi Jie's石介 epistolary writing in the same period，intended to exert public pressure on the emperors and ministers，urging them to bring peace and tranquility to the country.

The second phase spans the mid-reign of Emperor Renzong （1038-1055），where Qingli officials confronted internal and external crises，as well as the successes and failures of the Reform，further implementing，reflecting on and advocating their “Yingjun” ideals.First is the war in the west.The Song-Xia war not only triggered border defense crises but also exacerbated internal conflicts within the Northern Song society.The rapidly changing political landscape impacted both the literary realm and the political arena，leading to a surge in frontier poetry and offering opportunities for political and cultural transformation.Figures like Fan Zhongyan，Han Qi韩琦，Mei Yaochen梅尧臣，and Su Shunqin苏舜钦 either directly participated in or deeply contemplated the western frontier issues.Their works showcased distinct personalities，each revolving around specific roles，combining intellectual depth with literary expression.Fan and Han，as the pioneering “Scholar-Type General”，expressed their experiences and insights of “serving military matters as Confucians” through “Yuegu Hall阅古堂” themed writings.Meanwhile，Mei and Su portrayed themselves as military aides and warriors in their frontier poems.Different role playing or role imagination determines the appearance of the text，and also relates to the individual's cultural personality.Fan and Han advocated all-round talents，Mei respected profound Confucian，while Su admired brave warriors.These self-representations with the same goal but varied appearance reflected the Qingli officials’ contemplation on frontier issues and their explorations and decisions between the civil and military domains.

Examining the themes of exile and administration，the decade following the failure of the reforms marked an ebb in the influence of the Qingli scholar-officials as the“Laocheng” dominated the central government while the Qingli officials were relegated to provincial posts.Despite political setbacks，the Qingli scholar-officials remained undeterred.On the one hand，they harbored a belief in the potential of their local assignments，enjoying their roles and staying true to their principles.Collective writings on “Yin Zhu's尹洙 death” exemplify their efforts to rejuvenate Confucian views on life and death，reflecting their internal exploration of Confucian principles amidst adversities.On the other hand，they commissioned various public and private buildings in their jurisdictions as symbols refuge.Group writings，centered around the literary genre of Ji记，flourished，capturing the intricate interplay of thought，politics，and literature，making it a significant cultural phenomenon of the post-reform era.Notable works like Memorial to Yueyang Tower岳阳楼记，Memorial to Fengle Pavilion丰乐亭记，and Memorial to Zuiweng Pavilion醉翁亭记 reveal that，inspired by Mencius，the Qingli scholar-officials widely implemented the cultural practice of “collective joy” during their local tenures，continuing the ideal of virtuous administration from the reform period and creating a new paradigm for local official writings. Memorial to Yueyang Tower profoundly accentuates the consciousness of societal concern to its utmost.This extreme principle that emphasis on altruism resonates with Han Yu's韩愈 ethos of “a heart concerned for the world”.The discourses of Fan Zhongyan and Han Yu reflect the self-awareness and political aspirations of the scholar-officials who emerged through the imperial examination system，signifying a shift and descent in the sense of public responsibility.Meanwhile，the Qingli scholar-officials critically examined the utilitarian and mundane aspects of Han Yu's concerns，highlighting an even purer commitment to collective welfare.

In the final phase，spanning from the later period of Emperor Renzong's reign to the early years of Emperor Shenzong （1045-1075），the Qingli scholar-officials gradually overcame the aftermath of the failed reforms，returning to the central court and holding significant offices during the JiaYou嘉祐 and ZhiPing治平 eras.However，their political views leaned conservative，attracting increasing criticism from younger officials，culminating in the “Pu Debate濮议” and Wang Anshi's Reform王安石变法.There were two reasons for this type of intergenerational conflict.First，there was a political reflection and ideological shift among the Qingli scholar-officials.In the letter to Ye Qingchen叶清臣，Fan Zhongyan reflected on the failure of the Reform，criticizing Qingli officials for prioritizing personal reputation，which aroused Emperor Renzong's suspicions.He mentioned that a gentleman's role in the court should ensure the security of the state.This pragmatic tone represented a departure from his long-held political values，signifying a conservative turn among the Qingli officials.Han Qi，Fu Bi富弼，and Ouyang Xiu欧阳修，each in their ways，echoed Fan Zhongyan's reflections.Ouyang Xiu，while writing the epitaph for Fan Zhongyan，emphasized the baselessness of the “factionalism” claims，aligning with this perspective.Second，there was the growth and independence of younger officials.Influenced by the Qingli scholar-officials，the new generation broadly embraced the “Yingjun” concept，acknowledging Confucian idealism.The political interactions between Ouyang Xiu and the young Zeng Gong曾巩 reflected the spiritual alignment and cultural transmission between these two generations of scholar-officials.As younger officials entered the political arena，they persistently called for reforms and criticized figures like Fu Bi，Han Qi，and Ouyang Xiu for their negativeness and incompetence.The expectations to enact reforms and the pressures from external public opinion increasingly weighed on Ouyang Xiu，leading to his unique interrogation-style writings in his later years.

Key Words：Qingli scholar-officials；political culture；literature of scholar-officials；Confucianism；legitimation