Political Practices of Wang Dan and Emperor Zhenzong– A Rethinking of the “Ancestors’ Instructions”

• Main Authors: Shen,Yu-Chun, 沈鈺君
• Other Authors: 蔣義斌
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/869ye9

碩士 === 國立臺北大學 === 歷史學系 === 107 === As a policy statement, the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions” had run through the whole of Song Dynasty, and became an endless pursuit of institutional and spiritual ideal for later generations. Zhenzong, the third emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, not only took his part in the realization, practices, and expansion of the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions” of the Zhao Song Dynasty, he had in fact utilized it even to the extent throughout his entire reign. From beginning to end (968－1022), the Zhengzong was functioning under the guidelines of the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions.” In terms of essence, the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions” were the laws, institutional system, and the founding spirit established by the first and the second emperors Taizu and Taizong. Specifically speaking, they both regarded “institutions” as an effective means to the goal of great peace. While Zhenzong, being a monarch who “followed the established rules,” adopted “attaining great peace,” as an approach to the realization of the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions.” Furthermore, he proposed practical measures for attaining great peace in the “System of General Amnesty Edict Upon Ascending the Throne” (即位赦天下制), which was later institutionalized to outline and enrich its content. In examining the assistance Wang Dan had rendered to emperor Zhenzong in realizing progressively the goal of “attaining great peace” during his 12-year service as prime minister, and was honored by later generations as “the grand counselor of great peace,” this paper aims to highlight the political aspiration and paragon seeking of the commons. Based on their consensus on the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions,” the monarch and subject joint-handedly created the Xian Ping (998–1003) and Jing De (1004–1007) governance, which eventually led to a peaceful reign and the “Fengshan Sacrificial Ceremony” -- the imperial proclamation of great peace at Mount Tai. Hopefully, by viewing from such perspective, this paper may offer a glimpse of the political ideas and practices in their co-construction of the “Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions.”