A Research On The Upright Imperial Counselor Tian-xi In The Early Song Dynasty

Tian-xi, a celebrated imperial counselor in the early days of the Northern song dynasty, was born in the county of Hong-ya (洪雅县) in Si-chuan in the year 940, when Hong-ya was a part of Later Shu. During the former part of his life, Tian-xi lived in Si-chuan, and then he came to Chang-an where his ancestors had ever lived. After recruitment by examination, he became an official of Song Dynasty, and that was the beginning of his changeful official career. For about two thirds of the time spent in the time of Emperor Song Tai-zong, Tian-xi worked in Townships as Department Magistrate, Assistant Department Magistrate or something. But he didn' t enjoy that. He was always inclined to serve in Academies and Institutes, far away from the routine affairs.What made Tian-xi most appreciated by Emperor Song Taizong were his glorification of the millenarianism, faithfully obeying the tradition, and his effort to boost civilization. Yet he was most celebrated by other people for his honest and frank to expostulate with the emperors. The Emperor Song Zhen-zong thought a lot of it, and put him in an important position. At the age of 64, Tian-xi served as the Grand Master of Remonstrance, the most position of censors, however, he died 7 months later.This thesis fairly systematically researches Tian-xi, covering his family, conduct, moral character and political thoughts. In this paper, I make reference to some research results of others, amended and supplemented something, and expressed my own views.