| Since Si-ma Qian wrote the Biography of Xunli,the word Xunli has gradually become a common model and representative of the officials in the minds of scholars and citizens.It has been valued not only by historians but also by the rulers of all dynasties.Under the background of the emperor co-governed with scholar-bureaucrat in Song Dynasty,a group of capable men emerged,who were loyal to the state and benevolent to the people.Biography of Xunli in The History of Song Dynasty records the twelve outstanding officials in the Northern Song Dynasty selected by the historiographer of the Yuan Dynasty.They mostly entered the government through imperial examinations,which concentrated in the early and middle period of the Northern Song Dynasty.And it was closely related to the policy of benevolence to people,strictly managing officials,and gradually improving the system of selecting officials.Although the number of these twelve people is relatively small,they undoubtedly display the qualities of the excellent officials of the Northern Song Dynasty who can be called by Xunli.They followed the principles self-cultivation,and then governed the people with benevolence.They were exemplary models of loyalty to monarch and their duties.They had made great achievements in urging agricultural production,relieving famine and disaster,adjudication of cases and so on,because they could comply with national policies and regulations while conforming to the people’s conditions and adapting to local conditions.Xunli,the model of Feudalistic Officials in Northern Song Dynasty,always aimed at benefiting the country and the people,displaying unique personality charm and administrative ability.As a part of the ruling class,they had promoted the beneficial,abolished the harmful and implemented benevolence,effectively adjusted the relationship between the government and the people,in order to stabilize dominant order.In shaping the image of the Xunli,the scholars in the Song and Yuan Dynasties not only followed the writing models such as "Locusts Leaving the Region",but also paid special attention to the story of Xunli in Han and Tang Dynasties.In the compilation process of the Song Dynasty historians,the historiographer in Yuan Dynasty showed their preference for "morality" and abandonment of "utility".Affected by this preference and the political struggles of the Northern Song Dynasty,some of them appeared different images in the Song and Yuan literature.As the product of the value judgment of the world,Xunli presented slightly different images in different historical contexts,influenced by temporary socio-political factors. |
