Fan Zuyu范祖禹

Where the histories differ

Discrepancies in the records regarding the reasons for Fan Zuyu's demotion and the historical sources he used in compiling the Veritable Records

• histories differRegarding the reasons for Fan Zuyu's punishment and demotion, one account says it was due to Zhang Shangying's fierce attacks, while another says it was because Zhang Dun prosecuted him for admonishing the hiring of a wet nurse in the palace, and the Benji records different charges for the demotion.

  In the History of Song, Biography of Hou Meng, attached biography of Zhang Shangying, it is recorded that Zhang Shangying, due to accumulated resentment, fiercely attacked the Yuanyou officials, leading to the demotion of Fan Zuyu and others: 'Shangying, harboring resentment that the Yuanyou ministers did not employ him, fiercely attacked them, submitting a memorial saying... And then Su Shi, Fan Zuyu, Sun Sheng, Han Chuan, and others were successively punished.' But in the History of Song, Biographies of Treacherous Officials, Part One, biography of Zhang Dun, it is recorded that Zhang Dun prosecuted him for admonishing the hiring of a wet nurse in the palace: 'Then he prosecuted Liu Anshi and Fan Zuyu for admonishing the hiring of a wet nurse in the palace.' And in the History of Song, Annals of Emperor Zhezong, Part Two, there are separate records of Fan Zuyu being demoted for 'matters of history' and 'fabricating slanderous accusations.'

• histories differRegarding the historical sources used in compiling the Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong, the Biography of Xu Ji states that Fan Zuyu relied exclusively on Sima Guang's family collection of notes, while the Biography of the Confucian Scholars states that it was his son Fan Chong who compiled and categorized Sima Guang's 'Recorded Sayings.'

  In the History of Song, Biographies of Fu Ji, Shen Ji, Xiao Fu, Xu Ji, Zhang Ruming, Huang Baoguang, Shi Gongbi, Zhang Keke, Mao Zhu, Hong Yansheng, Zhong Fu, Tao Jiefu, Mao Jian, Wang Zudao, Zhang Zhuang, Zhao Yu, in the biography of Xu Ji, it is said: 'Fan Zuyu and others relied exclusively on Sima Guang's family collection of notes.' But in the History of Song, Biographies of the Confucian Scholars, Part Five, biography of Fan Chong, it is recorded that Fan Zuyu 'fully wrote down Wang Anshi's faults,' and it is clearly stated that it was his son Fan Chong who compiled and categorized Sima Guang's notes: 'Chong... compiled and categorized Sima Guang's Recorded Sayings in ten volumes and presented them to the emperor.'