Yin Zhu尹洙

Where the histories differ

Discrepancy in the timing of the demotion of those who defended Fan Zhongyan

• histories differThe annals record that Yin Zhu's demotion and Fan Zhongyan's demotion occurred on the same day; but the biography records that Yin Zhu was demoted only after Fan Zhongyan was demoted and the court issued an edict warning against factionalism, and after he voluntarily submitted a memorial.

  In the 'History of Song: Renzong Annals II', Yin Zhu's demotion is recorded on the same day as Fan Zhongyan's: 'On the day bingxu, Tianzhangge Daizhi Fan Zhongyan was accused of slandering high officials, and was stripped of his post and sent to Raozhou. Jixian Jiaoli Yu Jing, Guange Jiaokan Yin Zhu, and Ouyang Xiu were all stripped of their posts and sent to local posts.' However, in the 'History of Song: Biographies of Yin Zhu, Sun Fu, Xie Jiang, Jing Wen, Ye Qingchen, and Yang Cha', it is clearly recorded that Yin Zhu submitted a memorial after Fan Zhongyan was demoted, asking to share the same punishment: 'When Fan Zhongyan was demoted, an imperial edict was posted in the court, warning all officials against forming factions. Yin Zhu submitted a memorial saying: "...Now Zhongyan is punished for factionalism, and I cannot avoid punishment myself." The chancellor was angry and stripped him of his post as Jiaokan.'