Sima Guang was born in November of the third year of Tianxi in Song Zhenzong (10 19). At that time, his father Sima Chi was the magistrate of Guangshan County in Gwangju, so he was named "Guang". Sima Guang's family has been an official for generations, and his father Sima Chi later became an official to the Ministry of War, a doctor and a celestial pavilion, and has always enjoyed a high reputation for being honest and kind.
Sima Guang's ancestors and cousins were both scholars. Most of them are eager to learn, and they love poetry. Their family is a civilized family with cultural traditions and knowledge. He received a good education from an early age. Sima Guang grew up in such a noble family and scholarly family, and grew up under the strict training of his father, who was honest and clean.
When Sima Guang was 6 years old, his father taught him to read, and he often told stories of promising and studious young people to encourage him to make progress, which gradually made him form the habit of studying hard. When he started reading, he didn't understand the meaning of the book, and he couldn't remember it quickly. Often his companions are all familiar with the heart, but he doesn't know it yet, so he redoubled his efforts, didn't participate in game activities, and studied hard alone until he knew it by heart. He knows the value of time and doesn't sleep. He used a log as a pillow, which was called "police pillow". Every night, as long as the "police pillow" rolls, he immediately gets up and starts reading. At the age of 7, I began to learn Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals. Because he is diligent in thinking, he showed his intelligence very early.
In the early years of Baoyuan in Song Renzong, Sima Guang, who was only 20 years old, won the first place in the Jinshi examination and achieved great success. But he is not complacent, but determined to make contributions with benevolence rather than fame.
In the fifth year of Li Qing (1045), 27-year-old Sima Guang was transferred to Beijing as an official, and was appointed as a judge of Dali Temple to supplement imperial academy's outspoken remarks, and soon moved to Dali Temple. After traveling for three years (105 1), Pang Ji, an old friend of his father and then prime minister, recommended him as the director of the pavilion. Collating in the pavilion is the editing and proofreading of books and classics, which is a good job for Sima Guang, who loves classics, and provides convenience for him to borrow books from the secret pavilion of the imperial court, which is very beneficial for him to study classics. During this period, he wrote the Interpretation of China Ancient Filial Piety Scriptures, and collectively asked the library staff to revise and publish the books of Xunzi and Yangzi, so as not to let the classics of the sages disappear. In Tongzhi Taichang Temple Department, he was also very serious and responsible, maintaining the feudal etiquette system.
In the fifth year (1053), Sima Guang, on the recommendation of Pang Ji, moved to the palace for success, moved to the history museum for review, and since then served as a historian. During this period, he devoted himself to the study of history, explored the way of governing the country by sages, and made great achievements in connection with the political reality at that time. After the first year of He Zhi (1054), Song Renzong made friends with famous bureaucrats and scholars at that time, such as Ouyang Xiu and Wang Anshi. They are like-minded, so that Sima Guang has gained a lot of lessons in his academic and political life. At this time, Pang Ji, who was recommended for many times, lost his appearance and became Yunzhou (now Dongping County, Shandong Province). Sima Guang was also transferred from the imperial court, became Pang Ji's assistant, became Xue Dian of Yunzhou, and was promoted to the state general. The following winter, he went to Bingzhou (now Taiyuan) as a judge with Pang Ji.
At that time, it was nearly a hundred years since the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty, and there were many crises. Sima Guang has a strong Confucian thought, and he participated in politics with a positive attitude of joining the WTO in an attempt to save the country. Born in honest and frank, he can also adhere to principles in political activities and actively implement decision-making strategies that are beneficial to the country. In the struggle of recommending sages and reprimanding traitors, he also dared to violate the dragon's face, preferring to die rather than remonstrate, arguing with the emperor in court and ignoring his personal safety.
At the beginning of Injong's illness, the heir to the throne had not yet been determined. The ministers kept their mouths shut for fear that mentioning the succession would violate the taboo of the sick emperor. Sima Guang mentioned this matter three times when he was a general in Bing before, and then told Renzong face to face. Renzong didn't punish him, but he still didn't send a letter. Sima Guang once again wrote: "The advice I gave you in the past should be implemented immediately. Now there is no sound, no movement. Some villain must have said that your majesty is in the prime of life. Why did you do such an unlucky thing at once? " Those little people have no vision. They just want to have a close prince as their heir when they are in a hurry. There are also disasters such as' setting the country old' and' the son of heaven'. Injong was greatly moved after reading it, and soon named Zhao Shu as the Prince.
Yingzong Zhao Shu is the son of Song Taizong's great-grandson Wang Pu Zhao Yunrang, not Injong's own son. Sima Guang expected that after he succeeded to the throne, he would definitely pursue his biological parents. Later, Yingzong really asked ministers to discuss what kind of courtesy should be given to his biological father, but no one dared to speak. Sima Guang wrote a letter saying: "The son is the heir, so don't be afraid of personal relatives. King Pu should be called Bo Huang by convention. " This opinion is different from that of the minister in power. Six people in Yushitai argued and were all dismissed. Sima Guang interceded for them, but without permission, he asked to be demoted with them. In his political career, Sima Guang always adhered to this principle and was called "the minister of the country". Later, Song Shenzong, who succeeded to the throne, said with emotion: "If people like Sima Guang are always by my side, I can make no mistakes."
Sima Guang's idea of governing the country is based on talent, courtesy, benevolence and trust as the fundamental measures to protect the country. He once said that there are three keys to cultivating the mind: benevolence, wisdom and soldiers; There are also three creeds in governing the country: making good use of people, rewarding meritorious service and punishing guilty. Sima Guang's thought was complete and had certain positive significance at that time.
Sima Guang has always been simple and thrifty, and doesn't like extravagant and flashy things. After entering the Jinshi examination, the emperor gave a wedding banquet. He was the only one who didn't wear red flowers at the party. His companion said to him, "This is a gift from the holy family. You can't go against your orders. " Only then did he insert a flower. It is said that after Sima Guang's wife died, the family had no money for the funeral. His son Sima Kang and his relatives advocated borrowing some money to make the funeral more ostentatious, but Sima Guang disagreed, and educated his son that thrift should be the most valuable thing in life, so don't borrow money easily. Finally, he pawned his own land and arranged a funeral in a hurry. This is the story of Sima Guang's classic wife burial, which is circulated among the people. In addition, Sima Guang is especially filial to his parents. When he was appointed Feng, his father was an official in Hangzhou, so he asked for a new judge in Suzhou so that he could be closer to his father and support his parents.
Writing history is also a way for Sima Guang to govern the country politically. 107 1 year, Wang Anshi became prime minister. In the case of different political views and difficulties in cooperation, Sima Guang requested to stay at the National History Desk in Xijing and retreat to Luoyang to study history, hoping to extract the experience of governing the country from the ups and downs of history by compiling historical books. The History Book edited by him and the Historical Records edited by Sima Qian in the Western Han Dynasty are two pearls in the history of historiography, which are still respected by the world today. The significance of Zi Tong Zhi Jian has gone far beyond Sima Guang's original intention of writing history to govern the country. It not only provides reference for rulers, but also provides rich knowledge for the whole society. Wang Mingcheng, a scholar in Qing Dynasty, commented: "This book is indispensable between heaven and earth, and it is also a must-read book for scholars."
Sima Guang wrote many works in his life, including Zi Tong Zhi Jian, Tong Jian Li, 80 volumes, Ji Gu Lu, 20 volumes, and Guan Bai Gong Qing Table of this Dynasty, 6 volumes. In addition, he has research and writings in literature, Confucian classics, philosophy and even medicine. His main representative works are Hanlin Shihua, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi, Shuowen Jiezi and so on.
Sima Guang can be described as "doing his best and dying". By the time Zhezong ascended the throne and Empress Dowager Tai came to power, Sima Guang was already a veteran of the four dynasties who had experienced Renzong, Yingzong and Zongshen, and he was quite prestigious. Empress Dowager Miyako allowed Sima Guang to act. At that time, Sima Guang was in a high position with infinite weight. Even the envoys sent by Liao and Xixia had to ask about Sima Guang's physical life. Their monarch said to the generals guarding the border: "Sima Guang was the prime minister of the Song Dynasty. Don't make trouble easily and screw up the border."
He handles all kinds of affairs with illness and works day and night. In the first year of Yuan You (1086), Sima Guang died at the age of 68. Upon hearing the news, Empress Dowager Tai personally went to offer condolences to Zhezong, and ratified Sima Guang as a surname and Lord Wen, and posthumous title as "Zheng Wen", and gave the tablet "loyalty, sincerity and virtue". At that time, "Shi Jingren went on strike to hang himself, dressed and drank, and cried in the alley to pass by, covering tens of millions." When the coffin was sent to Xiaxian, the funeral ceremony was "people cry for the public, as if they were crying for their private relatives." Tens of thousands of people will be buried in all directions. " As for the portrait commemoration, it is even more "the world is everywhere, and every family hangs an image, and the rice must have a wish." It is rare in the history of China for a prime minister to receive such extensive and sincere condolences from the people.