Han Jiang

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Han Jiang was born in 1012, the fifth year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era, in Changshe, Yingchang Prefecture. His father Han Yi rose to the positions of Assistant Grand Councilor and Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and was an important official under Emperors Zhenzong and Renzong. Han Jiang was the third son. His elder brothers were Han Gang and Han Zong, and his younger brothers were Han Yi, Han Wei, Han Zhen, Han Wei, and Han Mian. The Han family was prominent in the mid-Northern Song; several members passed the examinations and entered official service, making it a distinguished lineage.

Han Jiang was fond of learning from youth and studied composition even more diligently as he grew older, becoming well known. In the tenth month of 1037, the fourth year of the Jingyou era, Han Jiang and three of his brothers took the Kaifeng examination for officials already in service and all passed. Because their father Han Yi was then Assistant Grand Councilor, however, criticism spread at court and beyond, with suspicions of favoritism. To avoid impropriety, Han Yi memorialized Emperor Renzong asking that Han Jiang and his brothers be disqualified from the palace examination. Han Jiang thereafter received an appointment as a ritual attendant in the Imperial Ancestral Temple by virtue of his father's status and rose successively to become an adjudicator in the Court of Judicial Review. Although this episode prevented him from advancing through the normal examination route at that time, he continued his studies.

Examination Success and Early Career

In 1042, the second year of Qingli, Han Jiang finally placed third in the highest examination category, later known as the tanhua position. The same class included Yang Zhi as first place, Wang Gui as second, and Wang Anshi as fourth. On the twenty-third day of the fourth month, Han Jiang was appointed an official in the Crown Prince's Secretariat and assistant prefect of Chenzhou. In the eighth month of 1044, the fourth year of Qingli, Han Yi died in the capital. Han Jiang and his brothers buried their parents in the ancestral cemetery at Jiahe Township in Changshe County, Xuzhou, and Han Jiang then observed mourning in Xuzhou.

In early spring 1047, the seventh year of Qingli, after completing mourning, Han Jiang traveled to the capital with his brothers Han Zong, Han Yi, and Han Zhen. After an examination at the Hanlin Academy, he was appointed an assistant official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and a scholar of the Jixian Institute, while jointly administering the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. During this period he memorialized that when officials entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple to rehearse ritual ceremonies, the practice risked showing disrespect to the spirit tablets, and he proposed moving rehearsals elsewhere. Emperor Renzong accepted the proposal and ordered the Department of State Affairs to establish it as a permanent regulation. Han Jiang later became an assistant official in Kaifeng Prefecture and was granted a scarlet robe and silver fish-pouch. While in Kaifeng he handled the Leng Qing case. Leng Qing falsely claimed that his mother had once been favored in the inner palace by Emperor Renzong and had borne him. Prefectural officials considered the claim delusional and proposed exile to Ruzhou. Han Jiang argued that leaving him at large would confuse the public. A thorough investigation found that Leng Qing's mother had indeed served within the palace but had married Leng Xu only after leaving, so Leng Qing had no relationship to the imperial house. He was convicted and executed in the marketplace.

Remonstrance Offices and Provincial Appointments

In 1051, the third year of Huangyou, Han Jiang served as a judge in the Ministry of Revenue and as a doctor in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the eighth month, after famine struck Jiangnan, he was appointed investigating pacification commissioner. He implemented dozens of measures intended to benefit the people. Liao Xun, the governor of Xuanzhou, was corrupt and brutal; Han Jiang handed him over to the authorities for prosecution, to the great satisfaction of the local population. In 1052, the fourth year of Huangyou, Han Jiang, then a doctor in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, scholar in the Jixian Institute, assistant compiler of the Imperial Diary, and supervisor of the Salt and Iron accounts office, served as the New Year's envoy to the Khitan. After returning to the capital in the ninth month, he was promoted to a remonstrance post. Emperor Renzong cautioned him that the emperor himself had chosen him as a remonstrance official and that, when discussing affairs, he should not be excessively confrontational but should preserve the larger interests of the court and make his proposals practicable, lest the emperor appear to be a ruler who refused advice.

In 1053, the fifth year of Huangyou, the Daoist Zhao Qingkuang frequented Chancellor Pang Ji's residence. After being flogged and exiled by Kaifeng authorities for bribery, Zhao died on the road. Han Jiang memorialized that Pang Ji had implicitly directed Kaifeng officials to kill him, and both Pang Ji and the governor of Kaifeng were demoted. In the ninth month, the senior eunuch Wang Shouzhong was given concurrent supervision of the Palace Service. Han Jiang objected to eunuchs concurrently administering the two palace bureaus, and Emperor Renzong issued an order ending the practice. In the tenth month Pang Ji and the governor of Kaifeng were again promoted. Han Jiang strongly opposed this but failed and stayed home awaiting punishment. Emperor Renzong sent an envoy to reassure him, relieved him of his remonstrance office, and appointed him a vice director in the Ministry of Rites. In 1054, the first year of Zhihe, Han Jiang became a drafter of imperial edicts. In the fifth month of 1055 he was promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Personnel and sent to govern Heyang.

In 1056, the first year of Jiayou, the Yellow River breached its banks at Shanghu. The court accepted Li Zhongchang's proposal to open the Six-Tower River to discharge the flood, but the project worsened the disaster. Han Jiang was appointed investigating pacification commissioner for Hebei. Although the chancellor valued Li Zhongchang and others were unwilling to oppose him, Han Jiang impeached Li as having harmed the state and people and argued that his offense was unforgivable; Li was exiled to Lingnan. In the ninth month Han Jiang was appointed a scholar of the Longtu Pavilion and Fiscal Commissioner for Hebei. He declined that post and was instead sent to govern Yingzhou. Hanlin Academician Ouyang Xiu led colleagues in memorializing that "Han Jiang belongs at court; Yingzhou is not the place for him." Han Jiang therefore remained at court to supervise the remonstrance bureau, inspect criminal cases in the capital, and serve as Hanlin Academician and chief censor. In the first month of 1057, when Ouyang Xiu temporarily supervised the Ministry of Rites examination, Han Jiang, Mei Zhi, and Fan Zhen jointly assisted him. In 1060, the fifth year of Jiayou, after remonstrance officials Tang Jie, Wang Tao, Fan Shidao, and others accused Han Jiang of attacking the chancellor, Han was sent to govern Caizhou.

Under Emperor Shenzong and Two Terms as Chancellor

In 1064, the first year of Zhiping, Han Jiang served as a scholar of the Duanming Hall and governor of Chengdu Prefecture. In 1065 he was appointed an official responsible for roads and relay provisions and then acting State Finance Commissioner. He was soon transferred to acting governor of Kaifeng Prefecture and shortly afterward became State Finance Commissioner. During Emperor Yingzong's reign he was promoted to drafter in the Secretariat and Vice Minister of Rites.

In 1068, the first year of Xining, Han Qi recommended Han Jiang as possessing the capacity of a chancellor, and Emperor Shenzong appointed him deputy commissioner of military affairs. In 1069 Han Jiang supported the New Policies of Wang Anshi. Whenever Wang Anshi submitted proposals, Han Jiang repeatedly told the emperor that Wang's recommendations were numerous, appropriate, and usable and deserved close consideration. He succeeded Chen Shengzhi and joined Wang Anshi in formulating the regulations of the State Finance Commission, taking an active role in the reforms. In the fourth month of 1070, the third year of Xining, Han Jiang became Assistant Grand Councilor. In the ninth month Western Xia attacked the frontier, and both Han Jiang and Wang Anshi asked to inspect the border. Han Jiang said that the court presently depended on Wang Anshi and that he himself should go. He was appointed pacification commissioner for Shaanxi with concurrent authority over Hedong, authorized to act first and report afterward, and given blank appointment patents so that he could select officials on his own authority. In the twelfth month, while still in the army, he was appointed Participant in Determining Government Matters and grand academician of the Zhaowen Institute and opened his headquarters at Yan'an.

Han Jiang, however, had little experience in military affairs and made a series of poor decisions. He adopted the plan of Zhong E, commander of Qingjian fortress, to seize Hengshan, organized tribal troops into seven armies, and ordered the generals to follow Zhong E. He gave generous rewards to the tribal troops, provoking resentment among the Han Chinese soldiers, and even transferred horses from Han cavalry to the tribal forces, causing cavalrymen to weep while holding their horses' heads. After fortifying Luowu, he ordered construction of Funing Fort in snow, and mobilization became chaotic. Before long both positions fell to Western Xia. Han Jiang sent forces from several circuits to relieve them, and soldiers at Qingzhou mutinied. In the third month of 1071 the court was forced to withdraw and abandon Luowu. Han Jiang was removed as chancellor and sent, with his basic rank retained, to govern Dengzhou. In the ninth month he was made a scholar of the Guanwen Hall, and he submitted ten consecutive memorials asking to return home to tend the family graves. In 1072 he was transferred to Xuzhou, and in 1073 to Daming Prefecture.

In the fourth month of 1074, the seventh year of Xining, Wang Anshi resigned and Han Jiang succeeded him as chancellor, serving as Participant in Determining Government Matters. In the seventh month he acted as commissioner for the great southern-suburb sacrifice and as governor of Kaifeng Prefecture. In the tenth month a State Finance Accounting Office was established, with Han Jiang placed in charge. Although he held high position in the Secretariat-Chancellery, many affairs remained delayed and unresolved, and he repeatedly argued with Lü Huiqing. In the second month of 1075, the eighth year of Xining, Han Jiang privately urged Emperor Shenzong to recall Wang Anshi. After Wang returned to office, the two often disagreed. When an official named Liu Zuo had been dismissed for an offense, Wang Anshi wished to reappoint him, but Han Jiang refused. Their discussion before the emperor reached no conclusion. Han Jiang bowed and asked to leave office, saying that if he could not prevail even in a minor matter, how could he do so in a major one. Emperor Shenzong therefore dismissed Liu Zuo to placate Han Jiang. In the eighth month, because Han Jiang and Wang Anshi continued to disagree over policy, Han again requested dismissal and left the chancellorship. He was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Rites and grand academician of the Guanwen Hall and sent to govern Xuzhou.

Later Years and Retirement

In the second month of 1076, the ninth year of Xining, Han Jiang was transferred to Taiyuan Prefecture. In 1078, the first year of Yuanfeng, he became Hedong fiscal and military commissioner; in the eighth month he was appointed military commissioner of Jianxiong Army and governor of Dingzhou. In 1081 he was transferred to Yingchang Prefecture, then soon appointed superintendent of the Western Taiyi Palace, promoted to the rank of Grand Master for Splendid Happiness, and made a scholar of the Guanwen Hall. In the eleventh month he again received the military commission of Jianxiong Army and became governor of Henan Prefecture.

While he governed Henan Prefecture, heavy summer rains flooded between the Yi and Luo rivers, submerging the homes or fields of roughly half to three-fifths of the population. Han Jiang released grain to relieve the victims and built dikes around the entire city. Several months later another major flood arrived, but his measures spared the people from renewed disaster.

In the third month of 1085, the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Emperor Shenzong died and Emperor Zhezong succeeded him. Han Jiang was transferred to the military commission of Zhenjiang Army and enfeoffed as Duke of Kang. In the eighth month he received the rank of Grand Protector with Equal Ceremonial to the Three Offices and was appointed administrator of Daming Prefecture and Northern Capital regent. The Yellow River again broke through at Xiaowusao. The Waterways Directorate proposed digging a channel beside Daming to carry water eastward to the Golden Dike and divide the current. Han Jiang opposed the plan in three memorials, arguing that the project would inevitably fail, waste state resources, and force the inhabitants of Wei to migrate. The channel project was ultimately canceled.

In the third month of 1087, the second year of Yuanyou, Han Jiang repeatedly petitioned to retire. Emperor Zhezong refused and appointed him superintendent of the Jixi Temple. In the seventh month Han Jiang finally retired with the ranks of Minister of Works and Acting Grand Commandant. On the ninth day of the third month of the third year of Yuanyou (April 3, 1088), he died at the age of seventy-seven. He was posthumously promoted to Grand Preceptor and given the posthumous name Xiansu.

Major Activities

Political Activity

Han Jiang's political career extended from Emperor Renzong's reign through that of Emperor Zhezong, making him an important figure in the middle and later Northern Song. As a remonstrance official under Renzong, he impeached Chancellor Pang Ji for allegedly signaling Kaifeng officials to kill the Daoist Zhao Qingkuang, which led to Pang's demotion. He also opposed allowing eunuchs to concurrently supervise the Palace Service, helping establish a permanent restriction. In 1056, after the Yellow River breached, he impeached Li Zhongchang for the failed Six-Tower River project, resulting in Li's exile to Lingnan. Under Emperor Shenzong he actively supported the New Policies of Wang Anshi, regularly endorsing Wang's memorials, taking part in drafting the State Finance Commission regulations, and overseeing implementation of the Green Shoots Policy. When Wang Anshi resigned in 1074, Han succeeded him as chancellor. His own administration was less effective, however, with many matters delayed; he eventually urged the emperor privately to recall Wang. After Wang returned, their policy disagreements intensified and Han Jiang left office.

Military Activity

Military affairs were the major setback of Han Jiang's career. In 1070, when Western Xia attacked the frontier, Han volunteered to become pacification commissioner for Shaanxi. He accepted Zhong E's plan to seize Hengshan, formed tribal soldiers into seven armies, rewarded them generously, and transferred horses from Han soldiers to the tribal troops, provoking resentment. After building at Luowu he ordered the construction of Funing Fort in snow, and mobilization became disordered. Both positions soon fell to Western Xia, and soldiers in Qingzhou mutinied. Han Jiang was consequently removed as chancellor. Historical accounts describe him as inexperienced in warfare and erratic in his arrangements, treating his poor decisions as a principal cause of the failure.

Provincial Administration

Han Jiang had notable achievements in provincial government. During the Jiangnan famine of 1051 he served as investigating pacification commissioner, introduced dozens of measures for public relief, and prosecuted the corrupt official Liao Xun, pleasing the local population. In 1081, while governing Henan Prefecture, he distributed grain during a major flood and built dikes around the city, helping protect the population when flooding returned. In 1085, while administering Daming Prefecture, he opposed a Waterways Directorate proposal for a new channel, submitting three memorials until the project was canceled and thereby avoiding what he considered needless labor and expense.

Ritual Administration

Han Jiang also took an interest in strengthening governmental ritual practice. In the later Qingli years, while jointly administering the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he argued that officials rehearsing ceremonies inside the Imperial Ancestral Temple risked disrespect toward the ancestral spirit tablets and proposed moving rehearsals elsewhere. Emperor Renzong accepted the proposal and ordered the Department of State Affairs to make it a permanent regulation.

Relations with Contemporaries

Han Jiang's relationship with Wang Anshi was complex. During the Xining era he actively supported the New Policies, succeeded Wang as chancellor after Wang's resignation, then privately urged Wang's restoration after finding himself unable to govern effectively. Once Wang returned, the two repeatedly disagreed over policy. Han Jiang had a good relationship with Ouyang Xiu, who once led colleagues in petitioning to keep him at court. He was also close to Han Qi, who recommended him as having the capacity of a chancellor. By contrast, he frequently argued with Lü Huiqing while in office, contributing to delays in government business.

Personal Relations

Family

• Father: Han Yi, Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and Assistant Grand Councilor
• Elder brothers: Han Gang, Han Zong
• Younger brothers: Han Yi, Han Wei, Han Zhen, Han Wei, Han Mian
• Wife: Lady Fan (1015–1067), granddaughter of Fan Min and Fan Ling
• Son: Han Zongshi

Friends and Associates

• Ouyang Xiu: Hanlin Academician who led colleagues in petitioning that Han Jiang be retained at court
• Han Qi: Chancellor who recommended Han Jiang as possessing the capacity of a chancellor
• Wang Anshi: Member of the same examination class and a colleague in reform; the two later disagreed politically

Rulers

• Emperor Renzong of Song: Han Jiang served as a remonstrance official under him and received his warning not to argue too aggressively
• Emperor Shenzong of Song: Appointed Han Jiang chancellor and entrusted him with major responsibilities
• Emperor Zhezong of Song: Enfeoffed him as Duke of Kang; Han Jiang died after retirement during his reign

Conflicts

• Pang Ji: Chancellor whom Han Jiang accused of signaling Kaifeng authorities to kill Zhao Qingkuang
• Lü Huiqing: Colleague with whom Han Jiang repeatedly argued while serving in government
• Li Zhongchang: Impeached by Han Jiang over the failed Six-Tower River project and exiled to Lingnan

Historical Assessment

Northern Song / Contemporary

• Emperor Shenzong trusted Han Jiang considerably. In the third year of Xining he sent him a personal note of encouragement and gave him wide authority as pacification commissioner. Even after Han's removal following the defeat at Luowu, he was repeatedly reappointed, indicating continued recognition of his abilities.
• Ouyang Xiu stated that "Han Jiang belongs at court; Yingzhou is not the place for him," and led colleagues in requesting his retention, showing a high opinion of his political ability.
• The History of Song states that Han Jiang was inexperienced in military affairs and handled arrangements poorly, criticizing his military command and treating the defeat at Luowu as the consequence of his mistakes.

Southern Song and Yuan

• Southern Song historian Li Tao, in the Extended Continuation to the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, recorded Han Jiang's Shaanxi commission in detail and criticized him for trusting Zhong E's proposals despite lacking military experience, arguing that disorderly mobilization contributed to the mutiny.
• Yuan historiographers under Toqto'a, in the History of Song, described Han Jiang as having served four reigns and twice held the chancellorship, acknowledging his political prominence while also criticizing his occasional failures of command and limited military ability.

Ming and Qing

• Ming thinker Wang Fuzhi, in his Discussions on the Song, wrote that Han Jiang's talent was insufficient to accomplish major affairs but that his intentions were not improper, approving his character while questioning his capacity for high responsibility.
• Qing historian Bi Yuan, in the Continuation to the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, largely followed the History of Song in criticizing Han Jiang's military errors while recognizing his achievements in provincial administration.

Modern

• Modern scholar Deng Guangming, in Wang Anshi, Political Reformer of the Northern Song, discussed Han Jiang as a supporter of Wang Anshi's reforms but regarded him as mediocre in ability and ineffective as chancellor; his private request for Wang's return was taken as evidence of self-awareness.
• Modern scholar Qi Xia, in Wang Anshi's Reforms, described Han Jiang as loyal to the reform program but lacking the ability to manage affairs independently, and treated his errors in Shaanxi as one factor that harmed the reform movement.
• Modern scholar Shao Mei, in A Chronology of the Deeds and Writings of Han Jiang and Han Wei, systematically reconstructed Han Jiang's life and argued that, despite military mistakes, he achieved much in provincial administration and ritual institutions and should not be judged solely by one failure.