Shen Gou (1025 or 1028–1067) was a Northern Song official. His courtesy name was Wentong, and he was from Qiantang, Hangzhou (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang).
Life
Shen Gou entered government through hereditary privilege; his appointment as a jiaoshe zhai-lang is attributed variously to an ancestral or paternal shade. In the first year of the Huangyou era (1049), he passed the jinshi examination; the result is described generally as jinshi and more specifically as second place, and his submission of 《本治論》 differed from the prevailing practice of offering poetry and fu, winning Emperor Renzong’s recognition.
His early appointments included Dali Temple Evaluator, vice-prefect of Jiangning, Jixian Academy Collator, Director of the Dengwen Drum Office, and service in the Southern Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel; he was also acting financial commissioner of the Three Offices, and from 1058 to 1060 held the posts of 三司都理欠司 and 三司都憑由司. He was then summoned to assist in compiling the Daily Activities Record, became a Right Rectifier, and served as an expositor of imperial edicts.
He later governed Yuezhou and Hangzhou, and in 1062–1063 governed Yangzhou as a pacification commissioner. When Yingzong acceded, he was promoted to Direct Academician of the Longtu Palace, appointed governor of Kaifeng, and later became a Hanlin Academician and director of the Inner-Grade Selection Office.
He was noted for administrative ability; the places he governed are described as benefiting from good government, with orders enforced. His recorded career also includes 秘書省著作郎, 尚書省吏部郎中, 尚書省禮部司郎中, 右諫議大夫, 三公, 三館, and 少師. When his mother died, he left office, returned to Suzhou, built a hut at her grave after the burial, and died before completing the mourning period; he was said to have been forty at death.
Family and associations
His father was Shen Fu; his younger brother was Shen Liao (1032–1085), his grandson Shen Hui (1084–1149), and Wu Junyong (1026–1053) was his wife’s sister’s husband. He and his paternal cousin Kuo, together with his younger brother Liao, were known as the “Three Shen Masters.”
Chen Que was a fellow examination-year friend; Sun Mou had a recommendation relationship with him; Su Shi wrote his preface, Wang Anshi his epitaph and sacrificial text, and Yan Shu and Zhao Zongyan deliberated his posthumous title.
Works
His works include ten essays titled 《本治論》. His collection appears under two titles, 《西溪集》 and 《西溪文集》; 《西溪文集》 consists of ten volumes and is extant.
References
- CBDB Shen Gou (1449)
- 搜韵 沈遘 (28488)
- Wikidata Shen Gou (Q11138786)
- 法鼓佛教人名规范数据库 沈遘 (A004243)