Teng Yuanfa

Life

In the fifth year of the Huangyou era (1053), he passed the Presented Scholar examination, was appointed Dali pingshi, and served as tongpan of Huzhou. After a summons examination, he became an academician of the Jixian Academy, and later served as a Kaifeng Prefecture judicial officer, a Salt and Iron and Revenue Assistant Judge, and Associate Recorder of Daily Life.

At the beginning of Emperor Shenzong's reign, he advanced through the offices of drafter of imperial edicts, director of the Bureau of Remonstrance, and Vice Censor-in-Chief, and was appointed Hanlin Academician and acting prefect of Kaifeng. His arguments before the emperor were pointed and unadorned. He repeatedly stated that the new policies harmed the people; Wang Anshi disliked him, and he was sent out as prefect of Yunzhou, later serving in Ding, Qing, Yingtian, Qi, Deng, and An prefectures.

After his wife's family committed an offense, he was demoted to Chizhou and transferred among An, Jun, and Huzhou. In 1084, he was demoted to Junzhou and transferred to Huzhou.

Under Zhezong, he was transferred successively to Suzhou and Yangzhou and again served as prefect of Yunzhou; during a famine, he relieved displaced people, and he was later transferred to Zhending and Taiyuan, where his border administration was effective and he was acclaimed a celebrated commander. In 1089 he became prefect of Taiyuan. In 1090, he was appointed Longtuge Academician and prefect of Yangzhou, but died before reaching his post at the age of seventy-one.

Thought and associations

During his tenure as Vice Censor-in-Chief, Tang Shuwen impeached him and sharply enumerated his shortcomings. Teng Yuanfa studied under Fan Zhongyan and won Fan's recognition for his literary and scholarly abilities.

Su Shi wrote his epitaph, while Zhang Fangping composed his sacrificial text.

Family

His recorded lineage names his grandfather Teng Jian, great-grandfather Teng Renjun, and great-great-grandfather Teng Wengui; it extends further back to Teng Mai, Teng Xiang, Teng Gai, Teng Kang, Teng Yi, and Teng Lingcong. His father was Teng Gao and his mother Wang; his wife was Li, daughter of Li Zhongyan, and his younger brother was Teng Zhong.

His nephew was Teng Maoshi; his sons were Teng You, Teng Qi, and Teng Yu, and his sons-in-law included Zhang Shu, He Xunzhi, Wang Huanzhi, Wang Bing, and Fang Shu.

Works

His works included a twenty-juan *Wenji*, now lost, and the one-juan *Record of Sun Weimin's Southern Campaign*, which survives. Five poems are currently recorded.