Shi Hao

Life

Shi Hao was the grandson of Shi Zhao. His father was Shi Shizhong and his mother was Hong; his paternal uncle was Shi Mu, his younger brother Shi Juan, and his wife Bei. His sons were Shi Mida, Shi Mizheng, Shi Miyuan, and Shi Mijian; a daughter was married to Li Youzhi.

In the fifteenth year of Emperor Gaozong’s Shaoxing era (1145), he passed the jinshi examination. He was appointed to Yuyao, then served as a professor at Wenzhou, Taixue zheng, a doctor of the Directorate of State Education, and a Palace Secretariat proofreader concurrently professor to the two princely estates; in Shaoxing 31 he became Zongzheng shaoqing.

In Shaoxing 32, Prince Jian, Zhao Shen, was made crown prince, and Shi Hao was appointed Qiju lang concurrently as tutor to the Heir Apparent. After Zhao Shen acceded as Emperor Xiaozong, Shi first became Zhongshu shereng, then a Hanlin academician and drafter of imperial edicts, before being appointed vice councillor.

In the first year of the Longxing era (1163), he became Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, concurrently Chief Councillor and Commissioner of the Privy Council. As chancellor, he first argued that Zhao Ding and Li Guang were innocent and sought redress for Yue Fei; he also opposed Zhang Jun’s northern expedition and advocated holding the Yangtze line.

He was soon impeached by the censor Wang Shipeng and removed to govern Shaoxing. In the fourth year of the Qiandao era (1168), he governed Shaoxing; from Qiandao 8 through 10 (1172–1174), he served in Fuzhou.

In Chunxi 4 (1177), he was summoned as an Academician for Palace Lectures, and in the fifth year he again became Right Chancellor; he retired in the tenth year (1183). Accounts differ on his departure from the chancellorship: one says that he sought to leave after disagreeing with Xiaozong and was made Junior Guardian and Superintendent of Liquan Abbey, while another says that he sought to leave over a matter and retired as Grand Guardian.

His honors also included Grand Preceptor, Military Governor of Baoning Army, Academician of the Guanwendian, and Duke of Wei; some tenures are undated. He died in the fifth year of the Shaoxi era (1194), aged eighty-nine; accounts variously say that he was posthumously made Prince of Yue or Prince of Kuaiji, and that his posthumous name was Wenhui, later changed to Zhongding.

Associations

Shi Hao was a friend of Gu Chengzhong and recommended Lu Jiuyuan, Cui Dunli, Xue Shusi, Ye Shi, Shi Douwen, and Yang Jian. He also recommended Du Bao, who thereby obtained office as commandant of Chong’an. Lou Yue wrote a preface to one of his books and his epitaph.

Works

His writings include 《尚書講義》 (Shangshu jiangyi), 《周官講義》 (Zhouguan jiangyi), 《論語口義》 (Lunyu kouyi), and 《鄮峰真隱漫錄》 (Moufeng zhenyin manlu). The last was in fifty juan, while 《尚書講義》 is listed as extant.

《尚書講義》 is also listed in versions of twenty and twenty-two juan, and 《周官講義》 in a fourteen-juan version; Shi Hao compiled 《兩鈔摘腴》, and 《會稽先賢祠傳贊》 is also listed among the associated titles.