Zhu Song (1097–1143) was a Song-dynasty official and thinker. His courtesy name was Qiaonian and his sobriquet Weizhai. His native place is variously given as Wuyuan in Huizhou (also written Shezhou Wuyuan, now Wuyuan, Jiangxi) and Chong'an; Wuyuan is also listed as an earlier residence. Zhu Xi was his son and the only surviving son. His father was Zhu Sen, his grandfather Zhu Xun, his younger brother Zhu Gao, his father-in-law Zhu Que, his wife Lady Zhu, and his son-in-law Liu Zixiang.
Life
In the eighth year of the Zhenghe era under Emperor Huizong (1118), Zhu Song received an Upper-She qualification, was appointed county commandant of Zhenghe in Jianzhou, transferred to the same office in Youxi, Nanjianzhou, and supervised Shijing Town in Quanzhou; his examination background is also broadly classified as that of a jinshi.
In Shaoxing 4 (1134), on the recommendation of Hu Shijiang and others, he was appointed Corrector of Texts in the Palace Library and successively promoted to Chengyilang. In Shaoxing 7 he became a Palace Library Collator; in Shaoxing 8 he was promoted to Assistant in the Bureau of Writers and Outer Gentleman in the Revenue Office, concurrently served as a Collator in the Historiographical Institute, and held posts in the Offices of Merit and the Ministry of Personnel. Other titles in his career include tax supervisor, censor, Left Gentleman for Discussion, Superior Light Chariot Commandant, and Palace Attendant of the Hall of the Palace.
In Shaoxing 10 (1140), when Qin Hui pursued peace negotiations, Zhu Song and his colleagues submitted a memorial forcefully opposing them, bringing him into conflict with Qin Hui. He was appointed prefect of Raozhou but did not take up the post and died; an alternative account says that he requested leave from active service and was made Director of the Chongdao Abbey in Taizhou. He died in Shaoxing 13 (1143), aged forty-seven.
Scholarship and associations
Zhu Song lectured tirelessly and maintained friendships of moral principle with Hu Xian and Liu Mianzhi. Scholars came to him in succession, and he taught according to their abilities; he had also studied under Xiao Yi and Yang Shi. Near death, he entrusted his affairs and instructed Zhu Xi to study with Liu Mianzhi; he also entrusted Zhu Xi to Liu Ziyu, who, together with his younger brother Liu Zihui, taught Zhu Xi. Zhu Xi asked about the sequence of entering the Way.
Works and posthumous writings
He wrote the twelve-juan Weizhai Collection (《韋齋集》), which survives; a ten-juan Outer Collection is lost. His works also include 《韋齋詩鈔》 and 《韋齋集補鈔》. Zhu Xi wrote the Huangkao Zhu Gong xingzhuang (《皇考朱公行狀》) for him and also composed his tomb inscription and colophons; Zhou Bida composed his spirit-way stele.
References
- CBDB Zhu Song (11904)
- 搜韵 朱松 (27377)
- Wikidata Zhu Song (Q11094247)