Qin Hui

Life

His father was Qin Minxue, his grandfather Qin Zhongyan, and his great-grandfather Qin Zhigu; his mother is variously named Qiang (強氏) or Wang (王氏). His elder brother Qin Zi died in 1146. His wife was Wang (王氏), and his adopted heir Qin Xi (秦熺) died in 1161.

He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of the Zhenghe era (1115) and also passed the Examination in Literary Talent and Learning (詞學兼茂科). He began as an instructor in Mizhou and later served as a senior instructor at the Imperial University. During the Jingkang era he was appointed Palace Censor (殿中侍御史), then Left Remonstrator (左司諫) and Chief Censor (御史中丞); he memorialized the Jin commander against enthroning Zhang Bangchang and opposed territorial cessions and a cessation of hostilities.

In the second year of the Jingkang era, he was taken north with Huizong and Qinzong to Jin and later gained the confidence of Talan (撻懶), the Jin ruler's brother. In the fourth year of the Jianyan era (1130) he returned to Song; accounts differ as to whether he was released by Jin or escaped, and one account says that he claimed to have killed the guards and seized a boat to make his way back. After returning, he became Minister of Rites and adopted the cause of peace negotiations.

In the first year of the Shaoxing era (1131), he was appointed canzhi zhengshi (參知政事) in the second month and, in the eighth month, Right Vice Grand Councilor (右僕射), Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事), concurrently Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs (知樞密院事). He was dismissed as chancellor in the second year of Shaoxing and appointed to the Jiangzhou Taiping Palace post (提舉江州太平觀); he returned to the council in the eighth year, became Left Vice Grand Councilor in the eleventh, and Grand Preceptor in the twelfth. Accounts reckon his time directing the government as either eighteen or nineteen years.

While in power, he pressed for peace, marginalized officials who favored war, built a private faction, demoted or exiled Zhang Jun and Zhao Ding, removed the military commands of Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, and Zhang Jun, and had Yue Fei killed; he also repeatedly initiated major prosecutions. Together with Emperor Gaozong, he upheld peace negotiations, opposed efforts to recover lost territory, sent gifts and tribute to Jin and acknowledged its suzerainty, and concluded the Shaoxing settlement. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Qin and Duke of Wei and enjoyed Gaozong's confidence.

Posthumous titles

He died in the twenty-fifth year of Shaoxing (1155), aged sixty-six, and was posthumously granted the title Prince of Shen and the posthumous title Zhongxian. In the second year of the Kaixi era under Emperor Ningzong, his princely title was revoked; the posthumous title was changed to 謬醜, also written 謬丑, while 謬狠 is recorded as another form.

Works

He is listed as the author of 《紹興重修六曹寺監庫務通用敕令格式》 in fifty-four juan and 《紹興重修在京通用敕令格式申明》 in fifty-six juan.