Song Qi

Life

His father is variously named Song Qi (宋玘) and Song Zhun (宋準); Song Wei (宋位) is identified as an agnatic uncle, and Song Zhun also appears as a clan younger cousin. His elder brother was Song Xiang (宋庠); the brothers were jointly known as the Two Songs and as the Greater and Lesser Songs. His sons included Song Junguo (宋俊國), Song Guangguo (宋廣國), Song Yanguo (宋彥國), Song Huiguo (宋惠國), Song Fuguo (宋輔國), Song Fengguo (宋奉國), and Song Baoguo (宋保國). His descendants included the grandsons Song Songnian (宋松年), Song Yannian (宋延年), and Song Yinian (宋頤年), the granddaughter’s husband Wang Zhifang (王直方), the great-grandson Song Jia (宋价), and the later-line descendants Song Gangzhong (宋剛仲) and Song Wenzhong (宋文仲).

In the second year of Emperor Renzong’s Tiansheng era (1024), Song Qi and his brother obtained the Presented Scholar degree together; the Ministry of Rites initially placed Qi first. Empress Dowager Zhangxian, unwilling to place a younger brother above his elder, instead ranked Song Xiang first and Song Qi tenth. After receiving his first appointment, he became military judge of Fuzhou; on Sun Shi’s recommendation, he was transferred to assistant at the Dali Temple and lecturer at the Imperial College. He later served as Taichang boshi and as a co-director of the Court of State Ceremonial, tested the new music, and took part in compiling Guangye ji.

His dated appointments included Director of the Du-zhi Section of the Three Fiscal Agencies from 1037 to 1038, a commissioner in the Salt and Iron Office of the Three Fiscal Agencies from 1039 to 1040, governor of Shouzhou from 1041 to 1042, and Superintendent of the Offices in the Capital from 1042 to 1047. In 1043 he served in the Three Archives and as drafter of imperial edicts; in 1051 he was an Institutional Drafter in the Menxia Sheng, and he governed Yizhou from 1057 to 1058. During this career he also served as a Hanlin Academician and as a director of the Historiography Office, working with Ouyang Xiu on the New History of the Tang and writing biographies.

His governorships are given in two forms: Xu, Bo, Chengde, Ding, and Yi in one list, and Shou, Chen, Bo, Ding, Yi, and Zheng in another. He was also appointed Commissioner of the Three Fiscal Agencies. After the New History of the Tang was completed, he was promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat, then to Minister of Works, and appointed Executive Academician of the Hanlin Academy. Other offices included Grand Remonstrator, Academician of the Duanming Hall, Reader-in-waiting of the Hanlin Academy, Qijulang, Hanlin Academician, and directors of the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel. He died in the sixth year of the Jiayou era (1061), aged sixty-four, and received the posthumous name Jingwen.

Writings and literary reputation

His works included the Song Jingwen Collected Works, in 150 juan; three surviving juan of Notes; and Yibu Fangwu lüeji. Zhao Wanli compiled a one-juan edition of Song Jingwen gong changdu ju. Other titles include Song Jingwen biji, Song Jingwen zashuo, Xizhou weigao, Dale tu, and Yibu fangwu lüe; the authorship of some of these titles remains uncertain. A ci lyric in Yulouchun contains the line “紅杏枝頭春意鬧,” and this led to his being known as the “Red-Apricot Minister.”