Zhao Ruyu

Life

He passed the jinshi examination and held both local and central offices. In 1175 he served as prefect of Taizhou; from 1182 to 1184 he governed Fuzhou and also held the titles Chaofeng lang and Compiler of the Jiying Hall.

From 1185 to 1189 he governed Chengdu Prefecture and served as Military Commissioner for Sichuan; around this period he also held the titles Palace Attendant of the Fu Wen Pavilion and Direct Academician of the Fu Wen Pavilion. From 1190 to 1191 he again governed Fuzhou and served as military prefect of Nanping, while also holding the titles Zhongfeng dafu and Academician of the Fu Wen Pavilion. His central appointments included Associate Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Chancellor, Right Chancellor, and Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall.

After Emperor Xiaozong died, Emperor Guangzong was too ill to conduct the mourning rites. Zhao helped settle the succession in favor of the Prince of Jia, asked Empress Dowager Wu of the Xiansheng Palace to rule from behind a curtain, and sent Han Tuozhou to present the proposal; after Ningzong took the throne, he recalled scholar-officials serving outside the capital and was promoted to Right Chancellor. After Han Tuozhou seized power, Zhao was removed as chancellor. Lü Zujian submitted a memorial in his defense and was placed at Ruizhou; Li Xiang, Yang Jian, and others submitted successive memorials on Zhao’s behalf and were also repudiated.

During the Qingyuan era, Zhao was banished to Yongzhou, also called Lingling, and died while passing through Hengyang. Han also stripped Zhu Xi of office and had Zhao Ruyu included among fifty-nine people registered under “false learning”; the prohibition was relaxed during the Jiatai era, when the banished were restored to office. After Zhao’s banishment, Yang Hongzhong and other students submitted a memorial without receiving a reply; Lin Zhonglin and others were sent to Biling under military registration after memorializing in Zhao’s defense.

Scholarship and associations

Zhao was a Neo-Confucian scholar. While serving in Sichuan, he appointed Yang Fang to take charge of military staff writings; Yang Fang had visited Zhu Xi and personally received his teaching. Zhao recommended Wang Wenshi, Lin Yizhi, Qian Wen, Shen Bing, Deng Mingshi, Jiang Teli, Fan Hanguang, and Ouyang Guangzu. He also valued Xu Yi, You Zhonghong, and Zhao Lun.

Family

Zhao’s seventeenth-generation ancestor was Zhao Yuanzu. His father was Zhao Shanying; his agnatic cousin was Zhao Rujing, his in-law Lu Yande, and his wife Xu. His sons included his eldest, Zhao Chongxian (1160–1219), his fifth son, Zhao Chongdu (1175–1230), his sixth son, Zhao Chongmo, and his seventh son, Zhao Chongyao; his sons-in-law included Wang Zi and Liu Tian, the third son-in-law. His grandsons included Zhao Bikui (born in 1205), Zhao Bidao, and Zhao Biyuan; his great-grandson Zhao Liangchun died in 1274.