Fan Zhi facts for kids

Fan Zhi (born around 911 – died November 5, 964) was an important Chinese official. He was a writer, historian, lawyer, and politician. He worked for many different emperors across six dynasties in China. This was during a time called the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and the start of the Song dynasty.

Fan Zhi was a chancellor (a very high-ranking government official, like a prime minister) for the Later Zhou dynasty from 951 to 960. He then became the first chancellor of the Song dynasty from 960 until shortly before he died in 964. He believed strongly in following laws and helped convince rulers to rely more on civil (non-military) government. This was a big deal because the military was very powerful back then. Fan Zhi came from an important family called the Fàn family.

Fan Zhi's Early Life and Talents

Fan Zhi was born around 911. His father, Fàn Shouyu (范守遇), worked for the Later Liang dynasty. Historians believe Fan Zhi was part of a new group of powerful families. These families were slowly replacing the older, very exclusive noble families from the Tang dynasty.

Fan Zhi was very smart from a young age. When he was just eight years old, he could write essays. By the time he was 12, he had already mastered and started teaching the Book of Documents. This was a very long and important classic book.

Starting His Career in Government

The Later Liang dynasty ended in 926, and the Later Tang dynasty took over. In 933, Fan Zhi passed the imperial examination. This was a very difficult test that people had to pass to get government jobs. The person in charge of the test, He Ning, liked Fan Zhi's writing so much that he gave him the 13th place. This was the same rank He Ning had gotten when he took the test years before.

Fan Zhi started as a judge in a region called Zhongwu Commandery. Later, he became a subprefect (a local official) in Fengqiu County. He held this job until the Later Tang dynasty was overthrown in 936.

Working for Later Jin and Later Han

After the Later Tang, the Later Jin dynasty began. Fan Zhi's writings caught the attention of the chancellor, Sang Weihan. Sang Weihan helped Fan Zhi get a job as an imperial investigating censor. This was a lower-level job, but it was a start. As Sang Weihan moved to different jobs, Fan Zhi often followed him.

By 943, Fan Zhi was promoted to a higher role in the Department of Hospitality. He also worked at the Institute of History. A year later, he became a Hanlin Academician. This meant he was a scholar who advised the emperor. He also worked in the Ministry of Finance and helped draft important government papers.

Later, a general named Guo Wei was impressed by Fan Zhi. Guo Wei would later start the Later Han dynasty. He made Fan Zhi a vice-commissioner of military affairs.

Becoming Chancellor of Later Zhou

Guo Wei was very impressed by the official orders he received while fighting rebellions. He asked who wrote them and was told "Fan Zhi." Guo Wei then said that Fan Zhi was "Definitely fit to be chancellor."

In early 951, Guo Wei rebelled against the Later Han emperor. His army quickly took over the capital city, Kaifeng. During the confusion, Guo Wei remembered Fan Zhi. He found Fan Zhi, who was living like a regular person. Guo Wei even visited him in heavy snow and gave Fan Zhi his own robe to keep warm. Fan Zhi then wrote important orders for Guo Wei. This helped Guo Wei set up the new Later Zhou dynasty. After Guo Wei became emperor, Fan Zhi was made chancellor.

Fan Zhi and the Start of the Song Dynasty

One day in 960, Fan Zhi was eating at his home. Suddenly, General Zhao Kuangyin burst in. Zhao Kuangyin was supposed to be fighting an invasion, but he had returned to the capital. Zhao pretended to be crying and said his soldiers had forced him to become emperor.

Fan Zhi was shocked and didn't know what to do. Then, Zhao's assistant, Luo Yangui, held up his sword and threatened Fan Zhi. This made Fan Zhi realize that Zhao's actions were just an act. Fan Zhi then went down the stairs and bowed to Zhao. Zhao Kuangyin then became the first emperor of the Song dynasty. Fan Zhi continued to serve as his chancellor.