Li Tao | |||||||||
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| Born | 1115 Danleng,Mei Prefecture,Song dynasty | ||||||||
| Died | 1184 (aged 68–69) Lin'an Prefecture, Song dynasty | ||||||||
| Language | Classical Chinese | ||||||||
| Spouse | Lady Yang (楊氏) | ||||||||
| Children |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 李燾 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 李焘 | ||||||||
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| Li Renfu | |||||||||
| Chinese | 李仁甫 or李仁父 | ||||||||
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| Li Zizhen | |||||||||
| Chinese | 李子真 | ||||||||
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| Xunyan (art name) | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 巽巖 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 巽岩 | ||||||||
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Li Tao (1115–1184),courtesy nameRenfu orZizhen,art nameXunyan, was aSong dynasty historian andscholar-official who devoted four decades of his life compilingXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, a monumental reference book chronicling the history of the Northern Song (960–1127).
Li Tao was a direct descendant of Li Si (李偲),Emperor Taizong of Tang's grandson who narrowly escaped from the persecution ofEmpress Wu Zetian to settle inDanleng,Mei Prefecture, in 8th-centuryTang dynasty. Li Tao's father Li Zhong (李中), a 15th-generation descendant of Li Si, passed theimperial examination in 1109 during theSong dynasty. He was well known for his knowledge in history and theclassics.[1]
Li Tao read widely from a young age, not only Confucian classics but also history, medicine, agriculture,cosmology anddivination. A believer ofI Ching, he made an effort to modify his daily conduct and learning to its teachings. But his greatest passion was in the field of history: he devoted himself to the learning ofThe Spring and Autumn Annals, looked up toSima Guang and strongly believed that history should be written as a guide forConfucian ethics. In 1132 he scored first in the local examination in Mei Prefecture, and six years later he passed the imperial examination. In between, he wrote two historical essays "The Mirror of BothHan Dynasties" (兩漢鑑) and "The Discussion about the Restoration of Righteousness" (反正議), focusing on the morality lessons of his historical subjects.[2]
Having passed the imperial examination in 1138, he was appointed Assistant Magistrate (主簿) of Huayang (華陽; in modernChengdu) inChengdu Prefecture, but he with permission postponed the appointment to pursue further studies at home, assuming office only in 1142.[2] Whenchief councilorQin Hui heard of Li's literary fame, he offered Li a position in the central government, but Li rejected the offer on the grounds that their views differ. This directly prevented him from entering the central bureaucracy for the next 20 years.[3]
At the local post, Li Tao spent his time collecting and arranging historical sources. He went home to mourn his late father in 1147 and became the Prefectural Judge (推官) ofYa Prefecture three years later. This was when he started working onXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, an annalistic work intended to followSima Guang's monumentalZizhi Tongjian. Like Sima Guang before him, he began gathering the veritable records (實錄), the reign histories (國史) and biographies for his project. In 1159, when he worked under the Sichuan Military Commissioner (四川制置使) Wang Gangzhong (王剛中), he published an article titled "Ten Comments on Li Yue and Others" (李悅等十事) which denounced Qin Hui andCai Jing.[3] A year after he was appointed Prefect (知州) ofRong Prefecture.[4]
In 1163, Li Tao finished the first 17 chapters ofXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, which covers the reign ofEmperor Taizu of Song.[5] In 1167 he was recommended by the new Sichuan Military Commissioner Wang Yingchen (汪應辰) and went to the capitalLin'an Prefecture to serve as Assistant Official (員外郎) in the Ministry of War (兵部). He was concurrently appointed Official of the Bureau of Compilator of the Reign History (國史院編修官), and his unfinishedXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian was included in thePalace Library. In 1168, he presented his unfinished book, now covering Song history from 960 to 1067 in roughly 108 chapters,[5] toEmperor Xiaozong of Song. In 1169 he became Vice Director of the Palace Library (秘書少監) and concurrently an Imperial Diarist (起居舍人). He proposed to recompile the veritable records forEmperor Huizong of Song because of their "partiality and carelessness". In 1170, he was made the Examining Editor (檢討官) of the newly established Bureau of Compilation of Veritable Records (實錄院).[4]
When Wang Yingchen suffered a political setback, Li Tao as his protégé was ousted from the central government. He served as Vice Fiscal Commissioner (轉運副使) ofJinghu North Circuit and concurrently Fiscal Governor-General ofJinghu andGuangnan Circuits. Before long he was summoned back to Lin'an and restored to his ranks and titles. Later, chief councilorYu Yunwen feared Li's opposition to his plans to attack theJin dynasty, so he made Li the Military Intendant of Tongchuan (潼川; in modern Sichuan) and the Administrator ofLu Prefecture (in modern Sichuan).[4] Thereafter Li Tao served as Vice Fiscal Commissioner ofJiangnan West Circuit.[6] By 1174 he had finished 280 chapters ofXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian.[5]
Li Tao came back to the central government for the third time in 1176, when he assumed the posts of Director of the Palace Library, Provisional Associate Compiler of the Bureau of Compilation of Reign History (國史院) and Associate Compiler of Bureau of Compilation of Veritable Records. In 1177 he finished the last part ofXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian and was honored as a Vice Minister (侍郎) of theMinistry of Rites. He was also joined in the Palace Library and the historical bureaus by his son Li Hou (李垕), who worked with him in the compilation of historical materials. But when Li Hou was impeached for an allegedly blasphemous exam question which he used on university students, Li Tao was also demoted to Administrator ofChangde Prefecture. In 1181 he was transferred to Administrator ofSuining Prefecture.[6]
In 1180, the Bureau of Compilation of Reign History finished the treatise chapters of itsSichao Guozhi (四朝國志; "The Reign History of Four Thrones"), with Li Tao authoring the chapters on geography. Much information of the other chapters was taken fromXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, and Li Tao continued to write the biography chapters. He also editedXu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian into a 980-chapter book, and wrote the summary (68 chapters), the general catalogue (5 chapters) and the compilation accounts (10 chapters). The finished book was finally presented to Emperor Xiaozong in 1183.[7]
He was summoned back to the central government the 4th time and rewarded the posts of Auxiliar-Academician (直學士) of Fuwen Pavilion (敷文閣), Lecturer-in-Waiting (侍講) ofHanlin Academy and Intendant of Youshen Temple (佑神觀). He continued to contribute toSichao Guozhi until his death in 1184 in Lin'an. (The book was finished byHong Mai in 1186.) His sons Li Hou and Li Zhi (李𡌴) were also notable historians,[7] and another son Li Bi (李壁) became Assistant Executive of theSecretariat-Chancellery duringEmperor Ningzong's reign.[8]
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