Title: A Small Figure and the Big History behind:A Forgot Military Officer in North Song Dynasty
Abstract: GUO Jing-xiu is an ordinary military officer in North Song Dynasty,and could but be counted a small figure in history,who could find no name in official records.However,his grave tomb tablet that we could see today contains more than 6 thousand Chinese characters,a length that could match the few of the most famous figures in the official history in North Song.Nevertheless,researchers so far have paid no attention to it.A careful reading of the scripture reveals that GUO's life is well characterized with legend.His childhood ideal is to become a civil officer via.imperial competitive examination,but his official career starts with military test,and he is a military officer most of his later life.He holds office in frontier institution of North Song Dynasty.In fact,he starts from the lowest rank and becomes a regional state administrative officer who is chiefly responsible for civil administration.Therefore,compared with those who have great influence in the Chinese history,he is apparently not given much talent,and the most commendable achievement is the successful administration of Jie Zhou(Wudu in Gansu Province),and converts the local Qiang minority people to the Song Kingdom.Yet his whole life is epitome of the middle and lower ranked officers who involve in frontier causes in North Song.From this small figure could one see clearly the complicated relations of North Song with its surrounding minority nationality powers,particularly with Tu Bo and West Xia Dynasty,and the profound influence of Song's national policy of thinking much of the civilian affairs but belittling the military,all of which are practically big history,however.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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