The Study Of The Shis' Family From Siming During South-Song Dynasty

During Song Dynasty, there were only three families who had three primeministers---they were the Lvs from Donglai, the Hans from Zhending, and the Shisfrom Siming. The former twos reached their peaks in North-Song Dynasty whereasonly the Shis' family, who influenced on politics and culture during the most time ofSouth-Song Dynasty. The first step, from Shi Hao became the prime minister in 1167to his death in 1190. Shi Hao started with a Jinshi(successful candidate in the highestimperial examinations) qualification and then managed to be the teacher of theEmperor Xiaozong, depending on it he promoted to be the prime minister. The wholefamily began to thrive. They were admired "three prime ministers in one family, fouremperors supported by two ones". The second step, from the year Shi Miyuan killedHan Tuozhou to his death in 1233, during which Shi Miyuan controlled the centralgovernment for twenty-six years because of his contribution in killing Han Tuozhouand supporting political services to the Emperor Lizong, leading the sixth generationof his family to the greatest thriving. Unfortunately, Shi Miyuan died and the familybegan to fall down. The third step, after Shi Miyuan's death to Shi Song's lay-off fromthe position of the prime minister. During this period, the family was squeezed andbadly treated, even with Shi Song's coming backing to be the prime minister. Thanksto the Emperor Lizong's appreciation for the family's supporting, they could maintaintheir previous status. But at last, the family fell down sharply, together with ShiSong's failure in political campaigns and the unharmony with the family.