The Study On Du-Fan

Du Fan is an important historical figure in the Li period of the Nan Song Dynasty. Beingthe prime minister due to the status of Neo-Confucian, He is extraordinarily different. Hisofficial life lasted thirty years from Ning period to Li periods.Du Fan started his office life as the Jin Shi since the first year of Jia Ding(1208) in theNing period and was appointed to the Jin Tan Wei in the seventh year of Jia Ding (1214)where he did an excellent work. When Li Zong came to the throne, he came into office in theearly years of Duan Ping period and then participated in the Tai Jian. He was well-knownamong the government officials as a straight person who dare to rebuke the superior to the face.Because of the resultless accusation of prime minister Zheng Qingzhi and the importantminister Li Mingfu, he was dismissed. The second year of Jia Xi (1238), he worked in NingGuo Fu. During that period, he dealed with the local displaced persons perfectly. In the firstyear of Chun You(1241), he entered the government again as the Li Bu Shang Shu and theZhong Shu She Ren. With the high favor among the public, he eventually became the primeminister. Du Fan was appointed to the right prime minister in the fourth year of Chun You(1244), and died only eighty days after that. Although he was badly ill in his last days, he stillgave suggestions about the solutions of current affairs to the emperor and died as right primeminister.Being an government official for more than thirty years, Du Fan had associated withmany people. Liu Zai is his friend as well as his teacher. Wu Chang Yi and Xu Qing Sou arethose who had the same political view with him, Zheng Qing Zhi and Li Ming Fu are thosewho held different political views with him which made the relationship of them was just likefire and water.In the golden age of the Neo-Confucianism, Du Fan was appointed to be prime ministeras a Neo-Confucian. The relationship between the emperor Li Zong and the political activitiesof Neo-Confucian is intimate. However, as the two sides failed to come up with a same idea,the Nan Song Dynasty collapsed at last. The reason is well worth discussing.