During the brief reign of Ying Tsung (1064-1068), Wang An-shih on two or three occasions, was offered positions at the court but he prefer~ Fed to remain in private life. No doubt he spent these years working out the details of his plans. When Shen Tsung (1068-1085) ascended the court this time he accepted throne, Wang was again invited to
office. His first post was member of Han Lin Academy, the institution which was entrusted with the liter and documentary work of the government. In this capacity he was also an "ex officio" advisor to the emperor.
Soon after his appointment to this fice a significant incident took place which revealed his attitude toward current beliefs. On account of a serious drought which threatened to cause famine, the emperor cloth~ ed_nimseif in rough hempen garments and entered upon a fast in an attempt to appease the wrath of heaven. Wang An-shih, having an audience with him, took upon himself to rebuke this. superstitious performance. He said, "The processes of nature are immutable and have no relation to the actions of mien. A ruler needs sole-to observe the laws of rectitude and justice, therein lies his duty the state" "These remarks raised 2 storm of indignation among the off. dals at the court. Fu Pi, the chief minister of state, addressed. a long. memorial to the throne pointing out the danger of listening to such counsel. It is remarkable that this point of view of Wang's has been most bitterly denounced by his fellow countrymen ever since his times. Only in the last 30 or 40 years there have been re-appraisals of his views and the soundness of his thought has been recognized.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.