Fan Chunren was the second son of the renowned Northern Song statesman Fan Zhongyan. As prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, Fan Chunren had a peculiar habit. Whenever he finished his work at the government office, he would change into simple, plain clothing as a part of his daily routine. From his youth to old age, from holding minor positions to becoming a high official, he remained the same, earning him the title “Minister in Plain Attire.”
Fan Chunren devoted his life to self-cultivation
With a gentle and generous nature, Fan Chunren devoted his life to self-cultivation. He never resorted to harsh words or stern expressions toward others, nor was he picky about food. However, he never wavered on matters of principle, maintaining his virtue and integrity steadfastly.
Once, Fan Chunren served as the governor of Qingzhou. At that time, the Qin region was facing a severe famine. He took it upon himself to open the granaries and distribute food to the starving people. When his subordinates requested to report to the imperial court, they were awaiting approval. Fan Chunren replied: “By the time we receive approval, it will be too late. I will take full responsibility.”
Later, some accused him of exaggerating the number of famine victims he had saved; thus, Emperor Song Shen Zong issued a decree to investigate. It was a bumper harvest in the autumn; the people joyfully proclaimed: “You truly saved our lives. How can we let you bear the burden?” They rushed to repay him with grain day and night. By the time the investigators arrived, the granaries were already fully stocked.
Fan Chunren once faced demotion and settled in Yongzhou. He diligently educated his children there, personally supervising their studies, often until midnight. During his three years in Yongzhou, he remained calm and content. Despite facing rudeness and disrespect from some, a situation unbearable for most, Fan Chunren remained unmoved and calm, harboring no resentment afterward.
When conversing with guests, he only discussed the teachings of sages on self-cultivation and occasionally touched on medical skills and medicinal books. He never spoke of other topics. His demeanor and appearance were serene, just as they were in the capital. When relatives sought his life advice, Fan Chunren said: “Only diligence and frugality can uphold integrity, and only forgiveness can cultivate virtue.”
An advocate for leniency
Fan Chunren was later transferred to serve as the governor of Qizhou. The local customs there were violent and unruly, with people freely engaging in theft and looting. Some suggested taking strict measures to curb the situation, for there seemed to be no end to the lawlessness that needed to be rectified. But Fan Chunren advocated for leniency. He believed: “Tolerance stems from human nature. Excessive punishment is not sustainable. Managing the violence-prone populace by punishing harshly, yet not consistently, will only breed defiance.”
One prison managed by the government was packed full of prisoners. It was mostly butchers and merchants convicted of theft who were detained there until reparations were made. Fan Chunren questioned why they weren’t released on bail to pay fines. The magistrate argued that releasing them would lead to further disorder, and so the government often waited for them to die of illness in prison, a method of eliminating troublemakers.
Fan Chunren countered: “According to the law, their crimes do not warrant the death penalty. Killing them for such reasons cannot be considered lawful.” He summoned them all to the court, admonishing them to correct their mistakes and start anew, then released them. After a year, theft cases decreased by more than half compared to previous years. This incident exemplifies how Fan Chunren practiced forgiveness in his work.
Serving the welfare of the people
Throughout his life, Fan Chunren embodied the principles of “loyalty” and “forgiveness,” serving the welfare of the people and bringing blessings to the land. His virtues were immortalized through generations, leaving a legacy of honor in history for future generations to admire.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Tatiana Denning
