How should Wang Anshi’s reform be evaluated? Is this reform a good thing or a bad thing? What is the fundamental reason for its failure?

1. Fundamentally speaking, Wang Anshi’s reform failed, but its impact on Chinese history was profound, and it also determined Wang Anshi’s historical status!

2. Wang Anshi's teenage years were the period when the Northern Song Dynasty was "poor" and "weak". This feudal dynasty, which had a weak foundation, was struggling. The so-called poverty means: the national financial difficulties (national poverty) caused by redundant officials and redundant soldiers, and the poverty of the working people (people's poverty) caused by the expansion of taxes to solve financial difficulties; the so-called accumulated weakness, This means that the Song Dynasty was increasingly unable to control mutinies and civil unrest internally, and externally it was increasingly unable to resist the double intrusion of the Liao and Xia Dynasties.

3. During this period, due to the influence of the "Qingli New Deal", calls for reform became increasingly louder, gradually setting off a powerful social trend of thought. Reform and reform have become a trend. As Chen Liang said: "Fang Qingli, Jiayou, famous people in the world often suffer from the immutability of the law." Every word of the famous people is a reform. However, there are different opinions on how the reform should be carried out. On the one hand, this situation opened the way for Wang Anshi's reform in the future, but on the other hand, it planted the seeds of failure for Wang Anshi's reform, which opened the way for the future. At that time, Wang Anshi was influenced by this trend of thought, and in the spring of 1059, he wrote a five-character letter to Song Renzong. This is the famous "Book of Confessions of Emperor Renzong".

In his statement, Wang Anshi's reform opinions were not specific. He only focused on some issues related to politics and administration, but did not focus on some fundamental social and economic issues. However, he put forward the financial policy of "generating the world's wealth through the world's strength, and taking the world's wealth to provide for the world's expenses". In the subsequent reform movement, this financial management policy was fully implemented.

However, the Book of Statements did not attract the attention of Song Renzong and his powerful ministers, nor did it cause any waves in the politics of the time. Wang Anshi was probably deeply disappointed by this, so after the mourning period expired, he stayed at Jiangning's home to accept apprentices and give lectures. During the Yingzong period of Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi never became an official. This relaxed life gave Wang Anshi time to formulate his future reform framework.

4. In February 1069 (the second year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), Song Shenzong appointed Wang Anshi as the political advisor and began the reform. In December of the following year, Wang Anshi was appointed prime minister again, and the reform movement launched on a larger scale.

The scope of Wang Anshi's reforms is very wide, and generally speaking, there are four main aspects.

First, adjust the bureaucracy and promote lower-level scholar-officials, as well as change the imperial examination system and school system. Wang Anshi learned from the failure of the Qingli Reform and bypassed the primary issue of traditional reform, "rectifying the administration of officials." He also avoided related issues such as eliminating redundant officials in order to reduce opposition to the reform from the bureaucratic class. He even took measures such as increasing official salaries and expanding the system of benefits and benefits that gave preferential treatment to retired officials to win over officials in office and those who were not in office. He used this compromise method to win support from the bureaucracy for the reform. Since Wang Anshi's reform was carried out closely around the two focuses of "financial management" and "military reorganization," Wang Anshi increased his efforts to transform and utilize them. Idle institutions such as Sinong Temple, Capital Water Supervision, and the Ministry of War all played a role to varying degrees during Wang Anshi's reform period. According to the needs of the reform, Wang Anshi also added a number of new agencies such as the Department of Regulations, the Department of Municipal Affairs, and the Ordnance Supervision. In the same way as he dealt with the bureaucracy, Wang Anshi did not lay off redundant officials on the one hand, and on the other hand broke the old rule of promotion based on seniority and promoted a large number of capable lower-level officials and scholar-bureaucrats who were interested in reform. civilians, allowing them to participate in higher-level institutions. In this way, the number of bureaucracies and officials has slightly increased compared to before the reform, and fiscal expenditures have increased, but this is the need for the reform.

In view of the shortcomings of the imperial examination, Wang Anshi carried out reforms. However, the new imperial examination method of "focusing on policy discussions and not on poems and poems", "forgoing classics and focusing on simple learning, and not using calligraphy and writing but testing righteousness" is divorced from reality.

However, Wang Anshi's purpose in reforming the imperial examination was not to use the imperial examination to suppress the opposition and absorb supporters of the reform, making it more conducive to the reform. Regarding the school system, Wang Anshi promulgated the "Three Classics" written by himself and Lu Huiqing in the school as a required reading material for students, using academic education to serve the reform.

Second, provincial troops are deployed to strengthen the combat effectiveness of the army; a Baojia system is established to consolidate local public security order. "Reorganization of the army" was an important aspect of Wang Anshi's reform. There were a large number of redundant soldiers, a large number of old and weak soldiers who lacked combat effectiveness, and serious vacancies in the military camps. These were the three major chronic diseases of the Northern Song Dynasty army. In response, Wang Anshi cut down 300,000 redundant troops and saved nearly 10 million yuan in military expenditures. In addition, Wang Anshi reformed the old defense replacement system - garrison replacement method, and expanded the general strategy created by Fan Zhongyan and others. That is to increase the power of military generals, separate them from the local administrative system, and use dedicated generals to manage dedicated soldiers, so that soldiers and generals can get along with each other for a long time and improve combat capabilities. The implementation of this "general placement method" solved the overwork of soldiers caused by frequent garrison changes, as well as the resulting separation of soldiers and generals and the lack of training of soldiers and their inability to command for a long time, which caused the generals to give strict orders and command. A state of disengagement and weakness. In addition, the establishment of the Ordnance Supervision also provided the army with excellent equipment, which had a great impact on improving the combat effectiveness of the Song Army.

In the vast majority of villages, joint household guarantees were implemented, and rural soldier organizations such as Baojia and rural grassroots organizations were established. This is the Baojia Law. Implement the joint sitting law in the protection area to strengthen feudal public security. In addition, we maintain local security, select bailiffs, conduct regular training, and are responsible for patrolling. Its purpose is, firstly, to strengthen feudal public security, and secondly, through this method, it is to explore a way to integrate soldiers and farmers to reduce redundant troops.

The establishment and development of the Baojia Law provided conditions for the establishment of the Maobao Law. In order to solve the problem of the large area and high cost of raising horses in official prisons, Wang Anshi used the Baojia system to distribute the horses in official prisons to private households for feeding, and stipulated that horse-raising households could be exempted from the change and adoption. The implementation of the Horse Preservation Law saved financial expenses and provided the army with better military horses.

Third, adjust the relationship between the central government, local governments and farmers, and pay attention to the development of agricultural production. In response to the rampant loan sharking activities, which caused a large number of farmers to go bankrupt due to borrowing money, which seriously affected social stability and national fiscal revenue, Wang Anshi launched the Green Crop Law. The so-called young crops method means that the state provides loans to households. Any private household that borrows money must make a guarantee to borrow from the government according to the loan amount specified by the household. The loan is divided into two installments a year. The loan is borrowed during the lean period when the summer and autumn grains are not ripe, and the loan is repaid after the summer and autumn harvests. The interest is three or two cents. This is essentially the state lending usury to private individuals. The implementation of the Young Crops Law has, to a certain extent, reduced farmers' borrowing burdens, cracked down on loan sharks, and also increased the country's fiscal revenue.

Servants were one of the heavy burdens on farmers in the Northern Song Dynasty. Although the state does not stipulate that business trips are based on household level, in fact due to the exemption or evasion of the rich and powerful, all types of business trips fell on the peasants. Therefore, an important part of Wang Anshi's reform was the implementation of the exemption from service law. That is to say, the old system of taking turns serving as servants according to household level was abolished. According to the level, money was paid according to grade, and the government hired people to serve as servants. The money was called exemption money; Households also pay half of the money according to the household level, and the money is called service money; in addition, in order to prevent floods and droughts, households must pay an extra two cents of service money, which is called free service money. The exemption law evened out the burden of labor service, relieved the pressure on farmers, and also benefited the country a lot. In addition to the completion of state chores through hired labor, the feudal state's finances increased significantly.

In 1072 (the fifth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law was implemented. The purpose is to clear out the acres of land, check for missing taxes, and set land taxes. Its implementation restricted powerful mergers to varying degrees and stimulated farmers' enthusiasm for production.

The Farmland Water Conservancy Law, which was implemented earlier than the Farmland Equalization Tax Law, also promoted the continuous development of farmland water conservancy construction in various areas and to varying degrees, and the construction of projects to control the Yellow River also achieved some successes, which greatly Developed social production.

Fourth, the implementation of policies to supply national needs and restrict commercial capital, as well as the reform of the patent system. In response to the serious disconnect between the material needs of Bianjing and the supply of Southeast Sixth Road, Wang Anshi introduced the equalization method.

Its main content is to improve the delivery authority of the organization. The government has increased huge investments, reformed old shortcomings in transportation, purchase and sales, and implemented a "distribution on behalf" system for money and materials provided to areas with poor harvests. After the implementation of the equalization law, the burden on local governments and farmers was reduced, and the profit-seeking activities of merchant capital were restricted. At the same time, the feudal country was able to share the commercial profits previously monopolized by merchants.

After the enactment of the Market Change Law, merchant capital was subject to more serious restrictions. The Market Exchange Law aimed to stabilize prices, combat speculation, and bring the market dominated and controlled by big businessmen under the control of the feudal government. The specific method is to set up a city Yisi in Bianjing, and set up a city Yisi in some border and important cities. The state invested huge sums of money to make it an institution that monopolizes the market. After the implementation of the Market Change Law, the purpose has basically been achieved.

Wang Anshi also actively reformed the patent system for tea, salt, distiller's alum, gold and silver pit smelting, and currency casting. The patents on tea, salt, distiller's alum have been tightened, while the restrictions on gold and silver pit smelting patents have been relaxed, and both of them can be developed.

This series of reform measures has indeed played a role in enriching the country and strengthening the military. However, it has offended the vested interests of big bureaucrats, big landlords, wealthy businessmen, and loan sharks. In addition, during the implementation of the new law, things that disturbed the people continued to occur, so there was great resistance to the implementation of the new law. Among them, the Young Crops Law, the Exemption Law, and the Market Change Law were particularly attacked by conservative officials. From the central government to the local government, from speech to action, representatives such as Sima Guang, Fan Zhen, Zhao Zhan, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, Liu Itch, Jiang Qian, and Fu Bi fought tit-for-tat against the reform officials.

The Green Crops Law is the first focus of the struggle between the two sides. The voice of opposition not only wavered Song Shenzong, but also wavered some reformist officials such as Su Shi, Su Che, Li Chang, and Cheng Hao, and changed their views. But Wang Anshi remained calm and composed, and finally convinced Song Shenzong, and made a compromise on the issue of the Green Miao Law, stabilizing the situation. Then, the two sides engaged in a fierce battle over the exemption law. Later, due to the implementation of the Market Change Law and the occurrence of major famines, the conservative faction once again set off a climax of the anti-reform movement. Later, a split occurred within the reform faction, and Wang Anshi was forced to resign from his position in April 1074 (the seventh year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty). Although Wang Anshi was re-appointed as prime minister in February of the following year, the situation of the reform was no longer what it used to be. The hesitation of the young emperor, the constant attacks of the conservative faction, the different opinions of important members of the reform faction, and the death of his beloved son Wang Xiao made Wang Anshi depressed and felt that he was unable to do what he wanted and could not continue. Therefore, Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister again in October 1076 (the ninth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), resigned from office and returned to Jiangning.

After returning to Jiangning, Wang Anshi initially had the official title of "Jiangning Mansion", but he never went to the Yamen to handle political affairs. In June of the following year, he simply resigned from this official title. In addition to traveling to visit scenic spots and wandering in the mountains and outdoors on weekdays, he also spends time reading and writing. The book "Zi Shuo" was written during this period.

At this time, although the new law continued to be implemented under the auspices of Lu Huiqing, Han Jiang and others, the entire reform movement had slipped off the normal track. Chen Guan said that "Yuanfeng's government was much different from Xining's", which is indeed the case.

5. In February 1069 (the second year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), Song Shenzong appointed Wang Anshi as the political advisor and began the reform. In December of the following year, Wang Anshi was appointed prime minister again, and the reform movement launched on a larger scale.

The scope of Wang Anshi's reforms is very wide, and generally speaking, there are four main aspects.

First, adjust the bureaucracy and promote lower-level scholar-officials, as well as change the imperial examination system and school system. Wang Anshi learned from the failure of the Qingli Reform and bypassed the primary issue of traditional reform, "rectifying the administration of officials." He also avoided related issues such as eliminating redundant officials in order to reduce opposition to the reform from the bureaucratic class. He even took measures such as increasing official salaries and expanding the system of benefits and benefits that gave preferential treatment to retired officials to win over officials in office and those who were not in office. He used this compromise method to win support from the bureaucracy for the reform. Since Wang Anshi's reform was carried out closely around the two focuses of "financial management" and "military reorganization," Wang Anshi increased his efforts to transform and utilize them.

The exemption law evened out the burden of labor service, relieved the pressure on farmers, and also benefited the country a lot. In addition to the completion of state chores through hired labor, the feudal state's finances increased significantly.

In 1072 (the fifth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law was implemented. The purpose is to clear out the acres of land, check for missing taxes, and set land taxes. Its implementation restricted powerful mergers to varying degrees and stimulated farmers' enthusiasm for production.

The Farmland Water Conservancy Law, which was implemented earlier than the Farmland Equalization Tax Law, also promoted the continuous development of farmland water conservancy construction in various areas and to varying degrees, and the construction of projects to control the Yellow River also achieved some successes, which greatly Developed social production.

Fourth, the implementation of policies to supply national needs and restrict commercial capital, as well as the reform of the patent system. In response to the serious disconnect between the material needs of Bianjing and the supply of Southeast Sixth Road, Wang Anshi introduced the equalization method. Its main content is to improve the delivery authority of the organization. The government has increased huge investments, reformed old shortcomings in transportation, purchase and sales, and implemented a "distribution on behalf" system for money and materials provided to areas with poor harvests. After the implementation of the equalization law, the burden on local governments and farmers was reduced, and the profit-seeking activities of merchant capital were restricted. At the same time, the feudal country was able to share the commercial profits previously monopolized by merchants.

After the enactment of the Market Change Law, merchant capital was subject to more serious restrictions. The Market Exchange Law aimed to stabilize prices, combat speculation, and bring the market dominated and controlled by big businessmen under the control of the feudal government. The specific method is to set up a city Yisi in Bianjing, and set up a city Yisi in some border and important cities. The state invested huge sums of money to make it an institution that monopolizes the market. After the implementation of the Market Change Law, the purpose has basically been achieved.

Wang Anshi also actively reformed the patent system for tea, salt, distiller's alum, gold and silver pit smelting, and currency casting. The patents on tea, salt, distiller's alum have been tightened, while the restrictions on gold and silver pit smelting patents have been relaxed, and both of them can be developed.

This series of reform measures has indeed played a role in enriching the country and strengthening the military. However, it has offended the vested interests of big bureaucrats, big landlords, wealthy businessmen, and loan sharks. In addition, during the implementation of the new law, things that disturbed the people continued to occur, so there was great resistance to the implementation of the new law. Among them, the Young Crops Law, the Exemption Law, and the Market Change Law were particularly attacked by conservative officials. From the central government to the local government, from speech to action, representatives such as Sima Guang, Fan Zhen, Zhao Zhan, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, Liu Itch, Jiang Qian, and Fu Bi fought tit-for-tat against the reform officials.

The Green Crops Law is the first focus of the struggle between the two sides. The voice of opposition not only wavered Song Shenzong, but also wavered some reformist officials such as Su Shi, Su Che, Li Chang, and Cheng Hao, and changed their views. But Wang Anshi remained calm and composed, and finally convinced Song Shenzong, and made a compromise on the issue of the Green Miao Law, stabilizing the situation. Then, the two sides engaged in a fierce battle over the exemption law. Later, due to the implementation of the Market Change Law and the occurrence of major famines, the conservative faction once again set off a climax of the anti-reform movement. Later, a split occurred within the reform faction, and Wang Anshi was forced to resign from his position in April 1074 (the seventh year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty). Although Wang Anshi was re-appointed as prime minister in February of the following year, the situation of the reform was no longer what it used to be. The hesitation of the young emperor, the constant attacks of the conservative faction, the different opinions of important members of the reform faction, and the death of his beloved son Wang Xiao made Wang Anshi depressed and felt that he was unable to do what he wanted and could not continue. Therefore, Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister again in October 1076 (the ninth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), resigned from office and returned to Jiangning.

After returning to Jiangning, Wang Anshi initially had the official title of "Jiangning Mansion", but he never went to the Yamen to handle political affairs. In June of the following year, he simply resigned from this official title. In addition to traveling to visit scenic spots and wandering in the mountains and outdoors on weekdays, he also spends time reading and writing. The book "Zi Shuo" was written during this period.

At this time, although the new law continued to be implemented under the auspices of Lu Huiqing, Han Jiang and others, the entire reform movement had slipped off the normal track. Chen Guan said that "Yuanfeng's government was much different from Xining's", which is indeed the case.

5. In February 1069 (the second year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), Song Shenzong appointed Wang Anshi as the political advisor and began the reform. In December of the following year, Wang Anshi was appointed prime minister again, and the reform movement launched on a larger scale.

The implementation of the Young Crops Law has, to a certain extent, reduced farmers' borrowing burdens, cracked down on loan sharks, and also increased the country's fiscal revenue.

Servants were one of the heavy burdens on farmers in the Northern Song Dynasty. Although the state does not stipulate that business trips are based on household level, in fact due to the exemption or evasion of the rich and powerful, all types of business trips fell on the peasants. Therefore, an important part of Wang Anshi's reform was the implementation of the exemption from service law. That is to say, the old system of taking turns serving as servants according to household level was abolished. According to the level, money was paid according to grade, and the government hired people to serve as servants. The money was called exemption money; Households also pay half of the money according to the household level, and the money is called service money; in addition, in order to prevent floods and droughts, households must pay an extra two cents of service money, which is called free service money. The exemption law evened out the burden of labor service, relieved the pressure on farmers, and also benefited the country a lot. In addition to the completion of state chores through hired labor, the feudal state's finances increased significantly.

In 1072 (the fifth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), the Fangtian Equalization Tax Law was implemented. The purpose is to clear out the acres of land, check for missing taxes, and set land taxes. Its implementation restricted powerful mergers to varying degrees and stimulated farmers' enthusiasm for production.

The Farmland Water Conservancy Law, which was implemented earlier than the Farmland Equalization Tax Law, also promoted the continuous development of farmland water conservancy construction in various areas and to varying degrees, and the construction of projects to control the Yellow River also achieved some successes, which greatly Developed social production.

Fourth, the implementation of policies to supply national needs and restrict commercial capital, as well as the reform of the patent system. In response to the serious disconnect between the material needs of Bianjing and the supply of Southeast Sixth Road, Wang Anshi introduced the equalization method. Its main content is to improve the delivery authority of the organization. The government has increased huge investments, reformed old shortcomings in transportation, purchase and sales, and implemented a "distribution on behalf" system for money and materials provided to areas with poor harvests. After the implementation of the equalization law, the burden on local governments and farmers was reduced, and the profit-seeking activities of merchant capital were restricted. At the same time, the feudal country was able to share the commercial profits previously monopolized by merchants.

After the enactment of the Market Change Law, merchant capital was subject to more serious restrictions. The Market Exchange Law aimed to stabilize prices, combat speculation, and bring the market dominated and controlled by big businessmen under the control of the feudal government. The specific method is to set up a city Yisi in Bianjing, and set up a city Yisi in some border and important cities. The state invested huge sums of money to make it an institution that monopolizes the market. After the implementation of the Market Change Law, the purpose has basically been achieved.

Wang Anshi also actively reformed the patent system for tea, salt, distiller's alum, gold and silver pit smelting, and currency casting. The patents on tea, salt, distiller's alum have been tightened, while the restrictions on gold and silver pit smelting patents have been relaxed, and both of them can be developed.

5. The root cause of the failure: This series of reform measures indeed played a role in enriching the country and strengthening the military. However, it offended the vested interests of big bureaucrats, big landlords, wealthy businessmen, and loan sharks. In addition, during the implementation of the new law, things that disturbed the people continued to occur, so there was great resistance to the implementation of the new law. Among them, the Young Crops Law, the Exemption Law, and the Market Change Law were particularly attacked by conservative officials. From the central government to the local government, from speech to action, representatives such as Sima Guang, Fan Zhen, Zhao Zhan, Han Qi, Ouyang Xiu, Liu Itch, Jiang Qian, and Fu Bi fought tit-for-tat against the reform officials.

The Green Crops Law is the first focus of the struggle between the two sides. The voice of opposition not only wavered Song Shenzong, but also wavered some reformist officials such as Su Shi, Su Che, Li Chang, and Cheng Hao, and changed their views. But Wang Anshi remained calm and composed, and finally convinced Song Shenzong, and made a compromise on the issue of the Green Miao Law, stabilizing the situation. Then, the two sides engaged in a fierce battle over the exemption law. Later, due to the implementation of the Market Change Law and the occurrence of major famines, the conservative faction once again set off a climax of the anti-reform movement. Later, a split occurred within the reform faction, and Wang Anshi was forced to resign from his position in April 1074 (the seventh year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty). Although Wang Anshi was re-appointed as prime minister in February of the following year, the situation of the reform was no longer what it used to be. The hesitation of the young emperor, the constant attacks of the conservative faction, the different opinions of important members of the reform faction, and the death of his beloved son Wang Xiao made Wang Anshi depressed and felt that he was unable to do what he wanted and could not continue.

Therefore, Wang Anshi resigned as prime minister again in October 1076 (the ninth year of Xining in the Northern Song Dynasty), resigned from office and returned to Jiangning.

At this time, although the new law continued to be implemented under the auspices of Lu Huiqing, Han Jiang and others, the entire reform movement had slipped off the normal track. Chen Guan said that "Yuanfeng's government was much different from Xining's", which is indeed the case.