Wang Anshi

Wang Anshi
Chancellor of the Song dynasty
In Office	1070–1074; 1075–1076
Monarch	Emperor Shenzong
Born	8 December 1021 Linchuan, Song
Died	21 May 1086(1086-05-21) (aged 64) Jiangning
Father	Wang Yi
Occupation	Economist, philosopher, poet, politician

Wang Anshi
"Wang Anshi" in Chinese characters
Chinese	王安石
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Ānshí Gwoyeu Romatzyh Wang Anshyr Wade–Giles Wang2 An1-shih2 IPA [wǎŋ án.ʂɨ̌] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Wòhng Ōn-sehk Jyutping Wong4 On1-sek6 IPA [wɔːŋ˩ ɔːn˥.sɛːk̚˨] Southern Min Tâi-lô Ông An-se̍k (col.) {{{2}}} (lit.) Middle Chinese Middle Chinese hüang ʔan-d͡ʒjak
Posthumous name[1]
Traditional Chinese	文
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wén Wade–Giles Wen
Title (Duke of Jing)[2]
Traditional Chinese	荊國公
Simplified Chinese	王荊公
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jīngguógōng Wade–Giles Ching-kuo-kung
Art name
Traditional Chinese	半山老人
Simplified Chinese	半山老人
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Bànshān Lǎorén Wade–Giles Pan-shan Lao-jen
Courtesy name
Traditional Chinese	介甫
Simplified Chinese	介甫
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jièfǔ Wade–Giles Chieh-fu

Wang Anshi ([wǎŋ ánʂɨ̌]; Chinese: 王安石; December 8, 1021 – May 21, 1086), courtesy name Jiefu (Chinese: 介甫), was a Chinese economist, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. He served as chancellor and attempted major and controversial socioeconomic reforms known as the New Policies.^[3][4] These reforms constituted the core concepts of the Song-dynasty Reformists, in contrast to their rivals, the Conservatives, led by the Chancellor Sima Guang.

Wang Anshi's ideas are usually analyzed in terms of the influence the Rites of Zhou or Legalism had on him.^[5] His economic reforms included increased currency circulation, breaking up of private monopolies, and early forms of government regulation and social welfare. His military reforms expanded the use of local militias, and his government reforms expanded the education system and attempted to suppress nepotism in government. Although successful for a while, he eventually fell out of favor with the emperor.