jin shi 999 Yi Qian

Born in 968, this writer and statesman came from the royal family of Wuyue and built a successful career in the Northern Song government. He earned the jinshi degree while still young and later served in prominent posts, including as a Hanlin academician.

He is best known today as the author of Nanbu Xinshu (南部新书), a ten-volume collection compiled in the early 11th century. The book gathers anecdotes, customs, and notes about mainly Tang-era figures and events, with some material on the Five Dynasties and the early Song, giving it lasting value for readers interested in history, literature, and court life.

Although many of his writings have been lost, Nanbu Xinshu survived and became the work most closely associated with his name. He died in 1026, but his writing still stands out for its compact, curious, story-rich view of the past.