On Su Shi's Progressive Ideology

Su Shi mounted the political stage as a reformer. At the time when Su began his career as a bureaucrat, he criticized severely the conservative, complacent Court of Northern Song, raising the slogan of “sweeping away old practices and coming up with new ones. The difference between Su Shi and Wang Anshi, the prime minister,is one of which way to take to execute the reform. Because of the change of political status and environment of living, coupled with persecution by the ruling class, Su gave up his illusion about the feudal sovereign ruler and abiured his alltqiance to the Throne.