 | |
| Grand Chancellor of the Song Dynasty | |
| In office 964–973 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Taizu |
| In office 981–983 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Taizong |
| In office 988–992 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Taizong |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 922 |
| Died | 14 August 992 (aged 69–70) |
| Children | Sons: Zhao Chengzong (趙承宗) Zhao Chengzu (趙承煦)
Zhao Ziying (趙志英) |
Zhao Pu (922 – 14 August 992), courtesy name Zeping, was a Chinese politician and strategist during the reigns of the first two Song dynasty emperors (Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong), who was instrumental in plotting the seizure and consolidation of power for both of them. Despite several crises in his long career, Zhao Pu was by far the most powerful politician for most of the early Song dynasty, serving as a chief councilor (in many years the only one) three times for a total of 17 years. He has been praised for his brilliance in foreign and domestic policies which helped shape Song's Confucian outlook for the next 2–3 centuries. A proud Confucian (though not as learned as later ministers who came from the imperial examination), Zhao Pu is well known for allegedly claiming that he administered the state with "half the Analects".[1] Confucian historians, however, also note his cunning, avarice, as well as ruthlessness towards political opponents like Lu Duoxun and Zhao Tingmei, all self-serving and un-Confucian traits.