Successively grand councilor of the Hòu Hàn 後漢, Hòu Zhōu 後周, and Sòng 宋 dynasties—one of the very few statesmen to serve three regimes at the highest level. Native of Qí 祁 county in Bīngzhōu (modern Shānxī). Took first place (zhuàngyuán) in the jìnshì examination in the Qiányòu era of the Hòu Hàn (948), entered the Hòu Zhōu chancellery as Duānmíng diàn xuéshì, and rose to Yòupúyè. Crossed over with the Sòng founding, serving as Sīkōng tóng píngzhāngshì, supervisor of the National History, Tàizǐ tàishī, and Duke of Qí (Qí guógōng 祁國公); posthumous name Kāngdìng 康定. Beyond his political career he is the compiler of the two surviving Five-Dynasty-and-Táng huìyào: Táng Huìyào 唐會要 (KR2m0002), presented 961, the third recension built on the lost works of Sū Miǎn and Cuī Xuàn / Yáng Shàofù; and Wǔdài Huìyào 五代會要 (KR2m0003), the only surviving institutional digest of the Five Dynasties.