Song Jing, a renowned statesman of the mid-Tang Dynasty, rose from a successful imperial examination to serve as a county sheriff and imperial censor. Known for his unwavering integrity and bold counsel, Empress Wu Zetian held him in high regard, promoting him to Deputy Chief Censor of the Censorate.
During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor admired Song Jing's forthrightness and appointed him as an imperial advisor. Soon after, Song Jing's blunt counsel angered Zhongzong, leading to successive demotions to prefect of Bei, Hang, and Xiang prefectures. In each post, he governed with integrity, working tirelessly to improve local conditions, fostering honest customs and peaceful households.
During the reign of Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty, tensions arose between Princess Taiping and Crown Prince Li Longji. When the official Song Jing impeached the princess, he was demoted to governor of Chuzhou. Over time, he served as governor of Yanzhou, Jizhou, and Weizhou, as well as inspector of Hebei. Wherever he went, he cared for the people and did good deeds. The locals praised him, saying, "Song Jing is like spring with feet—wherever he arrives, he brings warmth."
During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Song Jing initially served as the governor of the capital region and as a censor-in-chief, but was soon demoted to prefect of Muzhou, then transferred to be the military governor of Guangzhou. At that time, people in the Guangzhou area built their houses with thatch and bamboo, which frequently led to fires. Song Jing taught the locals to construct buildings with bricks and tiles instead, and the grateful people deeply appreciated his efforts.
In the sixth year of the Kaiyuan era (718 AD), Tang Emperor Xuanzong had appointed Song Jing as his prime minister. The people of Guangzhou erected a stone tablet praising Song Jing's virtuous governance. Upon learning this, Song Jing said to Emperor Xuanzong, "Your Majesty, I believe this trend of flattery must never be allowed to start. Please issue an order to prohibit such practices."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang immediately issued an edict banning the erection of memorial steles for officials across the empire.
Because Song Jing assisted Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in governing the country well during his tenure as prime minister, leading to the historical "Kaiyuan Golden Age," he is regarded as one of the famous virtuous prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty. Later, the idiom "Spring with Feet" came to be used to praise an official's benevolent governance.
Source: *Kaiyuan Tianbao Legacy*, Chapter "Spring with Feet"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "有脚阳春" came to describe praise an officials benevolent governance.