Hong Shi (1117-1184), originally named Zao, later changed his name to Shi, with the courtesy name Jingbo, Wenbo, Jingwen, and Panzhou, was the eldest son of Hong Hao. Because he lived in his hometown of Panzhou, Raozhou in his later years, he also called himself Panzhou Lao Ren. He was from Poyang, Raozhou, Song Dynasty (now Poyang County, Jiangxi Province). He entered the official career because of his father. In February of the 12th year of Shaoxing (1142), he and his brother Hong Zun passed the Boxue Hongci exam together. Hong Zun was the first champion and Hong Shi was the second runner-up. He was promoted to Shangshu You Pushe, Tongzhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi and Shumishi, and served as the right prime minister. He was conferred the title of Taishi and Duke of Wei, with a fief of 5,000 households and a real fief of 2,600 households. He was posthumously named Wenhui. He was worshipped as a local sage. He married Shi and was conferred the title of Lady of Caiguo, and married Shen and was conferred the title of Lady of Weiguo. Zhou Bida wrote in the Epitaph of the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty Presenting the Grand Tutor Wei Wenhui Gong: “The public has achieved success at an early age, is honest with others, and has no superficial courtesy. He is gifted with literary talent, which is supplemented by mechanics. His steps are in the classics and history, which are novel and rich. The brothers stand side by side and have established their own school.” Xu Jizhi wrote in the Biography of the Right Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty Guanwen Hall Academician Zhengyi Dafu Presenting the Special Advancement Hong Gong (Shi) that Hong Shi and his brothers Hong Zun and Hong Mai are all famous for their literature, and are known as “Poyang’s three heroes”. The three Hongs were in the same court and served as assistants in the court, which is rare in the world. At the same time, he had profound attainments in epigraphy, and was known as the three great epigraphers of the Song Dynasty together with Ouyang Xiu and Zhao Mingcheng. He became the prime minister at the age of 48.
洪适（1117年—1184年），原名造，后更名适，字景伯，又字温伯、景温，号盘州，洪晧长子。因晚年居住老家饶州盘州，故又自号盘州老人，宋饶州鄱阳（今江西省鄱阳县人）人。因其父而入仕途。绍兴十二年（1142年）二月，与弟洪遵同中博学宏词科，洪遵第一状元，洪适第二榜眼。累官至尚书右仆射、同中书门下平章事兼枢密使，官至右丞相。封太师、魏国公，食邑五千户，实封二千六百户，卒谥文惠。祀乡贤。配石氏封蔡国夫人，又配沈氏封魏国夫人。周必大所撰《宋宰相赠太师魏国文惠公神道碑铭》：“公器业早成，与人诚实，无浮礼，文华天赋，济以力学，步骤经史，新奇富赡，兄弟鼎立，自成一家。”，许及之所撰《宋尚书右仆射观文殿学士正议大夫赠特进洪公（适）行状》，洪适与弟弟洪遵、洪迈皆以文学负盛名，有“鄱阳英气钟三秀”之称。三洪同朝并为台辅世所罕见。同时，他在金石学方面造诣颇深，与欧阳修、赵明诚并称为宋代金石三大家。四十八岁登丞相位。
《扶桑》 洪适
展叶柔桑沃，装丛醉缬繁。
定应西域到，略不耐轻寒。
Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis
Hong Shi
Dressed in unfolded foliage the tree of Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis tender with luster,
Bursts forth into a profusion of florets with dazzling pattern bedecking the cluster.
She must be transplanted from Xiyu,
That’s why even a slight chill she fails to tolerate and endure.
