Shen Kuo is from Qiantang County, Hangzhou. He was born in a bureaucratic family. His grandfather Shen Zengqing was an official of Dali Temple. His uncle Shen Tong and his father Shen Zhou are also scholars. Influenced by the family environment, Shen Kuo liked reading since childhood, and later traveled around with his father, further increasing his knowledge. Shen Kuo not only read Confucian classics, but also was interested in astronomy, local chronicles, legal calendars, music, medicine and divination, and read a lot of books about these knowledge.

Shen Kuo's second uncle, Xu Dong, is also very talented. He can be said to be both civil and military, and he is the author of Tiger Bell Classic. Shen Kuo was probably influenced by Xu Dong and studied military affairs. He wrote more than 20 military-related articles in Meng Qian's Bi Tan. In addition, Shen Kuo has made outstanding contributions in physics, geography, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, economy, water conservancy, music and painting. It can be said that he is a child prodigy!

From 65438 to 0054, Shen Kuo took his father's shadow as the official and served as the official book of Shuyang County. He actively managed Shui Mu and developed 7,000 hectares of fertile land. However, Shen Kuo's career in the first half of his life was not smooth, and he served as a junior official for a long time. However, he used this opportunity to read a lot of books and enriched his knowledge. Opportunities always favor those who are prepared. Shen Kuo's chance has finally come! 107 1 year, Shen Kuo returned to Beijing after his funeral and got the attention of Wang Anshi, an official in torture room.

Since then, Shen Kuo actively participated in the political reform and made many contributions, which was appreciated by Song Shenzong. Later, Shen Kuo was in charge of northwest combat readiness and was ordered to go to Liao. Finally, at 1076, he was awarded the title of Bachelor of Hanlin and Third Secretary of Quan. After Wang Anshi's strike, the situation in the DPRK was very complicated. Shen Kuo was impeached and demoted and released. It was not until 1079 that Shen Kuo was put into use. In the following year, it was named Yanzhou, and concurrently served as Yan Yan's ambassador.

At this point, Song Shenzong was full of ambition and planned to fight Xixia, while Shen Kuo performed well and won several small victories in succession, which was rewarded by the emperor. 1082, Shen Kuo and Qi proposed to build a city in Hengshan, threatening the Xixia ruling area. Since then, Shen Kuo suggested building a city with Shichengbao and planting it in Yinzhou, while he suggested in Yongle. After some discussion, Song Shenzong finally decided to build a city in Yongle. However, after the fortification, the Xixia army invaded Yongle City.

Because of opposition to Yongle City, Zhong You was excluded by Xu Xi, so he held a grudge and refused to send troops in the name of defending Yanzhou. Although Shen Kuo was only five miles away from Yongle City, he had only 10,000 people in his hand, and the Xixia army attacked Suide and Mizhi, so he finally gave up the rescue of Yongle City and retreated to Suide. In the end, the Northern Song Dynasty lost Yongle City and suffered heavy losses. Song Shenzong was furious, and Shen Kuo was appointed as Yunzhou Yingyong's deputy envoy and settled in Suizhou. For the next six years, Shen Kuo had no personal freedom. From 65438 to 0089, Shen Kuo regained his freedom and moved to Meng Xi Park in Runzhou. Six years later, Shen Kuo died at the age of 65.