Li Gang

Life

His father was Li Kui (1047–1121), his father-in-law was Zhang Gen, and his wife was Zhang Shi. His brothers included Li Wei, Li Jing, and Li Lun.

His sons included Li Yizhi (李儀之), Li Zongzhi (李宗之), Li Angzhi (李昂之), and Li Maozhi (李茂之); Zhang Tan (張坦) and Fan Duanzhi (范端贄) are listed as sons-in-law.

He obtained the jinshi degree in the second year of Huizong’s Zhenghe era (1112). He rose to Investigating Censor, concurrently Acting Palace Censor, was transferred to Bibu Yuanwailang after offending powerful figures, and then promoted to Qiju Lang; in the first year of Xuanhe (1119), after submitting a memorial on affairs of state, he was demoted to supervise the tax office of Shaxian in Nanji anzhou. In the seventh year of Xuanhe he became Taichang Shaoqing.

When the Jin moved south, Li Gang cut his arm and submitted a memorial in blood, asking Huizong to abdicate in favor of the crown prince so as to rally the empire. After Qinzong’s accession, he held the offices of Vice Minister of War, operations-camp staff adviser, Tokyo Liushou, Qinzheng Xingying shi, and Shangshu Youcheng, and later headed the Privy Council. He advocated resistance to the Jin, opposed moving the capital, and actively prepared for war; after the Jin crossed the Yellow River, he personally directed the defense, and the Jin forces withdrew for a time.

After the court debated peace, he was dismissed for opposing the peace settlement and insisting on war; after his restoration, he again headed the Privy Council and became a pacification commissioner for Hedong and the north in an effort to relieve Taiyuan. When an edict halted the advance, he resigned; the subsequent treatment is given in two forms: appointment to supervise Bozhou Mingdao Palace, placement in Jianchang Commandery, and further exile to Ningjiang; or appointment as Guwen dian xueshi and prefect of Yangzhou, followed by dismissal for his insistence on war.

When the Jin forces came again, he was made Zizheng dian daxueshi and placed in charge of Kaifeng. While traveling near Changsha, he was ordered to lead Hunan relief troops, but Kaifeng had already fallen. After Gaozong’s accession, he was appointed to the office of Shangshu puye concurrently serving as a shilang; the appointment is variously given as Shangshu You Pushe with Zhongshu Shilang or Shangshu Zuo Pushe with Menxia Shilang. He also served as Imperial Camp Commissioner, urged an alliance with the loyalists of the two river regions, and recommended Zong Ze.

Li Gang opposed Gaozong’s plan to move to the southeast and was forced from the chancellorship by the peace faction, after which he lived in Ezhou. The duration of his chancellorship is variously given as 75 days, more than 70 days, or 77 days. He repeatedly submitted plans for resistance to the Jin, but they were not adopted; his career was marked by repeated appointments and dismissals.

In the second year of the Shaoxing era (1132), he was recalled as Guwen dian xueshi and Huguang xuanfu shi, concurrently prefect of Tanzhou, but was soon removed and assigned to supervise Xijing Chongfu Palace. In Shaoxing 5 (1135), after memorializing policies of attack, defense, administration, and pacification, he became Jiangxi Pacification and Military Commissioner concurrently prefect of Hongzhou. In Shaoxing 9 (1139), he was appointed prefect of Tanzhou and Grand Pacification Commissioner for the Jinghu South Circuit, but declined.

He died in Shaoxing 10 (1140) at the age of 58. He was posthumously granted the rank of Shaoshi, additionally made Longxi Kaiguo Gong, and given Zhongding as his posthumous title.

Political career and influence

Li Gang’s political program centered on resistance to the Jin: he advocated fighting and preparation, opposed moving the capital and peace negotiations, and urged an alliance with the loyalists of the two river regions. His direction of city defense and field operations helped force a Jin withdrawal. Commanders such as Zong Ze and Han Shizhong either received his support or served under him; he was regarded as a prominent anti-Jin figure and enjoyed broad esteem.

Writings

Li Gang was accomplished in poetry and prose and also wrote ci poetry. His writings include the 180-volume Liangxi ji (梁溪集); the collection title also appears as Liangxi xiansheng wenji (梁溪先生文集) and in the variant form Liangxi xiansheng wenji (粱谿先生文集). His ci collection Liangxi ci (梁溪詞) is also known as Li Zhongding gong changduanju (李忠定公長短句). Other titles listed with his works include Jingkang chuanxin lu (靖康傳信錄), Jianyan jintui zhi (建炎進退志), Jianyan shizheng ji (建炎時政記), Yizhuan neiwai pian (易傳內外篇), Lunyu xiangshuo (論語詳說), and Zhang Zhong wenjie yilu (張忠文節誼錄) in one volume.