Lü Zujian

Life

His grandfather was Lü Pengzhong, his maternal grandfather Zeng Ji, and his elder brother Lü Zuqian. He had a son, Lü Kangnian, an eldest son named Lü Qiaonian, and a clan cousin, Lü Zutai. He studied under Lü Zuqian as a pupil.

Through his father's hereditary privilege, he entered official service and, in the ninth year of the Chunxi era (1182), supervised the Mingzhou granary. When he was about to take up the appointment, Zuqian died, and he observed the full mourning period; he was later transferred to serve as legal officer at Quzhou, appointed Director of the Imperial Fields, and made an assistant in the Court of Agriculture. The legal-office title is also given as Judicial Assistant of Kaifeng Prefecture.

In the fourth year of the Shaoxi era (1193), he became assistant prefect of Taizhou in the sixth month and Taifu si cheng in the eleventh month; after Emperor Ningzong's accession, he was appointed Taifu cheng. His career also included administrative posts in the Changping service of the Eastern Liangzhe Circuit and the rank of si cheng; the dates are unspecified.

In the first year of the Qingyuan era (1195), after Zhao Ruyu was dismissed as chief councillor, he submitted a strongly remonstrating memorial, offending Han Tuozhou and being assigned to Shaozhou; another account gives Ruizhou. Before reaching the place of exile, he was redirected to Jizhou. In exile he studied and pursued principle, supporting himself by selling medicines. After an amnesty he was allowed to move to Gao'an, and later died.

Scholarship and Associations

His scholarly associations included discussions on learning with Zhu Xi and an exchange of letters, including letters sent and answered; he also corresponded with Lu Jiuyuan, Zhou Bida, Chen Fuliang, Zhang Shi, and Sun Yingshi. Shu Yan and Zhang Wei studied under him, and Shu Yan was also counted as a member of his school; Tian Zhu was also recorded as having esteemed him.

Writings and Posthumous Reputation

His collected works, the Dayu ji, are lost; twenty-six poems are currently recorded. Beyond poetry and prose, he composed a tomb inscription and a sacrificial text for his brother, wrote postscripts for Lou Yao, Zhen Dexiu, Yuan Xie, Wang Bai, and Liu Zai, and composed sacrificial texts for Chen Fuliang, Peng Guinian, Yang Jian, and Sun Yingshi.

After his death, Wang Bai and Wu Shidao praised his moral conduct; Wu Yingxian established a shrine for him, and Wu Shidao also took part in the deliberation over his posthumous name.