Li Zhaoqi (d. 1126) was a Northern Song official and poet. His courtesy name was Chengji, and he styled himself Lejing xiansheng; his native place is variously given as Jinan, Juye in Jizhou (modern Juye, Shandong), and Qizhou.
Life
In his youth, he was ranked with Chao Buzhi and came to the attention of Su Shi. He passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Yuanfeng (1079) and began as professor at Xuzhou.
On Li Qingchen's recommendation, he entered government service. He subsequently served as Corrector in the Directorate of the Palace Library, Collator, and Palace Library Academician; in the fifth year of Yuanyou (1090), he was transferred from Corrector to Collator. Next he was assistant prefect of Luzhou, then a Directorate Secretary and judicial aide in Kaifeng, followed by judicial commissions in Yongxing and Jingxi. He also held the judicial commissionerates of Jingdong East Route and Jingdong Route.
After Huizong's accession, he was summoned as Executive Aide in the Right Service of the Department of State Affairs, promoted to Junior Court Gentleman in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and appointed Imperial Recorder before being sent out as prefect of Cangzhou. His career also included the titles Shaoshi, prefectural military governor, and Superintendent of Palace Temples. His status is classified as that of a civil official and a society member.
At the beginning of Chongning, a revision of the Yuanfeng edicts led to his removal as superintendent of Hongqing Palace and his entry on the party register; his party affiliation is described in terms of both Yuanfu and Yuanyou. He then lived out of office for fifteen years, occupying himself with calligraphy and painting. Late in life, he was appointed prefect of Shezhou but declined to take office; in the first year of Jingkang (1126), he was recalled as Imperial Recorder but died before taking up the appointment. Early in Shaoxing, he was posthumously restored to Zhihuiyouge.
Family and associations
His father was Li Jingshan. Li Bing (1085–1146) is identified as his collateral nephew or nephew.
He was a friend of Chao Gongbing and corresponded with Su Shi and Su Zhe. His literary associations included writing tomb epitaphs, spirit-way inscriptions, tomb tables, biographies, explanations of names, farewell poems and prefaces, sacrificial texts, lamentations, and colophons.
Works and literary legacy
His Lejing ji survives in thirty volumes, including four volumes of poetry; all extant editions lack the second volume of poetry.
References
- 搜韵 李昭玘 (27271)
- CBDB Li Zhaoqi (13565)
- Wikidata Li Zhaoqi (Q45378103)