Complete Works of Li Gang, Upper, Middle, and Lower

Author: (Song) Li Gang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Li Gang, originally from Shaowu, Fujian, was born in Xiuzhou Huating (now Songjiang County, Shanghai) in the sixth year of the Yuanfeng era of Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1083 AD). He served as the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and other positions during the reign of Emperor Huizong. After Emperor Qinzong ascended the throne, he became the Vice Minister of War and strongly advocated resisting the Jin forces. He once drew blood from his arm to submit a memorial, demonstrating an indomitable spirit with the determination to defend the territory of his ancestors at all costs, stating, "The territory of our ancestors must be defended with our lives; it must not be given up by even an inch." However, Emperor Qinzong was eager for peace and dismissed Li Gang from his position. After the Southern Song Dynasty crossed the Yangtze River, Emperor Gaozong (Zhao Gou) once appointed Li Gang as prime minister. Upon taking office, Li Gang "proposed ten measures" to reorganize the court, reclaim lost lands, and rebuild the nation. However, Zhao Gou only sought temporary stability and had no intention of restoring the empire, so he unjustly accused Li Gang of numerous unfounded crimes. As a result, Li Gang "held office for only seventy-five days before being dismissed," which became known as the "seventy-five-day prime minister." The following year, he was exiled to Wan'an Military Prefecture (now Hainan Island). Although he was later pardoned and restored to the position of Grand Academician of the Palace of State Policy, he was repeatedly exiled. His great talent and strategic vision were never fully realized, and his ambition to resist the Jin forces and save the nation remained unfulfilled. In the tenth year of the Shaoxing era (1140 AD), this national hero, who was revered alongside Zong Ze, Yue Fei, and Han Shizhong, passed away with a sense of grievance in the Songfeng Hall of Cangshan, Fujian, at the age of 58. To commemorate this patriotic hero, the Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty national hero Lin Zexu later established Li Gang Temples in Shaowu and Fuzhou, Fujian. The Li Gang Temple in Wuyi, Zhejiang, was built by the "remarkable literary talent" of the Southern Song Dynasty, Gong Feng, together with his friends Zhu Xi, Lu Zuxian, and Chen Liang, and was completed by the seventh-generation descendant of Li Gang, Li Guomin, in the first year of the Duanjing era (1276 AD), more than 700 years ago. This is recorded in both Wuchuan Bae Yao and Xiachuan Li Family Chronicle. The book is divided into three volumes and can be considered a history of class struggle during the transition between the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties, explaining the reasons through the corruption of politics, the suffering of the people, and the heavy taxes. The collected articles are divided into 180 volumes. The book is rich in content and has extremely high historical value.