Li Gang (; 1083–1140) was a politician serving during the transition from the

Northern Song The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, endin ...

to the

Southern Song The Song dynasty ( ) was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, ending ...

dynasty in the 1130s. He served as Grand Chancellor of Northern Song at its fall in 1127. He was also a general.

Biography

He claimed to be descended from

Emperor Ai of Tang Emperor Ai of Tang (27 October 89226 March 908), also known as Emperor Zhaoxuan of Tang (), born Li Zuo, later known as Li Chu (), was the last emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned—as a puppet ruler—from 904 to 907. Emperor Ai ...

, the last Emperor of Tang through a son named Li Xizhao (李熙照). In 1127, Emperor Qinzong appointed the Li Gang to lead the Song military to fend off the

Jurchens Jurchen (, ; , ) is a term used to collectively describe a number of East Asian people, East Asian Tungusic languages, Tungusic-speaking people. They lived in northeastern China, also known as Manchuria, before the 18th century. The Jurchens wer ...

, but Qinzong removed Li Gang from his appointment in the hope of starting peace talks with the Jurchens and sent his younger brother Zhao Gou to negotiate. The negotiation worked but not before Zhao Gou was taken hostage, ransomed, and released. Despite this, the Jurchens renewed their war again due to Emperor Qinzong's decisions. Since Emperor Qinzong sent his generals to other parts of the country, Li Gang himself included, he was not captured during the

Jingkang Incident The Jingkang Incident (), also known as the Humiliation of Jingkang () and the Disorders of the Jingkang Period (), was an episode of invasions and atrocities that took place in 1127 during the Jin–Song Wars when the troops of the Jurchen-l ...

but Emperor Qinzong was captured. Zhao Gou later became Emperor Gaozong in June 1127. Li Gang became Emperor Gaozong's chancellor and was responsible for pressuring him to execute Zhang Bangchang because Li Gang opposed diplomatic action with the Jurchens. When one of Li Gang's guerrilla forces, the Red Scarf Army, scored a major victory against the Jin troops and almost captured their commander-in-chief, Gaozong dismissed the minister. The dismissal of Li Gang is seen as implying that Gaozong did not really want to win this battle.

References

{{Authority control Song dynasty government officials Jin–Song wars Song dynasty generals Song dynasty poets Generals from Fujian Politicians from Nanping Poets from Fujian Writers from Fujian 1083 births 1140 deaths