Song, Liao, and Jin · Official, Statesman, and Calligrapher

Lou Ji 婁機

First attested AD 1166; died AD 1209

Passages
25
Chapters
1
Histories
1

Overview

Lou Ji was an official, Statesman, and Calligrapher.

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Courtesy name Yanfa 彥發 Yanfa

Life and dates

Death

Age

Attested activity

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Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Career and standing

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Places and affiliations

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Learning and skills

Works and attributed material

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Events and relationships

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Assessments and attributes

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Source notes

References in the histories

25 passages

History of Song, Chapter 410Volume 410 Biographies 169: Lou Ji, Shen Huan, Shu Lin, Cao Yanyue, Fan Yingling, Xu Jingsun · 25 passages
韓侂胄議開邊,機極口沮之,謂:“恢復之名非不美,今士卒驕逸,遽驅於鋒鏑之下,人才難得,財力未裕,萬一兵連禍結,久而不解,奈何?” When Han Tuozhou proposed reopening military campaigns on the frontier, Lou Ji strongly opposed him, saying, "The goal of recovering lost territory is admirable in name, but the troops are now arrogant and undisciplined. To rush them into battle when capable commanders are scarce and finances are strained—if war drags on without end, what then?"
進太常少卿兼權中書舍人,詔遣宣諭荊、襄,機昌言曰:“使往慰安人情則可,必欲開邊啟釁,有死而已,不能從也。” He was promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and acting drafting secretary of the Secretariat. When ordered to go announce and reassure the people of Jing and Xiang, Lou Ji spoke bluntly: "If the mission is to comfort the people, I can go. But if the aim is to reopen the frontier and provoke war, I would rather die than obey."
侂胄誅,召為吏部侍郎兼太子左庶子,還朝,言:“至公始可以服天下,權臣以私意橫生,敗國殄民,今當行以至公。 After Han Tuozhou was executed, Lou Ji was recalled as vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel and left tutor of the crown prince. On returning to court he said, "Only absolute fairness can win the loyalty of the realm. Powerful ministers have risen through private ambition, ruining the state and harming the people. The court must now govern with absolute fairness.