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

Northern Song Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a r ...

to the

Southern Song The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

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 Aidi of Tang, 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 (Manchu: ''Jušen'', ; zh, 女真, ''Nǚzhēn'', ) is a term used to collectively describe a number of East Asian Tungusic-speaking peoples, descended from the Donghu people. They lived in the northeast of China, later known as Manch ...

, 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 Emperor Gaozong of Song (12 June 1107 – 9 November 1187), personal name Zhao Gou, courtesy name Deji, was the tenth emperor of the Song dynasty and the first of the Southern Song period, ruling between 1127 and 1162 and retaining power as ret ...

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 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 Zhang Bangchang (; 1081 – 1 November 1127), was a puppet ruler of Da Chu and a prime minister of the Song dynasty. He was executed by Emperor Gaozong of Song after he surrendered. Early life Before he became a puppet ruler, he was a prime mini ...

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 Gaozong () is the temple name of several Chinese monarchs. It can refer to: * Emperor Yuan of Han (reign: 49 BC–33 BC) * Emperor Gaozong of Tang (reign: 649–683) * Emperor Gaozong of Song (reign: 1127–1162) * Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dyn ...

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 politicians from Shanghai Generals from Fujian 1083 births 1140 deaths