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Ji Kang (, 223–262), sometimes referred to as Xi Kang,
courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...
Shuye (, "shu" means the 3rd son of the family, "ye" means night), was a Chinese writer, poet, Taoist philosopher, musician and alchemist of the
Three Kingdoms The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and wa ...
period. He was one of the
Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (also known as the Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove, ) were a group of Chinese scholars, writers, and musicians of the third century CE. Although the various individuals all existed, their interconnection is ...
who held aloof from the dangerous politics of third-century China to devote themselves to art and refinement. Ji Kang is noted as an author and was also a famous composer and
guqin The ''guqin'' (; ) is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as highlighted b ...
-player. He was described as a handsome and tall man (approximately 1.88 metres).


Life

As a thinker, Ji Kang wrote on longevity, music theory, politics and ethics. Among his works were ''Yangsheng Lun'' (飬生論, Essay on Nourishing Life), ''Shengwu Aile Lun'' (聲無哀樂論, Discourse on sounds slacking sorrow or joy, i.e. On the Absence of Sentiments in Music), ''Qin Fu'' (琴賦, A Composition on the
Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...
), and ''Shisi Lun'' (釋私論, Discourse on Individuality). As a musician, Ji Kang composed a number of solo pieces for the
qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...
. Ji Kang was highly critical of
Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
and challenged many social conventions of his time, provoking scandal and suspicion. He married
Cao Cao Cao Cao () (; 155 – 15 March 220), courtesy name Mengde (), was a Chinese statesman, warlord and poet. He was the penultimate Grand chancellor (China), grand chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the End of ...
's granddaughter (or great-granddaughter according to some). Ji Kang assumed a post under the
Cao Wei Wei ( Hanzi: 魏; pinyin: ''Wèi'' < : *''ŋjweiC'' <
state, but official work bored him. When the regent
Sima Zhao Sima Zhao () (211 – 6 September 265), courtesy name Zishang, was a Chinese military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Sima Zhao capably maintained control of Wei, which had been ...
came to power, he offered Ji Kang a civil position, but Ji Kang insolently rejected Sima Zhao's envoy
Zhong Hui Zhong Hui (225 – 3 March 264), courtesy name Shiji, was a Chinese calligrapher, essayist, military general, and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the younger son of Zhang Changpu with Zhong Y ...
. When one of Ji Kang's friends was imprisoned on false charges, Ji Kang testified in his defense, but both were sent to jail. At Zhong Hui's urging, Sima Zhao sentenced Ji Kang to death. Three thousand scholars petitioned for his pardon, but his enemies were implacable. Before his execution, Ji Kang is said to have played one last melody on the guqin, a swan song forever lost. Ji Kang wrote ''Guangling San'', a composition for the
Guqin The ''guqin'' (; ) is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as highlighted b ...
recounting the assassination of a king of Han. It was said to be inspired by a spirit visitation, and was widely acclaimed.Lai, T.C. and Mok, Robert (1981). ''Jade Flute: The Story of Chinese Music''. Schocken Books, New York. He was also believed to have become a ''
xian Xi'an ( , ; ; Chinese: ), frequently spelled as Xian and also known by other names, is the capital of Shaanxi Province. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong Plain, the city is the third most populous city in Western China, after Chongqin ...
'' (Taoist immortal) through shijie by mainstream
Taoism Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of Philosophy, philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of China, Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmo ...
.


See also

*
List of Chinese authors This is a list of Chinese writers. Chronological list Qin dynasty and before * Gan De (fl. 4th century BC) * Gongsun Long (c. 325–250 BC) * Kong Qiu (551–479 BC) * Li Kui (fl. 4th century BC) * Lu Jia (d. 170) * Han Fei (280–233 BC) * ...

Ji Kang in contemporary art


References


Further reading

*Owen, Stephen ranslator Swartz, Wendy ranslator Tian, Xiaofei ditor Warner, Ding Xiang ditor(2017)
The Poetry of Ruan Ji and Xi Kang
. '' De Gruyter Mouton''.


External links



Xi Kang and Qin music. {{DEFAULTSORT:Ji, Kang 223 births 262 deaths Three Kingdoms philosophers 3rd-century Chinese poets Ancient music composers Cao Wei musicians Chinese male composers Chinese non-fiction writers Guqin players Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove People from Huaibei Writers from Anhui Musicians from Anhui Cao Wei essayists Chinese composers