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 Theo ...

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 Eastern Han dynasty and was followed by the West ...

period. He was one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove 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 Scholar-bureaucrats, literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinemen ...

-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), and ''Shisi Lun'' (釋私論, Discourse on Individuality). As a musician, Ji Kang composed a number of solo pieces for the qin. 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 Religious Confucianism, religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, ...

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 of the Eastern Han dynasty, and he amassed immense power in the dynasty's final years. As one o ...

's granddaughter (or great-granddaughter according to some). Ji Kang assumed a post under the

Cao Wei Wei ( Hanzi: 魏; pinyin: ''Wèi'' <

Middle Chinese

: *''ŋjwei^C'' < 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. 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 Scholar-bureaucrats, literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinemen ...

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'' (Taoist immortal) through shijie by mainstream

Taoism Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the '' Ta ...

References

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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

Life

See also

References

Further reading

External links