Li Guangdi 李光地

LI Kuang-ti 李光地 (T. 晉卿 H. 厚庵), Sept. 29, 1642-1718, June 26, official, was a native of An-hsi, Fukien. He was born in a scholarly family of moderate means which became impoverished in the course of the wars and lawlessness of the early Ch'ing period. In 1655, aged fourteen (sui), he and eleven members of his family were kidnapped by bandits but were rescued a year later by an uncle. He became a chin-shih in 1670, was selected a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and was assigned to acquire the Manchu language. He later maintained that his interest in phonetics began with his study of Manchu. He was made a compiler in 1672 and a year later was granted leave to return home. In 1674 Kêng Ching-chung [q.v.] rebelled at Foochow and summoned many noted men-of-letters to his aid. Li Kuang-ti, realizing that not to side with Kêng might bring on difficulty for his family, went from An-hsi to Foochow to interview the rebel, but managed to depart soon on the plea that his father was ill. His friend, Ch'ên Mêng-lei [q.v.], was then staying in Foochow where the two agreed to help each other—Ch'ên would seem to favor Kêng while Li would act as a spy for the Manchus. Thus, whatever the outcome of the rebellion, each would have someone to plead his case with the victor. Li's family went into hiding in the mountains of southern Fukien. In 1675 he sent to Emperor Shêng-tsu a memorial, concealed in a wax ball and carried by a trusted servant, in which he reported that the Manchu army might easily invade Fukien by way of T'ing-chou-fu. The plan was never utilized but the memorial made a deep impression on Emperor Shêng-tsu who thereafter regarded Li as thoroughly loyal. When Giyesu [q.v.] recovered Fukien (1676) and Kêng surrendered, Li went to Foochow where he learned that he had been raised to a reader of the Hanlin Academy (1677). He was about to set out for Peking when the death of his father made it necessary to observe a period of mourning. During that time the forces of Chêng Ch'êng-kung [q.v.] made inroads on southern Fukien, but Li sent (1678) relatives of his to guide by little known trails the Manchu armies in the recovery of that region. When the region was pacified he was rewarded with the rank of a sub-chancellor of the Grand Secretariat and went to Peking with his mother in 1680 to assume the post. A year later, when the emperor inquired about affairs in Formosa, which was still held by Chêng Ch'êng-kung, Li advised the emperor to subjugate the island, recommending Shih Lang [q.v.] as the man to undertake it.

Early in 1682 the trial of Kêng Ching-chung and his followers took place and Ch'ên Mêng-lei, like them, was held for treason. Li Kuang-ti made no overt efforts to help Ch'ên and consequently their friendship was severed. Ch'ên maintained that the "memorial hidden in wax" was not the work of Li alone, but was drafted by himself and Li in collaboration. Though Kêng and other rebels were executed, Ch'ên was sentenced only to exile-saved, it is said, from a more severe fate by a secret memorial from Li begging leniency. Be that as it may, the two were never reconciled.

In June 1682 Li Kuang-ti was granted leave to accompany his mother back to Fukien. After remaining there four years, he returned to Peking and was granted several audiences. The emperor was still convinced of Li's loyalty and ability, especially since Shih Lang, whom Li had recommended, succeeded in conquering Formosa (1683). Li was appointed to a high office of Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, but finding himself the target of jealous officials, he again asked for leave. At home scarcely a year, it was incumbent on him to return to Peking in 1688 to mourn the death of Empress Hsiao-chuang [q.v.]. About this time several officials whom he had recommended as able administrators or as good writers were convicted on various charges. Li was reprimanded for these errors of judgment, but was pardoned despite the activities of his enemies, especially Hsü Ch'ien-hsüeh [q.v.], to have him discredited.

Early in 1690 Li Kuang-ti was made junior vice-president of the Board of War and early in 1694 was given the concurrent post of director of education in Chihli. In April 1694 he was informed of his mother's death and asked for the usual leave for mourning. This was granted but he was ordered to observe the mourning in Peking. Many rumors were afloat as to why Li did not return to his home on this occasion, but for not doing so he was often accused of thinking more of his rank as an official than of the obligations of filial piety. These accusations dealt a severe blow to his aspirations to be known as a true follower of the Sung philosophers whose doctrines were much in vogue and were sponsored by Emperor Shêng-tsu. During the period of mourning Li Kuang-ti edited several works of Chu Hsi and the Ch'êng brothers (see under Hu Wei), possibly to prove that he was still a loyal adherent of the Sung school.

After the mourning period, Li Kuang-ti was again appointed director of education of Chihli (1696-98) and in 1697 was concurrently made a vice-president of the Board of Works. Early in 1699 he was appointed governor of Chihli, a post he held until late in 1705. In the meantime he was given the concurrent post of president of the Board of Civil Appointments (1703-05). Late in 1705 he was made a Grand Secretary, in which capacity he served until his death in 1718. During this last term in office he headed several commissions for the official compilation of works expounding the Sung philosophy, namely: the complete works of Chu Hsi, 朱子全書 Chu-tzû ch'üan-shu, 66 chüan, the emperor's preface dated 1713, printed in 1714; annotations to the Book of Changes, 周易折中 Chou-I chê-chung, 22 chüan, printed in 1715; and a synthesis of the doctrines of the Neo-Confucian school, entitled 性理精義 Hsing-li ching-i, 12 chüan, printed in 1715, the emperor adding a preface dated 1717. Li Kuang-ti was known as having mastered the Book of Changes and was often asked by Emperor Shêng-tsu to explain that Classic to him. On one occasion. however, the emperor remarked that Li's interpretation left him in the dark. On another occasion the emperor requested Li to use the principles of that Classic to predict the outcome of a battle. When the prediction indicated a defeat the emperor agreed, but added that the defeat would be for the enemy and not for himself. This proved to be the case.

During his last years at Court, Li Kuang-ti pleaded for lenient treatment of certain officials, notably Ch'ên P'êng-nien and Chang Po-hsing [qq.v.] when they were in distress. It is reported also that when Fang Pao [q.v.] was accused, Li saved the life of that scholar by stressing his achievements as a writer. Among those whom Li brought to fame may be mentioned Yang Ming-shih (see under Shên T'ung), Chao Shên-ch'iao, Ho Ch'o, Hui Shih-ch'i, Mei Wen-ting, and Mei Ku-ch'êng [qq.v.]. The last two were noted for their attainments in mathematics, a subject in which Emperor Shêng-tsu was interested. Li himself made some efforts to excel in this field but without success. After his death he was canonized as Wên-chên 文貞.

An early edition of the collected works of Li Kuang-ti bore the title Li Wên-chên kung (公) ch'üan-chi, but a more complete edition, entitled 榕村全集 Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi, appeared with a preface dated 1829. This edition contains thirty-eight items by Li and ten by four of his descendants. Fourteen of the items consist of Li's treatises on the classics. One, entitled Jung-ts'un yün-shu (韻書), is a classification of Chinese words by rhyme. Another, entitled Jung-ts'un tzû-hua pien-o 字畫辨訛 lists characters often written in mistaken forms. A work, entitled 曆象本要 Li hsiang pên-yao, printed in 1742—though attributed to Li—was probably written by Mei Wên-ting. Li compiled two anthologies of prose, one of verse, and three of pa-ku essays used in the examinations. The Jung-ts'un chüan-chi includes Li's own verse and essays, and a collection of his sayings as recorded by his disciples, entitled Jung-ts'un yü-lu (語錄), 30 chüan, originally printed in 1729. A supplement to this collection of sayings, entitled Jung-ts'un yü-lu hsü-pien (續編), 20 chüan, printed in 1933, sheds much light on the intrigues and political cliques of the K'ang-hsi period. Being a capable politician, Li Kuang-ti emerged victorious after many other leading officials had been disgraced. Unlike others he carefully avoided being involved in the struggle of the sons of Emperor Shêng-tsu for the throne. At one time he spoke for the heir apparent, Yin-jeng [q,v.], but managed never to offend the contenders. He seems to have been particularly favored by Yin-chên [q.v.] who, after ascending the throne, honored him posthumously with the title of Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent (1723) and entered his name in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen (1733).

Li Kuang-ti had three sons, two of whom grew to maturity. The elder, Li Chung-lun 李鍾倫 (T. 世德 H. 菜園, 1663-1706), was a chü-jên of 1693 and the author of the 周禮訓纂 Chou-li hsün-tsuan, 21 chüan, printed in 1757, and three other works which are included in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi. The younger, Li Chung-tso 李鍾佐 (T. 世諧, H. 允亭, 1668-1691), died young, but his son, Li Ch'ing-chih 李清植 (T. 立侯 H. 穆亭 1690-1744), became a chin-shih in 1724 and then a Hanlin compiler, later rising to the rank of junior vice-president of the Board of Ceremonies (1744). Three works by Li Ch'ing-chih are included in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi, one being a nien-p'u of Li Kuang-ti, entitled 文貞公年譜 Wên-chên kung nien-p'u, 2 chüan. A son of Li Ch'ing-chih, named Li Tsung-wên 李宗文 (T. 延彬, H. 郁齋), also became a chin-shih (1748) and a Hanlin compiler, and rose to the rank of a vice-president of the Board of Ceremonies (1773-77). One of his works is printed in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi. A son of Li Chung-lun, named Li Ch'ing-fu 李清馥 (T. 根侯 H. 遜齋), was prefect of Ta-ming-fu (1737-42) and of Kuang-p'ing-fu (1742-43), both in Chihli, and the author of a revised edition of the nien-p'u of Li Kuang-ti, entitled Jung-ts'un p'u-lu ho-k'ao compiled chiefly from material in the Jung-ts'un yü-lu hsü-pien, and in unpublished letters. This and another work by Li Ch'ing-fu, entitled 道南講授 Tao-nan chiang-shou, 13 chüan, (completed 1770?) were printed in the Jung-ts'un ch'üan-chi.

[ 1/268/5b;1/486/24b;2/10/23a;2/67/lla;3/10/la; 3/76/53a; 3/407/34a; 4/13/4a; 6/3/5b; 7/7/16a; 9/6/15b; 17/4/4; 18/7/10; Fukien t'ung-chih (1922) 列傳 34/la; Ta-ming fu chih (1854), 10/24b; Kuang-p'ing fu chih (1894) 7/4b.]

FANG CHAO-YING

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李光地，字晉卿，福建安溪人。幼穎異。年十三，舉家陷山賊中，得脫歸。力學慕古。康熙九年成進士，選庶吉士，授編修。十二年，乞省親歸。十三年，耿精忠反，鄭錦據泉州，光地奉親匿山谷間，錦與精忠並遣人招之，力拒。十四年，密疏言：「閩疆褊小，自二賊割據，誅求敲扑，民力已盡，賊勢亦窮。南來大兵宜急攻，不可假以歲月，恐生他變。方今精忠悉力於仙霞、杉關，鄭錦并命於漳、潮之界，惟汀州小路與贛州接壤，賊所置守禦不過千百疲卒。竊聞大兵南來，皆於賊兵多處鏖戰，而不知出奇以搗其虛，此計之失也。宜因賊防之疏，選精兵萬人或五六千人，詐為入廣，由贛達汀，為程七八日耳。二賊聞急趨救，非月餘不至，則我軍入閩久矣。賊方悉兵外拒，內地空虛，大軍果從汀州小路橫貫其腹，則三路之賊不戰自潰。伏乞密敕領兵官偵諜虛實，隨機進取。仍恐小路崎嶇，須使鄉兵在大軍之前，步兵又在馬兵之前，庶幾萬全，可以必勝。」置疏蠟丸中，遣使間道赴京師，因內閣學士富鴻基上之。上得疏動容，嘉其忠，下兵部錄付領兵大臣。時尚之信亦叛，師次贛州、南安，未能入福建。康親王傑書自衢州克仙霞關，復建寧、延平，精忠請降。師進駐福州，令都統拉哈達、賚塔等討鄭錦，並求光地所在。十六年，復泉州，光地謁拉哈達於漳州。拉哈達白王，疏稱「光地矢志為國，顛沛不渝，宜予褒揚」，命優敘，擢侍讀學士。行至福州，以父喪歸。十七年，同安賊蔡寅結眾萬餘，以白巾為號，掠安溪。光地募鄉勇百餘人扼守，絕其糧道，賊解去。未幾，錦遣其將劉國軒陷海澄、漳平、同安、惠安諸縣，進逼泉州，斷萬安、江東二橋，南北援絕。光地遣使赴拉哈達軍告急，值江水漲，道阻，乃導軍自漳平、安谿小道入。光地從父日率鄉勇度石珠嶺，芟荊棘，架浮橋以濟。光地出迎，具牛酒犒軍。又使弟光垤、光垠以鄉兵千度白鴿嶺，迎巡撫吳興祚軍於永春。師次泉州，擊破國軒，竄入海。拉哈達上其功，再予優敘，遷翰林學士。光地上疏推功將帥，辭新命，不允；並官日，後積功官至永州總兵。十九年，光地至京師，授內閣學士。入對，言：「鄭錦已死，子克塽幼弱，部下爭權，宜急取之。」且舉內大臣施琅習海上形勢，知兵，可重任，上用其言，卒平臺灣。

陳夢雷者，侯官人。與光地同歲舉進士，同官編修。方家居，精忠亂作，光地使日蠁潛詣夢雷探消息，得虛實，約並具疏密陳破賊狀，光地獨上之，由是大受寵眷。及精忠敗，夢雷以附逆逮京師，下獄論斬。光地乃疏陳兩次密約狀，夢雷得減死戍奉天。

二十一年，乞假奉母歸。二十五年，還京，授翰林院掌院學士，直經筵，兼充日講起居注官，教習庶吉士。逾年，以母病乞歸省。二十七年，至京。初，光地與侍讀學士德格勒善，於上前互相稱引。上召德格勒與諸詞臣試乾清宮，以文字劣，鐫秩。旋掌院庫勒訥劾其私抹起居注事，下獄論罪。詔責光地，光地引罪，乞嚴譴，上原之。尋擢兵部侍郎。三十年，典會試。偕侍郎博霽、徐廷璽，原任河督靳輔勘視河工。三十三年，督順天學政。聞母喪，命在任守制。光地乞假九月回裡治喪。御史沈愷曾、楊敬儒交章論劾，上令遵初命。給事中彭鵬復疏論光地十不可留，目為貪位忘親，排詆尤力。乃下九卿議，命光地解任，在京守制。三十五年，服闋，仍督順天學政。三十六年，授工部侍郎。

三十七年，出為直隸巡撫。初，畿輔屢遭水患，上以漳河與滹沱合流易汎濫，命光地導漳自故道引入運河，殺滹沱之勢。光地疏言：「漳河現分為三：一自廣平經魏、元城，至山東館陶入衛水歸運；一為老漳河，自山東丘縣經南宮諸縣，與完固口合流，至鮑家嘴歸運；一為小漳河，自丘縣經廣宗、鉅鹿合於滏，又經束鹿、冀州合於滹沱。由衡水出獻縣完固口復分為兩支：小支與老漳河合流而歸運，大支經河間、大城、靜海入子牙河而歸淀。今入衛之河與老漳河流淺而弱，宜疏濬；其完固口小支應築壩逼水入河，更於靜海閻、留二莊挑土築堤，束水歸淀，俾無汎濫。」詔報可。尋奏霸州、永清、宛平、良鄉、固安、高陽、獻縣因濬新河，佔民田一百三十九頃，請豁免賦額，從之。通州等六州縣額設紅剝船六百號，剝運南漕，每船給贍田，遇水旱例不蠲免，光地奏請援民田例概蠲免之。三十九年，上臨視子牙河工，命光地於獻縣東西兩岸築長堤，西接大城，東接靜海，亙二百餘裡；又於靜海廣福樓、焦家口開新河，引水入淀：由是下流益暢，無水患。四十二年，上褒其治績，擢吏部尚書，仍管巡撫事。四十三年，給事中黃鼎楫、湯右曾、許志進、宋駿業、王原等合疏劾光地撫綏無狀，致河間饑民流入京畿，並寧津縣匿災不報狀。光地疏辨，引咎乞罷，詔原之。再疏辭尚書，不許。尋疏劾雲南布政使張霖假稱詔旨，販鬻私鹽，得銀百六十餘萬，霖論斬，籍沒。

四十四年，拜文淵閣大學士。時上潛心理學，旁闡六藝，御纂硃子全書及周易折中、性理精義諸書，皆命光地校理，日召入便殿揅求探討。四十七年，皇太子允礽以疾廢，命諸大臣保奏諸皇子孰可當儲位者。尚書王鴻緒等舉皇子允禩，上切責之。詢光地何無一言，光地奏：「前者皇上問臣以廢太子病，臣奏言徐徐調治，天下之福，臣未嘗告諸人也。」光地被上遇，同列多忌之者，凡所稱薦，多見排擠，因以撼光地。撫直隸時，御史呂履恆劾光地於秋審事任意斷決，上察其不實，還其奏。給事中王原劾文選郎中陳汝弼受贓，法司論絞，汝弼，光地所薦也。上察其供證非實，下廷臣確核，得逼供行賄狀，汝弼免罪，承讞官降革有差，原奪官。

光地益敬慎，其有獻納，罕見於章奏。江寧知府陳鵬年忤總督阿山，坐事論重闢，光地言其誣，鵬年遂內召。兩江總督噶禮與巡撫張伯行互訐，遣大臣往訊，久不決。嗣詔罷噶禮，復伯行官，光地實讚之。桐城貢士方苞坐戴名世獄論死，上偶言及侍郎汪霦卒後，誰能作古文者，光地曰：「惟戴名世案內方苞能。」苞得釋，召入南書房。其扶植善類如此。

五十二年，與千叟宴，賜賚有加。頃之，以病乞休，溫旨慰留。越二年，復以為請，且言母喪未葬，許給假二年，賜詩寵行。五十六年，還朝，累疏乞罷，上以大學士王掞方在告，暫止之。五十七年，卒，年七十七，遣恆親王允祺奠醊，賜金千兩，諡文貞。使工部尚書徐元夢護其喪歸，復諭閣臣：「李光地謹慎清勤，始終一節，學問淵博。朕知之最真，知朕亦無過光地者！」雍正初，贈太子太傅，祀賢良祠。

弟光坡，性至孝，家居不仕，潛心經術。子鍾倫，舉人，治經史性理，旁及諸子百家，從其叔父光坡治三禮，於周官、禮記尤精，稱其家學。從子天寵，進士，官編修，有志操，邃於經學，與弟鍾僑、鍾旺俱以窮經講學為業。鍾僑進士，官編修，督學江西，以實行課士，左遷國子監丞。鍾旺，舉人，授中書，充性理精義纂修官。