Lu Gui is an author about whom very little is publicly known: his native place, dates of birth and death, and main life experiences are all unrecorded. All that can presently be confirmed is that one work is attributed to him, Lyric Collection (Shuqing Ji), commonly classified under social sciences. Judging merely from the title and this classification, the book may lean toward emotional expression and the writing of lived experience, carrying a certain lyrical quality; yet its specific background, contents, and writing techniques cannot be described in detail for lack of material. For this reason, any assessment of Lu Gui should be cautious, neither exaggerating his standing nor rushing to judgment. Readers who encounter Lyric Collection would do well to begin with the text itself, attending to its tone and emotional expression and consulting relevant scholarship for a more grounded understanding.
