Ke Gong is an author about whom very little biographical information survives. Neither his real name, place of origin, dates of birth and death, nor his social background is clearly recorded, and publicly available sources are limited, so only a brief outline can be drawn from his surviving work. The library holds one work under his name, Song Fu Ji (A Record of Song Captives), commonly classified under Eastern philosophy. Judging from the title alone, the book records historical matters concerning captives of the Song dynasty and has the character of notes or a record of personal observations; its contents may touch on the experiences of individuals, the workings of institutions, and the social conditions of the time, combining historical value with narrative interest. Whether the author witnessed these events himself or what sources he relied on cannot be confirmed and should not be guessed. What can be affirmed is that Ke Gong's writing offers later readers a reference text for understanding details of Song history. His writing is chiefly factual, plain in style, and suited to readers interested in Song historical events and ancient notebook literature.
