李纲

Li Gang is an important figure from the period between the Northern and Southern Song dynasties in Chinese history. Publicly available information about his life is limited, and this entry makes no unfounded speculation. The library holds four of his works: The Record of Trustworthy Reports of Jingkang, Gleanings from the Jingkang Chronicle, The Record of Advance and Retreat in Jianyan, and The Record of Current Affairs in Jianyan. The Record of Trustworthy Reports of Jingkang is written in notebook form, recording day by day the siege of the capital by Jin forces during the Jingkang era, the court's responses, and the debates over war and peace; it is a primary source for the late Northern Song political situation and the crisis in Bianjing. The Record of Advance and Retreat in Jianyan and The Record of Current Affairs in Jianyan document the early Southern Song court's operations and personnel changes, offering an eyewitness perspective and an annalistic style. Gleanings from the Jingkang Chronicle supplements earlier reports and has the character of a historical compilation. These works are largely based on personal experience and arranged chronologically, with detailed attention to edicts, memorials, and court deliberations; the prose is plain and values factual recording. Some pieces are categorized on the site as classic works, philosophical reading, and documentary literature, reflecting both their intellectual content and their value as historical records.