Qi Kang

Qi Kang (740 – May 29, 804 ), courtesy name Xiaju , was a Chinese historian and politician of the Tang Dynasty serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Dezong.

Background Qi Kang was born in 740, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from Ding Prefecture (, in modern Baoding, Hebei). and claimed ancestry from the royal Jiang house of the Spring and Autumn period state Qi. His grandfather Qi Huan was a well-known commandery governor during Emperor Xuanzong's reign, although his father Qi Ao was described to have served in an insignificant position.

In Qi Kang's youth, the Anshi Rebellion swept over the northern parts of the Tang empire, and he took his mother and fled to Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing in Zhejiang), where he spent his time studying. It was said that Qi was capable administratively and literarily, and Zhang respected him.

After the rebellions were quashed in 784 and Emperor Dezong returned to Chang'an, the treasury was drained, and a major part of the empire was laid waste. At that time, the official Yuan Xiu , who was in charge of the state salt and iron monopolies, believed that Qi Kang was capable and recommended him as Cangbu Langzhong , a supervisorial official at the ministry of census , to be in charge of the salt monopoly in the Yangtze River-Huai River region. Qi was also soon made the deputy director of the supplies, in charge of supplying Chang'an with food from the Yangtze-Huai region. While serving as chancellor, Qi suggested the abolition of the system where, after the ministry of civil service affairs (吏部, Lìbu) selected officials to be commissioned, the officials from the legislative bureau and the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng) would reexamine the proposed list — reasoning that after the ministry of civil service affairs had carefully selected the officials, it would be a waste of time to reexamine. This suggestion was accepted. Per the customs of the time, as the deputy minister of rites was in charge of the imperial examinations, his relatives and friends would be given a separate imperial examination; under Qi's suggestion, that examination was also abolished. Also, per Qi's suggestions, various local officials were also given titles of corresponding central government officials. Emperor Dezong also gave Qi the responsibilities of editing the imperial histories. and it was said that due to the illness, he was unable to thank Emperor Dezong in person. He died in 804 and was given posthumous honors. He was also given the posthumous name of Cheng (成, meaning "successful").

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 136. New Book of Tang, vol. 128 . Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 228, 235, 236.