Lu Kang

Historical Record

Lu Kang, styled Jining, was a native of Wu Commandery and an important figure of the late Han. He was renowned for his outstanding virtue and administrative ability. According to Xie Cheng's *Book of the Later Han*, Lu Kang was noted from childhood for filial piety and brotherly love, and diligently cultivated his conduct ^c:4030. His virtue won the esteem of the then Administrator Li Su, who recommended him as Filial and Incorrupt ^c:4030.

Lu Kang's loyalty and righteousness were fully shown after misfortune befell Li Su. When Li Su was executed for an offense, Lu Kang, heedless of his own safety, of his own accord gathered up Li Su's body and brought it back to Yingchuan for burial ^c:4030. During the mourning for Li Su, Lu Kang observed all the proper rites until the mourning period was complete ^c:4030. This act not only displayed his deep filial devotion and loyalty to his former patron, but also won him a very high reputation among the scholar-gentry.

Thereafter, for his outstanding talent and virtue, Lu Kang was recommended as Flourishing Talent, and successively served as Administrator of three commanderies ^c:4030. In each of these posts he was widely praised for his able governance, displaying his outstanding administrative skill ^c:4030. In the end, Lu Kang was appointed Administrator of Lujiang, continuing to serve the House of Han ^c:4030.

Lu Kang's family was also well known through his son Lu Ji. Lu Ji, styled Gongji, was Lu Kang's son. When Lu Ji was only six years old, he paid his respects to Yuan Shu at Jiujiang, and because he tucked away tangerines to bring home to his mother he left behind the famous tale of "concealing tangerines for his mother" ^c:4030. This incident displays not only Lu Ji's filial piety but also, indirectly, the Lu family's emphasis on filial devotion and its transmission of a fine family tradition.

After Sun Ce occupied the lands of Wu, eminent men such as Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and Qin Song were honored guests, together discussing the great affairs of the realm. They held that the four seas were not yet settled and must be pacified by force ^c:4030. However, the young Lu Ji, in the lowest seat, offered a different view. He declared loudly that long ago Guan Zhong, aiding Duke Huan of Qi, had "nine times assembled the lords and once set the realm right" without resorting to war chariots ^c:4030. He also cited Confucius's words, "If distant peoples do not submit, then cultivate civil virtue to draw them in," stressing the importance of virtue and civil governance ^c:4030. Lu Ji held that the disputants of the day did not strive to make virtue brilliant so as to draw in distant peoples, but instead single-mindedly exalted force, which made even him, a child, uneasy ^c:4030. Zhang Zhao and the others were greatly astonished at Lu Ji's words, which once again proved the Lu family's education and Lu Ji's own precocity.

In the Novel

In the literary work *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Lu Kang's image is not portrayed in detail. According to the materials provided, Lu Kang appears only once in the *Romance*, in Chapter 15 ^c:4030, with no specific story developed. This means the *Romance*'s shaping of Lu Kang is almost a blank; he exists more as a background figure or as a lead-in to his son Lu Ji. Compared with the historical image of Lu Kang as Administrator of Lujiang, renowned for filial devotion and administrative achievement, the *Romance* gives him very little ink, failing to display his specific deeds and personal charisma in the chaos of the late Han. Thus, regarding the literary shaping of Lu Kang, it may be said that the *Romance* offers no unique perspective or plot; his image relies entirely on the historical record.

Key Relationships

* With Li Su (the Administrator): Lu Kang's relationship with Li Su was an important turning point in his early career. Li Su recommended Lu Kang as Filial and Incorrupt and was the patron who introduced him to office ^c:4030. More importantly, after Li Su was executed, Lu Kang, avoiding no suspicion, gathered his body and saw to his burial, displaying his noble character and loyalty to his former patron ^c:4030. This spirit of "a knight dies for one who appreciates him" was especially precious in the chaos of the late Han.
* With Lu Ji (his son): Lu Kang was the father of Lu Ji ^c:4030. Lu Ji's "concealing tangerines for his mother" and his "govern the realm with civil virtue" argument before Sun Ce both indirectly reflect Lu Kang's fine education of his son as a father and the transmission of the family tradition ^c:4030. Lu Ji's precocity and filial piety were surely the pride of the Lu family and a side-proof of Lu Kang's own character and his regard for his family.
* With Yuan Shu: There is no description of any direct personal relationship between Lu Kang and Yuan Shu, but his son Lu Ji once paid his respects to Yuan Shu at Jiujiang ^c:4030. Yuan Shu "marvelled greatly" at Lu Ji's filial act of concealing tangerines for his mother ^c:4030, so the Lu family was indirectly connected to Yuan Shu.
* With Sun Ce, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, Qin Song: Lu Kang himself has no record of direct interaction with these figures, but his son Lu Ji once debated statecraft with Zhang Zhao and the others before Sun Ce ^c:4030. Lu Ji's "civil virtue" position contrasted with the "exalt force" thinking of Zhang Zhao and others, displaying the Lu family's intellectual independence and adherence to the Confucian ideal of governance.

Iconic Scenes

* Gathering Li Su's body and seeing to his burial: This is one of the most emblematic events of Lu Kang's life. After Li Su was executed for an offense, Lu Kang, heedless of his own safety and of worldly opinion, resolutely gathered Li Su's body, brought it back to Yingchuan for burial, and mourned for him ^c:4030. This act fully displays Lu Kang's loyalty, righteousness, filial devotion, and noble character, winning him a very high reputation and laying the foundation for his later official advancement.
* Serving as Administrator of three commanderies and being praised for his governance: After being recommended as Flourishing Talent, Lu Kang successively served as Administrator of three commanderies, praised in each post for his able governance ^c:4030. This shows that, beyond his noble character, he possessed outstanding administrative ability, able to govern localities effectively and benefit the people. This is his emblematic achievement as an official.
* In office as Administrator of Lujiang: Lu Kang was finally appointed Administrator of Lujiang ^c:4030. Although the historical sources do not record his specific deeds in that office in detail, this post was the height of his career and represented his standing as an important regional official of the late Han. When his son Lu Ji paid his respects to Yuan Shu at Jiujiang, Lu Kang was precisely Administrator of Lujiang ^c:4030, making the office an important background to the family's story.
* Lu Ji "concealing tangerines for his mother": Although the protagonist is Lu Ji, this event is an emblematic scene of the Lu family's transmission of filial piety ^c:4030. Lu Ji, only six years old, did not forget his mother before Yuan Shu, tucking tangerines away in his bosom, fully reflecting the Lu family's emphasis on filial piety and the success of its education. This story has been handed down through the ages and indirectly raised the family's reputation.