Wu Kang (武亢) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wu Kang was an Astrologer.

PeriodSong, Liao, and Jin

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

Drowned himself · At Cai Prefecture 蔡州
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 154

Attested activity

AD 1233 天興二年九月
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 148
AD 1233 to AD 1234 哀宗至蔡州
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 131, passage 140
AD 1234 明年甲午正月
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 153-154

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Wu Zhen (武禎)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 137

Career and standing

senior director of astronomy 司天長行
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 141

Places and affiliations

Polity Jin 金 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 6, 55

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Author · Addressed to Emperor Aizong (哀宗)
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 142-145, 148
Speech · Speaker · Addressed to Emperor Aizong (哀宗)
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 151

Events and relationships

Predicted twelfth month attack and Yuan withdrawal
Divination · Diviner
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passages 148, 151, 153

Assessments and attributes

Assessment rather arrogant; criticized by court officials · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Jin 131, passage 147

References in the histories

History of Jin, Chapter 131Volume 131 Biographies 69: Huan Zhe, Liang Chong, Song Gui, Pan Shouheng, Fang Ji, Liu Wansu, Zhang Congzheng, Li Qingsi, Ji Tianxi, Zhang Yuansu, Ma Guizhong, Wu Zhen Son: Kang, Li Mao, Hu Dexin · 6 passages

Open chapter

金世，如武禎、武亢之信而不誣，劉完素、張元素之治療通變，學其術者皆師尊之，不可不記雲。 Under the Jin, men such as Wu Zhen and Wu Kang proved trustworthy and true, while Liu Wansu and Zhang Yuansu were masters of adaptive treatment. All who learned from them revered them as teachers — and they must be recorded.

子亢 His son Kang

子亢，寡言笑，不妄交。 His son Kang spoke little, laughed little, and made friends cautiously.

召至，屏人與語，大悅，除司天長行，賞賚甚厚。 Kang was summoned. The emperor dismissed his attendants and spoke with him alone, was greatly pleased, appointed him senior director of astronomy, and lavished rewards upon him.

天興二年九月，蔡州被圍，亢奏曰：「十二月三日必攻城。」 In the ninth month of the second year of Tianxing, when Cai Prefecture was under siege, Kang memorialized, "On the third day of the twelfth month the enemy will attack the city."

是日，亢赴水死雲。 On that day Kang drowned himself.