Xin Qiji

Timeline

1. 1140Licheng · LichengBorn in Licheng, Jinan Prefecture, at a time when Shandong was already occupied by the Jin; his family had lived in the north for generations, and from childhood he heard tales of Southern Song resistance to the Jin.
2. 1141–1150Licheng · LichengHe spent his childhood in Licheng during the Shaoxing era; after the Shaoxing peace settlement northern scholars found themselves in an awkward position, and his grandfather Xin Zan often took him to pavilions to gaze afar, stirring his ambition to recover the Central Plains.
3. 1161–1162Licheng · LichengIn the 32nd year of Shaoxing he joined Geng Jing's uprising as secretary, was sent south to audience with Emperor Gaozong of Song, and on the way back captured the defector Zhang Anguo, leading his followers to join the Southern Song.
4. 1163–1207Shangrao · ShangraoHe successively served as prefect of Chuzhou, governor of Longxing Prefecture, and Pacification Commissioner of Hunan, repeatedly submitting memorials on northern expedition without success; in later life he lived in retirement at Shangrao, his ci impassioned and desolate, founding the haofang school of ci.