LU CHI

born 261, southern China died 303, China Pinyin Lu Ji renowned Chinese literary critic and the first important writer to emerge from the kingdom of Wu (222280). Grandson of the great Lu Hsun, one of the founders of the Wu kingdom, and fourth son of Lu K'ang, the Wu commander in chief, Lu Chi remained in obscurity for 10 years after the Wu kingdom was subjugated by the Chin dynasty (265317). In 290 Lu Chi traveled to Lo-yang, the imperial capital, where he was warmly received by the literary elite and appointed president of the national university. He eventually rose to higher official posts and became a member of the nobility; but because of his later involvement in political plots to overthrow the emperor and attack the capital, Lu Chi was executed in 303. Although Lu Chi left a considerable body of lyric poetry in imitative style, he is better known as a writer of fu, an intricately structured form of poetry mixed with prose. A prime specimen of this form is his Wen fu (On Literature), a subtle and important work of literary criticism that defines and demonstrates the principles of composition with rare insight and precision.