The Virtuous Life of Kan Ze of Jiangdong

Kan Ze (170–243), courtesy name Derun, was from Goushang in Kuaiji Commandery, present-day Ningbo, Zhejiang. A renowned scholar and politician of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period, he was born into a poor family. As a boy, he copied books to support his studies. After reading widely, he traveled to study and mastered the Confucian classics, astronomy, and calendrical science. While serving Wu, he rose to the posts of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Director of the Secretariat, earning Sun Quan’s deep trust. During the Battle of Red Cliffs, he saw through Zhou Yu’s plan and risked his life to deliver a forged surrender letter to Cao Cao’s camp, earning great merit. Before the Battle of Yiling, he strongly recommended Lu Xun as commander and once again distinguished himself. In his later years, he returned home and founded Derun Academy, donating his residence to build Puji Temple and promote education, helping develop the culture of eastern Zhejiang. He wrote works including Notes on the Qianxiang Calendar and also contributed to research on pi. His scholarship had a lasting influence, and he remains an exemplar of how a poor student in Chinese history could change his fate through diligent study.