Introduction
Lu Zhi (159–192), courtesy name Zigan, was an ancient Chinese general, government official, and scholar during the Eastern Han dynasty. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, he was the mentor of Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan, and was described as a tall man (approximately 1.89 metres or 6'2") with sonorous voice.
Life
Lu Zhi was born in Zhuo Commandery (涿郡, Zhuōjùn; present-day Zhuozhou, Hebei) in AD 159. He studied under Ma Rong and Zheng Xuan was one of his classmates.
He was among the most pre-eminent scholars of the era, known for his study of texts on Chinese rituals and his assistance in compiling the History of the Eastern Han ( 東觀漢記, 东观汉记, Dōngguān Hànjì). His students included Gao You, later a scholarly commentator on the Chinese classics; Liu Bei, later the king of Shu during the Three Kingdoms; his relative Liu Deran; and Gongsun Zan, later a regional warlord. While in the service of the Han government, Lu Zhi led imperial forces to attack the Yellow Turban rebels in 184 but was removed from command after the eunuch Zuo Feng (左豐) made false accusations against him. Lu Zhi then later served as a Master of Writing and warned against Dong Zhuo's sudden displacement of Emperor Shao.
Family
Lu Zhi's son, Lu Yu, later served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period.