Buliugu Li

Who was Buliugu Li?

Buliugu Li, more commonly known in historical accounts as Lu Li, formally Prince Jian of Pingyuan, was a high level official for the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Wei who served mostly during the reign of Emperor Wencheng.

Buliugu Li's father Buliugu Qi was a general under Emperor Taiwu, whose accomplishments included inducing the uncles of the Xiongnu rebel Gai Wu to assassinate him and surrender in 446. Buliugu Li himself served in the imperial guard corps, and because Emperor Taiwu believed him to be faithful and careful, Emperor Taiwu created him the Viscount of Zhang'an, and later made him a minister in the southern regional administration of the imperial government.

In 452, Emperor Taiwu was assassinated by the eunuch Zong Ai, who made Emperor Taiwu's son Tuoba Yu the Prince of Nan'an emperor, but assassinated him later that year as well. Buliugu Li, along with Dugu Ni, Yuan He, and Baba Kehou, rose in a coup d'etat and overthrew Zong, making Tuoba Jun, the son of Emperor Taiwu's crown prince Tuoba Huang, emperor. Because of this accomplishment, Emperor Wencheng trusted him greatly and created him the Prince of Pingyuan. He initially declined, stating that his father had accomplished much during Emperor Taiwu's reign and yet was not a prince, and he did not dare to take a title greater than his father's -- to which Emperor Wencheng reacted by creating his father a prince as well. He declined again, but Emperor Wencheng did not accept his refusal. Buliugu Li went unscathed during the internecine struggles between the high level officials early in Emperor Wencheng's reign, and appeared to have been one of the victors in the struggles. Buliugu Li was said to favor literary studies, and he often taught students on the subject as well. He was also praised for his filial piety toward his father, and when Buliugu Qi died in 458, Buliugu Li mourned so greatly that he became ill.