Lu Ji, courtesy name Shiheng, was a renowned literary figure of the Western Jin Dynasty, born in Huating, Wu County (modern-day Songjiang, Shanghai). As the grandson of the famous Eastern Wu general Lu Xun and son of Lu Kang, he displayed literary talent and martial skill from a young age, becoming a military commander at just 13.
In 280 AD, the Wu Kingdom fell, and 20-year-old Lu Ji shed his armor, returning to his hometown of Huating to study behind closed doors. A decade later, he and his younger brother Lu Yun arrived at the Western Jin capital, Luoyang. The brothers' extraordinary literary talent earned them admiration, and they were hailed as the "Two Lus." Lu Ji was appointed Governor of Pingyuan, while Lu Yun became Governor of Qinghe.
After Emperor Wu of Jin died, the intellectually disabled Emperor Hui (Sima Zhong) ascended the throne, and real power fell into the hands of his ruthless and cunning Empress Jia Nanfeng. In 300 AD, Sima Lun, the Prince of Zhao who commanded the imperial guard, killed Empress Jia, deposed Emperor Hui, and declared himself emperor, sparking the famous "War of the Eight Princes." Lu Ji was appointed by Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu, as General of the Rear and Grand Commander of Hebei, leading an army to attack Sima Yi, the Prince of Changsha, but was defeated by Sima Yi at Luyuan.
Then Sima Ying, swayed by slanderous rumors that Lu Ji harbored treacherous intentions, sent men to strip Lu Ji of his military command and arrest him. Lu Ji sighed and said, "Since the fall of the Wu Kingdom, my brother and I have been graced with the emperor's favor, holding court positions and later ordered to assist the Prince of Chengdu. The prince entrusted me with great responsibility, yet today I never imagined he would believe such slander and order my death—is this not fate?"
He begged the visitor to let him write a letter to Sima Ying to plead his innocence. He sighed sadly and said, "I long to hear the cranes calling from my hometown Huating, but I will never hear them again."
Just days later, Lu Ji was killed in the military camp at just 43 years old, while his younger brother Lu Yun was also executed at 39.
Later, the idiom "Crane's Cry at Huating" came to express regret over official misfortune, or to convey nostalgia for one's homeland and attachment to life.
Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, "Remorse"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "华亭鹤唳" came to describe regret over official misfortune, or to convey nostalgia for one's homeland and attachment to life.