生平

初仕西晋

郗鉴年少孤贫，但仍然博览经籍，即使耕作时仍不断吟咏文章，以儒雅著名。郗鉴及后担任赵王司马伦的掾，但察觉到赵王有夺权篡位之心后就称病辞官。永康二年（301年），司马伦篡位称帝，党众都升任大官，但郗鉴则闭门自守，不与他们接触。同年司马伦被推翻，郗鉴参司空（刘寔）军事，后历任太子中舍人、中书侍郎。东海王司马越后来辟命郗鉴为主簿，举贤良，但郗鉴都不接受。及后征东大将军苟晞徵郗鉴为从事中郎，郗鉴因苟晞和司马越不和，亦不应召。

领民避乱

永嘉五年 （311年），汉国军队攻陷首都洛阳，并俘掳晋怀帝，中国北方就更为混乱，郗鉴亦被乞活军首领陈午部众所获。陈午知道郗鉴有名望，打算推郗鉴为首领，只因郗鉴及时逃脱而未能成事。后来陈午溃败，郗鉴毋须逃避陈午，于是回到家乡。乡人则推举郗鉴为首领，让他带一千多户人到峄山逃避战乱。

镇守兖州

司马睿后来承制任命郗鉴为龙骧将军、兖州刺史 ，镇邹山。当时郗鉴与荀藩所派的李述和刘琨所派的刘演同居兖州刺史，三人由不同行台承制任命，各据一郡，并各自为政，互相对立。同时兖州亦正受徐龛和石勒两股军事力量侵扰。在战事不息而没有外援之下闹饥荒，虽然人民要捕野鼠燕子等动物来充饥，但仍不叛离郗鉴，反而人数渐多，三年之间就拥众数万。司马睿因而加授辅国将军、都督兖州诸军事。但于晋元帝永昌元年（322年）七月，亦因后赵军队的压力而退守合肥。同年郗鉴因纪瞻的举荐被徵为领军将军，到建康后改授尚书，郗鉴因病而不接任。司马睿亦因同年发生的王敦之乱而忧愤而死，由太子司马绍继位。司马绍即位后因畏惧大权在握的王敦，想以郗鉴为外援，于是次年即任命郗鉴为兖州刺史、都督扬州江西诸军、假节镇合肥。王敦对此十分忌惮，于是表郗鉴为尚书令，徵召他回朝。

助平王敦

郗鉴回建康时经过王敦驻屯的姑孰 ，并与王敦相见。王敦和郗鉴讨论愍怀太子司马遹被废时河南尹乐广和司隶校尉满奋的表现《晋书．乐广传》所载，司马遹被废并移送许昌时贾后明令太子旧臣不得送行，乐广仍然与其他人坚持送别；但满奋则严格执法，将乐广在内的送别者收捕治罪。。王敦称颂满奋识时务，比乐广优胜；但郗鉴则认为乐广守正而满奋失节，因此满奋不能与乐辅相比，又说人不应偷生屈节，愧对天地，国家灭亡亦应与它共存亡，不应变节。王敦听后十分愤怒，不再与郗鉴相见并将他拘留。及后王敦部将钱凤劝王敦杀郗鉴，但王敦以郗鉴有名望和地位而不敢加害，更将他释放。郗鉴回朝后便与司马绍商议平灭王敦之事。

太宁二年 （324年），钱凤等人领兵进逼建康，司马绍任命郗鉴假节行卫将军、都督从驾诸军事。当时王敦军尚未完成集结，有人认为应率先由皇帝领兵进攻。但郗鉴认为敌军兵多不能力敌，而且王敦军来是已经惹来人民极大的怨恨和反抗意识，而且亦无大方略，只求一战取胜。故此认为应当拖长战事，让其他反抗力量形成并对王敦进攻，藉以取胜。最终司马绍下令固守，不久又派兵奇袭并大败王含军，四方义兵亦冒起，最终成功讨平王敦之乱。

辅政重臣

战后郗鉴获封高平侯。司马绍亦因他有才望，很多朝政事务都会询问他的意见。太宁三年（325年），郗鉴升任车骑将军，都督徐、兖、青三州军事、兖州刺史、假节镇广陵。不久司马绍逝世，年幼的太子司马衍继位，郗鉴与王导、庾亮、卞壼、温峤等人并受遗诏辅政，进位车骑大将军、开府仪同三司，加散骑常侍。

义兵勤王

咸和元年（326年），郗鉴加领徐州刺史。次年苏峻和祖约即发动叛变，进攻建康。郗鉴知道后打算亲自领兵营救，但朝廷却以防御北方进攻而阻止，郗鉴唯有派司马刘矩领三千人保卫建康，但次年建康便沦陷，刘矩亦退还。中书令庾亮在建康失陷时出走，到寻阳投靠温峤，并宣太后口诏，升郗鉴为司空。郗鉴所在的广陵临近后赵边境，城孤粮绝，军民因对北方南侵的畏惧而没有坚守的决心，但接到诏书后郗鉴即向三军宣布要讨灭苏峻和祖约，士兵亦争相要求要效命。郗鉴见此，于是派将军夏侯长通知温峤，并预计苏峻会挟持晋成帝司马衍到会稽，建议温峤在重要据点立营据守以阻其去路，同时又断绝粮运和坚壁清野，据守京口等待苏峻因缺乏物资溃败。温峤深表同意。

经营京口

咸和三年（328年），陶侃获推举为盟主，郗鉴加都督扬州八郡军事。郗鉴后率众渡江，在茄子浦与陶侃会合，又修筑白石垒。不久王舒和虞潭战败，郗鉴与后将军郭默回屯京口，修筑大业、曲阿和庱亭三垒抵抗并分散对方军力，但随即就被围攻，郭默更逃出驻守的大业垒，令士兵震惊；但郗鉴仍坚持固守晋书载参军曹纳曾劝郗鉴退回广陵，但遭郗鉴指责：「吾蒙先帝厚顾，荷托付之重，正复捐躯九泉不足以报。今强寇在郊，众心危迫，君腹心之佐，而生长异端，当何以率先义众，镇一三军邪！」更曾打算将曹纳处死。。不久苏峻堕马被杀，大业垒得以解围。郗鉴于次年又派军追击南逃吴兴的苏逸等人，将苏逸斩杀并收降其馀众共一万多人。战后郗鉴解任八郡都督，升任司空，加侍中，封南昌县公。

咸和六年（331年），石勒将领刘徵再次侵扰东南诸郡，郗鉴驻屯京口，并加都督扬州之晋陵吴郡诸军事，率兵将刘徵击退。郗鉴死前，病重上奏请求退位时仍推荐蔡谟接替自己都督徐兖青三州和徐州刺史的职位。

协调士族

王导在晋成帝继位后一直参与辅政工作，而他行事作风不拘小节，对自己委任的赵胤和贾宁等将领的犯法行为多作容忍，招到大臣不满，其他士族亦试图藉此废掉王导，削弱琅琊王氏在朝中的影响力。陶侃就曾于成帝咸和年间打算起兵废掉王导，但因郗鉴反对而没有成事。咸康四年（338年），郗鉴升任太尉，征西将军庾亮想罢黜王导，并寻求郗鉴的支持，但郗鉴表示反对；庾亮再写信游说郗鉴，但郗鉴坚拒，最终庾亮亦唯有放弃。郗鉴阻止了朝中主要士族的剧烈斗争，让经历过两次大动乱的东晋能够维持安定。

咸康五年八月辛卯日（339年10月8日），郗鉴病逝，享年七十一岁。晋成帝在朝堂上哭泣，并派御史持节护丧事，追赠太宰，諡文成。

性格特徵

• 郗鉴逃离陈午回家乡后，虽然当地正处饥荒，但当地的人仍然因为感谢他对乡人的恩义而送他物资。但郗鉴并不独占所有，反而分给宗族和当地一些孤儿和老人，受惠者甚多，受到当地人的称颂，亦因而推郗鉴为主。

• 郗鉴受乡里赠食时，曾带同年幼的侄儿郗迈(兄子)和外甥周翼一同前往、但乡人称不能额外支持郗迈和周翼的伙食，郗鉴往后唯有自己前去，但将饭含在口中，回去后吐出给二人吃，最终三人都能渡过困境，并渡江入仕东晋。

子孙

子女

• 郗璇，郗鉴女，嫁王羲之。

• 郗愔，郗鉴长子，东晋官员。曾修黄老之术而辞官隐居章安十多年，后再度入仕，官至司空。

• 郗昙，郗鉴次子，官至北中郎将、都督徐兖青幽扬州之晋陵诸军事、领徐兖二州刺史。

孙

• 郗超，郗愔长子，大司马桓温党羽，任大司马左长史。

• 郗融，郗愔次子。

• 郗冲，郗愔三子。

• 郗恢，郗昙子，东晋将领，曾多次与北方胡人作战，官至征虏将军、领秦雍二州刺史。后被殷仲堪所杀。

Early career

Chi Jian was from Gaoping County (高平县; northwest of present-day Weishan County, Shandong) and was very poor in his youth. His great-grandfather was Chi Lü, an official under the Han dynasty warlord Cao Cao. Chi Jian was determined to better his livelihood, so he began reading the scriptures and whenever he farmed, he would chant what he had learnt. Eventually, he landed an office serving under the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun. However, he disliked the prince's growing imperial ambition and soon resigned.

When Sima Lun usurped the throne in 301, Chi Jian refused to return to his service despite offers of lofty titles. The same year, Sima Lun would be killed, and Chi Jian returned to the government to serve Liu Shi (刘寔). A few years later, Chi Jian received respective offers from the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, and Yue's general, Gou Xi, to serve under them. Chi Jian refused both of them, sensing that the two men will soon be turning on one another. Eventually, Chi Jian decided to retire from the government.

Disaster of Yongjia and as Inspector of Yanzhou

In 311, the barbarian forces of Han Zhao took over Luoyang and captured the emperor. Meanwhile, Chi Jian was captured by Chen Wu (陈午) of the Qihuo. Chen Wu wanted to employ Chi Jian and make him their leader, but Chi managed to escape. After Chen Wu was defeated, Chi Jian returned to his hometown in Gaoping, where most of the inhabitants were desperate to escape the ongoing war in the north. Chi Jian became a refugee leader because of this and led his followers fled to Mount Yi in 313, where they defended themselves from enemies.

The Prince of Langya and Jin's paramount prince in the south, Sima Rui, came into contact with Chi Jian, who he appointed Inspector of Yanzhou. Chi Jian remained at Mount Yi, surviving constant attacks from Shi Le and Xu Kan. However, with no aid from the capital as well as an ongoing famine around his domain, his people were beginning to feel overwhelmed. Chi Jian's followers still grew, as many refugees flocked over to him and lived on mice and swallows, but this only meant that more food was needed to keep the refugees fed. In the end, Chi Jian eventually retreated to Hefei with his followers in 322 as Later Zhao forces engulfed the region. Despite his setback, Chi Jian was commended by many for his virtuous character, and was appointed a Master of Writing in the government.

Wang Duns Rebellion

By the time Chi Jian moved southwards, Sima Rui (who ascended the throne in 318 as Emperor Yuan of Jin) had just been defeated by his general Wang Dun, who placed Jin under his control. Sima Rui grew ill from this and died the following year, leaving the throne to his son, Emperor Ming of Jin. Emperor Ming wanted someone to challenge Wang Dun within the state, so he made Chi Jian the Inspector of Yanzhou and Commander of military affairs north of the Yangzi. However, Wang Dun saw through this and instead petitioned to have Chi Jian made Prefect of the Masters of Writing instead. Later that year, Emperor Ming summoned Chi Jian to the capital.

On the way, Chi Jian visited Wang Dun's base, where they discussed the old court in the north. Wang Dun criticized the minister Yue Guang for his lack of talent while praising his counterpart Man Fen (满奋). Chi Jian defended Yue Guang, saying that he had been a loyal man who tried to protect the Crown Prince Sima Yu while Man Fen betrayed him to Sima Lun. Wang Dun responded to him that Man Fen only did so under pressure, and Chi Jian replied that a real man remains true to himself in both life and death. Wang Dun was offended by this implied insult, and apprehended Chi Jian in his house for some time. He eventually released him to continue his way to Jiankang, despite his advisors' urge to kill him. When Chi Jian reached Jiankang, he began plotting with Emperor Ming against Wang Dun.

In 324, Emperor Ming was ready to campaign against Wang Dun. Chi Jian turned down the appointments Emperor Ming gave to him and instead advised him to reach out to Su Jun and Liu Xia (刘遐) to join his war against Wang Dun. Emperor Ming defeated Wang Dun's forces the same year, and Wang Dun died from natural causes before the war ended. Chi Jian told Emperor Ming that Wang Dun's remains should be given back to his family members to display himself as righteous. Later, Chi Jian called for Emperor Ming to execute Wang Dun's partisans on two occasions, but both times he found his suggestion rejected in favour of Wen Jiao and Wang Dun's advice respectively.

Su Juns Rebellion

Emperor Ming died at a young age in 325. He was succeeded by his child heir, Emperor Cheng of Jin, guided by his brother-in-law Yu Liang. Months prior to his death, he appointed Chi Jian as General of Chariots and Cavalry, Commander of military affairs in the three provinces of Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Qingzhou, and Inspector of Yanzhou. After his death, Chi Jian held a series of important appointments for the next two years.

In 327, a rebellion broke out led by Su Jun and Zu Yue. Chi Jian offered to send reinforcements from Xuzhou to the capital, but Yu Liang turned him down. The capital was lost to rebel forces the following year and Su Jun became the de facto head of state with Emperor Cheng of Jin under his control. Yu Liang slipped away to Xunyang (寻阳, in present-day Huangmei County, Hubei) where he met Wen Jiao and conspired with him to reclaim the capital. He also got Chi Jian to join them, making him Minister of Works.

Chi Jian proposed a strategy to Wen Jiao. There was a rumour that Su Jun was intending to bring the emperor east to Kuaiji. He told him that the loyalists should occupy strategic locations around the area and fortify them while scorching the fields. That way, when Su Jun arrives, it would be difficult for him to attack and there would be no rations for his army. Chi Jian led the eastern army over to Daye (大业, in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu), Qu'a (曲阿县; present-day Danyang, Jiangsu), and Chengting (庱亭, in present-day Wujin County, Jiangsu) where they set up barricades to weaken Su Jun's assaults.

Surely enough, Su Jun arrived at Daye on his way to Kuaiji, where he besieged the commander Guo Mo. As fighting intensified in Daye, Guo Mo secretly abandoned his men and left them to fend Su Jun off by themselves. Chi Jian's generals were alarmed, and his advisor Cao Na (曹纳) told him that they should fall back to Guangling. Chi Jian, however, wanted to hold on to his defences and scolded Cao Na for recommending him to retreat. Fortunately for Chi Jian's group, loyalist forces led by Tao Kan, Wen Jiao, Yu Liang and Zhao Yin (赵胤) eventually arrived at Su Jun's base in Shitou, diverting Su Jun's attention away from Daye. Su Jun was killed in battle at Shitou when facing Tao Kan.

Su Jun's brother, Su Yi (苏逸), was chosen by the remnants of the rebels to be their new leader. The rebellion continued on into the next year, and Su Yi was killed while fleeing from the loyalist army approaching Shitou. Chi Jian provided the final blow to the rebellion as he sent his general Li Hong (李闳) to destroy Han Huang and the remaining rebels at Mount Pingling (平陵山, in present-day Liyang, Jiangsu). For his efforts, Chi Jian was made Palace Attendant, Minister of Works, and Duke of Nanchang County by Emperor Cheng.

After Su Juns Rebellion

Chi Jian lived for another decade, serving the Jin dynasty diligently. In the beginning of 331, Chi Jian repelled a Later Zhao invasion in Lou County (娄县; in present-day Kunshan, Jiangsu) led by Liu Zheng. Later in 335, he sent his general Chen Guang (陈光) to defend Jiankang from a Later Zhao invasion, although the invasion proved to be a false flag. In 338, he would receive his highest position yet as Grand Commandant.

Between 338 and 339, Chi Jian found himself as an opposition to Yu Liang's attempts at drastic measures. In 338, Yu Liang wanted to lead armies against Wang Dao as he believed that he was harbouring corruption in the government. Yu Liang invited Chi Jian to join him, but he soundly rejected it, so Yu Liang called off his plans. The next year, Yu Liang wanted to campaign against Later Zhao, even getting the approval of Wang Dao and Emperor Cheng at first, but Chi Jian convinced the Prime Minister and Emperor that Jin should be conserving their resources to strike at the right time. Once again, Yu Liang's plans were rejected, although Yu Liang later got his wish by the end of the year and attempted to invade Zhao, which ended in failure.

Chi Jian grew deathly ill in 339. He wrote a memorial of resignation to Liu Xia (刘遐), demanding that Cai Mo be the one to succeed his offices. Chi Jian soon died and was posthumously named as "Wencheng (文成)".