Overview
Li Yiji was an Early Han adviser and diplomat known as the Gaoyang Drunkard.
PeriodQin and Han
IdentityHistorical · Male
Other names
| Type | English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal name | Li Sheng Shiqi | 酈生食其 | Li Sheng Shiqi |
| Nickname | wine-drinker from Gaoyang | 高陽酒徒 | |
| Alternate name | Li Sheng | 酈生 | Li Sheng |
| Epithet | mad scholar | 狂生 |
Life and dates
Death
- Boiled alive · Authority Tian Guang (田廣)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 57
- BC 204 酈生下齊、淮陰侯襲齊Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 79
- BC 203 齊王廣、相橫亨酈食其Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 86
Age
- 60BC 208 to BC 207 後聞沛公將兵略地陳留郊 · Text 年六十餘 · Qualifier overDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 7
Attested activity
- BC 204 漢三年秋Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 31, 34
- BC 207 令酈食其持重寶啗秦將Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 58
- BC 208 to BC 206 初Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 201, 232
- BC 209 及陳勝、項梁等起Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
- BC 208 to BC 207 後聞沛公將兵略地陳留郊Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 5, 13, 27-30
- BC 268 to BC 204 楚漢之際Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 134
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- BC 207 沛公未入關Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 239
- BC 204 漢三年Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 111, 120, 161
- BC 207 to BC 204 漢楚之際Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 139
- BC 204 漢王使酈生往說下齊Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 52, 57
- BC 206 to BC 205 漢王已拔三秦，東擊項籍而引軍於鞏洛之閒Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 237
- BC 205 漢王聞魏豹反Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 25
- BC 204 酈生下齊、淮陰侯襲齊Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 73-75, 77, 79
- BC 207 to BC 203 酈生祠Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 122, passage 10
- BC 203 齊王廣、相橫亨酈食其Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 86
Family
Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.
- Sibling of Brother of Li Yiji (酈生兄弟)brothers 兄弟 · Uncertain siblingsDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 239
- Ancestor of Ping (平)father 父 · paternal line
paternal lineStrongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 82-84 - Parent of Jie (疥)father 父
son 子Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 82 - Sibling of Li Shang (酈商)younger brother 弟 · Full siblings · paternal lineDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 29
- Sibling of Li Shang (酈商)younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
younger brother 弟Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 98; Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 70
Key source chapters
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 97 Biographies of Li Yiji and Lu Jia 47 passages
- Book of Han, Chapter 1 Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 13 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55 House of Marquis of Liu 7 passages
- Book of Han, Chapter 42 Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) 6 passages
- Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94 Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi 3 passages
Career and standing
- counselor 謀士Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 111-112
- neighborhood gate watch official 里監門吏Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 2
- persuader to the feudal lords 說客Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 30
- persuader-envoy 說客Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 44, 47
- neighborhood gate watch official 里監門吏HeldDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 2
- Lord GuangyeDirectly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 172
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- Lord of Guangye 廣野君BC 208 to BC 207 號酈食其為廣野君 · BestowedDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 28
- Lived inPovertyDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 2
- humble commoner 賤民Humble commonerDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 201
Places and affiliations
- Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
- Polity Qin 秦 · Relation OpposedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 15, 19, 23
- At Gaoyang in Chenliu 陳留高陽Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 1
- At Gaoyang 高陽Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 201
- BC 208 to BC 207 遂下陳留At Chenliu 陳留 · Relation Posted toDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 27
- At Gaoyang 高陽 · Relation Lived inDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 1, 4
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- At Gaoyang 高陽 · Relation Recruited atDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 239
Learning and skills
- fond of reading 好讀書Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 2
- Skill planning affairs of the realm 口畫天下便事Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 201
Works and attributed material
- Speech · Speaker · Addressed to King of Han (漢王) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 112-116
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Addressed to Tian Guang (田廣) · Extent s0077, s0078Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 77-78
- Counsel · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Lord of Pei (沛公)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 23-26
- Speech · Speaker · With Liu Bang (劉邦) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 34-44
- Speech · Speaker · With Tian Guang (田廣) · Direct quotation · Mode quotation Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 47, 49-50, 52, 54-72
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Lord of Pei (沛公)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 15-16, 19
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- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Duke of Pei (沛公)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 201, 213-217, 220-225
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Magistrate of Chenliu (陳留令)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 228-229
- Speech · Speaker · Direct quotationDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 6-7, 11, 206-207, 209-210
Events and relationships
- BeheadedDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 232
- Entered serviceDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 239
- Hid himself because passing rebel generals were petty and could not hear broad minded counselPolitical · SubjectDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 4
- Invited to the seat of honor and offered apologies after rebuking an arrogant receptionDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 20
- Persuaded King of Qi that the realm was turning to HanDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 47, 52, 71
- Persuaded Qi to submitDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 52
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- PersuadedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passages 25-26
- Recommended his younger brother to lead several thousand men southwest with the Lord of PeiDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 29
- Regularly rode on missions to persuade the feudal lordsDiplomatic · EnvoyDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 30
- Reported toDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 232
- Requested to carry an edict to persuade the King of QiDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 44
- Sent to persuade Chenliu and acted as inside agent while the city was takenDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 25-27
- Sent to bribeDiplomatic · Envoy · At Qin garrison at Yao 秦嶢下軍Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 58
- Sought audienceDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 201, 213
- Spoke of the Six States and their vertical and horizontal alliancesDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 21
- Summoned to the Gaoyang relay station and received while the Lord of Pei had his feet washedDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 13-14
- Urged Han to retake Xingyang and hold Aocang and the passesDated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 34, 41
- Went to persuadeDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 237
- Won over qi citiesBC 204 酈生下齊、淮陰侯襲齊 · Diplomatic · Persuader · At Qi 齊 · Outcome More than seventy cities submittedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 74
- Relation Employed by · Person Emperor Gaozu of Han (高祖) · Function persuasionDirectly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 105
- Relation Advisor of · Person Liu Bang (劉邦)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 34, 45
- Relation Envoy to · Person Tian Guang (田廣)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 47
- Relation Served · Person Lord of Pei (沛公)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 27-30
- Relation On good terms with · Person Magistrate of Chenliu (陳留令)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 222
- Relation On good terms with magistrate of · At Chenliu 陳留Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 25
Assessments and attributes
- Assessment appearance resembled a great scholar · Mode named-source-reportDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 203
- mad scholar 狂生Assessment called the mad scholar by people in the county · Mode named-source-reportDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 3, 7
- Assessment not a mad scholar · Negated true · Mode self-report Speaker Li Yiji (酈食其)Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 7
- eight chi tall 長八尺Physical description · Statement eight chi tallDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 7
- wine-drinker from Gaoyang, not a scholarDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 207, 210
- Item lavish treasures 重寶 · Relation Carried to bribeDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 58
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- Item scholar's clothes 儒衣 · Relation Wore · Mode received-traditionDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 237
- Item shrine to Li Sheng 酈生祠 · Relation Honored at · At Yongqiu 雍丘Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 10
- Item sword 劍 · Relation WieldedDirectly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passage 206
Source notes
- Common transmitted books place Li Sheng's persuasion after the Han King had taken the Three Qins and while the army was between Gong and Luo; the Grand Historian rejects this.Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 97, passages 237-239
- Historicity historical
References in the histories
83 passages
No matching passages.