Qin and Han · Official

Li Xi 李息

Attested BC 141 - BC 87

Passages: 11
Chapters: 4
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Li Xi as a diplomat, general, and official. This record brings together 11 passages from 4 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Li Xi	李息	Li Xi
Personal	Li Xi	李息
Personal name	Li Xi	李息	Li Xi
Personal	Li Xi	李息	Lǐ Xī
Personal name	Li Xi	李息	Lǐ Xī
Personal	Xi	息
Given name	Xi	息

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:059:s0223, shiji:108:s0086
Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:101:s0022, shiji:120:s0107

Roles

Diplomat
General
Official

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元光元年 · Western Year: BC 134
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:108:s0086
Source Date: Text: 武帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 141 · End: BC 87
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:059:s0223, hanshu:101:s0094
Source Date: Text: 武帝中期 · Western Interval: Start: BC 120 · End: BC 115
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:120:s0107, shiji:120:s0115

Career and standing

Label: General of Infantry / 材官將軍 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:108:s0086
Label: Grand Herald / 大行 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:120:s0107
Status: punishment · Action: punished · Authority Person Id: Che (徹) · Reason: failed to report Zhang Tang
Explicit · shiji:120:s0115
Status: punished · Action: sentenced · Authority Person Id: Emperor Wu (武帝)
Explicit · hanshu:059:s0232

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 59Volume 50: Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng · 3 passages

黯既辭，過大行李息，曰：「黯棄逐居郡，不得與朝廷議矣。 On his way out Ji An stopped Grand Herald Li Xi: "Banished to the provinces, I shall no longer speak in council.

息畏湯，終不敢言。 Li Xi feared Zhang Tang too much ever to repeat the warning.

後張湯敗，上聞黯與息言，抵息罪。 When Zhang Tang fell, the emperor remembered Ji An's words to Li Xi and punished Li Xi for his silence.

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 3 passages

昔汲黯為淮陽守，辭去之官，謂大行李息曰：『御史大夫張湯懷詐阿意，以傾朝廷，公不早白，與俱受戮矣。』 Long ago, when Ji An left for his post as governor of Huaiyang, he warned Grand Herald Li Xi: "Imperial Clerk Zhang Tang schemes and flatters to undermine the court. If you do not speak up soon, you will die beside him."

息畏湯，終不敢言。 Li Xi feared Zhang Tang and never breathed a word.

後湯誅敗，上聞黯與息語，乃抵息罪而秩黯諸侯相，取其思竭忠也。 After Zhang Tang fell and died, the emperor learned of that conversation, punished Li Xi, and made Ji An a kingdom chancellor to reward his stubborn loyalty.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 108Biography of Han Changru · 2 passages

衛尉李廣為驍騎將軍，太仆公孫賀為輕車將軍，大行王恢為將屯將軍，太中大夫李息為材官將軍。 The Captain of the Guard Li Guang was appointed General of Agile Cavalry, the Grand Coachman Gongsun He was appointed General of Light Chariots, the Grand Herald Wang Hui was appointed General of the Garrison, and the Palace Grandee Li Xi was appointed General of Infantry.

王恢、李息、李廣別從代主擊其輜重。 Wang Hui, Li Xi, and Li Guang were to advance separately from Dai to strike the Xiongnu supply train.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 120Biographies of Ji and Zheng · 3 passages

黯既辭行，過大行李息，曰：「黯棄居郡，不得與朝廷議也。 After taking his leave, Ji An visited Li Xi, the Grand Herald, and said: 'I am being cast aside to a distant commandery, cut off from the deliberations of the court.

息畏湯，終不敢言。 But Li Xi was afraid of Zhang Tang and never dared to speak.

後張湯果敗，上聞黯與息言，抵息罪。 In time, Zhang Tang did indeed meet his downfall. When the Emperor learned of what Ji An had said to Li Xi, he punished Li Xi for his failure to speak up.