Qin and Han · Official

Shi Xian 石顯

Attested BC 49 - BC 33

Passages: 64
Chapters: 7
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Shi Xian as an eunuch and official. This record brings together 64 passages from 7 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Shi Xian	石顯	Shi Xian
Courtesy	Junfang	君房	Jūnfáng
Title	Lord Shi	石君	Shi Jun
Title	Palace Secretary	中書令
Title	Palace Secretary Shi	中書令石君
Title	Secretary Shi	石君	Shi jun
Surname	Shi	石	Shi
Personal name	Shi Xian	石顯	Shí Xiǎn
Personal	Shi Xian	石顯	Shí Xiǎn
Given	Xian	顯	Xian

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0071, hanshu:071:s0130, hanshu:091:s0046
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:089:s0132
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:105:s0008

Roles

Eunuch
Official

Life and dates

Death

Text: died of illness on the road to his home commandery
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0283

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 元帝之世 · Western Interval: Start: BC 49 · End: BC 33
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:091:s0046, hanshu:091:s0060
Source Date: Text: 元帝時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 48 · End: BC 33
Explicit · hanshu:071:s0130
Source Date: Text: 初元二年十二月 · Western Year: BC 47
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0071

Career and standing

Label: Palace Secretary / 中書令 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:091:s0047
Title: Director of Palace Servants of Changxin Palace
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0281
Title: director of the central secretariat
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0077
Title: vice director of the central secretariat
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0076
Title: Palace Secretary / 中書令
Explicit · hanshu:075:s0265, hanshu:104:s0120
Title: marquis within the passes / 關內侯 · Status: proposed
Explicit · hanshu:075:s0281

Places and affiliations

Text: Jinan
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0072
Text: Shandong / 山東
Explicit · hanshu:075:s0279

Events and relationships

Kind: denunciation · Role: accuser · Action: reported-intrigue · Other Person Id: Zhang Bo (張博)
Explicit · hanshu:091:s0060
Kind: political · Role: slanderer · Action: slandered-zhang-meng · Other Person Id: Zhang Meng (張猛)
Explicit · hanshu:071:s0130
Kind: political · Role: accuser · Action: slandered · Other Person Id: Xiao Wangzhi (蕭望之)
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0071

References in the histories

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

Book of Han, Chapter 10Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan · 1 passage

十二月，中書令弘恭、石顯等譖望之，令自殺。 In the twelfth month, Palace Secretary Hong Gong, Shi Xian and others slandered Wangzhi, causing him to commit suicide.

Book of Han, Chapter 71Volume 61: Zhang Qian and Li Guangli · 1 passage

騫孫猛，字子游，有俊才，元帝時為光祿大夫，使匈奴，給事中，為石顯所譖。 Zhang Qian's grandson Meng, styled Ziyou, was a brilliant man who rose to grand counsellor under Emperor Yuan, served on the Xiongnu embassy staff, sat in the inner court, and fell to Shi Xian's slander.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 8 passages

時中書令石顯用事，捐之數短顯，以故不得官，後稀復見。 Palace Secretary Shi Xian held power at the time, and Jia Juanzhi repeatedly attacked him in memorials—so he never won a substantive post and was seldom called to audience again.

捐之復短石顯。 Jia Juanzhi again launched a tirade against Shi Xian.

興曰：「顯鼎貴，上信用之。 Yang Xing said, 'Shi Xian stands at the summit of power; the emperor trusts him utterly.

今欲進，弟從我計，且與合意，即得入矣。」 If you want to advance, just follow my advice: accommodate Shi Xian for now, and you will gain access to the court.'

捐之即與興共為薦顯奏，曰：「竊見石顯本山東名族，有禮義之家也。 Jia Juanzhi then drafted with Yang Xing a joint memorial praising Shi Xian: 'We observe that Shi Xian springs from a great Shandong lineage, a house schooled in ritual and duty.

石顯聞知，白之上。 Shi Xian learned of the scheme and denounced them to the emperor.

乃下興、捐之獄，令皇后父陽平侯禁與顯共雜治，奏「興、捐之懷詐偽，以上語相風，更相薦譽，欲得大位，漏泄省中語，岡上不道。 Xing and Jia Juanzhi were therefore sent to prison, and the empress's father, Wang Jin, Marquis of Yangping, was ordered to conduct a joint investigation with Shi Xian. They memorialized: 'Xing and Juanzhi harbored deceit, used the emperor's words to hint to one another, praised and recommended each other in turn, sought high office, leaked words spoken within the palace, and deceived their sovereign in an impious way.

世稱公孫弘排主父，張湯陷嚴助，石顯譖捐之，察其行跡，主父求欲鼎亨而得族，嚴、賈出入禁門招權利，死皆其所也，亦何排陷之恨哉！ Posterity blames Gongsun Hong for sidelining Zhufu Yan, Zhang Tang for ruining Yan Zhu, and Shi Xian for destroying Jia Juanzhi—yet examine how these men lived. Zhufu Yan clawed after the honors of the high minister's tripod and instead won the execution of his entire kin; Yan Zhu and Jia Juanzhi used their passes through the forbidden gates to peddle influence and line their pockets. Each fell by his own doing; there is little cause to nurse a grudge against those who merely 'squeezed' or 'framed' them.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 13 passages

中書令弘恭、石顯久典樞機，明習文法，亦與車騎將軍高為表裡，論議常獨持故事，不從望之等。 Hong Gong and Shi Xian had long run the machinery of state, knew every clause of the code, and moved in lockstep with General Shi Gao, stonewalling Wangzhi with citations of old precedent.

恭、顯又時傾仄見詘。 The pair were themselves sometimes cornered and refuted in debate.

望之以為中書政本，宜以賢明之選，自武帝游宴後庭，故用宦者，非國舊制，又違古不近刑人之義，白欲更置士人，由是大與高、恭、顯忤。 Wangzhi argued that the secretariat was the administrative heart and should be manned by scholars; since Emperor Wu's harem diversions, castrates had filled those desks—neither ancient practice nor wise policy—and he pressed to put gentlemen in their place, making bitter enemies of Gao, Gong, and Xian.

望之聞之，以問弘恭、石顯。 When Wangzhi heard this, he questioned Hong Gong and Shi Xian.

顯、恭恐望之自訟，下於它吏，即挾朋及待詔華龍。 Shi Xian and Hong Gong feared Wangzhi would defend himself in court, so they referred the case to other officials and at once enlisted Peng and attendant Hua Long.

恭、顯令二人告望之等謀欲罷車騎將軍疏退許、史狀，候望之出休日，令朋、龍上之。 Hong Gong and Shi Xian had the two accuse Wangzhi and his allies of plotting to remove General Shi Gao and of memorializing to oust the Xu and Shi clans; they waited for Wangzhi's day off and had Peng and Long submit the charge.

恭、顯奏「望之、堪、更生朋黨相稱舉，數譖訴大臣，毀離親戚，欲以專擅權勢，為臣不忠，誣上不道，請謁者召致廷尉。」 Hong Gong and Shi Xian memorialized that "Wangzhi, Zhou Kan, and Liu Gengsheng had formed a faction, repeatedly slandered great ministers, divided kinsmen, and sought to monopolize power; as disloyal ministers guilty of impiety toward the throne, they asked that an usher deliver them to the commandant of justice."

以責恭、顯，皆叩頭謝。 He rebuked Hong Gong and Shi Xian, and both kowtowed in apology.

恭、顯因使高言：「上新即位，未以德化聞於天下，而先驗師傅，既下九卿大夫獄，宜因決免。」 Hong Gong and Shi Xian then had Shi Gao speak, saying, "Your Majesty has just taken the throne and your transforming virtue is not yet known throughout the realm, yet you have first put your tutors on trial. Now that nine ministers and grandees sit in prison, you ought to dismiss them at once."

弘恭、石顯等知望之素高節，不詘辱，建白：「望之前為將軍輔政，欲排退許、史，專權擅朝。 Hong Gong, Shi Xian, and the others knew that Wangzhi had always maintained lofty integrity and would not bend under humiliation, so they reported, "When Wangzhi formerly assisted the government as general, he wanted to push aside the Xu and Shi families and monopolize power at court.

顯等曰：「人命至重，望之所坐，語言薄罪，必亡所憂。」 Shi Xian and the others said, "Human life is weightiest; the charge against Wangzhi is a light offense of words—he is sure to have nothing to fear."

顯等封以付謁者，敕令召望之手付，因令太常急發執金吾車騎馳圍其第。 They sealed the order, told the usher to hand it to Wangzhi in person, and had the Grand Master of Ceremonies rouse the metropolitan commandant to surround his house with horse and chariot.

於是召顯等責問以議不詳。 He called in Shi Xian and his party and scolded them for the careless memorial.

Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 5 passages

自謂為石顯、五鹿充宗所排，謀不得用，數為博道之。 He complained that Shi Xian and Wulu Chongzong had blocked him and that none of his policies were adopted, and he poured this out to Bo again and again.

博常欲誑耀淮陽王，即具記房諸所說災異及召見密語，持予淮陽王以為信驗，詐言：「已見中書令石君求朝，許以金五百斤。 Bo had long wanted to impress the King of Huaiyang, so he wrote down everything Jing Fang had said about disasters and anomalies, along with confidential remarks from imperial audiences, and brought the notes to the king as proof. He falsely claimed, “I have already gone to Palace Secretary Shi to ask for an audience; he agreed in exchange for five hundred jin of gold.

博報曰：「已許石君，須以成事。」 Bo answered, “I have given Shi my word—we need the gold to finish this.”

會房出為郡守，離左右，顯具有此事告之。 Then Jing Fang was posted away from court, and Shi Xian laid the whole intrigue before the emperor.

王上書自陳舅張博時事，頗為石顯等所侵，因為博家屬徙者求還。 The prince memorialized the court about his uncle Zhang Bo, claiming he had been wronged by Shi Xian and his faction, and asked that Bo's banished kin be restored.

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 4 passages

與中書令石顯相善，亦得顯權力，門車常接轂。 He befriended Palace Secretary Shi Xian and borrowed the eunuch's clout until guest coaches jammed axle to axle at his gate.

至成帝初，石顯坐專權擅勢免官，徙歸故郡。 Early in Chengdi's reign Shi Xian lost his post for bullying the government and was banished home.

顯資巨萬，當去，留床席器物數百萬直，欲以與章，章不受。 Shi Xian was worth millions; on the road out he tried to deed Yu Zhang furniture and fittings valued in the millions, but Yu Zhang refused.

賓客或問其故，章歎曰：「吾以布衣見哀於石君，石君家破，不能有以安也，而受其財物，此為石氏之禍，萭氏反當以為福邪！」 When retainers pressed him, Yu Zhang sighed, "Shi Xian pitied me when I was nobody; now his house is ruined and I cannot save him—if I grabbed his goods I would pile disaster on the Shis and call it luck for the Yus!"

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 32 passages

孝元時宦者則弘恭、石顯； under Emperor Yuan, the eunuchs Hong Gong and Shi Xian;

石顯字君房，濟南人； Shi Xian, styled Junfang, was a native of Jinan;

恭為令，顯為僕射。 Hong Gong was chief; Shi Xian, his deputy.

元帝即位數年，恭死，顯代為中書令。 A few years into Yuan's reign Hong Gong died and Shi Xian became chief of the secretariat.

是時，元帝被疾，不親政事，方隆好於音樂，以顯久典事，中人無外黨，精專可信任，遂委以政。 Yuan was often ill and left state business aside while he lost himself in music. Shi Xian, long trusted in the palace, had no outside clique and seemed safe—so power passed to him.

事無小大，因顯白決，貴幸傾朝，百僚皆敬事顯。 Every decision, great or small, went through Shi Xian; the court leaned his way and every minister deferred to him.

顯為人巧慧習事，能探得人主微指，內深賊，持詭辯以中傷人，忤恨睚眥，輒被以危法。 Shi Xian was clever, read the emperor's slightest wish, and nursed a vicious grudge: one cross word could bring a capital charge framed in legal jargon.

望之領尚書事，知顯專權邪辟，建白以為：「尚書百官之本，國家樞機，宜以通明公正處之。 Xiao Wangzhi, heading the secretariat, saw Shi Xian's crooked monopoly and argued: "That office is the nerve center of government; it needs open, upright men.

元帝不聽，由是大與顯忤。 Yuan refused, and Xiao Wangzhi made a bitter enemy of Shi Xian.

後太中大夫張猛、魏郡太守京房、御史中丞陳咸、待詔賈捐之皆嘗奏封事，或召見，言顯短。 Later Zhang Meng, Jing Fang, Chen Xian, and Jia Juanzhi memorialized or were called in to attack Shi Xian.

顯求索其罪，房、捐之棄市，猛自殺於公車，咸抵罪，髡為城旦。 Shi Xian hunted charges: Jing Fang and Jia Juanzhi died in the market; Zhang Meng killed himself at the carriage park; Chen Xian was shorn and sentenced as corvée labor.

及鄭令蘇建得顯私書奏之，後以它事論死。 When Su Jian of Zheng presented a private letter from Shi Xian, he himself was later executed on another pretext.

自是公卿以下畏顯，重足一跡。 After that, from ministers downward, everyone feared Shi Xian and scarcely dared breathe.

顯與中書僕射牢梁、少府五鹿充宗結為黨友，諸附倚者皆得寵位。 Shi Xian allied with Lao Liang and Wulu Chongzong; hangers-on won fat offices.

民歌之曰：「牢邪石邪，五鹿客邪！ A ditty ran: "Lao or Shi, Wulu for company!

顯見左將軍馮奉世父子為公卿著名，女又為昭儀在內，顯心欲附之，薦言昭儀兄謁者逡修敕宜侍帷幄。 Seeing General of the Left Feng Fengshi and his sons prominent at court—and a daughter already a favored lady—Shi Xian tried to curry favor by recommending her brother, Usher Jun, as fit for inner service.

上聞逡言顯顓權，天子大怒，罷逡歸郎官。 Jun denounced Shi Xian's monopoly; the emperor, furious, demoted him back to ordinary gentleman.

其後御史大夫缺，群臣皆舉逡兄大鴻臚野王行能第一，天子以問顯，顯曰：「九卿無出野王者。 When the imperial counsellor's post fell open, the court ranked Ye Wang, Jun's brother and grand herald, first in talent; the emperor consulted Shi Xian, who said, "No nine minister outranks Ye Wang.

顯內自知擅權事柄在掌握，恐天子一旦納用左右耳目，有以間己，乃時歸誠，取一信以為驗。 Shi Xian knew he held the real strings of government and dreaded the day the emperor might listen to other intimates; he staged moments of contrition to manufacture proof of loyalty.

顯故投夜還，稱詔開門入。 He deliberately came back after dark, invoked imperial orders, and walked through.

後果有上書告顯顓命矯詔開宮門，天子聞之，笑以其書示顯。 When a memorial later charged him with forging orders to force the gate, the emperor only laughed and handed Shi Xian the paper.

顯因泣曰：「陛下過私小臣，屬任以事，群下無不嫉妒欲陷害臣者，事類如此非一，唯獨明主知之。 Shi Xian wept: "You have over-favored a minor official and piled work on him; every man under heaven envies me and wants me ruined. This is not the first such accusation—only a clear-sighted sovereign sees through it.

天子以為然而憐之，數勞勉顯，加厚賞賜，賞賜及賂遺訾一萬萬。 Yuan bought the performance: he comforted Shi Xian again and again, heaped gifts on him, and cash from stipends and kickbacks reportedly reached a hundred million.

初，顯聞眾人匈匈，言己殺前將軍蕭望之。 Earlier, word on the street blamed Shi Xian for Xiao Wangzhi's death.

望之當世名儒，顯恐天下學士姍己，病之。 Wangzhi had been the age's leading classicist; Shi Xian worried the literati would turn every pen against him.

顯因薦禹天子，歷位九卿，至御史大夫，禮事之甚備。 He pushed Gong Yu up the ladder to the nine ministers and even to imperial counsellor, honoring him with elaborate courtesy.

議者於是稱顯，以為不妒譖望之矣。 Gossip then called Shi Xian magnanimous, as if he had never plotted against Wangzhi.

元帝晚節寢疾，定陶恭王愛幸，顯擁祐太子頗有力。 Late in Yuan's reign the emperor fell ill; King Gong of Dingtao was the favored choice, and Shi Xian's backing of the crown prince carried real weight.

元帝崩，成帝初即位，遷顯為長信中太僕，秩中二千石。 After Yuan died and Chengdi took the throne, Shi Xian was shunted to Director of Palace Servants at Changxin Palace on a salary of two thousand shi.

顯失倚，離權數月，丞相御史條奏顯舊惡，及其黨牢梁、陳順皆免官。 Deprived of his patron, Shi Xian lingered out of power for months until the chancellor and censor-in-chief filed his old crimes and dismissed his allies Lao Liang and Chen Shun.

顯與妻子徙歸故郡，憂滿不食，道病死。 Shi Xian was sent home with his family, refused food in despair, and died on the road.

諸所交結，以顯為官，皆廢罷。 Everyone who had climbed in through Shi Xian lost his post.