Ancient China · Official

Zixi 子西

Attested BC 479

Passages: 6
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zixi was an official.

Life and dates

Death

Assassination · Killed by Duke Bai Sheng (白公勝)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 205

Attested activity

BC 479 子西許白公伐鄭後見殺
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passages 197, 205

Career and standing

prime minister (Lingyin) 令尹
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 66, passage 197

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 66Biography of Wu Zixu · 6 passages

歸楚五年，請伐鄭，楚令尹子西許之。 Five years after returning to Chu, he requested permission to attack Zheng. Chu's prime minister Zixi granted it.

楚使子西往救，與盟而還。 Chu sent Zixi to rescue Zheng. He made an alliance with Zheng and returned.

白公勝怒曰：「非鄭之仇，乃子西也。」 Duke Bai Sheng was enraged and said: 'The enemy is not Zheng, but Zixi.'

勝曰：「欲以殺子西。」 Sheng said: 'I mean to kill Zixi with it.'

子西聞之，笑曰：「勝如卵耳，何能為也。」 Zixi heard this and laughed, saying: 'Sheng is like an egg. What can he do?'

其後四歲，白公勝與石乞襲殺楚令尹子西、司馬子綦於朝。 Four years later, Duke Bai Sheng and Shi Qi made a surprise attack at court and killed Chu's prime minister Zixi and commander Ziqi.