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Li Si
Qin chancellor and pupil of Xunzi who argued against reviving fiefs, proposed the burning of books, and was executed after Zhao Gao turned the Second Emperor against him
Mural of the event “Standardization of Systems”, which this person took part in.
The six states had used divergent scripts, weights, currencies, and cart-axle widths, severely obstructing imperial governance and inter-regional trade. Empire-wide standardization was an urgent administrative need.
Also known as Li Tonggu
Li Si, from Shangcai in Chu, was a minor local clerk before studying statecraft under Xunzi and going west to Qin, where he served Lu Buwei and became a guest minister. When Qin ordered all foreign ministers expelled in 237 BC, his memorial against the expulsion persuaded the king to revoke it, and he rose to Commandant of Justice. After unification he opposed enfeoffing the royal sons, backed a uniform system of commanderies, worked on standardizing the script and wrote the Cangjie primer; in 213 BC, as chancellor, he proposed burning privately held copies of the Odes, the Documents and the hundred schools. When the First Emperor died at Shaqiu, he joined Zhao Gao in forging an edict that put Huhai on the throne. In 208 BC Zhao Gao had him charged with treason, and he was cut in two at Xianyang, his clan exterminated. The Shiji records his last words to his son: they would never again take their brown dog out of Shangcai's east gate to chase hares.
Life and times
- c. 280 BCEBorn
Zhou
Qin - 221 BCEUnification of China
Took partQin conquered the six rival kingdoms between 230 and 221 BCE, after which Ying Zheng proclaimed himself First Emperor.- Qin Expels Aliens, Li Si Protests237 BCEAfter the canal builder Zheng Guo was exposed as a Han agent, Ying Zheng ordered all foreign officials out of Qin, and Li Si's memorial persuaded him to revoke the order.
- Qin Shihuang Fengshan and Li Si219 BCEQin Shihuang performed the Fengshan rites atop Mount Tai, where Chancellor Li Si inscribed the monumental imperial stele.
- Qin Expels Aliens, Li Si Protests
- 221 BCEStandardization of Systems
Took partQin standardized script, currency, weights, measures, and axle widths so administration, trade, and transport operated through common systems.- Li Si Standardizing Seal ScriptChancellor Li Si standardized Chinese script with Small Seal characters and unified imperial weights and measures.
- Li Si Standardizing Seal Script
- 221 BCEInstitution of County System
Took partAbolishing feudal fiefs to establish 36 commanderies, constructing the centralized bureaucratic state.- Qin Establishing Thirty-Six CommanderiesQin Shihuang replaced feudal fiefs with thirty-six commanderies under centralized bureaucratic administration.
- Qin Establishing Thirty-Six Commanderies
- 213 BCEQin Book-Scholar Purge
Took partThe Qin court ordered private histories and rival teachings burned and punished dissenting scholars, sharply narrowing sanctioned learning. - 208 BCEDied
Works
Literature · Prose4- Memorial Against the Expulsion of Guest OfficialsQinLi Si's memorial persuading the King of Qin to revoke his order expelling foreign officials
- Mount Tai Stele InscriptionQinEulogy carved on Mount Tai for the First Emperor in 219 BCE, its text ascribed to Li Si
- Memorial on Supervision and PunishmentQinLi Si's memorial flattering the Second Emperor of Qin with a doctrine of harsh control
- Langya Terrace Stele InscriptionQinEulogy carved at Langya in 219 BCE in the First Emperor's name, its text credited to Li Si
- Literature · Sayings2
- Changing Customs and HabitsQinIdiom from the Xunzi's Discourse on Music: changing old customs and habits
- Mount Tai Turns Away No Clod of SoilQinIdiom from Li Si's memorial against expelling foreign advisers: greatness through tolerance
Family tree
- Direct kin
Li SiSon
Connections
- Shared events2
- Teachers and students1
- Interactions1
- Rulers and officials2
- Others2
