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Xi Zuochi
Eastern Jin historian whose Han Jin Chunqiu championed Shu Han as the legitimate dynasty.
In an archive hall, tall wooden shelves hold scrolls and bound books with small tags, and one person climbs a ladder with their back turned; a long table in front holds an unrolled river map, a bronze lamp and a copper jug, with a city wall seen through the window.
Also known as Zi Yanwei
- Roles
- Historian
Xi Zuochi, courtesy name Yanwei, from Xiangyang, was a learned writer who served on Huan Wen's staff and became Grand Administrator of Xingyang before retiring home with a foot ailment. His 54-chapter Han Jin Chunqiu, covering history from Emperor Guangwu of Han to Emperor Min of Jin, treated Shu Han as the legitimate dynasty and deeply influenced later legitimacy debates. Fu Jian of Former Qin honoured him after taking Xiangyang, and Pei Songzhi's commentary on the Records of the Three Kingdoms quotes him often.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; mid Eastern Jin, died c. 384 CE