The Li Ji Unrest or Rebellion (657–651 BCE) was a series of events that took place in the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China, caused by Li Ji , the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin , in order to put her son Xiqi onto the throne of Jin.
40-545: Duke Xian of Jin married six wives who gave birth to five sons. The first was Jia Jun (賈君) from the State of Jia (賈國). Qi Jiang (齊姜) gave birth to Prince Shensheng . Hu Ji (狐姬) was the mother of Prince Chong'er while her younger sister Xiao Rongzi (小戎子) gave birth to Prince Yiwu . Li Ji was the mother of Xiqi while her dowry younger sister Shao Ji (少姬) gave birth to Zhuozi . At the time Duke Xian considered taking his concubine Li Ji as his first wife. Before doing so he asked
80-525: A desire to dethrone Shensheng , the eldest son of Duke Xian of Jin, from his position as crown prince to make Prince Xiqi the crown prince instead, so he sent Prince Shensheng to defend Quwo, modern Quwo County in Shanxi . Duke Xian of Jin also sent Prince Chong'er to defend the city of Pu and Prince Yiwu to Erqu (二屈), modern Ji County in Shanxi. In 661 BC, the sixteenth year of his reign, he conquered
120-460: The State of Liang . After the death of Duke Xian on the ninth month of 651 BCE, Li Ji placed the 15-year-old Crown Prince Xiqi on the throne and made Xun Xi the chancellor to help him in government affairs. On the tenth month of 651 BCE, Li Ke killed Xiqi roughly a month after his accession. Duke Xian was not yet properly buried at that time. Xun Xi then placed Zhuozi on the throne even though Zhuozi
160-563: The State of Liang . In 652 BC, the 25th year of his reign, he sent troop to attack the Di tribe and capture Prince Chong'er, but the army retreated when they met resistance. In that same year, the younger sister of Li Ji, also a concubine of Duke Xian of Jin, gave birth to Prince Zhuo . At that time, the State of Jin was one of the largest and most powerful state in China. According to the Records of
200-565: The 21st year of his reign, Li Ji plotted a scheme for Shensheng which caused him to go back to Quwo to offer sacrifices for his deceased mother, Qi Jiang (齊姜). After the sacrifice, he gave some of the food to the palace for his father, Duke Xian of Jin. Li Ji secretly placed poison on them and when Duke Xian of Jin discovered that the food was poisoned, he assumed that Prince Shensheng plotted to kill him. Duke Xian of Jin then sent men to capture Prince Shensheng. When Prince Shensheng heard that his father sent men to capture him, he committed suicide on
240-443: The Di tribe ( 翟 族 ) of the northern Rong ( 戎 族 ) to kill him. Prince Chong'er and his attendants heard about this, however, and escaped to Qi . In the eighth year of his reign (643 BC), he sent his son Crown Prince Yu to Qin as a hostage . In 641 BC, Duke Mu invaded Liang , the small state which had once sheltered Yiwu. The count had been attempting to massively fortify his capital but construction
280-829: The Grand Historian , the Jin territory at that time extends west to the Hexi (河西) region (the region that extends from Shaanxi province to the west) and to the boundary of the western State of Qin , north to the Di tribe , and east to the Henei (河內) region (roughly the southern part of Hebei province). In the summer of 651 BC, the 26th year of his reign, Duke Huan of Qi held an alliance meeting in Kuiqiu (葵丘), west of modern Minquan County in Shanxi. Duke Xian of Jin did not attend because he
320-442: The Jin patriarch Shu Yu , saying that his descendants would thrive and be prosperous. He agreed to spare Yiwu's life, escorting him back to Jin and forming an alliance with Jin in the eleventh lunar month. Restored to power, Yiwu immediately killed Qing Zheng and reordered the government of Jin. Because many of his ministers held his older brother in affection and were open to the idea of a change in leadership, Yiwu sent assassins to
360-437: The Jin state became one of the most powerful and largest states due to his conquests of many small neighboring states. He is also renowned for the slaughter and exile of many ducal family members of Jin and for favoring one of his concubines, Li Ji . When he ascended the throne, Duke Xian of Jin and the duke of Guo visited King Hui of Zhou and they were given rewards which resulted to the increase of their popularity throughout
400-451: The State of Guo during the reign of Duke Chou of Guo (虢公醜). Ever more favorable to Jin, the Duke of Yu assisted in the invasion. He sent his own army to capture Xiayang Pass (下陽關) for Jin, under the ruse that his army was there to subdue the rebellious Quanrong tribe. In the winter of 655 BC, the 22nd year of his reign, the State of Guo was conquered by Jin. The Duke of Yu was given a part of
440-525: The State of Jin. Baili Xi was recognized as a good officer by Duke Xian of Jin but Baili Xi rejected every offer given to him to become a court official of Jin. He was later given to the state of Qin as a servant dowry with Princess Bo Ji (伯姬). (The use of Yu to attack Guo was one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems ). In 654 BC, the 23rd year of his reign, Duke Xian of Jin sent troops to attack Erqu and capture Prince Yiwu , but Prince Yiwu fled to
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#1732771746775480-520: The border of Jin. Duke Xian wished to overthrow Guo, but needed passage through the State of Yu (虞國), which was allied with Guo, to do so. On the advice of his officer, Xun Xi (荀息), Duke Xian sent beautiful women to the Duke of Guo and a beautiful young man to the Duke of Yu with instructions to distract the rulers from government affairs. At the same time, men were sent to cause trouble on Guo's northern border. As expected, officials in Guo blamed Duke Xian for
520-546: The capital, Jiang (絳). The officials told the duke that the northern Rong and Di tribes frequently attacked Jin such that the princes were needed to defend their territory. Duke Xian then sent Prince Shensheng to defend Quwo . Duke Xian also sent Chong'er to defend the city of Pu (within present-day Linfen Prefecture , Shanxi ) and Yiwu to Erqu (二屈), modern Ji County in Shanxi. In 656 BCE, Li Ji started her plot to frame Prince Shensheng. She told Shensheng that he should offer sacrifices to his deceased mother Qi Jiang while he
560-507: The chancellor of Xiqi to help him in government affairs. On the tenth month of 651 BC, Li Ke (里克) killed Xiqi roughly a month after his ascension. Duke Xian of Jin was not yet properly buried at that time. Xun Xi then placed Prince Zhuozi into the throne of Jin even though Zhuozi was still a toddler at that time. After that, Xun Xi finished the burial of Duke Xian of Jin. On the eleventh month of 651 BC, Li Ke killed Zhuozi and his aunt Li Ji. Xun Xi then committed suicide by hanging himself. Shao Ji,
600-400: The deaths of his two predecessors. In the fourth year of his reign (647 BC), Jin experienced a famine and requested that the State of Qin sell some of its grain. Duke Mu of Qin agreed and sold the grain to Jin. In the fifth year of his reign (646 BC), Qin experienced a famine but Yiwu refused to sell any grain to them, despite its assistance the year before and the advice of
640-437: The end, the Jin troops fled in retreat and Yiwu was captured and taken as a captive back to Qin. On the day that he was to be killed as an offering to the gods , his half-sister Bo Ji ( 伯 姬 ) wept and wore mourning clothes . Her husband Duke Mu admonished her and told her that the capture of the enemy of their state should be celebrated. He then repeated a story he had heard that the famous politician Jizi had once praised
680-554: The gods through divination whether or not it was wise to do this. The answer he received was that the outcome would not be good. He asked a second time and on receiving a positive response he made Li Ji his main wife, replacing Qi Jiang. In 665 BCE, the twelfth year of the reign of Duke Xian, Li Ji gave birth to Prince Xiqi. Since Li Ji wanted her son to be the crown prince, she bribed two of Duke Xian's most trusted officials, Liang Wu (梁五) and Dongguan Biwu (東關嬖五). The two officials persuaded Duke Xian to let Shensheng, Chong'er and Yiwu leave
720-560: The influence of the beloved planted at his court by Duke Xian, the Duke of Yu brought the entire military force stationed in the capital to the hunt in the Ji Mountain. While hunting, the Yu officer Baili Xi reported to the Duke of Yu trouble at the capital. By the time the Duke of Yu arrived at the outskirts of the city, the Yu capital has already been captured by the Jin army. The Duke of Yu and Baili Xi were held captive and brought back to
760-488: The military power of the state, he expanded his army into 2 troops, each having 10,000 men (some say 12,500). In 672 BC, the fifth year of his reign, he eliminated the Li Rong tribe and he obtained two women from the tribe: Li Ji and her younger sister, Shao Ji (少姬). Both women were favored by Duke Xian of Jin. In 665 BC, the twelfth year of his reign, Li Ji gave birth to Xiqi . Since Duke Xian of Jin favored Li Ji, he had
800-480: The minister Qing Zheng ( 慶 鄭 ) . Enraged, Duke Mu invaded Jin's territory in Han . Prior to battle, Yiwu refused to let Qing Zheng drive his chariot . When it became stuck in the mud during the battle, Yiwu then demanded that Qing Zheng help him; instead, the minister simply walked away. Liang Yao ( 梁 繇 ) then attempted to free the chariot while Guo She ( 虢 射 ) protected the duke, even attacking Duke Mu. In
840-432: The new trouble they were encountering on the northern border. Feigning insult, Duke Xian sent officer Xun Xi to the State of Yu to request passage so that they could avenge the insult. Bringing gifts of jade and horses, Xun Xi arrived in the State of Yu to request passage. Under the influence of his new beloved, the Duke of Yu immediately agreed, over the protestations of his own official, Gong Zhiqi (宮之奇). Gong Zhiqi described
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#1732771746775880-490: The news, Shensheng escaped to Quwo. Shensheng was visited by his half-brother Chong'er in Quwo who then advised Shensheng to defend himself in front of Duke Xian by revealing Li Ji's plot. Shensheng replied that he wouldn't like to break his father's heart by revealing Li Ji's plot. When Chong'er advised him to escape, he replied that if he escaped, then it would look like he really planned to kill his father. He said that no one in
920-510: The relationship of Yu and Guo with the Chinese proverb "The teeth are cold when the lips are lost" ( Chinese : 唇亡齿寒 ; pinyin : Chún Wáng Chǐ Hán ). He told the Duke of Yu that if Guo were conquered, Yu would be next. The Duke of Yu ignored his warning and Gong Zhiqi secretly left the state of Yu, foreseeing its destruction. In 658 BC, the 19th year of his reign, Duke Xian of Jin sent his general Li Ke and his officer Xun Xi to attack
960-536: The state of Geng (耿), the state of Huo (霍), the old state of Wei (魏) and the Rongdi tribe. The Jin official Bi Wan (畢萬) was given the land of the old state of Wei, and his descendants will later establish the new state of Wei . The Jin official Zhao Su (趙夙) helped conquer the state of Huo so he was given the land of the state of Geng and his descendants will later establish the state of Zhao . (Altogether Duke Xian annexed 17 states and subjugated 38 others.) In 656 BC,
1000-410: The states. He also adopted a strategy that his official, Shi Wei (士蒍), suggested which involves the slaughter and exile of almost all the royal family members of Jin to ensure that the throne of Jin will always be held by one of his descendants. This resulted to the increase of the power of the duke and the loss of political power of the clan of the duke since the clan was almost annihilated. To increase
1040-434: The succession to her son , the concubine Li Ji removed Xiqi 's older siblings from the capital on the pretext of pacifying their territories. Prince Yiwu was sent to defend Erqu in what is now Ji County , Shanxi . After the death of Duke Xian in the ninth lunar month during 651 BC, Li Ji placed the 15-year-old Xiqi on the throne and made Xun Xi ( 荀 息 ) chancellor to help him with administration. In
1080-496: The tenth lunar month of 651 BC, before Duke Xian had even been properly buried , a Jin minister named Li Ke ( 里 克 ) killed Xiqi. The chancellor Xun Xi then placed Zhuozi , the youngest son of Duke Xian, on the throne even though he was still just a toddler at that time. Xun Xi then finished the burial of Duke Xian. In the eleventh lunar month of 651 BC, Li Ke killed Zhuozi and his aunt Li Ji. Xun Xi then committed suicide by hanging himself . Shao Ji ( 少 姬 ),
1120-448: The twelfth month of that year. After Prince Shensheng committed suicide, Li Ji falsely accused Prince Chong'er and Yiwu of revolting so they escaped to Pu (蒲) and Erqu (二屈) respectively. In 655 BC, the 22nd year of his reign, Duke Xian of Jin sent troops to Pu and Erqu to capture Chong'er and Yiwu. Chong'er escaped to the Di tribe , where his mother was from, and Prince Yiwu also escaped. The neighboring State of Guo frequently attacked
1160-486: The two princes escaped to Pu and Erqu, respectively. In 655 BCE, the 22nd year of his reign, Duke Xian sent troops to Pu and Erqu to capture Chong'er and Yiwu. Chong'er escaped to the Di tribe, where his mother came from, with some of his loyal subjects: Zhao Cui , Hu Yan (狐偃), Jia Tuo (賈佗), Xian Zhen (先軫), and Jie Zhitui . In 655 BCE, Duke Xian sent troops led by Jia Hua (賈華) to attack Prince Yiwu in Erqu but Yiwu escaped to
1200-422: The women and treasures sacked from Guo. Li Ke was then granted permission to station the Jin army outside the Yu capital to rest. After a few days, the Duke of Yu was suddenly informed that Duke Xian of Jin was outside the city wall of the Yu capital. The Duke of Yu quickly went out to greet him and Duke Xian of Jin invited the Duke of Yu to the Ji Mountain (箕山) to hunt. In an ostentatious display, perhaps still under
1240-399: The world would protect him then. Shensheng then hanged himself on the 7th day of the second month of 656 BCE. Later generations admired the filial piety and loyalty of Prince Shensheng that they nicknamed him "Gong Taizi" (恭太子) or "Gong Shizi" (恭世子), both meaning "the respectful crown prince". After Prince Shensheng committed suicide, Li Ji falsely accused Chong'er and Yiwu of revolting, and
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1280-443: The younger sister of Li Ji and mother of Prince Zhuozi, was imprisoned. Li Ke then invited Prince Chong'er who was then in the State of Qi back to the State of Jin to become the next duke. Chong'er declined so Li Ke then invited Prince Yiwu who was then in the State of Liang and he accepted. Prince Yiwu ascended the throne of Jin and became Duke Hui of Jin . According to historical records, Duke Xian of Jin had six wives. The first
1320-428: The younger sister of Li Ji and mother of Zhuozi, was imprisoned. Li Ke first invited Prince Chong'er (then in the State of Qi ) to return to Jin to become the next duke. After Chong'er declined, Li Ke extended the same offer to his younger brother Prince Yiwu, then in the State of Liang . Yiwu accepted and was enthroned as the next duke of Jin. As duke, Yiwu sentenced Li Ke to commit suicide to atone for his role in
1360-469: Was Jia Jun (賈君) from the State of Jia (賈國). Another is Qi Jiang (齊姜), formerly the concubine of Duke Wu of Jin , who gave birth to Princess Bo Ji (伯姬) and Shensheng . He also had Hu Ji (狐姬) from the northern Rong tribe (戎) who gave birth to Chong'er . Another was the younger sister of Hu Ji who gave birth to Prince Yiwu . Then there was Li Ji from the Lirong tribe who gave birth to Prince Xiqi. Lastly, there
1400-526: Was Shao Ji (少姬), the younger sister of Li Ji, who gave birth to Prince Zhuo. Duke Hui of Jin Duke Hui of Jin , personal name Ji Yiwu , was duke of the Jin state from 650 BC to 637 BC. Yiwu was one of the nine sons of Duke Xian . His mother was Xiao Rongzi. He was the younger sibling of Shensheng and Chong'er (later Duke Wen ) and the older sibling of Xiqi . As part of her scheme to secure
1440-522: Was in Quwo. Moreover, Li Ji suggested that Shensheng bring back some of the sacrificial meat and wine and offer it to his father as tribute. Without the Prince’s knowledge, Li Ji secretly spiked the meat and wine with poison. Before eating the meat Shensheng had brought, Duke Xian gave a piece to his dog which immediately collapsed. Discovering the poison in the food, Duke Xian sent men to Quwo to arrest Shensheng and kill his teacher Du Yuankuan (杜原款). Upon hearing
1480-484: Was not complete, his people were tired and dissatisfied from their forced work , and Qin was able to conquer them easily. In the thirteenth year of his reign (638 BC), Yiwu grew gravely ill. Crown Prince Yu and his wife Huai Ying ( 懷 嬴 ) heard of this and fled their captivity in Qin, arriving in Jin before the duke had died. In the ninth lunar month of the fourteenth year of his reign (637 BC), Yiwu died and
1520-421: Was sick at that time and Zaikong (宰孔) of Zhou advised him not to attend. Since he was gravely ill, he entrusted the then Crown Prince Xiqi to Xun Xi (荀息) and also gave Xun Xi the position of the chancellor of Jin. Duke Xian of Jin died on the ninth month of that year. After the death of Duke Xian of Jin on the ninth month of 651 BC, Li Ji placed the 15-year-old Crown Prince Xiqi on the throne of Jin and made Xun Xi
1560-448: Was still a toddler at that time. After that, Xun Xi finished the burial of Duke Xian. On the eleventh month of 651 BCE, Li Ke killed Zhuozi and his aunt Li Ji. Xun Xi then committed suicide by hanging himself. Shao Ji, the younger sister of Li Ji and mother of Zhuozi, was imprisoned. Li Ke then invited Prince Chong'er who was then in the State of Qi back to ascend the Jin throne, but Chong'er declined. Li Ke then invited Prince Yiwu who
1600-546: Was then in the State of Liang and he accepted. Yiwu ascended the throne, becoming posthumously known as Duke Hui . Duke Xian of Jin Duke Xian of Jin ( Chinese : 晉獻公 ; pinyin : Jìn Xiàn Gōng ), personal name Ji Guizhu , was a ruler of the Jin state , reigning for 26 years. He moved the capital from Quwo (曲沃) to Jiang (絳). He was named after the Rongdi (戎狄) leader Guizhu (詭諸), whom his father and predecessor, Duke Wu , captured alive. During his reign,
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