Xi Zheng

Xi Zheng (died 278), courtesy name Lingxian, was a Chinese essayist, poet, and politician of the state of Shu Han during the late Three Kingdoms period of China. He also served as an official under Emperor Wu of the Jin dynasty.

Background and early life

Xi Zheng's ancestral home was in Yanshi, Henan. His grandfather Xi Jian (郤俭) was Inspector of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. However, his rule was despotic; Liu Yan, who wanted to become the Governor of Yi Province (after initially eyeing the post of Governor of Jiaozhi), was successful in his request, and one of his tasks was to arrest Xi Jian and put Xi on trial.¹ However, before Liu Yan reached Yi Province, Xi Jian was killed by rebels led by Ma Xiang (马相) and Zhao Zhi (赵祗).² With Xi Jian's death, his son Xi Yi (郤揖; fl.188-220) was stranded in Yi Province; Xi Yi later served under Meng Da and joined Meng in defecting to Cao Wei in c.late August 220.³

Xi Zheng's birth name was Xi Zuan (郤纂); when Xi Zheng was still a boy, Xi Yi died and Xi Zheng's mother remarried.⁴ Although he was destitute, he was gifted in language and mostly self-educated in the fields of history and government, borrowing books and essays from literati throughout Yi Province.⁵ He entered government service as a clerk of the palace library, eventually rising to the rank of director over the course of 30 years.