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Ren Xi
任熙
Administrator of Zhuti
(朱提太守)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchSima Yan
Prefect of Zitong
(梓潼令)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchLiu Shan
Prefect of Nanzheng
(南鄭令)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchLiu Shan
Personal details
BornUnknown
Chengdu, Sichuan
DiedUnknown (aged 68)
Chengdu, Sichuan
RelationsRen Fang (ancestor)
ChildrenRen Fan
Parent
  • Ren Yuan (father)
OccupationOfficial, scholar
Courtesy nameBoyuan (伯遠)

Ren Xi (fl. third century), courtesy name Boyuan, was an official and scholar of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. After the fall of Shu in 263, he continued serving under the Jin dynasty, that succeeded Cao Wei state in 266.

Life[edit]

Ren Xi was born in Chengdu, Shu Commandery (蜀郡), which is present-day Chengdu, Sichuan.[1] He was a descendant of Ren Fang (任昉), the Minister of Finance (大司農) during the Han dynasty, and came from a family with a history of virtuous and talented individuals.[2] His father was Ren Yuan (任元), whose courtesy name, was Xiuming (秀明), served as the Administrator of Qianwei (犍為太守) and Bearer of the Mace (執金吾) in the Shu Han government. Ren Xi was well versed in the Classic of Poetry, The Book of Changes and had a comprehensive understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics.[3]

Ren Xi was devoted to his parents. During their mourning period, he was so grief-stricken that he became emaciated. Earning him the praise of his fellow townspeople. He was nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate).[4] Ren Xi was appointed as the Prefect (令) of Nanzheng (南鄭) but resigned due to illness. Later, he was again offered the position of Prefect of Nanzheng but did not take up the post. Instead, he became the Prefect (令) of Zitong (梓潼) where he was known for his pure and honest governance.[5]

He retired again due to bad health and returned home, where he focused on agriculture and maintained a modest lifestyle.[6] Ren Xi was a model husband and father, known for his love and humility.[7] He welcomed guests with open arms and was attentive to their needs, regardless of their social status. Ren Xi would often engage in stimulating conversations and was always mindful of his words.[8]

During the Taikang (太康; 280–289 period), Ren Xi was offered the position Protector of the Army (護軍) of Yuexi but he declined as it did not align with his interests. He was then summoned to serve as a jishìzhong (給事中; "Serving within the Palace") in the central government but he refused again stating that he could not serve his own private interests while attending to his duties as a court official.[9]

In the end, as he was sick, he vacated from his work. Whenever a new Prefect arrived in his home Commandery of Shu, they would pay their respects to Ren Xi. Annually, they would send him sheep and wine as gifts. Ren Xi was later appointed as the Administrator of Zhuti (朱提太守) but declined the position.[10] He enjoyed writing, and his poems and essays were highly regarded. Ren Xi is thought to have died during the Yuankang (太康; 291–300 period) at the age of 69 (by East Asian age reckoning) at his home.[11]

Appraisal[edit]

Chang Qu, who wrote Ren Xi's biography in the Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi),[a] appraised Ren Xi as follows: "Warm and respectful, who admired morality and disdained glory."[12]

Family[edit]

Ren Xi's son, Ren Fan (任蕃), whose courtesy name, was Xianzu (憲祖) was also nominated as a xiaolian by the government. He served as the Prefect of Xindu (新都令), a Major (司馬) of Western Barbarians (西夷), and the Administrator of Fuling (涪陵太守).[13] Ren Fan's son, Ren Di (任迪), whose courtesy name, was Shugu (叔孤) was known for his academic achievements from a young age, surpassing his contemporary Gong Zhuang (龔壯) of Baxi. However, Ren Di passed away prematurely.[14]

Yang Peng and Yang Kui[edit]

Around the same time as Ren Xi born in Qianwei, Yang Peng (楊彭) and his younger brother Yang Kui (楊逵), were both known for their virtuous conduct and were also nominated as a xiaolian. Yang Peng served as the Prefect of Bisu (比蘇令) where a miraculous rain of sweet dew occurred during his tenure. Yang Kui served as the Prefect of Dianchi (滇池令) and his moral attitude was highly regarded even among the diverse customs of the region.[15]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Ren Xi's biography is recorded in the eleventh volume of the Huayang Guo Zhi, titled Biographies of later worthies (後賢志), covering the life of notable persons from the Sichuan region who lived during the Jin dynasty.

References[edit]

  1. ^ (任熙，字伯遠，蜀郡成都人也。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  2. ^ (漢大司農任「方」〔昉〕後也。世有德彥。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  3. ^ (父元，字秀明，犍為太守，執金吾。熙治《毛詩》、《京易》，博通《五經》。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  4. ^ (事親至孝，居喪毀瘠，為州鄉所稱。察孝廉。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  5. ^ (除南鄭令，以病去官。復授南鄭，不就。轉梓潼令。為政清淨。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  6. ^ (辭疾告歸，勤農力穡，居室致給。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  7. ^ (循訓閨門，內則可法。博愛，以謙恭接物。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  8. ^ (開門待賓，傾懷下士。客無長幼，必有供膳。清談遊講，不妄失言，祗慎著聞。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  9. ^ (太康中，除越嶲護軍，非其雅好，不往。徵給事中。熙以「侍臣日月左右，贊暉揚光，不可苟私」。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  10. ^ (終以病辭。而蜀郡令每至官，為之脩謁，歲致羊酒。即家拜朱提太守，固讓，不之官。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  11. ^ (好述作，詩誄論難皆粲豔。年六十九，卒於家。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  12. ^ (給事中任熙伯遠：給事溫恭，尚德蔑榮。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 01.
  13. ^ (子蕃，字憲祖。察孝廉，新都令，西夷司馬，涪陵太守。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  14. ^ (蕃子迪，字叔孤，少與巴西龔壯俱知名，而學業優之，早歿。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
  15. ^ (熙同時犍為楊彭敬宗，弟逵訓宗，各以德行稱，同察孝廉。彭，比蘇令，甘露降其縣。逵，滇池令，殊俗懷其德。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren_Xi_(Shu_Han)

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