Li Si (李斯) | 24 Histories

Overview

Li Si was a statesman and Chancellor.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Alternate name	Shang Cai	上蔡	Shàngcài

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 246 to BC 208 BC 246-208
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 32, passage 123
BC 208 Qin dynasty
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 48, passage 102
BC 210 始皇三十七年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 34
BC 221 to BC 208 李斯
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 167
BC 280 to BC 208 李斯
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 84, passage 132
BC 233 李斯使人遺非藥
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 137

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BC 247 to BC 208 李斯嘗為弟子，已而相秦。
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 85
BC 247 to BC 208 李斯奋时务而要始皇
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 243
BC 246 to BC 208 李斯嶧山碑、泰山刻石
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passages 121, 133
BC 208 李斯胡亥
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 163
BC 215 李斯諫曰
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 100
BC 246 to BC 208 秦始皇時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 33, passage 157
BC 221 to BC 208 秦時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 88
c. BC 280 to BC 208 秦相李斯
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 108, passage 135
BC 280 to BC 250 與李斯俱事荀卿
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 56

Key source chapters

Career and standing

chancellor of Qin 相秦
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 85
Chancellor of Qin 相秦
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 102; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 88
Chancellor of Qin 秦相
Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 135
Chancellor 丞相
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 34
appointed by Qin 秦之任李斯
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 276
Suffered
Ruined
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 243

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Suffered
Extreme punishment · Authority Qin Ershi (秦二世)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 163

Places and affiliations

Qin 秦
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 276
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 117, passage 243; Draft History of Qing 503, passage 167
Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 135; Draft History of Qing 503, passage 121; Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 85; Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 34; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 100
At Shang Cai 上蔡
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 133

Learning and skills

Skill script 文字 · Level foundational
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 167

Works and attributed material

Mount Tai inscription 泰山刻石
Relation Calligrapher
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 121
Mount Yi stele 嶧山碑
Relation Calligrapher
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 121
Speech · Author · With First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇) · Direct quotation · Extent s0100, s0101, s0102, s0103, s0104, s0105, s0106
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 100-106
Speech · Speaker · With King of Qin (秦王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passages 129, 133-135

Events and relationships

Advised against attacking the Xiongnu
BC 215 李斯諫曰 · Political · Remonstrant · With First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 100
Odes and Documents 詩、書
Cultural · Agent · Burned classics
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 135
Burned odes and documents
Political · Agent · Mode quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passage 135
Conspired
BC 210 始皇三十七年 · Political · Conspirator · With Zhao Gao (趙高)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 88, passage 36
Exploited urgent affairs of the age to win over the First Emperor
Political · Actor · With First Emperor (始皇)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 243
Sent poison
Assassination · Instigator · With Han Fei (韓非)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 137

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Slandered
Political · Slanderer · With Han Fei (韓非)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 133
Relation Minister of · Person First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 100
Relation Served · Person First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Book of Han 48, passage 102; Records of the Grand Historian 53, passage 88
Type served · Person First Emperor of Qin (秦始皇)
Directly stated · Book of Han 74, passage 251
Relation Student of · Person Xunzi (孫卿)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 56; Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 85
Relation Client of · Person First Emperor (始皇)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 243

Assessments and attributes

Assessment considered himself inferior to Han Fei · With Han Fei (韓非) · Mode self-report Source Person Id Li Si (李斯)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 63, passage 56
Assessment villain of declining Zhou who rode crooked chances for a day's wealth and honor · Mode speaker-judgment Speaker Host (主人)
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passages 243, 253

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 121
Value historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 100
One of Deng Shiru's 'two Li' (二李) seal-script models
Related Person Id Li Yangbing (李陽冰)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 127

References in the histories

Search passages

History

27 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies 25: Xiao Yuanming; Xiao Zhi (Liang); Xiao Tui; Xiao Fang (Liang); Xu Zhicai · 1 passage

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之才卽應聲云：「為是宋鵲，為是韓盧，為逐李斯東走，為負帝女南徂。」 The others asked him to name them on sight. Zhicai answered at once, "Are they Song Que or Han Lu—or chasing Li Si eastward, or carrying the Emperor's Daughter south?"

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 2 passages

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上曰：「吾聞李斯相秦皇帝，有善歸主，有惡自予。 The Sovereign said, “They say Li Si, as Qin’s chancellor, credited the throne with every success and himself with every failure;

且秦以不聞其過亡天下，夫李斯之分過，又何足法哉！ Qin lost the empire because its ruler never heard of his faults. Why imitate Li Si’s practice of assuming blame for his sovereign?

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 1 passage

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務勝不休，欲攻匈奴，李斯諫曰：「不可。 Still unsated, he turned on the Xiongnu; Li Si warned him: "This cannot be done.

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 1 passage

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若夫燕之用樂毅，秦之任李斯，酈食其之下齊，說行如流，曲從如環，所欲必得，功若丘山，海內定，國家安，是遇其時也，子又何怪之邪？ When Yan used Yue Yi, when Qin trusted Li Si, when Li Yiji talked Qi into surrender, advice flowed like water and rulers bent like rings on a chain; every wish was granted, achievements piled up like mountains, and the realm knew peace. Those men simply met their moment. What is odd about that?

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 2 passages

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及至從人合之，衡人散之，亡命漂說，羇旅騁辭，商鞅挾三術以鑽孝公，李斯奮時務而要始皇，彼皆躡風雲之會，履顛沛之勢，據徼乘邪以求一日之富貴，朝為榮華，夕而焦瘁，福不盈眥，禍益於世，凶人且以自悔，況吉士而是賴虖！ Think of the vertical and horizontal strategists and the exiles who peddled their arguments: Shang Yang used three techniques to insinuate himself with Duke Xiao, and Li Si exploited the needs of the age to win over the First Emperor. They caught the winds of opportunity and rode the turmoil of their times, seizing crooked chances to gain a day's wealth and honor. Glorious in the morning, by evening they were ruined; their good fortune did not last a moment, while their calamities burdened the age. Even evil men came to regret this path. How much less should a good man rely on it?

賓曰：「若夫鞅、斯之倫，衰周之凶人，既聞命矣。 The guest said, "As for men like Shang Yang and Li Si, villains of failing Zhou—I have heard your command.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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誚始皇之跋扈兮，投李斯於四裔； I deride the First Emperor's tyranny and banish Li Si to the farthest frontier;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 1 passage

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秦相李斯燔《诗》、《書》，乐崩禮坏。 Qin's Chancellor Li Si burned the Odes and Documents; music collapsed and rites were ruined.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 503Volume 503 Biographies 290: Yi Shu Er · 3 passages

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好石鼓文，李斯嶧山碑、泰山刻石，漢開母石闕，燉煌太守碑，吳蘇建國山碑，皇像天發神讖碑，唐李陽冰城隍廟碑、三墳記，每種臨摹各百本。 He studied the Stone Drum Inscriptions, Li Si's Mount Yi and Mount Tai inscriptions, the Han Kaimu stone que, the Dunhuang prefect stele, Wu Su Jian's Guoshan stele, Huang Xiang's Tianfa Shenchen stele, and Tang Li Yangbing's City God Temple stele and Record of the Three Tombs—making a hundred copies of each.

編修張惠言故深究秦篆，時館修撰金榜家，偶見石如書，語榜曰：「今日得見上蔡真跡。」 The compiler Zhang Huiyan was a deep student of Qin seal script; staying at the home of the compiler Jin Bang, he chanced upon Shiru's writing and told Jin, 'Today I have seen the authentic manner of Li Si of Shang Cai.'

又考上古逮史籀、李斯，折衷於許慎，作在昔篇。 He also traced writing from high antiquity through Shi Zhou and Li Si, reconciling them with Xu Shen's tradition, and composed the Zaixi Pian.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 53House of Chancellor Xiao · 2 passages

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上曰：「吾聞李斯相秦皇帝，有善歸主，有惡自與。 The emperor replied, 'I have heard that when Li Si served as chancellor under the First Emperor of Qin, he credited every good deed to his ruler and took every failing upon himself.

且秦以不聞其過亡天下，李斯之分過，又何足法哉。 Besides, Qin lost the empire precisely because it refused to hear criticism. Li Si's practice of deflecting blame was hardly worth emulating.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 63Biographies of Laozi and Han Fei · 4 passages

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與李斯俱事荀卿，斯自以為不如非。 Together with Li Si he served Xun Qing, and Li Si considered himself inferior to Fei.

李斯曰：「此韓非之所著書也。」 Li Si said, "This is a book written by Han Fei."

李斯、姚賈害之，毀之曰：「韓非，韓之諸公子也。 Li Si and Yao Jia sought to harm him and slandered him, saying, "Han Fei is a prince of the Han ruling house.

李斯使人遺非藥，使自殺。 Li Si sent men to give Fei medicine and made him commit suicide.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 74Biographies of Mengzi and Xun Qing · 1 passage

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李斯嘗為弟子，已而相秦。 Li Si had once been his disciple and later became chancellor of Qin.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 2 passages

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李斯竭忠，胡亥極刑。 Li Si devoted himself with utmost loyalty, yet Huhai subjected him to the cruelest punishment.

願大王孰察卞和、李斯之意，而後楚王、胡亥之聽，無使臣為箕子、接輿所笑。 I beg Your Majesty to examine closely the true intentions of Bian He and Li Si, and not to listen as the King of Chu and Huhai did, lest your servant become an object of ridicule alongside Jizi and Jieyu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 84Biographies of Qu Yuan and Master Jia · 2 passages

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孝文皇帝初立，聞河南守吳公治平為天下第一，故與李斯同邑而常學事焉，乃徵為廷尉。 When Emperor Wen first ascended the throne, he heard that Wu Gong, the Governor of Henan, governed so well that he was reckoned the finest administrator in the realm. Wu Gong had come from the same town as Li Si and had often studied under him. The emperor summoned Wu Gong to serve as Commandant of Justice.

斯游遂成兮，卒被五刑； Li Si roamed and achieved success, yet in the end he suffered the Five Punishments;

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 88Biography of Meng Tian · 3 passages

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是時丞相李斯、公子胡亥、中車府令趙高常從。 At the time, only Chancellor Li Si, Prince Hu Hai, and Zhao Gao, the Commander of the Central Chariot Bureau, were in constant attendance.

因有賊心，乃與丞相李斯、公子胡亥陰謀，立胡亥為太子。 Driven by these treacherous ambitions, he conspired with Chancellor Li Si and Prince Hu Hai to install Hu Hai as the heir apparent.

胡亥以李斯舍人為護軍。 Hu Hai appointed a retainer of Li Si's as Protector General to take command of the army.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 1 passage

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務勝不休，欲攻匈奴，李斯諫曰：「不可。 Yet he pursued conquest without pause and wished to attack the Xiongnu. Li Si remonstrated: 'This must not be done.