Qin and Han · Western Han eunuch and director of the central secretariat under Emperor Yuan

Shi Xian 石顯

Shí Xiǎn

First attested BC 74; died BC 33

Passages
70
Chapters
9
Histories
3

Overview

Shi Xian was a Western Han eunuch and director of the central secretariat under Emperor Yuan.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Courtesy name Junfang 君房 Junfang

Life and dates

Death

Attested activity

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Family

Key source chapters

  1. Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 36 passages
  2. Book of Han, Chapter 89 Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi 13 passages
  3. Book of Han, Chapter 75 Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 8 passages
  4. Book of Han, Chapter 91 Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan 5 passages
  5. Book of Han, Chapter 104 Volume 92: Youxias 4 passages

Origins and identity

Career and standing

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Places and affiliations

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Works and attributed material

Events and relationships

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Assessments and attributes

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Source notes

References in the histories

70 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 10Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 71Volume 61: Zhang Qian and Li Guangli · 1 passage
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Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 8 passages
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乃下興、捐之獄，令皇后父陽平侯禁與顯共雜治，奏「興、捐之懷詐偽，以上語相風，更相薦譽，欲得大位，漏泄省中語，岡上不道。 Xing and Jia Juanzhi were therefore sent to prison, and the empress's father, Wang Jin, Marquis of Yangping, was ordered to conduct a joint investigation with Shi Xian. They memorialized: 'Xing and Juanzhi harbored deceit, used the emperor's words to hint to one another, praised and recommended each other in turn, sought high office, leaked words spoken within the palace, and deceived their sovereign in an impious way.
世稱公孫弘排主父，張湯陷嚴助，石顯譖捐之，察其行跡，主父求欲鼎亨而得族，嚴、賈出入禁門招權利，死皆其所也，亦何排陷之恨哉！ Posterity blames Gongsun Hong for sidelining Zhufu Yan, Zhang Tang for ruining Yan Zhu, and Shi Xian for destroying Jia Juanzhi—yet examine how these men lived. Zhufu Yan clawed after the honors of the high minister's tripod and instead won the execution of his entire kin; Yan Zhu and Jia Juanzhi used their passes through the forbidden gates to peddle influence and line their pockets. Each fell by his own doing; there is little cause to nurse a grudge against those who merely 'squeezed' or 'framed' them.
Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 13 passages
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望之以為中書政本，宜以賢明之選，自武帝游宴後庭，故用宦者，非國舊制，又違古不近刑人之義，白欲更置士人，由是大與高、恭、顯忤。 Wangzhi argued that the secretariat was the heart of government and should be staffed by worthy, capable men. Eunuchs had been employed there since Emperor Wu began visiting and holding banquets in the rear palace, but this was neither an original Han institution nor consistent with the ancient principle of keeping punished men at a distance. He proposed replacing them with regular officials, bringing him into sharp conflict with Shi Gao, Hong Gong, and Shi Xian.
Book of Han, Chapter 91Volume 80: The Six Sons of Emperors Xuan and Yuan · 5 passages
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博常欲誑耀淮陽王，即具記房諸所說災異及召見密語，持予淮陽王以為信驗，詐言：「已見中書令石君求朝，許以金五百斤。 Bo had long wanted to impress the King of Huaiyang, so he wrote down everything Jing Fang had said about disasters and anomalies, along with confidential remarks from imperial audiences, and brought the notes to the king as proof. He falsely claimed, “I have already gone to Palace Secretary Shi to ask for an audience; he agreed in exchange for five hundred jin of gold.
Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 4 passages
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Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 36 passages
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歲餘，趙皇后得立，上甚德之，乃追顯長前功，下詔曰：「前將作大匠解萬年奏請營作昌陵，罷弊海內，侍中衛尉長數白宜止徙家反故處，朕以長言下公卿，議者皆合長計。 More than a year later Empress Zhao was installed, and the emperor, deeply grateful, recalled Chunyu Chang's earlier service. He issued an edict: "Former Director of Works Xie Wannian memorialized requesting construction at Changling, exhausting the empire. Palace Attendant and Defender of the Capital Chunyu Chang repeatedly stated that the work should stop and that relocated households should be returned to their former homes. I referred Chang's words to the dukes and ministers, and all who deliberated agreed with his plan.
Book of Later Han, Chapter 76Volume 69: Biographies of Dou, He · 1 passage
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New Book of Tang, Chapter 178Volume 178 Biographies 103: Liu Fen · 1 passage
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