Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Writer

Xu Chi 徐摛

Attested AD 523 - AD 552

Passages: 22
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Xu Chi was an official and Writer.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Shixiu	士秀
Alternate name	Old Xu	徐叟

Life and dates

Death

Age 78 · Cause Illness from vital breath disorder
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 171

Age

78
Reckoning Sui · Context at death
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 171

Attested activity

AD 531 中大通三年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 151
AD 523 普通四年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 141
AD 548 to AD 552 侯景之亂
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 32, passages 20, 22
AD 527 大通初
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 142
AD 551 太宗後被幽閉
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 30, passage 171

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Xu Pingdao (徐憑道)
grandfather 祖 · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 129
Parent of Xu Ling (徐陵)
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 172
Child of Xu Chaozhi (徐超之)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 130
Child of Mother of Xu Chi (徐摛母)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 139

Key source chapters

Book of Liang, Chapter 30 Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan 21 passages
Book of Chen, Chapter 32 Volume 32: Filial Piety 1 passage

Career and standing

governor of Xin'an 新安太守
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 151
study companion 侍讀
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 137
General of the Left Guard 左衛將軍
Refused
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 170
Entered
Mourning · Reason mother's death
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 139

Places and affiliations

At Tan in Donghai 東海郯
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 128
At Xin'an 新安 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 151

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Hou Jing (侯景) · Quote true
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 167
Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passages 158-163

Events and relationships

Palace style arose
Cultural · Originator
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 144
Stood unmoved before hou jing
Political · Attendant
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passages 167-169
Relation Maternal cousin of · Person Zhou She (周捨)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 30, passage 135

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 32Volume 32: Filial Piety · 1 passage

景兵士皆羌、胡雜種，衝突左右，甚不遜，侍衛者不驚恐辟易，唯不害與中庶子徐摛侍側不動。 Jing's troops were Qiang and Hu of mixed stock; they jostled those on either side with great insolence. The guards were startled and gave way—only Buhai and palace attendant Xu Chi stood unmoved at the emperor's side.

Book of Liang, Chapter 30Volume 30: Pei Ziye; Gu Xie; Xu Chi; Bao Quan · 21 passages

徐摛字士秀，東海郯人也。 Xu Chi, styled Shixiu, came from Tan in Donghai.

摛幼而好學，及長，遍覽經史。 From youth Chi loved study; when he grew up he read widely in the classics and histories.

捨曰：「臣外弟徐摛，形質陋小，若不勝衣，而堪此選。」 She said, "Your servant's cousin on his mother's side Xu Chi — his frame is slight and homely, as if he could not fill his clothes, yet he is fit for this selection."

以摛爲侍讀。 Chi was made study companion to the prince.

後王出鎮江州，仍補雲麾府記室參軍，又轉平西府中記室。 Later the prince went out to govern Jiangzhou; Chi was appointed recorder for the Cloud Pennant headquarters and then transferred to central recorder for the Pacify-the-West headquarters.

王移鎮京口，復隨府轉爲安北中錄事參軍，帶郯令，以母憂去職。 When the prince moved his garrison to Jingkou, Chi followed the headquarters and was made recorder for the Pacify-the-North Central Commandant, with concurrent appointment as magistrate of Tan; he resigned when his mother died.

王爲丹陽尹，起摛爲秣陵令。 When the prince became governor of Danyang, Chi was recalled as magistrate of Moling.

普通四年，王出鎮襄陽，摛固求隨府西上，遷晉安王諮議參軍。 In the fourth year of Putong the prince went out to govern Xiangyang; Chi firmly requested to follow the headquarters west and was promoted to advisory aide to Prince Jin'an.

大通初，王總戎北伐，以摛兼寧蠻府長史，參贊戎政，教命軍書，多自摛出。 At the beginning of Datong the prince took overall command of the northern campaign; Chi was made concurrent Chief Clerk of the Pacify-the-Barbarians headquarters and assisted in military affairs; instructions and military documents mostly came from Chi.

王入爲皇太子，轉家令，兼掌管記，尋帶領直。 When the prince entered the capital as crown prince, Chi was transferred to Director of the Palace Household, with concurrent charge of records, and soon afterward was placed in command of the direct guard.

摛文體旣別，春坊盡學之，「宮體」之號，自斯而起。 Chi's literary style was already distinctive; the crown prince's household all studied it, and the name "Palace Style" arose from this.

高祖聞之怒，召摛加讓，及見，應對明敏，辭義可觀，高祖意釋。 Emperor Wu heard of it and grew angry; he summoned Chi to reproach him, but when he saw him, Chi's replies were clear and keen and his words were impressive; the emperor's anger lifted.

摛商較縱橫，應答如響，高祖甚加歎異，更被親狎，寵遇日隆。 Chi debated freely and answered like an echo; Emperor Wu marveled at him, drew him closer, and his favor grew daily.

領軍朱异不說，謂所親曰：「徐叟出入兩宮，漸來逼我，須早爲之所。」 Commandant-in-Chief Zhu Yi was displeased and said to those close to him, "Old Xu goes in and out of both palaces and is gradually pressing upon me; I must deal with this early."

遂承間白高祖曰：「摛年老，又愛泉石，意在一郡，以自怡養。」 He then seized an opportunity to inform Emperor Wu, saying, "Chi is old and loves springs and rocks; his wish is for one commandery where he may nourish himself in ease."

高祖謂摛欲之，乃召摛曰：「新安大好山水，任昉等並經爲之，卿爲我臥治此郡。」 Emperor Wu thought Chi wished it and summoned him, saying, "Xin'an has excellent mountains and waters; Ren Fang and others have all governed it. You shall govern this commandery for me from your couch."

太宗以問摛，摛曰：「《儀禮》云『質明贊見婦于舅姑』。 Emperor Jianwen asked Chi about it. Chi said, "The Ceremonies say, 'At first light the sponsor presents the wife to the husband's parents.'

摛獨嶷然侍立不動，徐謂景曰：「侯公當以禮見，何得如此。」 Chi alone stood attendant, lofty and unmoving, and slowly said to Jing, "Lord Hou ought to be received with proper ceremony — how can you act like this?"

侯景乃拜，由是常憚摛。 Hou Jing then bowed; from this he always feared Chi.

太宗嗣位，進授左衛將軍，固辭不拜。 When Emperor Jianwen succeeded to the throne, Chi was advanced to General of the Left Guard, but he firmly declined and did not accept.

太宗後被幽閉，摛不獲朝謁，因感氣疾而卒，年七十八。 Later Emperor Jianwen was confined in seclusion; Chi could not attend court and, afflicted by illness, died at the age of seventy-eight.