Li Zhuan
Li Zhuan (fl. 223 – 260s), courtesy name Qinzhong, was a Chinese politician and of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China.[1]
Li Zhuan | |
|---|---|
李譔 | |
| Right General of the Household (右中郎將) | |
| In office ? – ? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Attendant Counsellor (中散大夫) | |
| In office ? – ? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Supervisor (僕射) | |
| In office ? – ? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Crown Prince's Bodyguard (太子庶子) | |
| In office ? – ? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown Mianyang, Sichuan |
| Died | Unknown |
| Father | Li Ren |
| Occupation | Politician, scholar |
| Courtesy name | Qinzhong (欽仲) |
Life
Li Zhuan was from Fu County (涪縣), Zitong Commandery (梓潼郡), which is around present-day Mianyang, Sichuan. His father, Li Ren (李仁), whose courtesy name was Dexian (德賢), was a close friend of Yin Mo, who was from the same county as him. Li Ren and Yin Mo left their native Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) on a tour of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan), where they studied under the tutelage of Sima Hui and Song Zhong (宋忠; also known as Song Zhongzi 宋仲子).[2]
Li Zhuan inherited his father's knowledge. Together with Yin Mo, he extensively studied the Five Classics and Hundred Schools of Thought, and became a learned scholar. Apart from academia and philosophy, he was also well-versed in various arts and crafts, mathematics, divination, medicine, archery and mechanics.[3]
Li Zhuan started his career in the Shu Han state as an assistant scribe (書佐) before becoming a clerk (令史) to the Masters of Writing (尚書). In 238, after the Shu emperor Liu Shan designated his eldest son Liu Xuan as crown prince, he appointed Li Zhuan as a bodyguard (庶子) to Liu Xuan. Later, he reassigned/promoted Li Zhuan to various positions, including Supervisor (僕射), Attendant Counsellor (中散大夫) and Right General of the Household (右中郎將). Li Zhuan's main task, however, was to educate Liu Xuan. The crown prince also favoured Li Zhuan for his multiple talents and extensive knowledge.[4] Despite his wealth of knowledge, Li Zhuan was not highly regarded or respected by his peers because of his frivolous behaviour and tendency to ridicule and scorn others.[5]
Throughout his life as a scholar, Li Zhuan wrote commentaries, guides, annotations, etc., to a number of ancient texts, including the Yijing, Book of Documents, Mao Commentary, Etiquette and Ceremonial, Book of Rites, Rites of Zhou, Zuo Zhuan, and Taixuan Zhigui (太玄指歸). His writings followed the styles of Jia Kui and Ma Rong rather than that of Zheng Xuan. Although he had never met his contemporary Wang Su before, his works and interpretations of Confucianism turned out to be similar to Wang Su's.[6] He died in the middle of the Jingyao era (258–263) of Liu Shan's reign.[7]
One of Li Zhuan's peers, Chen Shu (陳術), who was from Hanzhong Commandery and whose courtesy name was Shenbo (申伯), was also well-known for being knowledgeable and multi-talented. Chen Shu wrote the seven-chapter Shi Bu (釋部), Yizhou Qijiu Zhuan (益部耆舊傳) and Yizhou Qijiu Zhi (益部耆舊志), and served as the administrator of three commanderies in Shu.[8]
References
- de Crespigny (2007), p. 442.
- (李譔字欽仲，梓潼涪人也。父仁，字德賢，與同縣尹默懼遊荊州，從司馬徽、宋忠等學。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- (譔具傳其業，又默講論義理，五經、諸子，無不該覽，加博好技藝，算術、卜數，醫藥、弓弩、機械之巧，皆致思焉。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- (始為州書佐、尚書令史。延熙元年，後主立太子，以譔為庶子，遷為僕射，轉中散大夫、右中郎將，猶侍太子。太子愛其多知，甚悅之。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- (然體輕脫，好戲啁，故世不能重也。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- (著古文《易》、《尚書》、《毛詩》、《三禮》、《左氏傳》、《太玄指歸》，皆依準賈、馬，異於鄭玄。與王氏殊隔，初不見其所述，而意歸多同。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- (景耀中卒。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- (時又有漢中陳術，字申伯，亦博學多聞，著《釋部》七篇、《益部耆舊傳》及《志》，位歷三郡太守。) Sanguozhi vol. 42.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23-220 AD. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004156050.