Ji Shao (254 – 9 September 304Vol.85 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that the battle of Dangyin took place on the jiwei day of the 7th month of the 1st year of the Yongxing era, which corresponds to 9 Sep 304 in the Julian calendar.), courtesy name Yanzu, was a politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the son of Ji Kang, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. Although his father was wrongfully killed by the ruling Sima clan, Ji Shao rose to become a prominent minister within the Western Jin court, reaching the position of Palace Attendant. He became embroiled in the War of the Eight Princes and immortalized himself by sacrificing his life to protect Emperor Hui of Jin at the Battle of Dangyin. Opinions on Ji Shao varied among contemporary and later scholars; he was praised for his exceptional loyalty to the emperor at Dangyin, but also criticized for going against the Confucian principle of filial piety by serving the family that killed his father.
Early life and career Ji Shao was the son of Ji Kang, a member of the famous Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. In 263, when he was ten years old (by East Asian reckoning), his father was falsely accused and killed under the order of the Cao Wei regent Sima Zhao. For his safety, Ji Shao stayed in his home for the rest of his youth, where he gained a reputation being filial towards his mother. In February 266, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Jin, established the Western Jin dynasty after forcing the last emperor of Wei to abdicate. In 274,Zizhi Tongjian, vol.80 Ji Kang's friend Shan Tao advised Emperor Wu to exempt Ji Shao from his father's crime and appoint him as an Assistant in the Palace Library. The emperor agreed, but took one step further by giving him the higher rank of Assistant Director. Ji Shao wanted to turn down the appointment, but after a personal visit from Shan Tao, he finally agreed.(嵇紹，字延祖，魏中散大夫康之子也。十歲而孤，事母孝謹。以父得罪，靖居私門。山濤領選，啟武帝曰：「《康誥》有言：'父子罪不相及。'嵇紹賢侔郤缺，宜加旌命，請為秘書郎。」帝謂濤曰：「如卿所言，乃堪為丞，何但郎也。」乃發詔征之，起家為秘書丞。) Jin Shu, vol.89
Ji Shao was eventually promoted to Administrator of Ruyin Commandery. He was then transferred to the Interior Minister of Yuzhang Commandery, but as his mother had died around the time, he declined the position. After concluding his mourning period, he returned to the government as Inspector of Xu province, where he met with the provincial chief controller, Shi Chong. Shi Chong was known to have an arrogant personality, but Ji Shao would often reason with him, which earned him Shi Chong's respect. Afterwards, Ji Shao had to resign once again to mourn the death of his eldest son, Ji Zhen (嵇軫).(累遷汝陰太守...轉豫章內史，以母憂，不之官。服闋，拜徐州刺史。時石崇為都督，性雖驕暴，而紹將之以道，崇甚親敬之。後以長子喪去職。) Jin Shu, vol.89
War of the Eight Princes
Service under Empress Jia and Sima Lun In 291, Ji Shao was reinstated as a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate. By this time, Emperor Hui of Jin had succeeded Emperor Wu to the throne, but the imperial court was dominated by his wife, Empress Jia Nanfeng and her relative Jia Mi. Jia Mi wanted to befriend Ji Shao, but he did not respond. When the Jia clan was overthrown by the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun in May 300, Ji Shao was thus spared and promoted to Regular Mounted Attendant while holding the position of State Academician. He was also enfeoffed as the Viscount of Yiyang.(元康初，為給事黃門侍郎。時侍中賈謐以外戚之寵，年少居位，潘岳、杜斌等皆附托焉。謐求交於紹，紹距而不答。及謐誅，紹時在省，以不阿比凶族，封弋陽子，遷散騎常侍，領國子博士。) Jin Shu, vol.89
In February 301, Sima Lun deposed Emperor Hui and usurped the throne. The Book of Jin states that after the usurpation, Sima Lun appointed Ji Shao as Palace Attendant, which he accepted.(趙王倫篡位，署為侍中。惠帝復阼，遂居其職。) Jin Shu, vol.89 However, the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Thirty Kingdoms (三十國春秋) provides a lengthier and different account. It states that when Sima Lun was about to usurp the throne, Ji Shao was approached by the Prince of Yiyang Sima Jingyao, who showed him Emperor Hui's edict of abdication. When asked for his opinion, Ji Shao replied sternly, "Even if I die, I will never recognize another emperor!" Jingyao angrily drew his sword at him, but soon backed off. After Emperor Hui was sent to Jinyong Fortress (金墉城; northwestern part of Luoyang city), Ji Shao followed him and refused to deal with Sima Lun, which caused many people to worry for his safety.(倫將篡位，義陽王威執詔示嵇紹曰：「聖上法堯、舜之舉，卿其然乎？」紹厲聲曰：「有死而已，終不有二！」威怒，拔劍而出。及惠帝遷于金墉城，唯紹固志不從，直于金墉，絕不通倫，時人皆爲之懼。) Sanshiguo Chunqiu, cited in Zizhi Tongjian Kaoyi, vol.04
Service under Sima Jiong By July 301, Sima Lun was deposed and Emperor Hui was restored by the Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong. Ji Shao was again spared and remained in the government as a Palace Attendant. Soon, several officials wanted to posthumously reinstate the minister, Zhang Hua, who fell victim to Sima Lun's purges, to his office of Minister of Works. Ji Shao opposed them, asserting that Zhang Hua did little to prevent Empress Jia from seizing power and was even compliant with her undertakings. He instead argued that Zhang Hua should not be acquitted for his crimes, but out of leniency, the matter should not be pursued any further. He then submitted a petition addressed to Emperor Hui, Sima Jiong and the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, encouraging them to rebuild and prevent calamity from befalling the state.(司空張華為倫所誅，議者追理其事，欲復其爵，紹又駁曰：「臣之事君，當除煩去惑。華歷位內外，雖粗有善事，然闔棺之責，著於遠近，兆禍始亂，華實為之。故鄭討幽公之亂，斫子家之棺；魯戮隱罪，終篇貶翬。未忍重戮，事已弘矣，謂不宜復其爵位，理其無罪。」時帝初反正，紹又上疏曰：「臣聞改前轍者則車不傾，革往弊者則政不爽。太一統于元首，百司役於多士，故周文興于上，成康穆於下也。存不忘亡，《易》之善義；願陛下無忘金墉，大司馬無忘潁上，大將軍無忘黃橋，則禍亂之萌無由而兆矣。」) Jin Shu, vol.89
Sima Jiong, now regent to Emperor Hui, was close friends with Ji Shao and showed him preferential treatment.(齊王冏為大司馬，初，嵇紹為冏所重，每下階迎之。) Jin Shu, vol.61 However, Ji Shao was concern for the prince's extravagant lifestyle as he built many buildings for his personal estate. He wrote a petition remonstrating Sima Jiong to stop, but although Jiong humbly responded, he did not change his behaviour.(齊王冏既輔政，大興第舍，驕奢滋甚，紹以書諫曰：「夏禹以卑室稱美，唐虞以茅茨顯德，豐屋蔀家，無益危亡。竊承毀敗太樂以廣第舍，興造功力為三王立宅，此豈今日之先急哉！今大事始定，萬姓顒，咸待覆潤，宜省起造之煩，深思謙損之理。復主之勳不可棄矣，矢石之殆不可忘也。」冏雖謙順以報之，而卒不能用。) Jin Shu, vol.89 One day, Ji Shao visited Sima Jiong to consult politics. Jiong was holding a banquet at the time, so Ji Shao had to join and discuss current affairs with the prince's other confidants, Dong Ai (董艾) and Ge Qi (葛旗). Hearing that Ji Shao was talented in music and poetry, Dong Ai offered him a zither to play, but he refused, believing it inapproriate for him to be act like a performer while he was on official duty. He also warned Sima Jiong that as a highly important minister, he should be setting an example. Jiong felt ashame, while Dong Ai and the others felt awkward and left.(紹嘗詣炯諮事，遇炯宴會，召董艾、葛旗等共論時政。艾言於炯曰：「嵇侍中善於絲竹，公可令操之。」左右進琴，紹推不受。冏曰：「今日為歡，卿何吝此邪！」紹對曰：「公匡復社稷，當軌物作則，垂之於後。紹雖虛鄙，忝備常伯，腰紱冠冕，鳴玉殿省，豈可操執絲竹，以為伶人之事！若釋公服從私宴，所不敢辭也。」冏大慚。艾等不自得而退。) Jin Shu, vol.89
In January 303, Ji Shao was relieved of his duty in court and invited by Sima Jiong to serve as his Marshal of the Left. However, ten days later, Sima Jiong was killed while fighting the Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai in Luoyang. When the fighting first broke out, Ji Shao sensed that something was amiss and fled towards the palace. Supposedly, a crossbowman at the eastern pavilion spotted him and wanted to shoot him, but his fellow soldier, Xiao Long (蕭隆), upon seeing Ji Shao's appearance, felt that he was no ordinary man, so he personally stepped forward to snatch away the bolt, saving Ji Shao's life.(頃之，以公事免，冏以為左司馬。旬日，冏被誅。初，兵交，紹奔散赴宮，有持弩在東閣下者，將射之，遇有殿中將兵蕭隆，見紹姿容長者，疑非凡人，趣前拔箭，於此得免。遂還滎陽舊宅。) Jin Shu, vol.61
Service under Sima Ai After Sima Jiong's death, Ji Shao decided to return to his old home in Xingyang. He was later invited to serve as Assistant to the Imperial Counsellor, but he declined and instead retained his position of Palace Attendant. In fall 303, Sima Ying and the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong declared war against Sima Ai and placed him under siege at Luoyang. When Sima Ai was about to attack Sima Yong's forces in the west, he asked his followers who should be the commander. His generals and soldiers all elected Ji Shao to lead them into battle, so he was appointed General Who Pacifies the West and granted tally.(尋徵為御史中丞，未拜，復為侍中。河間王顒、成都王穎舉兵向京都，以討長沙王乂，大駕次於城東。乂言於眾曰：「今日西討，欲誰為都督乎？」六軍之士皆曰：「願嵇侍中戮力前驅，死猶生也。」遂拜紹使持節、平西將軍。) Jin Shu, vol.89
Despite holding out for several months, Sima Ai was eventually betrayed by the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue and burnt to death by Sima Yong's general, Zhang Fang in March 304. At first, Ji Shao was restored to his position as Palace Attendant, but as many of the other officials went to Ye to apologize to Sima Ying, he was among the few to be dismissed and demoted to commoner status.(屬乂被執，紹復為侍中。公王以下皆詣鄴謝罪於穎，紹等咸見廢黜，免為庶人。) Jin Shu, vol.89
Battle of Dangyin and death In August 304, Sima Yue rebelled against Sima Ying in Luoyang and planned to lead an army towards Ye with Emperor Hui. He summoned Ji Shao and reinstated him as Palace Attendant for the last time. Believing that the emperor was in trouble, Ji Shao rushed to his temporary palace upon receiving the edict. Before setting out, another Palace Attendant, Qin Zhun (秦準), warned him, "Now that you are departing, safety and danger will be difficult to ascertain. Have you got a good horse?" Ji Shao replied, "I will be guarding the imperial carriage, whether I live or die with it. What use would a good horse be?"(徵前侍中嵇紹詣行在。侍中秦準謂紹曰：「今往，安危難測，卿有佳馬乎？」紹正色曰：「臣子扈衞乘輿，死生以之，佳馬何爲！」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
On 9 September 304, while Sima Yue's army was passing through Dangyin (蕩陰; in present-day Anyang, Henan) they were attacked by Sima Ying's general, Shi Chao and suffered a great defeat. Emperor Hui was injured in the face and hit by three arrows as all his officials and guards fled. Only Ji Shao remained behind, and still wearing his court dress, he dismounted his horse and entered the imperial carriage to shield the emperor. Sima Ying's soldiers eventually dragged him out and pressed him against a broken shaft of the carriage to impale him. Despite Emperor Hui's pleas, the soldiers killed Ji Shao and his blood splashed on the emperor's clothes.(陳眕二弟匡、規自鄴赴行在，云鄴中皆已離散，由是不甚設備。[永兴元年七月]己未，石超軍奄至，乘輿敗績於蕩陰，帝傷頰，中三矢，百官侍御皆散。嵇紹朝服，下馬登輦，以身衞帝，兵人引紹於轅中斫之。帝曰：「忠臣也，勿殺！」對曰：「奉太弟令，惟不犯陛下一人耳。」遂殺紹，血濺帝衣。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
Emperor Hui greatly mourned Ji Shao's death. After the battle, his servants wanted to wash his clothes, but Hui refused, saying, "This the blood of Palace Attendant Ji. Do not wash it off!"(左右欲浣帝衣，帝曰：「嵇侍中血，勿浣也！」) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.85
Evaluation
Posthumous honours Later, Sima Yong had Emperor Hui forcibly relocated to his base at Chang'an in the end of 304. Though they were enemies, Sima Yong respected Ji Shao's loyalty and later submitted a petition to posthumously appoint him as Minister of Works and Duke of Yiyang. However, at the time, war broke out between with him and Sima Yue, who wanted to bring Emperor Hui back to Luoyang, so his proposal was never carried out.(及張方逼帝遷長安，河間王顒表贈紹司空，進爵為公。會帝還洛陽，事遂未行。) Jin Shu, vol.89
In 306, when Sima Yue was stationed around the Xu region, he passed through Ji Shao's tomb at Xingyang. Yue wept, carved a stone tablet and erected a monument for Ji Shao. The prince also submitted a petition to confer official titles to him. In response, the later Emperor Huai of Jin posthumously appointed him as Palace Attendant and Household Counsellor with Golden Tassel, granted him a golden seal and purple tassel and promoted his peerage to Marquis of Yiyang. In addition, he was granted more land for his tomb with ten guest households and sacrifices through the Shaolao (少牢) rites.(東海王越屯許，路經滎陽，過紹墓，哭之悲慟，刊石立碑，又表贈官爵。帝乃遣使冊贈侍中、光祿大夫，加金章紫綬，進爵為侯，賜墓田一頃，客十戶，祠以少牢。) Jin Shu, vol.89