Ji Xiqi was briefly a ruler of the
Jin state. He was the son of
Duke Xian and his favored concubine
Li Ji, and later replaced his older half-brother
Ji Shensheng as crown prince.
After the death of Duke Xian, he took the throne for about a month before being killed by
Li Ke
Li Ke (; 619 – 10 March 653), posthumously known as the Prince of Yùlín (鬱林王), often known by his greater title as the Prince of Wú (吳王), was an imperial prince of the Tang dynasty. As a highly honored son of Emperor Taizong, he w ...
.
Biography
In 665 BC, the twelfth year of the reign of Duke Xian of Jin, Li Ji gave birth to Xiqi. Since Li Ji wanted her son to be the crown prince, she bribed two of Duke Xian's most trusted officials, Liang Wu (梁五) and Dongguan Biwu (東關嬖五). The two officials persuaded Duke Xian of Jin to let princes
Shensheng,
Chong'er
Duke Wen of Jin (697–628BC), personal name Ji Chong'er, was duke of the Jin state from 636 BC to 628 BC. He was exiled from Jin for approximately 20 years before finally assuming the throne and rapidly leading Jin to hegemony over the other ...
and
Yiwu
Yiwu () is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Jinhua, in central Zhejiang province, China. It is best known for hosting the Yiwu International Trade City, the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities.
History
Y ...
leave the capital, Jiang (絳). The officials told the duke that the northern Rong tribes (戎族) and Di tribes (狄族) frequently attacked Jin such that the princes were needed to defend their territory. Duke Xian then sent Shensheng to defend Quwo (曲沃), modern
Quwo County in
Shanxi
Shanxi; Chinese postal romanization, formerly romanised as Shansi is a Provinces of China, province in North China. Its capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-level cities are Changzhi a ...
. Duke Xian also sent Chong'er to defend the city of Pu (蒲), northwest of modern
Xi County in Shanxi, and Yiwu to Erqu (二屈), modern
Ji County in Shanxi.
In the ninth month of 651 BC, Duke Xian died. Li Ji placed the 14-year-old Crown Prince Xiqi on the throne of Jin and made Xun Xi the chancellor of Xiqi to help him in government affairs. On the tenth month of 651 BC, the Jin general Li Ke killed Xiqi roughly a month after his ascension. Duke Xian of Jin was not yet properly buried at that time. Xun Xi then placed Zhuozi, the younger half-brother of Xiqi, on the throne even though Zhuozi was still a toddler at that time. In the eleventh month of 651 BC, Li Ke killed Zhuozi and his aunt Li Ji. Xun Xi then committed suicide by hanging himself. Shao Ji, the younger sister of Li Ji and mother of Prince Zhuozi, was imprisoned.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xiqi
Monarchs of Jin (Chinese state)
7th-century BC Chinese monarchs
660s BC births
650s BC deaths