Chen Shi (陳寔) (104 - 16 September 186),
courtesy name Zhonggong (仲弓), was an official of the
Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Life
Chen Shi was the father of
Chen Ji and the grandfather of
Chen Qun. As he was the mayor () of Taiqiu County (), he was also known as Chen Taiqiu (). He was the primogenitor of surname Chen () of Yingchuan () and the central figure of the
Qingliu school () in the
Yingchuan
Yingchuan Commandery ( zh, 潁川郡) was a Chinese commandery from the Warring States period to Tang dynasty, located in modern central Henan province. The name referred to the Ying River, which flowed through its territory.
The commandery was es ...
() region.
Though he was raised at an impoverished family, he loved books and studies at early years. As he was the person of rightfulness, without prejudice and generous, he was held in high repute among the common people. However, as he objected to the eunuchs' abuse of power, he was prevented from holding government positions by the
Disasters of Partisan Prohibitions. As he was prevented from government services, he lived a hermit life at his hometown. Whenever a civil lawsuit occurred, local residents used to invite him to preside over the case. Whenever consulted, Chen Shi provided them with results that are consistent with reason, and no one complained about his judgement. It was said that "Better to have your punishment increased, than to be found lacking by Master Chen."..
In the 160s, when a teenage
Xu Shao
Xu Shao () (150–195), courtesy name Zijiang, was a Chinese philosopher and politician who lived in the Eastern Han dynasty.
Early life and career
Xu Shao was from Pingyu County (平輿縣), Runan Commandery (汝南郡), which is present-day P ...
went to
Yingchuan Commandery (潁川郡; covering present-day southern and central Henan), he visited and mingled with many reputable men in the region, except for Chen Shi. Later, when
Chen Fan's wife died, many people attended her funeral, but Xu Shao did not show up. When asked, Xu Shao replied, "Taiqiu is too well-acquainted, it's difficult for him to be thorough; Zhongju (Chen Fan's courtesy name) is a serious person who hardly makes compromises. These are the reasons why I didn't visit them."
After the
Prohibitions were relieved,
He Jin sent a messenger and called Chen Shi to his ministration, but Chen Shi did not accept He Jin's offer and died soon after.
When he died in September 186, a crowd exceeding 30,000 assembled at his funeral, and those who wore mourning dress numbered in the hundreds. He was given the
posthumous name Master Wenfan (文范先生).
[(谥为文范先生。) ''Houhanshu'', vol.62]
Descendants
Chen Baxian, the founding emperor of the
Chen dynasty, traces his ancestry to Chen Shi. The Buddhist monk
Chen Hui or
Xuanzang also descends from Chen Shi.
See also
*
Emperor Wu of Chen
*
Xuanzang (Chen Hui)
References
*
Fan, Ye (5th century). ''
Book of the Later Han'' (''Houhanshu'').
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Shi
104 births
187 deaths
Han dynasty politicians from Henan
Politicians from Xuchang