Shi Chong () (249–300),

courtesy name A courtesy name ( zh, s=字, p=zì, l=character), also known as a style name, is an additional name bestowed upon individuals at adulthood, complementing their given name. This tradition is prevalent in the East Asian cultural sphere, particula ...

Jilun (季倫), was a Chinese politician of the Western Jin Dynasty. He was a son of situ Shi Bao (石苞). He was known for his luxurious lifestyle.

Biography

Shi Chong was the sixth son of situ Shi Bao (石苞). At a young age, he showed great intelligence and courage. As a result, his father decided to leave no property for him, as he was confident that Shi Chong could make a fortune on his own. Shi Chong first served as magistrate of

Xiuwu County Xiuwu County () is a county in the northwest of Henan province, China, bordering Shanxi province to the north. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Jiaozuo and contains its northernmost point. Administrative divisions Un ...

and Governor of Chengyang Commandery (a commandery in Jiaodong Peninsula, centered in Ju County). He became Marquis of Anyang Village due to his participation in the

Conquest of Wu by Jin The conquest of Wu by Jin was a military campaign launched by the Jin dynasty against the state of Wu from late 279 to mid 280 at the end of the Three Kingdoms period of China. The campaign, which started in December 279 or January 280, conc ...

. Later, he rose to the position of Shizhong (侍中, an attendant and consultant in the imperial court). After the death of

Emperor Wu of Jin Emperor Wu of Jin (; 236 – 16 May 290), personal name Sima Yan (), courtesy name Anshi (安世), was a grandson of Sima Yi, nephew of Sima Shi and son of Sima Zhao. He became the first emperor of the Jin dynasty (266–420), Jin dynasty a ...

in May 290, Yang Jun became regent to Emperor Hui. As a dissident, Shi Chong left the capital and became Governor of Jingzhou. Later, he was appointed as Dasinong (大司农, in charge of finance). However, the appointment was cancelled because he left his post before the official announcement. Shortly after, he was appointed as Zhenglu General, guarding the Xuzhou region. Soon, he was removed after an incident where he became drunk and fought with Gao Dan, Governor of Xuzhou. After Queen Regent Jia Nanfeng gained power, he became a friend of Jia's nephew, Jia Mi, by flattering the latter. It was recorded that whenever Guo Huai, Jia Nanfeng's mother passed by, Shi would stop and prostrate himself before her. In the first year of the ''Yongkang'' era (300), the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, exterminated the Jia family in May. Shi Chong was removed from his post as an ally of the family. Sun Xiu, a favorite of Sima Lun, hated Shi Chong over the beauty of Shi's concubine, Lüzhu (绿珠), and framed Shi that he had conspired with Prince of Huainan, Sima Yun, who rebelled against Sima Lun. Shi Chong was subsequently executed along with his family; Pan Yue and his family were also executed.《晋书·石苞传》(

Book of Jin The ''Book of Jin'' is an official Chinese historical text covering the history of the Jin dynasty (266–420), Jin dynasty from 266 to 420. It was compiled in 648 by a number of officials commissioned by the imperial court of the Tang dynasty, ...

, Volume 33, Biography of Shi Bao)

Notable anecdotes

Shi Chong was best known for his extravagant lifestyle. On the position as Governor of Jingzhou, Shi accumulated huge wealth by engaging in highway robbery, often murdering merchants passing by for their properties. Shi Chong and Wang Kai (王恺), a consort kin, loathed each other. After learning that Wang Kai's family used sugar water to clean their dishes and pots, Shi ordered his servants to burn candles instead of firewood. On the road to his manor, Wang decorated the roadside barriers with purple silk for 40 '' li (ca. 15 km). On learning this, Shi covered 50 li with more expensive multicolored silk.

once sent Wang Kai a coral tree ('' Viburnum odoratissimum'') two '' chi'' (ca. 50 cm) in height as a gift. Shi Chong visited him, smashed it with an iron '' ruyi'', and offered him several coral trees 3-4 ''chi'' in height in return.《世说新语·汰侈篇》 ( Shishuo Xinyu, Volume 30: Sybaritism)

References

{{reflist 249 births 300 deaths 3rd-century executions Jin dynasty (266–420) government officials People executed by the Jin dynasty (266–420)