[1]Life dates and political statusLi Shi was born in 1471 and is ordinarily dated to 1538; the evidence identifies him as a Ming political figure and as a chief grand secretary, while another account places his death in early 1539.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The main record gives the name, birth year 1471, death year 1538, and Ming dynasty affiliation.
Souyun李時 (50689)The profile and biographical entries confirm his name, dates, and Ming affiliation; one entry describes him as a chief grand secretary and gives an early-1539 death date.
WikidataLi Shi (Q11096861)The English label, politician description, and date claims support his identity, political status, and 1471–1538 life dates.
[2]Names and posthumous nameHis courtesy name was Zongyi, his birth-order designation was Yi, his studio names were Xuan and Songxi, and Wenkang was his posthumous name.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The alternate-name data identifies Yi as a birth-order designation, Zongyi as the courtesy name, Xuan and the variant Xuan form as studio names, Wenkang as the posthumous name, and Songxi as a studio name.
Souyun李時 (50689)The profile lists Zongyi, Xuan, Songxi, and Wenkang among his courtesy, studio, and posthumous names.
WikidataLi Shi (Q11096861)The English and Chinese name lists corroborate the romanized and Chinese forms of Zongyi, Xuan, Songxi, and Wenkang.
[3]Native placeHis native place is given as Renqiu, also written Renqiu with the character 邱, in Hejian Prefecture, Zhili.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)All three address entries give the variant form 任邱.
Souyun李時 (50689)The profile and biographical entries give the place as Renqiu in Hejian Prefecture, Zhili.
[4]FamilyHis father was Li Mu, his grandfather Li Pu, his great-grandfather Li Rong, his mother Bian, his wife Zhang, and his grandson Li Hui; his father and son Li Tan were both jinshi degree-holders.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The kinship data names his great-grandfather Li Rong, grandfather Li Pu, father Li Mu with dates, mother Bian, wife Zhang, and grandson Li Hui.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographical entry states that his father Li Mu and son Li Tan were both jinshi degree-holders.
[5]Education and examinationHe was first a shengyuan; he ranked thirty-fourth in the 1495 Shuntian provincial examination, passed the 1502 Renxu jinshi examination in the second class, and then entered the Hanlin Academy as a shujishi and compiler.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The educational entry identifies him as a shengyuan (庠生).
[6]Education and examinationHe ranked thirty-fourth in the 1495 Yimao Shuntian provincial examination, passed the 1502 Renxu jinshi examination in the second class in eleventh place, and was then selected as a shujishi and appointed Hanlin Compiler.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The examination data gives second-class eleventh place for the jinshi degree, while the office data records the shujishi and Hanlin Compiler appointments.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographical entries confirm the Renxu jinshi, shujishi, and compiler appointments and provide the 1495 and 1502 dates and the thirty-fourth-place ranking.
[7]Early officesDuring the Hongzhi and Zhengde reigns he held Hanlin, lecturing, editorial, and examination posts, including Reader, Right Expositor, Reader Academician, Lecturer, Classics Mat lecturer, compiler, and metropolitan and provincial examiner.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The office data lists the compiler, Reader Academician, Classics Mat lecturer, Lecturer, Right Expositor, compiler, metropolitan examination, and provincial examination posts.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographical entries supply the Hongzhi–Zhengde sequence of Reader, Right Expositor, Reader Academician, compiler, and court lecturer appointments.
[8]Early Jiajing careerAfter the Jiajing accession he served as a court lecturer and Reader Academician, became Vice Minister of Rites in 1524, left during mourning, then returned through Revenue and Rites posts to become Minister of Rites and supervisor of the metropolitan examinations in 1529.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The office data records the 1524 Vice Minister of Rites appointment, the later Senior Vice Minister of Rites and Minister of Rites appointments, the 1529 start date, and the supervisor of metropolitan examinations post.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biography describes his post-accession lectureship and promotion, mourning leave, service in Revenue and Rites, and replacement of Fang Xianfu as Minister of Rites.
[9]Grand Secretariat and high officesIn 1531 he received the rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, entered the Grand Secretariat as a concurrent Grand Secretary after Gui E's death, and later held several hall grand secretary posts; he became Minister of Personnel in 1532 and Grand Secretary of Huagai Hall in 1536 while receiving further heir-apparent and junior tutor ranks.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The office data lists the Wenyuan, Wuying, Jinshen, and Huagai grand secretary posts, the 1532 Minister of Personnel appointment, and the heir-apparent, Junior Guardian, Junior Tutor, and Grand Preceptor ranks.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographies confirm his entry into the Grand Secretariat, participation in government, hall grand secretary posts, successive honors, and the account of Gui E's death and Zhai Luan's joint service.
[10]Examination and editorial appointmentsHe served as deputy and chief editor, supervised a ritual compilation, read palace examination papers in 1532, 1535, and 1538, and held metropolitan and provincial examination posts in the stated years.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The office data lists deputy and chief editor, ritual compilation supervisor, palace examination reader, metropolitan examination supervisor and examiners, and provincial examiner posts with their years.
[11]Governing style and assessmentHis stated principle was quietude; he completed ceremonial measures initiated by others, was not credited with major corrective action, was regarded by court opinion as worthy, and was described as cautious, modest, and willing to defend Wei Liangbi and Feng En.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographies describe quietude as his principle, his role in completing ceremonial projects, the limits and character of his deliberations, the favorable court assessment, his cautious and modest manner, and his defense of Wei Liangbi and Feng En.
[12]Imperial literary and ceremonial activitiesFrom 1533 to 1536 the Jiajing emperor summoned him with other ministers for excursions, ordered poetic responses and a rhapsody, and in 1536 consulted him and gave him a banquet after a boat excursion.
Souyun李時 (50689)The poetic and anecdotal entry details the imperial summonses from Jiajing twelve through fifteen, the excursions, commissioned poetry and rhapsody, and the 1536 boat excursion, questions, and banquet.
[13]Epitaphs and sacrificial textsWang Tongzu wrote Li Shi's tomb inscription; Li Shi wrote epitaphs for Liao Ji and Shen Dongkui, while Wang Lidao, Huo Tao, Gong Yongqing, and Huang Xun wrote sacrificial texts for him.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The association data identifies Wang Tongzu as the author of his tomb inscription, Li Shi as author of epitaphs for Liao Ji and Shen Dongkui, and Wang Lidao, Huo Tao, Gong Yongqing, and Huang Xun as authors of sacrificial texts for him.
[14]Spirit-way steles, biographies, and building textsLi Shi wrote spirit-way steles for Fei Hong and Tao Yan and a biography for Fu Gui; Zhao Yong wrote his biography, Lü Nan and Yan Song supplied texts or names for related buildings, and Gu Dingchen wrote an academy record.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The association data records the spirit-way steles, biographical notices, building poems or records and naming, and academy record involving Fei Hong, Tao Yan, Zhao Yong, Fu Gui, Lü Nan, Yan Song, and Gu Dingchen.
[15]Death and posthumous honorsHe died in office in 1538, although one account places the death in early 1539; he was posthumously granted Grand Tutor and named Wenkang.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The main record dates his death to 1538, the office data lists the 1538 Grand Tutor honor, and the alternate-name data gives Wenkang as his posthumous name.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographies state that he died in office, was granted Grand Tutor, and received the posthumous name Wenkang; one account gives early 1539 for the death.
WikidataLi Shi (Q11096861)The date claim supports 1538 as the death year and the name list supports Wenkang.
[16]WorksHis works include Nancheng zhaodui lu, Weihua tang gao, and Wenhua sheng ji; the collection title also appears in the variant form 藢花堂集.
CBDBLi Shi (68140)The title data lists Nancheng zhaodui lu in one juan, Wenhua sheng ji in one juan, and Weihua tang gao.
Souyun李時 (50689)The biographies name Nancheng zhaodui lu and give the two variant collection titles Weihua tang gao and 藢花堂集.
CBDB
