Echoes of History Biography: Li Si 李斯

Li Si 李斯

(Warring States to Qin dynasty, 280 BC - 208 BC)

Li Si (left) and Qin Shi Huang (right) as characters in the Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu music and game production. 

Source: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1de4y1172D

Li Si came from the Kingdom of Chu and had been educated in the legalist school of thought from the renowned philosopher Xunzi. 

As an ambitious and learned young man, Li Si understood the importance of a conducive environment towards personal success in life. He refused to accept a life grovelling in poverty and social inferiority. 

He therefore moved to the Kingdom of Qin to seek better prospects, for Qin had adopted an open policy towards foreign talents, no matter their background, to strengthen the country during the Warring States period. 

About ten years after he settled in the Kingdom of Qin, suspicions towards foreign-born officials and advisors reached its height, spurred by incidences of political espionage. The court of Qin debated a notion to expel all foreign born advisors.

Li Si had not let this deter him. Instead, he wrote a cogent letter to the king, “Petition Against the Expulsion of Foreigners”. His eloquence and sound arguments changed the king’s mind. He was reappointed and later promoted, all the way till he became the king’s chief advisor, and till the King of Qin became the first emperor of the united China, Qin Shi Huangdi. 

Engravings of Li Si’s letter.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Li_Si_Yishan_Stele_Copy.jpg

Illustration of Qin Shi Huang and Li Si. 

Source:  https://bkimg.cdn.bcebos.com/pic/91ef76c6a7efce1b65266eb2ad51f3deb48f65bd

Li Si, as the Left Prime Minister, was heavily involved in the policies of the new united realm. This included the standardisation of writing, measurements, currency, and transportation, which laid important foundations towards a unified China today. 

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Li Si does not have a dedicated song for himself in the Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu series so far, but instead makes an appearance in 《始见千秋》, roughly translated as “Beginning of Eternity”, which celebrates the achievements of Qin Shi Huang and the Qin empire. 

Singing in the traditional Qin-styled opera technique, originating from the northwest of China, has been incorporated in the version with human vocals. 

Original video (Vocaloid): https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1JG4y1b7oB

Original video (human vocals as above): https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1de4y1172D