Li Shizhi (his birth year is uncertain, with 694 also given; his death is dated to 746 or 747) was a Tang imperial clansman and chancellor. He was originally named Chang and was a grandson of Li Chengqian; Li Chengqian is styled both Prince of Hengshan and Prince Min of Hengshan. His native place is variously given as Chang'an and Chengji in Longxi (present-day northwestern Qin'an, Gansu), while Jingzhao is also given as his ancestral home.
Life
His entry into official service was by summons. At the beginning of the Shenlong era (705), he began his career as commander of the Left Guard; during Kaiyuan, he rose through the posts of governor of Tongzhou, commandant of Qinzhou, governor of Shanzhou, prefect of Henan, and Censor-in-Chief, and was regarded as capable and forceful; in the twenty-seventh year of Kaiyuan (739), he concurrently became chief administrator of the Grand Governor's Office of Youzhou and took charge of military affairs.
During Kaiyuan he also served as deputy prefect of Huzhou and as governor of Tangzhou, Jizhou, and Fanyang. His father was Li Xiang; his sons were Li Jiqing (709–767) and Li Zha (d. 768), and his son-in-law was Zheng Hong (d. 763).
In 742, after serving as Minister of Justice, he replaced Niu Xianke as Left Chancellor and clashed with Right Chancellor Li Linfu; he was also enfeoffed as Duke of Qinghe. In the fifth year of Tianbao (746), Li Linfu brought charges against him; he was removed from the conduct of government, made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and demoted to governor of Yichun because of his friendship with Wei Jian.
After Li Linfu killed Li Yong and Pei Dunfu, the court and public were shocked. When Luo Xishe, sent to kill Wei Jian and others at their places of exile, passed through Yichun, Li Shizhi became fearful and took poison, dying as a result.
Poetry and associations
Open and unrestrained in temperament, fond of drink, and skilled in poetry, Li Shizhi was counted with Li Bai and He Zhizhang among the “Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup”; Du Fu mentioned him in “Song of the Eight Immortals in Wine.” The Complete Tang Poems preserves two of his poems, and the Supplement to the Complete Tang Poems adds one more.
He was a friend of Li Qiwu and received poems and prose presented by Du Fu, Zhang Jian, and Lu Yu.
References
- CBDB Li Shizhi (32128)
- 搜韵 李適之 (17116)
- Wikidata Li Shizhi (Q703306)