Ren Xi (Shu Han)
{{Short description|3rd century Shu Han official and scholar}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ren Xi
| native_name = 任熙
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alt =
| office = Administrator of Zhuti
(朱提太守)
| term_start = ?
| term_end = ?
| monarch = Sima Yan
| office1 = Prefect of Zitong
(梓潼令)
| term_start1 = ?
| term_end1 = ?
| monarch1 = Liu Shan
| office2 = Prefect of Nanzheng
(南鄭令)
| term_start2 = ?
| term_end2 = ?
| monarch2 = Liu Shan
| birth_date = Unknown
| birth_place = Chengdu, Sichuan
| death_date = Unknown (aged 68)
| death_place = Chengdu, Sichuan
| relations = Ren Fang (ancestor)
| father = Ren Yuan
| children = Ren Fan
| occupation = Official, scholar
| blank1 = Courtesy name
| data1 = Boyuan (伯遠)
}}
Ren Xi ({{fl.}} third century), courtesy name Boyuan, was an official and scholar of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China. After the fall of Shu in 263, he continued serving under the Jin dynasty, that succeeded Cao Wei state in 266.
Life
Ren Xi was born in Chengdu, Shu Commandery (蜀郡), which is present-day Chengdu, Sichuan.(任熙，字伯遠，蜀郡成都人也。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. He was a descendant of Ren Fang (任昉), the Minister of Finance (大司農) during the Han dynasty, and came from a family with a history of virtuous and talented individuals.(漢大司農任「方」〔昉〕後也。世有德彥。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. His father was Ren Yuan (任元), whose courtesy name, was Xiuming (秀明), served as the Administrator of Qianwei (犍為太守) and Bearer of the Mace (執金吾) in the Shu Han government. Ren Xi was well versed in the Classic of Poetry, The Book of Changes and had a comprehensive understanding of the Four Books and Five Classics.(父元，字秀明，犍為太守，執金吾。熙治《毛詩》、《京易》，博通《五經》。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
Ren Xi was devoted to his parents. During their mourning period, he was so grief-stricken that he became emaciated. Earning him the praise of his fellow townspeople. He was nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate).(事親至孝，居喪毀瘠，為州鄉所稱。察孝廉。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. Ren Xi was appointed as the Prefect (令) of Nanzheng (南鄭) but resigned due to illness. Later, he was again offered the position of Prefect of Nanzheng but did not take up the post. Instead, he became the Prefect (令) of Zitong (梓潼) where he was known for his pure and honest governance.(除南鄭令，以病去官。復授南鄭，不就。轉梓潼令。為政清淨。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
He retired again due to bad health and returned home, where he focused on agriculture and maintained a modest lifestyle.(辭疾告歸，勤農力穡，居室致給。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. Ren Xi was a model husband and father, known for his love and humility.(循訓閨門，內則可法。博愛，以謙恭接物。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. He welcomed guests with open arms and was attentive to their needs, regardless of their social status. Ren Xi would often engage in stimulating conversations and was always mindful of his words.(開門待賓，傾懷下士。客無長幼，必有供膳。清談遊講，不妄失言，祗慎著聞。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
During the Taikang (太康; 280–289 period), Ren Xi was offered the position Protector of the Army (護軍) of Yuexi but he declined as it did not align with his interests. He was then summoned to serve as a jishìzhong (給事中; "Serving within the Palace") in the central government but he refused again stating that he could not serve his own private interests while attending to his duties as a court official.(太康中，除越嶲護軍，非其雅好，不往。徵給事中。熙以「侍臣日月左右，贊暉揚光，不可苟私」。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
In the end, as he was sick, he vacated from his work. Whenever a new Prefect arrived in his home Commandery of Shu, they would pay their respects to Ren Xi. Annually, they would send him sheep and wine as gifts. Ren Xi was later appointed as the Administrator of Zhuti (朱提太守) but declined the position.(終以病辭。而蜀郡令每至官，為之脩謁，歲致羊酒。即家拜朱提太守，固讓，不之官。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. He enjoyed writing, and his poems and essays were highly regarded. Ren Xi is thought to have died during the Yuankang (太康; 291–300 period) at the age of 69 (by East Asian age reckoning) at his home.(好述作，詩誄論難皆粲豔。年六十九，卒於家。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
Appraisal
Chang Qu, who wrote Ren Xi's biography in the Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi),{{efn|Ren Xi's biography is recorded in the eleventh volume of the Huayang Guo Zhi, titled Biographies of later worthies (後賢志), covering the life of notable persons from the Sichuan region who lived during the Jin dynasty.}} appraised Ren Xi as follows: "Warm and respectful, who admired morality and disdained glory."(給事中任熙伯遠：給事溫恭，尚德蔑榮。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 01.
Family
Ren Xi's son, Ren Fan (任蕃), whose courtesy name, was Xianzu (憲祖) was also nominated as a xiaolian by the government. He served as the Prefect of Xindu (新都令), a Major (司馬) of Western Barbarians (西夷), and the Administrator of Fuling (涪陵太守).(子蕃，字憲祖。察孝廉，新都令，西夷司馬，涪陵太守。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11. Ren Fan's son, Ren Di (任迪), whose courtesy name, was Shugu (叔孤) was known for his academic achievements from a young age, surpassing his contemporary Gong Zhuang (龔壯) of Baxi. However, Ren Di passed away prematurely.(蕃子迪，字叔孤，少與巴西龔壯俱知名，而學業優之，早歿。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
Yang Peng and Yang Kui
Around the same time as Ren Xi born in Qianwei, Yang Peng (楊彭) and his younger brother Yang Kui (楊逵), were both known for their virtuous conduct and were also nominated as a xiaolian. Yang Peng served as the Prefect of Bisu (比蘇令) where a miraculous rain of sweet dew occurred during his tenure. Yang Kui served as the Prefect of Dianchi (滇池令) and his moral attitude was highly regarded even among the diverse customs of the region.(熙同時犍為楊彭敬宗，弟逵訓宗，各以德行稱，同察孝廉。彭，比蘇令，甘露降其縣。逵，滇池令，殊俗懷其德。) Huayang Guo Zhi vol. 11. 11.
See also
Notes
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References
{{reflist}}
- Chang Qu (4th century). Chronicles of Huayang (Huayang Guo Zhi).
{{People of Shu}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ren, Xi}}
Category:Year of birth unknown
Category:Year of death unknown
Category:Shu Han government officials