Shi Yi

Historical Record

Shi Yi, styled Ziyu, was a man of Yingling in Beihai. His original surname was "Shi" (氏), but later, on account of a jesting remark by the commandery chancellor Kong Rong, who held that the character "氏" was "the people without a head," and suggested changing it to "是," Shi Yi accordingly changed his surname to "是" ^c:2054. At first he served as a county clerk, then rose to a commandery office. When the realm fell into chaos at the end of the Han, he followed Liu Yao in taking refuge in Jiangdong. After Liu Yao's army collapsed, Shi Yi moved to Kuaiji. When Sun Quan succeeded to the great enterprise, he summoned Shi Yi with generous courtesy. On taking up his post, Shi Yi won Sun Quan's deep trust and esteem, taking sole charge of confidential affairs and being appointed Cavalry Commandant ^c:2054.

When Lü Meng was planning to seize Guan Yu, Sun Quan consulted Shi Yi on the matter; Shi Yi approved of Lü Meng's plan and urged Sun Quan to adopt it ^c:2054. Shi Yi then accompanied the army in the campaign against Guan Yu and, for his merit, was appointed Colonel of Loyalty and Righteousness. Shi Yi modestly declined, but Sun Quan encouraged him, saying: "Though I am no Zhao Jianzi, how can you not lower yourself to be a Zhou She?" ^c:2054. After Jing Province was pacified and Sun Quan made Wuchang his capital, Shi Yi was appointed Assistant General, later enfeoffed as Marquis of Duting, and served as Palace Attendant. Sun Quan once intended to grant him military command again, but Shi Yi, considering himself no man of generalship, firmly declined and would not accept ^c:2054. During the Huangwu era, Sun Quan dispatched Shi Yi to Wan to assist the general Liu Shao in luring the enemy Cao Xiu. Cao Xiu indeed fell for the trap and came, and was greatly routed by the Wu army. Thereafter Shi Yi was promoted to Auxiliary General, entered the court to review affairs of the Imperial Secretariat, oversaw the various offices externally, also managed litigation, and was ordered to supervise the various lords in their study at the academy ^c:2054.

After Sun Quan moved the capital to Jianye, the heir apparent Sun Deng remained behind to guard Wuchang, and Shi Yi was appointed to assist the heir apparent. The heir apparent greatly respected Shi Yi, consulting him on all matters before acting. Shi Yi was thus enfeoffed as Marquis of Duxiang. Later he returned to Jianye together with the heir apparent and again served as Palace Attendant and Central Enforcer of Law, continuing to handle the affairs of the various offices and litigation as before ^c:2058. The Director of Inspection Lü Yi once falsely accused the former Grand Administrator of Jiangxia, Diao Jia, of slandering the court government; Sun Quan, greatly angered, imprisoned Diao Jia and interrogated those who had sat with him. At the time everyone feared Lü Yi and one after another echoed that they had heard Diao Jia's words; only Shi Yi insisted that he had heard nothing of the sort. Shi Yi was therefore questioned repeatedly for days, the imperial edicts growing ever harsher in wording, and the assembled officials all held their breath. Facing the pressure, Shi Yi answered according to the truth, his words firm and unwavering, finally causing Sun Quan to drop the inquiry, and Diao Jia was thereby acquitted ^c:2058. Xu Zhong appraised Shi Yi in this affair as "loyal, brave, and just," neither joining the crowd to harm others nor seeking to evade at the cost of righteousness, comparable to Qi Xi and Qing Ji ^c:2058.

After the Shu Han Chancellor Zhuge Liang died, Sun Quan, concerned about the situation in the western region, dispatched Shi Yi as an envoy to Shu Han to strengthen the alliance between the two states. Shi Yi completed the mission successfully, and on his return was appointed Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat. When the Southern Palace and the palace of the Prince of Lu were first established, Shi Yi, in his principal office, concurrently served as Tutor to the Prince of Lu. Shi Yi held that it was improper for the two palaces to be too close together, and so repeatedly submitted memorials suggesting that the arrangement of the two palaces be reduced, to set right the order of high and low and make clear the foundation of moral instruction ^c:2058. As Tutor to the Prince of Lu, he was devoted to his duty, ever ready to remonstrate; diligent toward his superiors and respectful in his dealings. Shi Yi often recommended worthy men, yet never exposed others' faults. Sun Quan once reproached him for not speaking of affairs and not distinguishing right from wrong, to which Shi Yi replied: "With a sage ruler above, the subjects below keep to their duties, fearing only that they fall short—I truly dare not, with my paltry understanding, presume to trouble the imperial hearing." ^c:11004 Shi Yi served the state of Wu for several decades without ever a fault. Lü Yi repeatedly falsely accused ministers and generals, some accused several times each, yet alone could find no charge with which to accuse Shi Yi. Sun Quan therefore sighed: "If everyone were like Shi Yi, what use would there be for statutes and laws?" ^c:11004

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives Shi Yi no independent literary portrayal; his deeds and image are not mentioned in the novel. Therefore, in the novel Shi Yi has no specific appearance or dialogue, nor any distinctive characterization or plot development. This stands in sharp contrast to his image in the histories as an important advisor and loyal subject of Sun Quan; his absence from the novel renders his influence in the literary work all but nonexistent.

Key Relationships

* Liu Yao (serves): When taking refuge in Jiangdong at the end of the Han, Shi Yi once attached himself to Liu Yao ^c:2054.
* Sun Quan's Faction (serves): After Liu Yao's defeat, Shi Yi was summoned by Sun Quan, and thereafter served long under Sun Quan, deeply trusted, taking sole charge of confidential affairs and holding many important posts ^c:2054.
* Lü Meng (advises_in): When Lü Meng planned to seize Guan Yu, Sun Quan consulted Shi Yi on the plan, and Shi Yi approved and urged Sun Quan to adopt it ^c:2054.
* Guan Yu (fights_in): Shi Yi accompanied the army in the campaign against Guan Yu and was thus appointed Colonel of Loyalty and Righteousness ^c:2054.
* Heir Apparent Sun Deng (assists): After Sun Quan moved the capital, Shi Yi was appointed to assist the heir apparent Sun Deng in guarding Wuchang, and was deeply respected by the heir apparent ^c:2058.
* Lü Yi (the falsely accusing party): In the affair of Lü Yi falsely accusing Diao Jia, Shi Yi answered according to the truth, refusing to join Lü Yi's faction, finally securing Diao Jia's acquittal ^c:2058. Lü Yi also could never find a fault of Shi Yi's with which to accuse him ^c:11004.
* Zhuge Liang (envoy to Shu to affirm the alliance): After Zhuge Liang died, Shi Yi was dispatched by Sun Quan as an envoy to Shu Han to strengthen the Wu-Shu alliance ^c:2058.

Iconic Scenes

* Changing his surname to "Shi" (是): Shi Yi's original surname was "氏"; on account of a jesting remark by the commandery chancellor Kong Rong that the character "氏" was "the people without a head," who suggested changing it to "是," Shi Yi accordingly changed his surname ^c:2054. This reflects his early respect for Kong Rong and became the distinctive origin of his surname.
* Advising Sun Quan to adopt Lü Meng's plan to seize Jing Province: When Lü Meng proposed the plan to seize Guan Yu, Sun Quan consulted Shi Yi. Shi Yi approved the plan and urged Sun Quan to adopt it, providing support for the Eastern Wu group to take Jing Province ^c:2054.
* Firmly declining military command: After Jing Province was pacified, Sun Quan again wished to grant Shi Yi military command, but Shi Yi, considering himself no man of generalship, firmly declined and would not accept ^c:2054. This displays his clear self-knowledge and modest character.
* Answering according to the truth in the Lü Yi case: In the case of the Director of Inspection Lü Yi falsely accusing Diao Jia, faced with the assembled officials all echoing the accusation out of fear of Lü Yi, Shi Yi stood alone against the crowd, answering according to the truth; though in peril, he held to justice and finally secured Diao Jia's acquittal. For this Xu Zhong highly praised him as "a man loyal, brave, and just" ^c:2058.
* Envoy to Shu Han to strengthen the alliance: After Zhuge Liang died, Sun Quan dispatched Shi Yi as an envoy to Shu Han to affirm and strengthen the alliance; Shi Yi successfully completed the mission, displaying his diplomatic talent ^c:2058.
* Sun Quan's sigh, "If everyone were like Shi Yi, what use would there be for statutes and laws?": Shi Yi served the state of Wu for several decades without a fault, and even Lü Yi, whose specialty was false accusation, could find no handle against him. Sun Quan therefore sighed that if everyone were like him, what use would the law be? ^c:11004 This saying sums up Shi Yi's incorruptible, upright, and flawless character.