Qin Mi

Historical Record

Qin Mi, courtesy name Zichi, was a man of Mianzhu in Guanghan. He was renowned for his outstanding gift for literary debate and his profound understanding of the Confucian classics. Yi Province once summoned Qin Mi as an Attendant Officer and Libation Pourer. When the First Sovereign, Liu Bei, had proclaimed himself emperor and intended to march east to attack Wu, Qin Mi argued forcefully that the timing of Heaven was unfavorable and that the campaign was bound to have no chance of victory. These words angered Liu Bei, and Qin Mi was thereupon imprisoned in confinement, only later being released ^c:2897.

In the second year of Jianxing, when the Chancellor Zhuge Liang held the post of Governor of Yi Province, he specially summoned Qin Mi and appointed him Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage, and soon promoted him to General of the Household of the Left and Colonel of the Changshui Garrison. When Wu sent the envoy Zhang Wen to pay a diplomatic visit to Shu Han, all the officials went to give him a farewell feast, but Qin Mi alone was late in arriving. Zhuge Liang sent men several times to urge him along, and Zhang Wen, curious, asked who this man was; Zhuge Liang answered, "A learned scholar of Yi Province." When Qin Mi arrived, Zhang Wen put questions to him, and Qin Mi, with his nimble reasoning and mastery of the classics, answered fluently. For instance, when Zhang Wen asked, "Does Heaven have a head?", Qin Mi cited the Odes—"It gazes longingly westward"—to show that Heaven's head is in the west; asked, "Does Heaven have ears?", he cited the Odes—"The crane cries in the nine marshes, its sound heard in Heaven"—to prove Heaven has ears; asked, "Does Heaven have feet?", he cited the Odes—"Heaven's steps are toilsome"—to show Heaven has feet; and even when asked, "Does Heaven have a surname?", Qin Mi cleverly answered, "The Son of Heaven is surnamed Liu," winning Zhang Wen's great admiration ^c:2897.

Qin Mi excelled not only in debate but also held original views on learning. He once rebuffed Li Quan's request to borrow the Strategies of the Warring States, saying, "The vertical and horizontal alliances of the Warring States—what use is putting them to practice?" ^c:12910 When others questioned why he "displayed his literary flourishes and showed his brilliance" rather than withdrawing into reclusion, Qin Mi cited Confucius, Jieyu, and the Fisherman as examples, explaining that literary talent is one's natural endowment, and that "the He and Luo charts arose through writing, the Six Classics began through writing; the gentleman cherishes literary virtue—what harm in displaying his flourishes!" ^c:12911 He once raised objections to the writings on the imperial genealogy, holding that the Five Emperors were not of the same lineage, and held original views on the theories of the emperors, kings, hegemons, and dragon-rearing. In his youth Qiao Yunnan often consulted him and recorded his words in the Discourse on Affirmation and Denial in the Spring and Autumn. Qin Mi was finally transferred to Grand Minister of Agriculture and died in the fourth year of Jianxing ^c:2897.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Qin Mi is given more dramatic and literary color, especially his eloquence and forthrightness. He first appears when Liu Bei enters Shu. When Jian Yong, as Liu Bei's envoy, entered the city with an arrogant manner, Qin Mi (Novel only; no basis in history) drew his sword and angrily rebuked him: "An upstart who succeeds and acts as if no one else exists! How dare you slight the men of our Shu!" ^c:2899 This episode shapes his image as upright and unyielding, defending the dignity of the scholars of Shu.

When Liu Bei prepared to march east against Wu to avenge Guan Yu, Qin Mi again stepped forward. He memorialized to remonstrate with Liu Bei, pointing out: "Your Majesty would cast aside the body of one who commands ten thousand chariots to pursue a small righteousness—this the ancients did not do: I beg Your Majesty to reflect on it." ^c:2900 Although Liu Bei was furious and even wanted to have him dragged out and beheaded, Qin Mi did not change his expression but instead looked back at Liu Bei and smiled, saying, "I die without regret, but it is a pity that the newly founded enterprise will again be overturned!" ^c:2900 This scene greatly highlights his loyalty and foresight, not flinching even in the face of the threat of death. In the end, with the pleas of the assembled officials and Zhuge Liang's memorial of rescue, Qin Mi's life was spared, and he was for a time imprisoned.

The novel's depiction of Qin Mi's debate with Zhang Wen greatly dramatizes his eloquence and learning. When Zhang Wen visited Shu Han, Qin Mi (a learned scholar of Yi Province in the novel) came to the banquet half-drunk and engaged Zhang Wen in a brilliant debate. He not only reprised the historical exchange about Heaven's "head, ears, feet, and surname" ^c:12899, but further countered Zhang Wen: "Heaven, being light and clear, floats above—why then does it tilt toward the northwest? And one does not yet know what lies beyond the light and clear?" ^c:12909 rendering Zhang Wen speechless, so that he had to rise from his mat and offer thanks, admitting, "I had not expected Shu to produce so many outstanding talents!" ^c:12909 This debate casts Qin Mi as a learned, quick-witted, and eloquent Confucian scholar, with even a touch of unrestrained arrogance.

Key Relationships

* Liu Yan: The historical sources do not directly mention a relationship between Qin Mi and Liu Yan, but as a scholar of Yi Province, Qin Mi may already have come to prominence during Liu Yan's rule.
* Liu Bei: Qin Mi angered Liu Bei by remonstrating against the eastern campaign on Wu and was imprisoned in confinement ^c:2897. In the novel, Liu Bei even once wanted to behead him, but in the end relented after the pleas of Zhuge Liang and others ^c:2900.
* Zhuge Liang: Zhuge Liang greatly valued Qin Mi's talent, summoning him as Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage and later promoting him to General of the Household of the Left and Colonel of the Changshui Garrison ^c:2897. In the novel, Zhuge Liang also memorialized to rescue Qin Mi after Liu Bei had ordered his execution ^c:2900.
* Zhang Wen: As envoy of Wu, Zhang Wen once held a famous debate with Qin Mi and was finally won over by Qin Mi's talent and eloquence ^{c:2897 c:12909}.
* Li Quan: Once tried to borrow the Strategies of the Warring States from Qin Mi but was rebuffed with "The vertical and horizontal alliances of the Warring States—what use is putting them to practice?" ^c:12910.
* Qiao Yunnan: In his youth often consulted Qin Mi and recorded his words in the Discourse on Affirmation and Denial in the Spring and Autumn ^c:2897.
* Jian Yong: In the novel, Qin Mi once angrily rebuked Jian Yong for his arrogance, defending the dignity of the scholars of Shu (Novel only) ^c:2899.

Signature Scenes

* Remonstrating Against Liu Bei's Eastern Campaign on Wu: Qin Mi defied the consensus, frankly declaring the timing of Heaven unfavorable and urging Liu Bei to abandon the eastern campaign against Wu. Although this angered Liu Bei and even got him imprisoned, he held firmly to his view, embodying his loyalty and foresight. In the novel, this scene is depicted more intensely, with Qin Mi even facing the threat of death without changing his expression ^c:2900.
* The Debate with Zhang Wen: Qin Mi's debate with the Wu envoy Zhang Wen is one of his most representative scenes. With his nimble reasoning and profound understanding of the Confucian classics, he answered fluently every question Zhang Wen posed, finally winning him over completely. The novel further adds the episode of Qin Mi countering Zhang Wen, further highlighting his broad learning and unobstructed eloquence ^{c:2897 c:12909}.
* Rebuffing Li Quan's Book-Borrowing: When Li Quan tried to borrow the Strategies of the Warring States from him, Qin Mi refused on the grounds that "The vertical and horizontal alliances of the Warring States—what use is putting them to practice?", displaying his distinctive view on the practical value of learning ^c:12910.
* Self-Defense of "Displaying Literary Flourishes": When others questioned why he "displayed his literary flourishes and showed his brilliance" rather than withdrawing into reclusion, Qin Mi cited Confucius, the phoenix, and others to explain that literary talent is one's natural endowment and a virtue of the gentleman, rebutting the prejudice of the world and displaying his profound understanding of and confidence in literary talent ^c:12911.
* Angrily Rebuking Jian Yong (Novel only): In the novel, Qin Mi once drew his sword and angrily rebuked Jian Yong for his arrogant manner upon entering the city—a scene that shapes his image as upright, unyielding, and defending the dignity of the local scholars ^c:2899.