Zhi Xi

Historical Record

As for the historical record of Zhi Xi, the official histories make no explicit mention of him. In historical works such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, neither the man Zhi Xi nor his deeds are recorded, which indicates that his real existence in history, or the importance of his deeds, did not reach the level of being recorded by the historians.

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhi Xi appears as a righteous man of lofty character, his main deeds centering on the death of Kong Rong. In Chapter 40 of the novel, Cao Cao, offended by Kong Rong's words, had his entire family, old and young, beheaded, and ordered Kong Rong's corpse displayed in the marketplace. At this critical moment, a man of the capital region, Zhi Xi, stepped forth and threw himself upon Kong Rong's corpse, weeping aloud^[1]. This act was undoubtedly an open challenge to Cao Cao's authority, and it embodied Zhi Xi's deep friendship for his late friend Kong Rong and his dauntless righteousness in the face of overwhelming power.

When Cao Cao learned of this, he flew into a rage and intended to put Zhi Xi to death. However, the adviser Xun Yu spoke up in time, pointing out that Zhi Xi was no blind fool. Xun Yu explained to Cao Cao that Zhi Xi had repeatedly remonstrated with Kong Rong, pointing out that Kong Rong's excessive uprightness might bring disaster upon him. Now that Kong Rong was dead, Zhi Xi had come to mourn him, which precisely proved he was a man of feeling and righteousness, not Cao Cao's enemy. These words of Xun Yu dispelled Cao Cao's murderous intent and spared Zhi Xi^[1]. Cao Cao finally adopted Xun Yu's advice and pardoned Zhi Xi. Once released, Zhi Xi gathered up the corpses of Kong Rong and his sons and gave them proper burial, fulfilling his last act of devotion to his late friend. Zhi Xi's appearance in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, though brief, adds a bright touch to Kong Rong's tragic end through his act of loyal righteousness, and shapes the image of a scholar who fears no overwhelming power and values feeling and righteousness. This episode is not recorded in the histories and is a literary creation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms made to enrich the characters and plot conflict.

Key Relationships

Between Zhi Xi and Kong Rong there existed a deep bond of friendship (friend_of). In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhi Xi was Kong Rong's close friend: in Kong Rong's lifetime he had repeatedly remonstrated against his upright temperament, forewarning of the disaster it might bring; and after Kong Rong met his doom and was killed, Zhi Xi, heedless of his own safety, threw himself upon the corpse and wept, expressing his profound grief and reluctance to part with his late friend^[1]. This friendship, stepping forth in a moment of danger, transcended the fear of overwhelming power and displayed the loyalty of ancient scholars, who would "die for one who knew them." He not only gathered up the body and gave it burial but was also affirmed by Xun Yu, who praised him as a "righteous man" (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

Zhi Xi's most iconic scene is undoubtedly "the man of the capital region Zhi Xi throwing himself upon the corpse and weeping"^[1]. This scene takes place after Kong Rong was put to death by Cao Cao and his corpse exposed in the marketplace. Against a backdrop where everyone feared for their own safety and none dared provoke Cao Cao, Zhi Xi resolutely walked up to Kong Rong's corpse and threw himself to the ground, weeping bitterly. This act was not only a deeply felt farewell to a departed friend but also a silent protest against tyranny. His conduct shook those present and angered Cao Cao. Yet it was precisely because of this true feeling and righteous act that Cao Cao, at Xun Yu's plea, finally gave up his intent to kill him. This scene profoundly displays Zhi Xi's character of valuing feeling and righteousness and fearing no overwhelming power, and became a deeply moving passage in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, adding a glimmer of humanity to Kong Rong's tragic end (novel only).