Lin Xi

Life

In the second year of the Jiayou era (1057), he passed the jinshi examination. Under Emperor Shenzong, he served as a collator in the palace libraries, an Academician of the Jixian Institute, and Associate Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices twice; he later became a Director in the Ministry of Rites and helped compile the national history. During Xining, he was sent as an envoy to Goryeo, but withdrew out of fear and was assigned to supervise the Hangzhou Lou dian office.

At the beginning of Yuanyou, he entered the Secretariat as a Zhongshu Sheren but was soon sent out; in early Shaosheng, Zhang Dun brought him back as a Zhongshu Sheren, and he took part in revising the Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong. As the policy of restoring the Shenzong legacy was advanced and Yuan you officials were dismissed, Lin Xi secretly joined the deliberations and drafted the edicts demoting or condemning Sima Guang, Lü Dafang, Su Shi, Su Zhe, and dozens of others.

In the fourth year of Shaosheng (1097), he was promoted to Associate Administrator of the Privy Council; in the first year of Yuanfu (1098), he was dismissed and sent to serve as prefect of Bo, Hang, Taiyuan, Yang, and Shu. After Huizong's accession, he was transferred to Daming, later stripped of office and appointed prefect of Yang, and then transferred to Shu; he died soon afterward. He died in the first year of the Jianzhong Jingguo era (1101), aged sixty-seven, and received the posthumous title Wenjie.

His recorded central posts also included pan and zhi Taichang Liyuan, Zhuzuo Zuolang, Zhuzuo Lang, Mishu Shaojian, Qiju Sheren, Qiju Lang, Left Division Secretary in the Shangshu Secretariat, Vice Minister and Minister of Rites, Minister of Personnel, Hanlin Academician, and Deputy Commissioner of the Privy Council.

Outside the capital, he served as prefect of Su, Xuan, Hu, Run, Hang, Bo, Yang, and Shu, as well as prefect of Yingtiān, Jiangning, Taiyuan, and Daming; records also place him at Chengdu and Shengzhou.

Family and associations

His grandfather was Lin Gao, his father Lin Gai; his younger brother was Lin Dan and his son Lin Xu. Other recorded relatives include Lin Yingzhi, described as a nephew's grandson or collateral grandson, his grandson Lin Mao, and his grandson-in-law Zheng Xingyi.

Lin Xi was a friend of Zhu Changwen. During Shaosheng, when Zeng Bu headed the Privy Council, Lin Xi and Zeng Bu jointly recommended Fu Ji, who was appointed to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Lin Xi was interested in epigraphy and shared that interest with Dong You; he wrote a preface for a book by Gao Deng and a biography of Sun Mou. Pu Zongmeng, Su Shi, Su Song, and Hua Zhen sent letters to him.

Works

Lin Xi helped revise the Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong and compiled Liangchao Baoxun and Yeshi. Related titles include Liangchao Baoxun in twenty-one juan, the Red-and-Black Edition of the Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong in two hundred juan, and Wuchao Baoxun in sixty juan; Yeshi is also listed as Linshi Yeshi, and ten poems are recorded.