Prince Xiqi , was the son of Li Ji

Li Ji (concubine)

Li Ji was a concubine and later wife of Duke Xian of Jin, ruler of the State of Jin between 676 BC and 651 BC during the Spring and Autumn Period of China. Li Ji is renowned for starting the Li Ji Rebellion which led to the suicide of Prince Shensheng...

, the concubine of Duke Xian of Jin

Duke Xian of Jin

Duke Xian of Jin , Ancestral name is Ji, given name is Guizhu , was the nineteenth ruler of the State of Jin. He was also the ninth ruler of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period and the second duke of Jin. When his father, Duke Wu of Jin, died in 677 BC, Guizhu ascended the throne of Jin and became...

, and the crown prince of the State of Jin since he replaced Prince Shensheng

Prince Shensheng of Jin

Prince Shensheng , was the eldest son of Duke Xian of Jin and the crown prince of the State of Jin during the reign of Duke Xian of Jin before he was replaced by his half-brother Prince Xiqi .-Biography:...

 as crown prince. Late in his life, he became duke for about a month before he was killed.

Biography

In 665 BC, the twelfth year of the reign of Duke Xian of Jin, Li Ji gave birth to Prince Xiqi. Since Li Ji wanted her son to be the crown prince, she bribed two of Duke Xian's most trusted officials, Liang Wu (梁五) and Dongguan Biwu (東關嬖五). The two officials persuaded Duke Xian of Jin to let Prince Shensheng

Prince Shensheng of Jin

Prince Shensheng , was the eldest son of Duke Xian of Jin and the crown prince of the State of Jin during the reign of Duke Xian of Jin before he was replaced by his half-brother Prince Xiqi .-Biography:...

 (申生), Prince Chonger

Duke Wen of Jin

Duke Jin Wen led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral name is Ji,clan name is Jin Duke Jin Wen (晋文公) (697 BC - 628 BC) led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral...

 (重耳) and Prince Yiwu

Duke Hui of Jin

Duke Hui of Jin ,Ancestral name is Ji, given name is Yiwu , was the duke of the State of Jin during Spring and Autumn Period in China. He was the younger brother of Prince Shensheng and Duke Wen of Jin.-Before Reign as Duke:...

 (夷吾) leave the capital, Jiang (絳). The officials told the duke that the northern Rong tribes (戎族) and Di tribes (狄族) frequently attacked Jin such that the princes were needed to defend their territory. Duke Xian of Jin then sent Prince Shensheng to defend Quwo (曲沃), modern Quwo County

Quwo County

Quwo County is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Linfen city. The town of Quwo is in the Fen River valley about 30 miles south of Linfen and about 10 miles east of the point where the Fen River turns west. From 745 to 677 BC Quwo a state that broke off from the State of...

 in Shanxi

Shanxi

' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....

. Duke Xian also sent Prince Chonger to defend the city of Pu (蒲), northwest of modern Xi County

Xi County, Shanxi

Xi County, Shanxi is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Linfen city.-References:*...

 in Shanxi, and Prince Yiwu to Erqu (二屈), modern Ji County

Ji County, Shanxi

Ji County, Shanxi is a county of Shanxi, China. It is under the administration of Linfen city.-References:*...

 in Shanxi.

On the ninth month of 651 BC, Duke Xian of Jin died. Li Ji placed the 15-year old Crown Prince Xiqi into the throne of Jin and made Xunxi, a Jin official, the chancellor of Xiqi to help him in government affairs. On the tenth month of 651 BC, the Jin general Li Ke (里克) killed Xiqi roughly a month after his ascension. Duke Xian of Jin was not yet properly buried at that time. Xunxi then placed Prince Zhuozi, the cousin of Prince Xiqi, into the throne of Jin even though Zhuozi was still a toddler at that time. After that, Xunxi finished the burial of Duke Xian of Jin. On the eleventh month of 651 BC, Li Ke killed Zhuozi and his aunt Li Ji (驪姬). Xunxi then committed suicide by hanging himelf. Shao Ji, the younger sister of Li Ji and mother of Prince Zhuozi, was imprisoned.

See also

• Spring and Autumn Period
• Zhou Dynasty
  Zhou Dynasty
  The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
  
  
• Duke Wen of Jin
  Duke Wen of Jin
  Duke Jin Wen led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral name is Ji,clan name is Jin Duke Jin Wen (晋文公) (697 BC - 628 BC) led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His ancestral...