Li Xiu

Li Xiu
李秀
Lady who Suppresses and Pacifies the Enemy
In office 306 (306)–? (?)
Monarch	Emperor Hui of Jin
Lady of Brightness and Wisdom
In office 306 (306)–? (?)
Monarch	Emperor Hui of Jin
Personal details
Born	291 Jinning County, Yunnan, China
Relations	Li Zhao (brother)
Parent	Li Yi (father)
Courtesy name	Shuxian (淑贤)
Other names	Li Shuxian (李淑贤)

Li Xiu (李秀), also known as Yang Niang and Li Shuxian (李淑贤), was a Chinese military commander during the Jin Dynasty and the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms. Her great-grandfather was Li Chao, celebrated as one of the "Three Dragons" of the Li clan. Her father, Li Yi, served as the Colonel of the Southern Barbarians and Inspector of Ningzhou. Despite being a woman, she governed Ningzhou in place of her ailing father and successfully defended it against invasions by foreign tribes. Because of her heroic deeds, Li Xiu was honored by numerous emperors from later dynasties, ensuring that her legacy endured for centuries.

Genealogy

She was born in Qi County, Guanghan Commandery (present-day Santai County, Sichuan Province). She was the daughter of Li Yi, a military commander in charge of the Ningzhou area (present-day Jinning County in Yunnan) during the reign of Emperor Hui. Her courtesy name was Shuxian, and she was also known as Yang Niang. Her brother, Li Zhao, was the Governor of Zhuti Commandery. Li Xiu married Wang Zai, who served as the Governor of Hanjia Commandery.

Life

Li Xiu was born into a prestigious family known for producing officials across generations. She was intelligent and known for her strategic acumen. As a child, she accompanied her father on military campaigns, learning horsemanship and archery, mastering these skills to the point where she could use them proficiently. She also devoured military strategy texts, becoming well-versed in the art of war. Her abilities earned her significant respect within the army, even at a young age.

Upon reaching adulthood, Li Xiu married Wang Zai. Given her military knowledge, she actively participated in her husband’s military duties.

Around 305, Ningzhou was struck by a series of natural disasters that led to consecutive years of poor harvests, followed by the outbreak of an epidemic, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands. The situation was exacerbated by the rise of the Wuling Yi, a powerful tribal group. The Ningzhou military suffered repeated defeats, and many officials and civilians fled to Jiaozhou. The Wuling Yi took advantage of the chaos and besieged Ningzhou city. Li Yi, who was seriously ill, could not lead the defense, and all routes for seeking external assistance were cut off. Despite sending an urgent plea to the imperial court, no aid was forthcoming, and Li Yi eventually succumbed to his illness. The Ningzhou military continued to suffer defeats, and the Wuling Yi chieftain, Yuling Cheng, laid siege to the city, creating a dire situation where the fall of Ningzhou seemed inevitable.

Seeing no other option, the officials of Ningzhou recommended Li Xiu, who at the time was only 15 years old, to lead the defense, recognizing her intelligence and her inherited qualities from her father. Despite her youth, Li Xiu remained calm and composed, dedicating herself to military training and rallying the troops. She led the defense with determination, coordinating the efforts of both soldiers and civilians to fortify the city. As the food supply dwindled, they survived by eating rats and weeds, but Li Xiu’s resolve never wavered.

At one point, noticing a lapse in the enemy’s discipline, Li Xiu donned her armor and personally led a sortie. Capitalizing on the moment, she launched a surprise attack, disrupting the enemy camp and capturing significant military supplies and food. This success boosted the morale and well-being of the defenders. Li Xiu continued to lead from the front, inspiring the troops and ultimately forcing Yuling Cheng to retreat, saving Ningzhou from imminent danger. Despite this victory, the situation in Ningzhou remained unstable, and Li Xiu continued to oversee the administration of the entire region.

When news of Li Xiu's achievements reached Emperor Hui, she was appointed as the Inspector of Ningzhou and Colonel of the Southern Barbarians, with the authority to command 58 tribal groups. During her tenure, she focused on maintaining peace in the region, stabilizing local unrest, and securing the allegiance of the tribes. Her leadership earned her great respect and trust from the people.

In 307, when her brother Li Zhao arrived in Ningzhou, the officials urged Li Xiu to hand over her responsibilities to him, which she did. Li Xiu effectively governed Ningzhou for approximately three years. Although details of her later life are unclear, according to the Zhonghua Deyu Gushi, she continued to fulfill her father's duties, managing 37 tribal groups for over 30 years until her death, ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Legacy

The Jin and Tang administrations awarded her several titles after the war for her service, and the people of Ningzhou renamed her former base "Citadel of the Heavenly Lady"

After Li Xiu's death, the people mourned her deeply, establishing shrines in her honor and regularly offering sacrifices, as if she were their own parent. In later generations, she was revered as a divine figure. Her contributions were highly praised by subsequent dynasties. During the Sui dynasty, Emperor Wen posthumously honored her as "Lady of Tranquil Pacification," spreading her legacy throughout northern China. In the Tang dynasty, Emperor Gaozu conferred upon her the title "Lady of Tranquil Pacification and Brilliant Wisdom." Emperor Xuanzong, moved by her loyal and heroic deeds, further honored her as "Lady of Loyal and Brilliant Wisdom" and granted her temple the title "Temple of Loyal Valor." Her temple in Yunnan was the largest of its kind, built to the highest architectural standards. In 1331, during the Yuan dynasty, her temple was renovated, and an inscription was added to a stone tablet in front of the temple by Grand Master Jia Ben.