Biography & Historical Record
Li Qi (李奇, Lý Kỳ; c. 200s–c. 224 AD) was a scholar and literatus of the Shu Han dynasty, hailing from Wuyang County in Qianwei Commandery (present-day Pengshan, Sichuan). He married Lady He (何氏), and their family was renowned for scholarly devotion and cultural prestige in the Shu heartland.
Tragically, Li Qi passed away from sudden illness when his infant son Li Mi (李密) was only six months old. Following his demise, Lady He eventually remarried under family pressure, leaving Li Mi to be raised with profound filial devotion by his paternal grandmother, Lady Liu. This tragic early loss formed the emotional bedrock for Li Mi’s immortal masterpiece Chen Qing Biao (陈情表, Memorial Expressing My Feelings), where Li Qi’s early passing is poignantly immortalized.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Paternal Memory in Shu Literature: Li Qi’s memory lives on through his son’s timeless literary masterpiece, which moved Emperor Wu of Jin to tears and became a universal standard of filial loyalty.
Li Qi (李奇) — Historical Timeline
Roots in Qianwei
Born into an educated family of Wuyang in Yizhou.
Birth of Li Mi
His son Li Mi is born; family celebrates the scholarly continuation.
Untimely Death
Passes away when his son is just six months old, leaving a lasting legacy.
In Historical Accounts
- Chen Qing Biao (陈情表) by Li Mi: “My father died when I was barely six months old; when I was four, my mother remarried against her will…”
- Huayang Guozhi (华阳国志): Records the esteemed lineages and scholars of Qianwei Commandery.
In History
Summary
- Li Qi (李奇, Lý Kỳ) was a scholar of Shu Han, father of the famed author Li Mi.
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