Jin Midi

Jin Midi (134–86 BC) (Chinese: 金日磾; pinyin: Jīn Mìdī, courtesy name Wengshu (翁叔), formally Marquess Jing of Du (秺敬侯), was a prominent official of the Chinese Han Dynasty of Xiongnu ethnicity. He served as coregent early in the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han.

Jin Midi was born in 134 BC to a royal Xiongnu family. He was the heir apparent to Xiongnu's Prince of Xiutu, one of the major princes under the supreme ruler of the Xiongnu, the Chanyu Gunchen. After Gunchen's death in 126 BC, his brother Ichise succeeded him. During this time, the Prince of Xiutu and another major prince, the Prince of Hunye, were responsible for defending Xiongnu's southwestern border with Han Dynasty – modern central and western Gansu.

In 121 BC, Emperor Wu of Han sent his general Huo Qubing to attack Xiongnu, dealing a great defeat on the Xiongnu. In the campaign, Huo killed the Princes of Zhelan and Luhou, as well as 8,900 Xiongnu soldiers, while capturing the Prince of Hunye's son, chief assistant, and a number of officials, as well as golden statues that the Prince of Xiutu had forged to use to worship heaven. The Chanyu Ichise was greatly displeased, and was considering summoning the Princes of Hunye and Xiutu to execute them. The princes, in fear, plotted to defect to Han. When Emperor Wu sent Huo to accept their surrender, the Prince of Xiutu changed his mind and tried to back out of defecting. The Prince of Hunye killed him and surrendered to Han, along with the region that he controlled.

Because the Prince of Xiutu was killed, Midi, as well as his mother the princess, as well as his brother Lun (倫), were confiscated to serve as imperial servants. Midi was assigned to the imperial stables.

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