Li Mi (chancellor)

Li Mi (Chinese: 李泌; 722 – April 1, 789), courtesy name Changyuan (長源), formally the Marquess of Ye County (鄴縣侯), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was a trusted advisor to three emperors — Emperor Suzong, Emperor Suzong's son Emperor Daizong, and Emperor Daizong's son Emperor Dezong — but declined to formally serve in the governments of Emperors Suzong and Daizong, serving only as Emperor Dezong's chancellor. He was a highly controversial figure in historians' commentaries, as he was viewed by some historians as frivolous and eccentric, while others praised him for his genius in matters of foreign policy and military matters.

Li Mi was born in 722, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His family was from the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an, but his ancestors claimed order from Liaodong Peninsula and further claimed ancestry from the Warring States period state Qin (the precursor to Qin Dynasty) official Li Tan (李曇) and Li Tan's son, the Zhao prime minister Li Qi (李齊). Their traceable ancestry included officials of Han Dynasty, Jin Dynasty (265-420), Later Yan, Northern Wei, and Northern Zhou. Li Mi's father Li Chengxiu (李承休) was a county magistrate.

It was said that Li Mi could read and write by age six, and that in his youth, he was known for his intelligence and dexterity. That year, when Emperor Xuanzong put out a general order requesting people to recommend those well-versed in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, the officials all recommended those whom they knew. An eight-year-old named Yuan Chu (員俶), a grandson of the great scholar Yuan Banqian (員半千) and a cousin to Li Mi (Yuan Chu's mother was a sister to Li Chengxiu), particularly impressed Emperor Xuanzong. When Emperor Xuanzong asked Yuan Chu whether he knew anyone else like him, Yuan Chu replied that Li Mi was one. Emperor Xuanzong thus summoned Li Mi. When Li Mi arrived, Emperor Xuanzong was playing Go with the high-level official Zhang Shuo the Duke of Yan, and Zhang, wanting to test the child, asked to make up a poem comparing Go to life and recite it. Zhang then recited the poem that he thought of on the spot, and Li Mi immediately followed with one of his own. Both Emperor Xuanzong and Zhang were amazed, and Zhang congratulated Emperor Xuanzong on finding a divine child. Emperor Xuanzong gave Li Mi an award and honored his household. He also had Li Mi associate with his son Li Jun the Prince of Zhong.

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