Gao Shiqi was an official during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. He once served as a first-rank official. Historically, Gao Shiqi came from a poor family. He was reused by Kangxi with his erudite talent. From then on, Gao Shiqi remained loyal to Emperor Kangxi throughout his life.
Gao Shiqi (1645～1704), whose courtesy name was Dan, was also named Pinglu and Jiangcun. He was born in Gaojia Village, Zhangshu Township, Yuyao County, Shaoxing Prefecture, Zhejiang Province (now Gaojia Village, Kuangyan Town, Cixi City), and later naturalized in Qiantang (now Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province). Officials and historians of the Qing Dynasty.
The family was poor in his early years. In the tenth year of Kangxi's reign (1671), he entered the Imperial Academy. After the examination, he stayed in the Hanlin Academy to work and serve in the inner court. In the fourteenth year of Kangxi's reign, he was appointed Zhan Shifu to record affairs, and soon he was promoted to Secretary of the Cabinet.
Gao Shiqi lectured and dispelled doubts for Emperor Kangxi every day, commented on calligraphy and paintings, and was highly trusted. After the eighteenth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, he successively served as lecturer, chancellor, and bachelor of the Imperial Academy, vice president of the "Unification of the Qing Dynasty", and Shao Zhanshi of Zhanshifu.
In the 28th year of Kangxi's reign, he accompanied the emperor on a southern tour. In winter, he was dismissed from his post and returned home, living in Pinghu. In the 33rd year of Kangxi's reign, he was called to Beijing to serve as the editor of "History of the Ming Dynasty". In the thirty-fifth year of Kangxi's reign, he accompanied Emperor Kangxi on three western expeditions and was deeply trusted.
The next year, he returned home as his adoptive mother and was specially granted the title of Zhan Shifu. In the 41st year of Kangxi's reign, he was promoted to Minister of Rites and Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, and was promoted to the first rank, but his mother did not go there. After his death, he was posthumously named "Wen Ke".
Gao Shiqi was knowledgeable throughout his life, capable of poetry, good at calligraphy, intensive textual research, good at appreciation, and had a rich collection of calligraphy and paintings. He is the author of "The Complete Chronicles of Zuo Zhuan", "A Survey of Place Names in the Spring and Autumn Period", "The Complete Works of Qingyintang", "Records of Sales of Summer in Jiangcun", "Records of the Hu Cong's Western Inspection", "Manuscripts of Jingjin", "Tianlu Shiyu" ", "Sui Chaan Collection", "Beishu Bao Weng Record", "Zuo Zhuan Mandarin Annotation", etc.
Gao Shiqi’s anecdotes
One year, Kangxi came to Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou during his southern tour. Seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, the abbot of the temple led the monks to kneel in front of Kangxi and implore him. He wrote a plaque for Lingyin Temple. Kangxi always liked to write and write, so he naturally would not refuse the "strong request" from the monks.
But he was so excited that day that with a wave of his hand, he wrote the upper part of the traditional Chinese character "Ling" for "Rain" too big, and the three "口" side by side in the middle and the lower part for "武" were too big. ”, it’s almost impossible to write.
When Gao Shiqi saw this, he immediately understood that Kangxi was in trouble, so he hurriedly wrote the word "Yunlin" on his palm, then pretended to go up to rub the ink, quietly opened his palm, and deliberately showed it to Kangxi. Kangxi made the mistake and wrote the word "Yunlin". Lingyin Temple is also known as "Yunlin Temple", which is how it came about.
Another time, Kangxi climbed Mount Tai and stood in the center of a side hall with the great scholar Mingzhu and Gao Shiqi. Kangxi suddenly became interested and asked the two trusted ministers around him with a smile: "Today?" What do we look like?" Mingzhu replied: "Three Officials Bodhisattva." Gao Shiqi immediately knelt in front of Kangxi and shouted back: "Gao Ming Peitian!" Mingzhu was shocked and ashamed, and sweat was on his forehead. came out.