Shi Chong
Competed in wealth with Wang Kai, built the Golden Valley Garden, and was killed during the War of the Eight Princes.
Life
Great Wealth
Shi Chong was the son of Shi Bao, a founding meritorious official of the Western Jin. As Inspector of Jingzhou he robbed traveling merchants and amassed an enormous fortune.
Contest of wealth
He competed in wealth with Wang Kai, the maternal uncle of Emperor Wu of Jin: when Wang Kai scrubbed his pots with syrup, Shi Chong burned candles as firewood; when Wang Kai made forty li of purple silk screens along his road, Shi Chong made fifty li of brocade screens. Emperor Wu secretly helped Wang Kai by giving him a coral tree two chi tall, which Shi Chong smashed with an iron ruyi scepter, then produced six or seven coral trees three or four chi tall to compensate him.
Golden Valley Garden
He built the Golden Valley Garden outside Luoyang, where he feasted and roamed with men of letters. In 300 Sima Lun, Prince of Zhao, seized power; his henchman Sun Xiu demanded Shi Chong's beloved concubine Lüzhu and, when refused, falsely accused him of rebellion. Lüzhu threw herself from a tower and died, and Shi Chong was killed.
Legacy
Shi Chong's extravagance epitomized the corruption of the Western Jin nobility, and the story of his "contest of wealth" is still told today.
Did you know? Before his execution he sighed, "These wretches were after my family's wealth," and his escort replied, "If you knew wealth would bring you harm, why didn't you give it away sooner?"
Key dates
- 280Became Inspector of Jingzhou (approx.)
- 290Contest of wealth with Wang Kai (approx.)
- 296Banquets at the Golden Valley Garden
- 300Killed by Sun Xiu