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CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Gao Lishi高力士

TangHistory × Fiction

A close eunuch of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, involved in quelling rebellions and delivering imperial edicts, ordered to select beauties, slandered Li Bai due to the humiliation of having his boots removed, later staunchly supported the Crown Prince, accompanied the emperor to Xiliang and Guangling, and exposed Fu Miao Lin's bribery.

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DIRECT FIGURES
12
RELATION RECORDS
19
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Gao Lishi, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

1 figure · 1 record
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

1 figure · 1 record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

8 figures · 9 records
4 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

3 figures · 4 records
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

4 figures · 4 records
1 more in the complete record
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

A eunuch who, when exiled to Wuzhou, met Liu Fang and recounted the political affairs of the Kaiyuan and Tianbao eras. A palace official ordered to visit Zhang Shuo and plead for him. A eunuch ordered by Emperor Xuanzong to see off An Lushan and inform him of his depression.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

A palace attendant involved in quelling rebellions and delivering edicts. A eunuch ordered to bestow gifts, slandered Wang Maochong causing his punishment. A eunuch ordered to select beauties, summoned Consort Yang, and delivered an edict to visit Consort Mei.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    22 profile notes
    9 relations12 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ master-servant →Gao Lishi
    • Gao Lishi→ report →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Emperor Suzong of Tang→ confer title →Gao Lishi
    • Li Linfu→ make friends →Gao Lishi
    Verified original text · 12
    1. 以高力士为骠骑大将军

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 玄宗本纪下

    2. 令高力士与寿王瑁送太子内人

      dispatch · Old Book of Tang, 肃宗本纪

    10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    23 profile notes
    6 relations12 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ master-servant →Gao Lishi
    • Gao Lishi→ report →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Li Longji→ favor →Gao Lishi
    • Li Bai→ order to remove boots →Gao Lishi
    Verified original text · 12
    1. 著高力士，召梅娘娘至翠花西阁

      master-servant · Romance of Sui and Tang, 079

    2. 高力士奏道

      ruler-subject · Romance of Sui and Tang, 086

    10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    25 profile notes
    11 relations11 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ master-servant →Gao Lishi
    • Gao Lishi→ report →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Gao Lishi→ serve elder →Emperor Suzong of Tang
    • Gao Lishi→ visit and plead →Zhang Yue
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 遣寿王瑁及内侍高力士谕太子

      遣谕 · New Book of Tang, 肃宗代宗本纪

    2. 玄宗在藩，力士倾心附结

      serve · New Book of Tang, 宦者传上

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Gao Lishi was loyal and cautious in serving Emperor Xuanzong, and in his later years he was convicted and exiled. In the novel, however, it is fictionalized that Li Bai ordered him to remove his boots as a grudge.

  • novel inventionLi Bai, drunk, ordered Gao Lishi to remove his boots in the court.

    According to the Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Empresses and Consorts, Part 1, Gao Lishi was deeply trusted by Emperor Xuanzong, and 'when riding, Gao Lishi held the reins and handed the whip.' The official biography of Gao Lishi does not record any incident of Li Bai ordering him to remove his boots. In the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chapter 82, taking advantage of the occasion of drafting a letter to intimidate the barbarians while drunk, it is written that Li Bai was wild and unrestrained, 'removing boots and grinding ink, old grudges are now released,' and he ordered the eunuch Gao Lishi to remove his boots in the court. Gao Lishi then slandered Li Bai and excluded him. This is the fabrication of the novelist.

Relationship network

13 figures · 56 links
Gao LishiGao LishiEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Suzong of TangEmperor Suzong of TangZhang YueZhang YueLi LinfuLi LinfuWu SansiWu SansiLi LongjiLi LongjiGeshu HanGeshu HanLi FuguoLi FuguoLi XianLi XianLi BaiLi BaiYang GuifeiJi Wen
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 于休烈令狐峘归崇敬奚陟张荐蒋乂柳登沈传师传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 078; New Book of Tang, 二郭两王张牛传; Old Book of Tang, 刘幽求锺绍京郭元振张说传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 079; New Book of Tang, 刘锺崔二王传; Old Book of Tang, 后妃上

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.