Xu Yi (Western Jin)

Meiren (美人)
Xu Yi
徐義
Meiren (美人) Xu Yi; 徐義
Personal details
Born	221
Died	21 May 298
Children	Xu Lie and others
Occupation	Nursemaid

Xu Yi (徐義, 221 – 21 May 298^[1]) was a Chinese woman from the Three Kingdoms to the early Western Jin period. She was the nursemaid of Jia Nanfeng, an empress of the Western Jin dynasty.

The position of nursemaid and trusted court maid of an Empress elevated her and her family's position to a higher status, being involved in many of the court intrigues behind the scenes, even during the fateful War of the Eight Princes. Her achievements were recognized by the Emperor and ministers, receiving the honorary title of "Meiren" (美人). Because of this, her case was immortalized in the "Book of Jin" and in the detailed and ornate inscriptions on her tombstone.

^ Xu Yi's epitaph indicate that she died on the 24th day of the 4th month of the 8th year of the Yuan'kang era; the year was a wu'wu year (以[元康]八年岁在戊午四月丁酉朔廿有四日丙□[申]直平戊时丧殒。). While the epitaph indicate that the 1st day of the 4th month was a ding'you day, it appears to be an error as the 1st day of that month should be a gui'you day. Also, if the 1st day of the month was a ding'you day, the 24th day of that month would be a geng'shen day, but the epitaph indicated that the tian'gan character for that day is bing.

[1] Xu Yi's epitaph indicate that she died on the 24th day of the 4th month of the 8th year of the Yuan'kang era; the year was a wu'wu year (以[元康]八年岁在戊午四月丁酉朔廿有四日丙□[申]直平戊时丧殒。). While the epitaph indicate that the 1st day of the 4th month was a ding'you day, it appears to be an error as the 1st day of that month should be a gui'you day. Also, if the 1st day of the month was a ding'you day, the 24th day of that month would be a geng'shen day, but the epitaph indicated that the tian'gan character for that day is bing.

[1]