, was from Chaoge in Henei (present-day Qixian, Henan Province), an official of the
dynasty.
Life
Xiang Xu was a descendant of Xiang Chang. In his youth, he was a student with an eccentric and unconventional personality that did not conform to societal norms. He often read the Tao Te Ching, as if studying Daoism. He resembled a madman, frequently wearing his hair loose and donning a red headband. He would often sit on a wooden bed placed near the north side of the stove, and over time, the board showed marks from his knees, ankles, and feet. He disliked talking but enjoyed whistling. When guests visited, he would always lie down and not look at them. He named his disciples with names such as "Yan Yuan," "Zi Gong," "Ji Lu," and "Ran You." Sometimes he would ride a donkey into the market to beg for alms. At other times, he would invite all the beggars to stay overnight, providing them with food and drink. People of his time could not understand his behavior. Despite being invited by the local government and nominated as a Filial and Honest man, an upright and capable person, and a Daoist, he did not respond to any of these calls. He also refused invitations from the public office. Later, along with Pengcheng Jiang Gong and Jingzhao Wei Zhu, he was summoned again, but Xiang Xu still did not accept the invitation.
Later, he received a special summons and accepted it, being appointed as the Governor of Zhao. Upon taking office, people expected him to be frugal, but instead, Xiang Xu changed his mode of travel, riding in a luxurious carriage pulled by fine horses, causing people to doubt his sincerity. After assuming office, he did not handle official documents, and weeds grew in his office.
He was then appointed as an Attendant at Court. During important court matters, he would speak with a stern and serious demeanor, making all the officials fear him. In the first year of Emperor Ling's Zhongping era (184 AD), in February, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out. Xiang Xu wrote a memorial criticizing the eunuchs in power, suggesting that there was no need to send troops to suppress the rebellion; instead, he proposed sending generals to read the Classic of Filial Piety by the Yellow River, and the rebels would naturally disappear. The eunuch Zhang Rang, a palace attendant, accused Xiang Xu of colluding with the rebel leader Zhang Jiao, intending to serve as an insider to prevent the state from dispatching troops. As a result, the court arrested Xiang Xu and imprisoned him in the Northern Temple Prison of the Yellow Gate, where he was subsequently executed.
Further Reading
References
• 向栩 (Chinese)
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Xiang Xu (2nd century - 184 AD), courtesy name Fuxing, was from Chaoge in Henei (present-day Qixian, Henan Province), an official of the Eastern Han dynasty.