12 Facts About Lai Min

Lai Min was from Xinye County, Yiyang Commandery, which is present-day Xinye County, Henan.

Lai Min was born sometime in the 160s during the Eastern Han dynasty.

Lai Min's ancestor was Lai Xi, an official who served under Emperor Guangwu, the first Eastern Han emperor.

Lai Min followed his sister and brother-in-law to Yi Province, where Liu Zhang treated him like a guest.

Lai Min was known for being well read, well-versed in the Zuo Zhuan, and for specialising in lexicographical works such as the Cangjiepian and Erya.

Lai Min frequently debated with Meng Guang, another guest scholar living in Yi Province, over the Spring and Autumn Annals as each of them preferred a different commentary on the Chunqiu: Lai Min and Meng Guang specialised in the Zuo Zhuan and Gongyang Zhuan respectively.

In 214, after the warlord Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang, he recruited Lai Min to serve in the education office of his administration.

Lai Min was later stripped of his appointments for committing an offence.

However, as the Late Emperor was concerned about maintaining political stability in the newly established administration, he tolerated Lai Min but did not put him in any key appointments.

Later, when Liu Zichu recommended Lai Min to be the Crown Prince's Household Steward, the Late Emperor was unhappy but he could not bear to reject Liu Zichu's recommendation so he agreed.

At the time, Lai Min's old debating rival, Meng Guang, was as equally notorious for being unbridled in his speech and was, in some ways, worse than Lai Min in this regard.

Lai Min died sometime between 258 and 263 at the age of 97.