Zhishi Sili

Zhishi Sili (, d. ) was Tang dynasty general of Turkic ethnicity and imperial son-in-law to Gaozu of Tang.

Name Friedrich Hirth reconstructed his surname Zhishi (執失) as *Čub Šad. Hayrettin İhsan Erkoç proposed several reconstructions like *Čibiš, *Čipši, *Čipšir and *Čipšit based on Middle Chinese reconstructions of the Chinese characters by various scholars.

Background Zhishi Sili was the chieftain of the Zhishi tribe in Eastern Turkic Qaghanate under Chuluo Qaghan and Illig Qaghan, holding the official position of elteber . His grandfather Zhishi Yan (执失淹), also an elteber, led several thousand cavalry sent by Shibi Qaghan to assist Tang forces in entering Chang'an when Li Yuan raised troops in Taiyuan. For his merit, he was appointed honorific titles Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Purple, Pillar of State. His father Zhishi Wu (执失武) was appointed honorific titles Senior General-in-Chief, According to Chinese sources, he spoke disrespectfully, claiming that the Qaghan's million troops had already been deployed. Tang Taizong imprisoned him in the Menxia Bureau, but released him shortly after the Treaty of the Wei Bridge. However, Zhishi might have been an informant for Taizong. Zhenping Wang theorized that imprisonment was a clever way for Sili to defect to Tang. as his wife, and was granted an iron charter, appointed as Consort Captain, and enfeoffed as Duke Anguo .

In 653, when Fang Yi'ai's rebellion occurred, Sili was implicated through his friendship with Yi'ai. Emperor Gaozong, considering Sili's military achievements, did not execute him but instead exiled him to Guizhou (not the modern province, but an area in what is now southern Sichuan). The Princess requested to have her fief reduced and accompany her husband. Princess Jiujiang died before Zhishi Sili. Sili served as Governor of Guizhou in 661–663 and died shortly thereafter. In 664, the Princess's fief was restored, Sili was posthumously granted the title Regional Commander of Shengzhou, with the posthumous name Jing (景).

Family Sili was married to Princess Jiujiang, daughter of Gaozu. His recorded children were:

Zhishi Shaode (执失绍德) Zhishi Shaozong (执失绍宗) Zhishi Guiren (执失归仁) Zhishi Guizhen (执失归真) Zhishi Fengjie (执失奉节, 623 – 27 August 656) – Tang general