Gao Lishi was a famous eunuch in the Tang Dynasty, deeply favored by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. He once held great power in the court and the government.

In the early Tianbao period, he was promoted to General of the Champion, General of the Right Guard Door, and was promoted to the rank of Duke of Bohai. In the seventh year of Tianbao (748), he was also promoted to General of the Piaoqi. Gao Lishi's family was wealthy and his fortune was rich, which was not comparable to ordinary princes and marquises. He built the Baoshou Buddhist Temple in Laitingfang and the Huafeng Taoist Temple in Xingningfang. The treasures and treasures piled up like mountains, which was comparable to the prosperity of the country. He also built a mill in the northwest of the capital, which could mill 300 bushels of wheat every day using the water power of the Lishui River. At first, when the great bell of Baoshou Temple was cast, Gao Lishi held a vegetarian festival to celebrate, and people from all over the court attended. For every stroke of the bell, he gave a reward of 1000 money; for those who pleased him, he struck the bell 20 times, or at least 10 times. Afterwards, Yuan Siyi of Huazhou also received special favor from Emperor Xuanzong. However, Gao Lishi was clever and cautious, and was liked by people; while Yuan Siyi was arrogant and self-important, and people were alienated and afraid of him.

In the 14th year of Tianbao (755), the Eunuch Provincial Office was established, with two eunuch supervisors, officially ranked as Zheng Sanpin, who were served by Gao Lishi and Yuan Siyi respectively. When Li Longji fled to Shudu, Yuan Siyi defected to An Lushan, while Gao Lishi followed Li Longji to Chengdu and was promoted to the rank of Duke of Qiguo. In the same year, Li Heng ascended the throne in Lingwu, honored Li Longji as the retired emperor, and welcomed him back to Chang'an. Gao Lishi was promoted to the rank of Kaifu Yitong Sansi due to his contributions in protecting the emperor, and was awarded the rent and tax of 500 households.

In the first year of Shangyuan (760), Emperor Xuanzong moved to Ganlu Palace in Taiji Palace. Gao Lishi, along with eunuchs Wang Cheng'en and Wei Yue, accompanied Emperor Xuanzong to climb the Changqing Tower. However, he was framed by Li Fuguo and exiled to Qianzhong Road. When Gao Lishi arrived at Wuzhou, he saw that the people there did not eat shepherd's purse on the ground, which made him very sad. He couldn't help singing: "Sold by the jin in the two capitals, no one picks in the five streams. Although the barbarians and the Chinese are different, their smells and tastes remain unchanged."

In the first year of Baoying (762), with the general pardon issued, Gao Lishi was released and returned to Langzhou. There, he met some other exiled people and learned from them that Emperor Xuanzong had died. Looking towards the north, Gao Lishi wept bitterly and died of spitting blood from grief. Because Gao Lishi was a respected elder who had guarded the previous emperor, Li Yu granted him the posthumous title of Duke of Yangzhou and buried him with Emperor Xuanzong in Tailing.

Gao Lishi's life was full of glory and ups and downs, and his existence added a unique color to the history of the Tang Dynasty. His period of power in the court and the government has also become a page of history, leaving people with memories of the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. However, the fate of eunuchs is destined to be full of ups and downs. Their power is like a fleeting flower, and ultimately they cannot escape the changes of history and the relentless flood.

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