CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Bi Gan比干
The Grand Tutor of the Shang Dynasty, uncle of King Zhou, killed by having his heart cut out for his loyal remonstrance.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 11
- RELATION RECORDS
- 16
- SOURCE WORKS
- 4
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Bi Gan, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
3 figures · 3 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Bi GanisKing Zhou (Di Xin)’s uncle
Bi Gan—Weizifather-son
Bi Gan—Meng Shispouse
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
3 figures · 3 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
King Zhou (Di Xin)isBi Gan’s ruler
Bi Gan→Jiang Ziyainterrogate
Bo Yikao→Bi Ganask for help
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 4 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
King Zhou (Di Xin)→Bi Ganorder suicide
- Daji2
Daji→Bi Ganhatred
Bi Gan→Fox Spiritsee through
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
5 figures · 6 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Bi Gan→Jiang Ziyapromote
Bi Gan—Huang Feihuaccomplice
King Wu→Bi Ganseal tomb
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Uncle of King Zhou, forcibly remonstrated and was disemboweled.
In fiction · Investiture of the Gods · Bamboo Annals · Yi Zhou Shu
The Grand Tutor of the Shang Dynasty, royal uncle of King Zhou. He conspired with Huang Feihu to burn the Tomb of Xuanyuan, and offended Daji by presenting a fox fur robe, later dying by having his heart cut out.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend15 profile notes
Investiture of the Gods
15 relations22 verified quotations- Jiang Ziya→ give note →Bi Gan
- Bi Gan→ promote →Jiang Ziya
- Bi Gan→ interrogate →Jiang Ziya
- King Zhou (Di Xin)→ ruler-subject →Bi Gan
Verified original text · 22
尚有一柬帖，压在书房砚台之下
give note · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 17
子牙留下简帖，上书符印，将符烧灰入水，服于腹中
符水护体 · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 27
20 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history2 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Zhou (Di Xin)→ order suicide →Bi Gan
Verified original text · 1
剖比干，观其心
剖杀 · Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Yin
- Official history1 profile notes
Yi Zhou Shu
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Wu→ seal tomb →Bi Gan
Verified original text · 1
命闳夭封比干之墓
seal tomb · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷四
- Official history1 profile notes
Bamboo Annals
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
A Shang dynasty royal minister who was executed by Emperor Xin for his forceful remonstrance in official history becomes, in fiction, the subject of myths about a seven-orificed heart and heartless vegetables.
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, chapter on the Yin Dynasty: 'Bi Gan said, "A minister should not shrink from death in remonstrating." He then remonstrated forcefully with Zhou. Zhou, enraged, said, "I have heard that a sage's heart has seven orifices." He cut open Bi Gan and examined his heart.'
The plot in which Bi Gan, due to Jiang Ziya's talisman, has his heart replaced, encounters a woman selling heartless vegetables, and after their exchange dies suddenly, is a fictional episode created by "Investiture of the Gods" based on folk mythology. (Original text: “只听得路傍有一妇人手提筐篮，叫卖无心菜。比干忽听得，勒马问曰：“怎么是无心菜？”妇人曰：“民妇卖的是无心菜。””, source: data/raw/fengshen/卷027.txt)
Relationship network
Original text (2)
尚有一柬帖，压在书房砚台之下
子牙留下简帖，上书符印，将符烧灰入水，服于腹中
Original relation: 符水护体 · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 27
Original text (2)
姜尚荷蒙大德提携
昔日姜子牙与父王看气色，曾说不利，留一简帖
Original relation: 受符 · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 26
Original text (1)
比干勒住马，问：“甚么事？”
- ruler-subject← King Zhou (Di Xin) → Bi GanlitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 5Investiture of the Gods, ch. 19Investiture of the Gods, ch. 25Investiture of the Gods, ch. 26
Original text (4)
内有上大夫梅伯与首相商容、亚相比干言曰
Original relation: admonish · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 5
陛下！西伯侯姬昌子伯邑，考纳贡代父赎罪
Original relation: report · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 19
比干抱本往摘星楼来候旨。
比干奏曰：“鹿台高接霄汉，风雪严冬，臣忧陛下龙体生寒，特献袍袄
- order suicide← King Zhou (Di Xin) → Bi Ganhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, Annals of YinInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 26Investiture of the Gods, ch. 27
Original text (3)
如不从朕命，武士，拿下去，取了心来！
取比干心作羹
Original relation: 剖心 · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 27
剖比干，观其心
Original relation: 剖杀 · Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Yin
Original text (1)
比干乃昏君位之嫡叔
Original text (1)
比干对武成王曰：“这许多狐狸，还有未焦者，拣选好的
Original text (1)
命闳夭封比干之墓
Original text (1)
臣等非为姬昌，实为国也
Original text (2)
暗骂：“比干老贼！吾子孙就享了当今酒席，与老贼何干？你明明欺我，把皮毛惑吾之心
妲己设计害忠良
Original relation: scheme to frame · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 27
Original text (1)
比干大骂：“妲己贱人！我死冥下，见先帝无愧矣！”
Original text (1)
夫人，你好生看顾孩儿微子德！
Original text (1)
万望丞相开天地仁慈之心
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
比干进内，见夫人孟氏曰：“夫人，你好生看顾孩儿微子德！
Original text (1)
青曰：“丞相在上：方今国势渐衰，鹿台又新纳道姑，名曰胡喜媚