CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Cai Jing蔡京

Song CourtHistory

Grand Preceptor of the current court, father-in-law of Liang Zhongshu.

DIRECT FIGURES
47
RELATION RECORDS
62
SOURCE WORKS
1

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Cai Jing, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

10 figures · 12 records
6 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

21 figures · 24 records
17 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

1 figure · 1 record

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

FeatureHistory vs. Fiction: The Truth Behind the 108 Heroes of the Water Margin《水浒传》一百二十回写了一百零八个人,《宋史》给这件事的篇幅是几行字。《侯蒙传》说宋江「以三十六人横行齐魏」,《张叔夜传》说他被设伏击败后投降,《徽宗本纪》只有一句「淮南盗宋江等犯淮阳军」。三十六人怎么变成一百零八人,招安与征方腊在正史里是什么样子,这篇对着两边看。

In history · History of Song

A powerful minister of the Northern Song dynasty, associated with Zhao Tingzhi, Zhang Shangying, and others. A powerful minister who served as chancellor multiple times and advocated for an alliance with the Jin to attack the Liao. A powerful minister whom Hou Meng criticized for his intentions, and later Cai Jing harbored resentment against Hou Meng.

In fiction ·

Grand Preceptor of the current court, father of Cai Jiu, the prefect. Grand Preceptor of the current court, whose calligraphy and books were imitated to forge a reply letter.

History vs. fiction

Grand Preceptor of the current dynasty

  • In the novel, the hundred thousand strings of birthday gifts seized by the Liangshan heroes were a tribute to Cai Jing; however, there is no such record in the "History of Song", and the clever seizure of the birthday gifts is entirely a literary creation of the novelist. The original text states: "Each cart had a yellow flag inserted, on which was written 'Presented as birthday gifts to the Grand Tutor.'" ("Water Margin", Chapter 16)

  • The novel lists him as the chief treacherous minister who drove the heroes to rebellion; the "History of Song: Biography of Cai Jing" places him in the "Biographies of Treacherous Ministers." His implementation of the New Policies and repeated initiation of major trials indeed bear heavy responsibility for the decline and fall of the Northern Song. In the original text, Chen Guoting states: "致寇者蔡京,养寇者王黼,窜二人,则寇自平。" (History of Song: Biography of Zhang Shuye)

Relationship network

36 figures · 175 links
Cai JingCai JingEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongSima GuangSima GuangZhang DunZhang DunFan ChunrenFan ChunrenCai QueCai QueSu ZheSu ZheZhang ShangyingZhang ShangyingWang GuiWang GuiLü GongzhuLü GongzhuZeng BuZeng BuLiu ZhiLi GangTong GuanCai BianWang FuChen GuanFan ZuyuLiang TaoCai YouZou HaoLiu AnshiCai XiangFeng JiZhong ShidaoHu AnguoZheng XiaZhao TingzhiZheng JuzhongChen CishengChang AnminYang ShiXiong BenWu MinWu JuhouLi Bangyan
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: History of Song, 何㮚孙傅陈过庭张叔夜聂昌【评论】张阁张近郑仅宇文昌龄子 常许几程之邵龚原崔公度蒲卣【评论】传; History of Song, 何灌李熙靖王云谭世𪟝梅执礼程振刘延庆传; History of Song, 侯蒙传; History of Song, 傅楫沈畸萧服徐𪟝张汝明黄葆光石公弼张克公毛注洪彦昇锺傅陶节夫毛渐王祖道张庄赵遹传; History of Song, 儒林传二; History of Song, 儒林传五; History of Song, 元绛许将邓润甫林希旦蒋之奇陆佃吴居厚温益传; History of Song, 列传_ch. 358

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.