CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Cheng Tang成汤
Founding monarch of the Shang dynasty, titled King Wu, overthrew the Xia and established Shang.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 9
- RELATION RECORDS
- 9
- SOURCE WORKS
- 13
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Cheng Tang, 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
Zhu GuiisCheng Tang’s father
King Zhou of Shang—Cheng Tangdescendant
Cheng Tang—Youshenmarry
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
1 figure · 1 record＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Yi Yin→Cheng Tangassist
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
4 figures · 4 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cheng Tang→Xia Jieattack
Cheng Tang→Xia Geng Zhi Shibehead
Cheng Tang→Kunwuattack
Cheng Tang→Youluoconquer
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Emperor Guangwu→Cheng Tangimitate
9 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song · Old Book of Tang
Founding monarch of the Shang dynasty, titled King Wu, overthrew the Xia and established Shang.
In fiction · Records of Myriad Things · Book of the Later Han · Investiture of the Gods · Classic of Mountains and Seas · New Book of Tang · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition · Songs of Chu · Book of Han · Bamboo Annals
Defeated Xia Jie at Zhang Mountain.
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 / legend1 profile notes
Records of Myriad Things
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend2 profile notes
Songs of Chu
1 relations1 verified quotations- Cheng Tang→ marry →Youshen
Verified original text · 1
何乞彼小臣，而吉妃是得？
marry · Songs of Chu, 天问
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Investiture of the Gods
1 relations1 verified quotations- Cheng Tang→ attack →Xia Jie
Verified original text · 1
放桀于南巢
attack · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 1
- Official history2 profile notes
Book of Han
2 relations2 verified quotations- Cheng Tang→ attack →Xia Jie
- Yi Yin→ assist →Cheng Tang
Verified original text · 2
汤伐夏桀
attack · Book of Han, 律历志
伊尹祀于先王
assist · Book of Han, 律历志
- Official history5 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
1 relations1 verified quotations- Emperor Guangwu→ imitate →Cheng Tang
Verified original text · 1
斯乃汤武之所以昭王业也
imitate · Book of the Later Han, 班彪列传下
- Official history1 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend1 profile notes
Classic of Mountains and Seas
2 relations2 verified quotations- Cheng Tang→ attack →Xia Jie
- Cheng Tang→ behead →Xia Geng Zhi Shi
Verified original text · 2
成汤伐夏桀于章山
attack · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 大荒西經
斩耕厥前
behead · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 大荒西經
- Official history6 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
3 relations4 verified quotations- Cheng Tang→ attack →Xia Jie
- Zhu Gui→ father-son →Cheng Tang
- Cheng Tang→ attack →Kunwu
Verified original text · 4
成汤有南巣之伐，以殄夏乱
attack · Records of the Grand Historian, 律书
汤乃兴师率诸侯，伊尹从汤，汤自把钺以伐昆吾，遂伐桀
attack · Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Yin
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
History of Song
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history2 profile notes
New Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history7 profile notes
Yi Zhou Shu
2 relations2 verified quotations- King Zhou of Shang→ descendant →Cheng Tang
- Cheng Tang→ conquer →Youluo
Verified original text · 2
今纣弃成汤之典
descendant · Yi Zhou Shu, 商誓
成商伐之，有洛以亡
conquer · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷八
- Official history1 profile notes
Bamboo Annals
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history3 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
In official history, he is the founding monarch of the Shang dynasty, a benevolent ruler who showed mercy by opening one side of the net; in novels, he is revered as an ancient sage and virtuous king.
According to the "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Xia", it is recorded: “汤遂率兵以伐夏桀。桀走鸣条，遂放而死……汤乃践天子位，代夏朝天下。” The "Book of Documents: The Speech at Tang's Conquest" and the "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Yin" and other official historical texts provide extremely clear accounts of Tang of Shang raising troops, banishing Jie to Nanchao, and overthrowing the Xia to establish the Shang dynasty.
The Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) records that Tang once saw a hunter setting nets on all four sides. He removed three sides and prayed, 'Those who want to go left, go left; those who want to go right, go right.' The feudal lords heard of this and praised his virtue.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
斯乃汤武之所以昭王业也
- attackCheng Tang → Xia Jiehist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 律书Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of YinInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 1Classic of Mountains and Seas, 大荒西經Book of Han, 律历志
Original text (5)
放桀于南巢
汤伐夏桀
Original relation: attack · Book of Han, 律历志
成汤伐夏桀于章山
Original relation: attack · Classic of Mountains and Seas, 大荒西經
成汤有南巣之伐，以殄夏乱
汤乃兴师率诸侯，伊尹从汤，汤自把钺以伐昆吾，遂伐桀
Original text (1)
伊尹祀于先王
Original text (1)
今纣弃成汤之典
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
何乞彼小臣，而吉妃是得？
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
成商伐之，有洛以亡