程

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Cheng Zhijie程知节

TangHistory × Fiction

Tang general, participated in the Battle of Jiezhou.

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DIRECT FIGURES
15
RELATION RECORDS
25
SOURCE WORKS
5

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Cheng Zhijie, 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

2 figures · 2 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

9 figures · 12 records
5 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

9 figures · 9 records
5 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

2 figures · 2 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

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

FeatureFact and Fiction in the Sui-Tang Transition: The Lingyan Pavilion Officials vs. Outlaw Brotherhoods"Romance of Sui and Tang" writes this period of history as a jianghu of sworn brotherhood, martial contests, and roaming, while the "Old Book of Tang" records a different matter. The meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion become greenwood brothers in the romance, and several of the most deeply rooted fierce generals are nowhere to be found in the official history; whereas a coup like the Xuanwu Gate Incident is actually written more plainly in the official history than in the romance. This piece compares the two sides, noting which volume each part comes from.

In history · Old Book of Tang

Tang general, participated in the Battle of Jiezhou. A great general under Emperor Taizong, participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident. A famous early Tang general, originally from the Wagang Army, later submitted to Tang, a Lingyan Pavilion meritorious official.

In fiction · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · New Book of Tang · Journey to the West · Romance of Sui and Tang

Son of Widow Cheng, in childhood companions with Qin Qiong, later returned to Dong'e with his mother. A hero of Wagang Stockade, sworn brotherhood with Qin Qiong and others. A good man near Wunan Village, sworn brotherhood with You Tong, robbed imperial silver.

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.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    14 profile notes
    6 relations11 verified quotations
    • Cheng Zhijie→ surrender →Li Shimin
    • Li Shimin→ subordinate →Cheng Zhijie
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ confer title →Cheng Zhijie
    • Cheng Zhijie→ submit →Li Mi
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 於是跃马与左右数十人归国

      surrender · Old Book of Tang, 尉迟敬德秦叔宝程知节传

    2. 於是跃马与左右数十人归国

      surrender · Old Book of Tang, 尉迟敬德秦叔宝程知节段志玄张公谨传

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    35 profile notes
    16 relations26 verified quotations
    • Cheng Zhijie→ surrender →Li Shimin
    • Cheng Zhijie→ pursue and capture →Li Shimin
    • Li Shimin→ pardon →Cheng Zhijie
    • Li Yuan→ appoint official →Cheng Zhijie
    Verified original text · 26
    1. 臣蒙殿下豢母隆思，敢不捐躯以报

      pledge loyalty · Romance of Sui and Tang, 054

    2. 程知节、尉迟敬德进来见礼过了

      assist · Romance of Sui and Tang, 066

    24 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  4. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    8 profile notes
    8 relations8 verified quotations
    • Cheng Zhijie→ surrender →Li Shimin
    • Cheng Zhijie→ submit →Li Mi
    • Qin Shubao→ colleague →Cheng Zhijie
    • Cheng Zhijie→ captured →Wang Shichong
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 授秦王府左三统军

      serve · New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传

    2. 后事李密

      serve · New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  5. Literature / legend

    Journey to the West

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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History vs. fiction

A valiant general skilled with the horse lance in official history becomes a devilish king wielding an axe in the romance.

  • novel inventionThe devilish king and his three axe moves

    In the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Cheng Yaojin wields a large axe and knows only 'three axe moves', and once called himself the 'Devilish King'. However, the Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Yuchi Jingde, Qin Shubao, and Cheng Zhijie records that Cheng Zhijie (originally named Cheng Yaojin) was in fact 'brave and fierce from youth, skilled in the use of the horse lance', not an axe. In official history, there is absolutely no absurd deed of the 'Devilish King'; he was actually a valiant general who rendered outstanding military service in the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

Relationship network

16 figures · 135 links
Cheng ZhijieCheng ZhijieLi ShiminLi ShiminEmperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Gaozong of TangLi YuanLi YuanLi MiLi MiQin ShubaoQin ShubaoWang ShichongWang ShichongDou JiandeDou JiandeLi YuanjiLi YuanjiShan XiongxinShan XiongxinEmperor TangEmperor TangLuo ShixinWang BodangSu DingfangJia RunfuSong Jingang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 骁勇一; New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传; Old Book of Tang, 回纥传; Journey to the West, ch. 11; Romance of Sui and Tang, 004; New Book of Tang, 刘斐传; Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上; Romance of Sui and Tang, 009

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.