楚

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King Ling of Chu楚灵王

ChuHistory × Fiction

King of Chu, fond of slender waists, built the Zhanghua Palace, hosted Duke Zhao of Lu, regretted giving away a bow.

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DIRECT FIGURES
17
RELATION RECORDS
23
SOURCE WORKS
5

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

King Ling of Chu, 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

8 figures · 11 records
5 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

6 figures · 6 records
3 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

3 figures · 3 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

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

In history · Records of the Grand Historian

King of Chu, killed his ruler and seized the throne. King of Chu, met with feudal lords, starved to death. Monarch of Chu, killed his ruler and seized the throne.

In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Discourses of the States · Strategies of the Warring States · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition

King of Chu, fond of slender waists, built the Zhanghua Palace, hosted Duke Zhao of Lu, regretted giving away a bow. King of Chu, wanted to raise troops to invade the Central Plains, followed Wu Ju's advice to attack Cai. Ruler of Chu, extinguished Chen and Cai, lured and killed the Marquis of Cai, later dreamed of a god demanding sacrifice.

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. 5 profile notes
    6 relations7 verified quotations
    • King Ping of Chu→ hostile →King Ling of Chu
    • Duke Zhao of Lu→ meet →King Ling of Chu
    • King Ling of Chu→ lure and kill →Marquis of Cai
    • Yan Ying→ go on mission →King Ling of Chu
    Verified original text · 7
    1. 蔡公引大军寻访

      hostile · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 70

    2. 鲁侯乍见，错愕不已

      meet · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 68

    5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    Discourses of the States

    3 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Wu Ju→ subject →King Ling of Chu
    • Qi Ji→ regicide →King Ling of Chu
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 对曰：“臣闻国君服宠以为美

      admonish · Discourses of the States, 楚语上

    2. 陈、蔡及不羹人纳弃疾而弑灵王

      regicide · Discourses of the States, 楚语上

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  3. 7 profile notes
    3 relations4 verified quotations
    • Zi Chan→ meet alliance →King Ling of Chu
    • King Ping of Chu→ hostile →King Ling of Chu
    • Duke Jian of Zheng→ audience →King Ling of Chu
    Verified original text · 4
    1. 使子产会诸侯，与楚灵王盟於申

      meet alliance · Records of the Grand Historian, 郑世家

    2. 楚公子弃疾弑灵王而自立

      regicide · Records of the Grand Historian, 秦本纪

    2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  5. 15 profile notes
    14 relations13 verified quotations
    • Confucius→ comment →King Ling of Chu
    • King Ling of Chu→ send back →Duke of Zheng
    • King Ling of Chu→ ask rites →Zi Chan
    • King Ling of Chu→ generous gift →Shu Xiang
    Verified original text · 13
    1. 仲尼曰：“古也有志，克巳复礼，仁也。信善哉！楚灵王若能如是，岂其辱于干谿？”

      comment · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 45

    2. 宋大子、郑伯先归。

      send back · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 42

    11 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

Regarding the death of King Ling of Chu, the Records of the Grand Historian records that he starved to death, while the novel describes him hanging himself at Shen Hai's residence.

  • based on factWhat was the ultimate cause of King Ling of Chu's death?

    The Records of the Grand Historian, 'Hereditary House of Chu,' records: 'In the fifth month of summer, King Ling died at Shen Hai's house, and Shen Hai had his two daughters die with him and buried them together.' However, the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, chapter 70, describes him as hanging himself: 'Shen Hai again knelt and offered food and drink, but King Ling only wept and did not touch it. Shen Hai then had his two biological daughters serve him in bed to please him. The king did not remove his clothes, and sighed all night. At the fifth watch, no sound of weeping was heard. The two daughters opened the door and reported to their father: "The king has hanged himself in the bedchamber."'

Relationship network

18 figures · 47 links
King Ling of ChuKing Ling of ChuConfuciusConfuciusDuke of ZhengDuke of ZhengZi ChanZi ChanShu XiangShu XiangKing Cheng of ChuKing Cheng of ChuKing Gong of ChuKing Gong of ChuKing Ping of ChuKing Ping of ChuDuke Zhao of LuDuke Zhao of LuMarquis of CaiMarquis of CaiYan YingYan YingQing FengHan QiZi QiDuke Jian of ZhengWu JuQi JiGongzi Qiji
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 68; Records of the Grand Historian, 吴太伯世家; Discourses of the States, 吴语; Strategies of the Warring States, 楚／一; Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 21; Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 69; Records of the Grand Historian, 楚世家; Discourses of the States, 楚语上

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.