Literary image of Shan Xiongxin
Literary image of Shan Xiongxin · 1783A later literary image, not a contemporary documentary portraitUnknown artistSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Shan Xiongxin单雄信

WagangHistory × Fiction

A general under Wang Shichong, fought against Li Shimin.

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DIRECT FIGURES
17
RELATION RECORDS
36
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Shan Xiongxin, 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

12 figures · 15 records
9 more in the complete record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

4 figures · 6 records
1 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

9 figures · 11 records
6 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

3 figures · 4 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

A general under Wang Shichong, fought against Li Shimin. A general under Wang Shichong, fought against the Tang army. A Wagang general, served as Left Wuwei Grand General.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Younger brother of Shan Dao, known as Second Master. A hero of Erxian Manor in Luzhou, skilled in judging horses, bought the yellow-maned horse; the horse buyer, a Wagang hero, generous and open-handed.

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

    8 profile notes
    7 relations9 verified quotations
    • Shan Xiongxin→ raid →Li Shimin
    • Li Shimin→ battle →Shan Xiongxin
    • Li Mi→ subordinate →Shan Xiongxin
    • Xu Shiji→ old friend →Shan Xiongxin
    Verified original text · 9
    1. 雄信出军拒战，援枪而至，几及太宗

      raid · Old Book of Tang, 李密传

    2. 世充骁将单雄信数百骑夹道来逼

      battle · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上

    7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    48 profile notes
    35 relations48 verified quotations
    • Shan Xiongxin→ raid →Li Shimin
    • Li Mi→ subordinate →Shan Xiongxin
    • Shan Xiongxin→ subordinate general →Li Mi
    • Qin Shubao→ sworn brotherhood →Shan Xiongxin
    Verified original text · 48
    1. 单雄信见燕伊飞赶进去，恐他夺了头功，也赶进谷来

      pursue and kill · Romance of Sui and Tang, 057

    2. 单雄信右诩卫大将军

      appoint official · Romance of Sui and Tang, 046

    46 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    7 profile notes
    8 relations8 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ battle →Shan Xiongxin
    • Li Mi→ subordinate →Shan Xiongxin
    • Xu Shiji→ old friend →Shan Xiongxin
    • Shan Xiongxin→ seek refuge →Wang Shichong
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 又收段达、杨汪、孟孝义、单雄信、杨公卿、郭士衡、郭什柱、董浚、张童仁、朱粲、王德仁等斩洛渚上

      slay · New Book of Tang, 王窦传

    2. 单雄信左武候大将军

      subordinate · New Book of Tang, 李密传

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

The plot of 'cutting flesh from the thigh' before Shan Xiongxin's execution is a fictional invention of the novel, and there is no such record in official history.

  • novel inventionBefore the execution, did the brothers 'cut flesh from the thigh' to repay Shan Xiongxin?

    According to the 'Old Book of Tang: Biography of Li Mi', after Shan Xiongxin was captured in defeat, his old friends such as Li Ji pleaded for his pardon but failed, and ultimately Shan Xiongxin was executed. There is no record in official history of the brothers cutting flesh from their thighs at the execution ground. In chapter 60 of 'Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties', before Shan Xiongxin's execution, Cheng Yaojin, Qin Shubao, and others, in order to repay his kindness, each 'cut off a piece of flesh and handed it to Second Brother', and Shan Xiongxin ate it in pain, a scene of extreme tragedy. This 'cutting flesh' plot is purely a fictional invention of the novel, used to extremely exaggerate the brotherhood and loyalty among the Wagang heroes.

Relationship network

18 figures · 162 links
Shan XiongxinShan XiongxinLi ShiminLi ShiminLi MiLi MiQin ShubaoQin ShubaoWang ShichongWang ShichongDou JiandeDou JiandeXu ShijiXu ShijiYuchi JingdeYuchi JingdeCheng ZhijieCheng ZhijieEmperor TangEmperor TangLuo ShixinLuo ShixinWang BodangZhang GongjinLi ZhengjiDou XianniangJia RunfuLi XuansuiZhai Rang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传; Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上; Romance of Sui and Tang, 005; New Book of Tang, 屈突尉迟张秦唐段传; Old Book of Tang, 尉迟敬德秦叔宝程知节传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 008; New Book of Tang, 李密传; Old Book of Tang, 尉迟敬德秦叔宝程知节段志玄张公谨传

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.