CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Feilian飞廉
A middle-ranking official of the Shang Dynasty, a treacherous minister, who secretly plotted to defect to Zhou and was executed and deified.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 6
- RELATION RECORDS
- 9
- SOURCE WORKS
- 1
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Feilian, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
6 figures · 7 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
King Zhou (Di Xin)isFeilian’s ruler
Jiang Ziya→Feilianrecommend
Feilian→King Wusubmit
Feilian→Yuan Hongrecommend
Feilian→Chang Haorecommend
Feilian→Wu Longrecommend
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
1 figure · 1 record＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Jiang Ziya→Feilianslay
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Jiang Ziya→Feiliandeify
8 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In fiction · Investiture of the Gods
A middle-ranking official of the Shang Dynasty, who once recommended Su Hu, Kong Xuan, and the Seven Monsters of Meishan to attack Xiqi. In reality, he was a treacherous minister. Seeing that the Shang Dynasty was doomed, he plotted with Elai to steal the imperial seal and defect to Zhou. For his treachery and disloyalty, he was beheaded by Jiang Ziya and was posthumously appointed as the God of Ice Disintegration and Dissolution on the Investiture of the Gods.
History vs. fiction
The dual historical and mythical image of a late-Shang sycophantic minister
Feilian indeed existed in history. The Records of the Grand Historian, 'Annals of Qin', clearly records: 'Feilian begot Elai. Elai was strong, Feilian was swift, and both father and son served the Shang tyrant Zhou with their physical abilities.' This indicates that Feilian, like his son Elai, was a real minister who served King Zhou of Shang with special physical prowess and talent. After King Wu conquered Yin, Feilian died for his loyalty to the Shang dynasty. Although Investiture of the Gods exaggerates his negative character and adds a deification ending, his service to King Zhou is supported by official history.
Relationship network
Original text (2)
推出斩之正法
子牙传令，命斩飞廉、恶来
Original text (1)
子牙曰：“二位大夫在纣俱有忠诚……
Original text (1)
特敕封尔为冰消瓦解之神
- recommendFeilian → King Zhou (Di Xin)litInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 56Investiture of the Gods, ch. 68
Original text (2)
臣保一人，征伐西岐
班中闪出中大夫飞廉，俯伏奏曰
Original relation: recommend · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 68
Original text (1)
有中大夫飞廉出班奏曰
Original text (1)
飞廉奏曰：“纣王不听忠言……
Original text (1)
随带入朝门，来朝见纣王
Original text (1)
随带入朝门，来朝见纣王
Original text (1)
随带入朝门，来朝见纣王