CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Hong Yao闳夭
A worthy official who submitted to the Western Earl Ji Chang, and an important minister at the end of the Shang and beginning of the Zhou.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 3
- RELATION RECORDS
- 3
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Hong Yao, 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
2 figures · 2 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Hong Yao—Jiang Ziyasubordinate general
King Wu—Hong Yaoruler-subject
02THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Hong Yao→King Wen of Zhourescue
3 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Hong Yao was a worthy minister who submitted to the Western Earl Ji Chang. When Ji Chang was imprisoned by King Zhou of Yin at Youli, he sought rare treasures, exotic objects, and beautiful women to present to King Zhou, successfully rescuing the Western Earl and returning him to his state.
In fiction · Investiture of the Gods · Yi Zhou Shu
Hong Yao was a general of Xiqi and deputy to Nangong Kuo. When his lord Ji Chang was imprisoned at Youli by King Zhou of Shang, he was ordered to seek treasures and heavy bribes to give to the court officials Fei Zhong and You Hun of Zhaoge to rescue his lord. Later, as a Zhou army general, he went on expeditions, actively participating in seizing brides at the front and subsequent punitive campaigns.
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 / legend4 profile notes
Investiture of the Gods
1 relations1 verified quotations- Hong Yao→ subordinate general →Jiang Ziya
Verified original text · 1
辛甲、辛免、太颠、闳夭
subordinate general · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 56
- Official history2 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
1 relations1 verified quotations- Hong Yao→ rescue →King Wen of Zhou
Verified original text · 1
西伯之臣闳夭之徒，求美女奇物善马以献纣，纣乃赦西伯
rescue · Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Yin
- Official history1 profile notes
Yi Zhou Shu
1 relations2 verified quotations- King Wu→ ruler-subject →Hong Yao
Verified original text · 2
泰颠、闳夭，皆执轻吕以奏王
ruler-subject · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷四
命闳夭封比干之墓
command · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷四
History vs. fiction
Both official history and the novel list him as one of King Wen of Zhou's 'Four Friends,' and he once rescued King Wen at Youli; the novel largely follows historical facts.
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter on the Zhou Dynasty (Part I), Hong Yao and others 'sought a beautiful woman from the Youxin clan, a piebald horse from the Li Rong, nine teams of four horses from Youxiong, and other strange and rare objects, and through Yin's favored minister Fei Zhong, presented them to King Zhou... and thus the Earl of the West was pardoned,' successfully rescuing Xibo Chang who had been imprisoned in Youli; The Investiture of the Gods completely follows the official historical record on this key plot point.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
辛甲、辛免、太颠、闳夭
Original text (2)
泰颠、闳夭，皆执轻吕以奏王
命闳夭封比干之墓
Original relation: command · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷四
Original text (1)
西伯之臣闳夭之徒，求美女奇物善马以献纣，纣乃赦西伯