Later depiction of Duke Wen of Jin
Later depiction of Duke Wen of Jin · 约 1140A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitAttributed to Li TangSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Duke Wen of Jin晋文公

Jin & SuccessorsHistory × Fiction

Ruler of the state of Jin, once exiled, later returned to take the throne and put down the Luan and Xi rebellion.

DIRECT FIGURES
48
RELATION RECORDS
98
SOURCE WORKS
14

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Duke Wen of Jin, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

1 figure · 1 record
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

5 figures · 8 records
2 more in the complete record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

8 figures · 13 records
5 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

6 figures · 8 records
3 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

7 figures · 10 records
5 more in the complete record

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

Feature550 Years, Told TwiceFrom the end of the Western Zhou to the Qin unification, the 550-year history of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods is recorded with rigor in official histories like the Records of the Grand Historian and the Zuo Commentary, and also popularized in the Ming dynasty novel Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms. For narrative coherence and excitement, the novel often embellishes and dramatizes historical details. This piece examines a few such instances side by side, noting for each how the official history records it and how the novel alters it.

In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · Records of the Grand Historian · Old Book of Tang

Received King Xiang, killed Shu Dai, and was granted rewards. Ruler of Jin, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period; this record covers his alliances, siege of Zheng, and other events. A wise ruler of Jin, as commented by the Grand Historian.

In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Collected Biographies of Immortals · Records of Myriad Things · Book of the Later Han · Discourses of the States · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Strategies of the Warring States · Researches into Lost Records · New Book of Tang

Ruler of Jin, once exiled, later returned to take the throne, rewarded his ministers, and attacked Zheng. Ruler of Jin, after exile returned to take the throne, greatly rewarded meritorious officials, and attacked Zheng. Ruler of Jin, served the king and restored King Xiang of Zhou.

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. Literature / legend

    Records of Myriad Things

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  2. 25 profile notes
    28 relations52 verified quotations
    • Duke Huan of Qicourteous receptionDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Wen of Jinanger at betrayalDuke Mu of Qin
    • Duke Mu of Qintreat generouslyDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Mu of QinescortDuke Wen of Jin
    Verified original text · 52
    1. 齐桓公素闻重耳贤名,一知公子进关,即遣使往郊,迎入公馆

      courteous reception · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 31

    2. 文公大怒

      anger at betrayal · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 43

    50 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    Discourses of the States

    15 profile notes
    15 relations19 verified quotations
    • Duke Wen of Jinfather-in-law son-in-lawDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Mu of Qintreat generouslyDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Xian of Jinfather-sonDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Xian of Jinpursue and captureDuke Wen of Jin
    Verified original text · 19
    1. 齐侯妻之

      father-in-law son-in-law · Discourses of the States, 晋语四

    2. 秦乃召重耳于楚而纳之

      welcome and install · Discourses of the States, 晋语三

    17 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. Official history

    Book of Han

    8 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  5. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    6 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  6. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  7. 2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  8. 25 profile notes
    15 relations19 verified quotations
    • Duke Huan of Qimarry daughterDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Huan of Qicourteous receptionDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Xian of Jinfather-sonDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Wen of Jinpromise retreatKing Cheng of Chu
    Verified original text · 19
    1. 以宗女妻之

      marry daughter · Records of the Grand Historian, 晋世家

    2. 晋公子重耳来,桓公妻之

      marry her · Records of the Grand Historian, 齐太公世家

    17 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  9. Literature / legend

    Researches into Lost Records

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  10. 2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  11. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  12. 2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  13. Official history

    Bamboo Annals

    2 profile notes
    2 relations1 verified quotations
    • Duke Mu of QinescortDuke Wen of Jin
    • King Xiang of Zhougrant lifeDuke Wen of Jin
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 秦穆公帅师送公子重耳

      · Bamboo Annals, 今本-晋纪

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  14. 21 profile notes
    24 relations27 verified quotations
    • ConfuciusconcealDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Wen of Jinfather-in-law son-in-lawDuke Huan of Qi
    • Marquis of JinattackDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Wen of Jinanger at betrayalDuke Mu of Qin
    Verified original text · 27
    1. 故书曰‘天王狩于河阳’

      conceal · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, 序

    2. 齐桓公妻之

      受妻 · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 14

    25 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Chong'er, while in exile in Chu, promised to retreat three she (thirty li each) if they ever met in battle; the novel faithfully dramatizes the retreat at the Battle of Chengpu to keep that promise.

  • According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 39 (The Hereditary House of Jin), when Chong'er was in exile in Chu, King Cheng of Chu asked how he would repay the kindness. Chong'er replied, 'If it comes to that, when I meet your majesty on the battlefield, I will retreat three she.' Later, at the Battle of Chengpu, he indeed retreated ninety li to fulfill his promise. In the Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, Chapter 35, Chong'er answers the King of Chu, 'If it comes to that, when I meet your majesty on the battlefield, I will retreat three she.' Duke Wen of Jin kept his word and retreated, as recorded in the official history.

Relationship network

36 figures · 185 links
Duke Wen of JinDuke Wen of JinConfuciusConfuciusMarquis of JinMarquis of JinDuke Huan of QiDuke Huan of QiDuke Mu of QinDuke Mu of QinZi ChanZi ChanDuke Xian of JinDuke Xian of JinKing Cheng of ChuKing Cheng of ChuKing Xiang of ZhouKing Xiang of ZhouDuke Wen of ZhengDuke Wen of ZhengDuke Hui of JinDuke Hui of JinZhao CuiXian ZhenXun LinfuDuke Xiang of SongDuke Xiang of JinHu YanDuke Cheng of WeiQin BoHu TuDuke HuiXi QueWei ChouLi JiDuke Xi of LuDuke Mu of QinHu MaoXi RuiZi YuDuke Wen of WeiCao BoXu ChenGongzi ZhiZi YuYang ChufuShu Dai
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·桓二陈徐卫卢传; Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 20; Collected Biographies of Immortals, 列仙传; Records of Myriad Things, 异闻; Records of the Grand Historian, 六国年表; Book of the Later Han, 党锢列传; Discourses of the States, 周语中; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神一

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Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.