CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Confucius孔子
A worthy of the state of Lu, learned and knowledgeable. He served as the steward of Zhongdu, the Minister of Works, and the Grand Minister of Justice, and executed Shao Zhengmao. Because the Duke of Lu neglected governance, he left Lu and traveled through various states. He wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals and died.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 49
- RELATION RECORDS
- 63
- SOURCE WORKS
- 16
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Confucius, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
3 figures · 3 records＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Confucius→Taishang Laojunask rites
Confucius—Zi Chanmaster-disciple
Dong Zhongshu→Confuciusesteem
02KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
2 figures · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Confucius—Zi Chanbrothers
Kong Guang—Confuciusdescendant
03ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
10 figures · 10 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Emperor Gaozong of Tang→Confuciusgrant grand preceptor
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→Confuciusposthumous honor
Wu Zetian→Confuciusposthumously enfeoff
04CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
11 figures · 11 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Confucius→Marquis of Jincriticize
Confucius→Duke Huan of Qimock dual master
05THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
13 figures · 14 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Confucius→Yang Xionginfluence
Confucius→Zi Chanpraise
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song
He devoted himself to the study of ancient records and set a model for the uncrowned king. A worthy of Lu, he explained the earth monster as a 'fen yang'. A great worthy of Lu, he commented on Jing Jiang's knowledge of ritual, and answered questions about the great bones and the arrows of the Hu people.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Liezi · 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 · In Search of the Supernatural
A grand official of Lu, learned and knowledgeable, revered as a sage. As Grand Minister of Justice, he executed Shao Zhengmao. Because the Duke of Lu neglected governance, he left Lu and traveled through various states. He wrote an inscription for Ji Zha's tombstone. He wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals.
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 / legend2 profile notes
Records of Myriad Things
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend6 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
2 relations2 verified quotations- King Zhao of Chu→ summon →Confucius
- Confucius→ rebuke →Duke Jing of Qi
Verified original text · 2
楚昭王闻孔子在陈蔡之间，使人聘之
summon · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79
孔子按剑张目，觑定景公奏曰
rebuke · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 78
- Official history3 profile notes
Discourses of the States
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history41 profile notes
Book of Han
9 relations7 verified quotations- Emperor Cheng of Han→ make empress →Confucius
- Liu Xiang→ registrar →Confucius
- Liu Xiang→ extol →Confucius
- Yang Xiong→ mention →Confucius
Verified original text · 7
遂下诏封孔子世为殷绍嘉公
make empress · Book of Han, 杨胡朱梅云传
刘向司籍
registrar · Book of Han, 叙传下
5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history33 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
4 relations5 verified quotations- Emperor Zhang of Han→ sacrifice →Confucius
- Confucius→ say wear Zhou crown →Xianzong
- Confucius→ influence →Yang Xiong
- Confucius→ told in dream →Zheng Xuan
Verified original text · 5
以太牢祠孔子及七十二弟子
sacrifice · Book of the Later Han, 儒林列传上
祠孔子于阙里，及七十二弟子
sacrifice · Book of the Later Han, 肃宗孝章帝纪三
3 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend3 profile notes
Huainanzi
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history22 profile notes
Old Book of Tang
5 relations7 verified quotations- Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ posthumous honor →Confucius
- Wu Zetian→ posthumously enfeoff →Confucius
- Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ grant grand preceptor →Confucius
- Confucius→ mock dual master →Duke Huan of Qi
Verified original text · 7
追赠孔宣父为文宣王
posthumous honor · Old Book of Tang, 玄宗本纪下
可追谥为文宣王
追谥文宣王 · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志四
5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend5 profile notes
Liezi
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history5 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history44 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
9 relations10 verified quotations- Confucius→ ask rites →Taishang Laojun
- Confucius→ brothers →Zi Chan
- Confucius→ master-disciple →Zi Chan
- King Zhao of Chu→ summon →Confucius
Verified original text · 10
适周问礼，盖见老子云
ask rites · Records of the Grand Historian, 孔子世家
孔子适周，将问礼于老子
ask rites · Records of the Grand Historian, 老子韩非列传
8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend2 profile notes
Researches into Lost Records
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history18 profile notes
History of Song
2 relations3 verified quotations- Emperor Zhenzong of Song→ add posthumous title →Confucius
- Wang Anshi→ accompanied sacrifice →Confucius
Verified original text · 3
加谥孔子曰玄圣文宣王
add posthumous title · History of Song, 真宗本纪二
诏孔子庙配享鲁史左丘明等十九人加封爵
加封爵 · History of Song, 真宗本纪二
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend5 profile notes
In Search of the Supernatural
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend10 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
1 relations1 verified quotations- Taishang Laojun→ discuss doctrine →Confucius
Verified original text · 1
孔子既见老子，老子告曰
discuss doctrine · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙一
- Official history15 profile notes
New Book of Tang
3 relations3 verified quotations- Wu Zetian→ posthumously enfeoff →Confucius
- Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ grant grand preceptor →Confucius
- Han Yu→ quote words →Confucius
Verified original text · 3
孔子为隆道公
enfeoff as duke · New Book of Tang, 则天皇后中宗本纪
祠孔子，赠太师
sacrifice · New Book of Tang, 高宗本纪
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Official history6 profile notes
Strategies of the Warring States
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history46 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
8 relations10 verified quotations- Confucius→ conceal →Duke Wen of Jin
- Confucius→ criticize →Marquis of Jin
- Confucius→ revise history →Marquis of Jin
- Confucius→ rebuke →Marquis of Qi
Verified original text · 10
故书曰‘天王狩于河阳’
conceal · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, 序
以臣召君，不可以训
criticize · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 15
8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
TRACEABLE IMAGE ARCHIVE
Images across historical and literary reception
Each image keeps its source, licence and interpretive boundary. Later depictions are not presented as contemporary portraits.
Later depiction of Confucius · 西汉
A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portrait
Anonymous Chinese painter of the Western Han period
History vs. fiction
The founder of the Confucian school, who once traveled through various states.
The Records of the Grand Historian, in the 'Hereditary House of Confucius', clearly records that at the age of fifty-six, Confucius, while serving as Grand Minister of Justice, acted as prime minister, and subsequently executed the Lu nobleman Shao Zhengmao on charges of causing political chaos, thereby bringing great order to the state of Lu. The novel also depicts Confucius acting as prime minister and executing Shao Zhengmao, and in terms of the cause, process, and positive impact on Lu's political atmosphere, it remains highly consistent with historical records, without any fictional alterations.
Relationship network
To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 63 relationships in the atlas →
Original text (2)
加谥孔子曰玄圣文宣王
诏孔子庙配享鲁史左丘明等十九人加封爵
Original relation: 加封爵 · History of Song, 真宗本纪二
- posthumous honor← Emperor Xuanzong of Tang → ConfuciushistOld Book of Tang, 玄宗本纪下Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志四
Original text (2)
追赠孔宣父为文宣王
可追谥为文宣王
Original relation: 追谥文宣王 · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志四
- posthumously enfeoff← Wu Zetian → Confuciushist × litNew Book of Tang, 则天皇后中宗本纪Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志四
Original text (2)
孔子为隆道公
孔子为隆道公
Original relation: enfeoff as duke · New Book of Tang, 则天皇后中宗本纪
- grant grand preceptor← Emperor Gaozong of Tang → Confuciushist × litNew Book of Tang, 高宗本纪Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志四Old Book of Tang, 高宗本纪下
Original text (3)
赠太师
追赠太师
Original relation: posthumous honor · Old Book of Tang, 高宗本纪下
祠孔子，赠太师
Original relation: sacrifice · New Book of Tang, 高宗本纪
Original text (1)
故书曰‘天王狩于河阳’
Original text (1)
以王安石配飨孔子庙
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
仲尼书曰“天王狩于河阳。”
Original text (1)
昔齐桓公作二主，夫子讥之
Original text (1)
孔丘以公退，曰：“士兵之！
Original text (1)
以太牢祠孔子及七十二弟子
Original text (1)
祠孔子于阙里，及七十二弟子
Original text (1)
遂下诏封孔子世为殷绍嘉公
- ask ritesConfucius → Taishang LaojunhistRecords of the Grand Historian, 孔子世家Records of the Grand Historian, 老子韩非列传
Original text (2)
适周问礼，盖见老子云
孔子适周，将问礼于老子
Original text (1)
孔子既见老子，老子告曰
Original text (1)
- praiseConfucius → Zi ChanlitCorrect Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 40Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 46
Original text (2)
仲尼闻是语也，曰：“以是观之人，谓子产不仁，吾不信也。”
仲尼谓：“子产于是行也，足以为国基矣
Original text (1)
及子产卒，仲尼闻之，出涕曰：“古之遗爱也。”
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
以孔子为先圣
Original text (1)
刘向司籍
Original text (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？”
- say wear Zhou crownConfucius → XianzonglitBook of the Later Han, 冕冠长冠委貌冠皮弁冠爵弁冠通天冠远游冠高山冠进贤冠法冠武冠建华冠方山冠巧士冠却非冠却敌冠樊哙冠术氏冠鹖冠帻佩刀印黄赤绶赤绶绿绶紫绶青绶黑绶黄绶青绀纶后夫人服
Original text (1)
- summon← King Zhao of Chu → Confuciushist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 79Records of the Grand Historian, 孔子世家
Original text (2)
楚昭王闻孔子在陈蔡之间，使人聘之
楚使人聘孔子
Original relation: visit · Records of the Grand Historian, 孔子世家
Original text (1)
盖孔子曰：“以貌取人，失之子羽。”
Original text (1)
仲尼曰：“叔向，古之遗直也
Original text (1)
孔子谓之元，而扬雄谓之玄
Original text (1)
昔仲尼之去鲁兮
- rebukeConfucius → Duke Jing of Qihist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 78Records of the Grand Historian, 齐太公世家
Original text (2)
孔子按剑张目，觑定景公奏曰
以礼让景公
Original relation: 礼让 · Records of the Grand Historian, 齐太公世家
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
如孔氏之门人用赋也，则贾谊登堂，相如入室矣
- criticizeConfucius → Guan Zhonghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 管晏列传Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, 序
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
孔子十四世之孙也
Original text (1)
孔子美之曰：“郁郁乎文哉！吾从周。”
Original text (1)
董仲舒治公羊春秋
Original text (1)
夫儒者滑稽而不可轨法
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
如孔氏之门人用赋也，则贾谊登堂，相如入室矣