李

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Li Jiancheng李建成

TangHistory × Fiction

Elder brother of Emperor Taizong of Tang, deceased, demanding his life.

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DIRECT FIGURES
14
RELATION RECORDS
25
SOURCE WORKS
7

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Li Jiancheng, 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

5 figures · 7 records
1 more in the complete record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

6 figures · 6 records
2 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

9 figures · 12 records
5 more in the complete record
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.
Event · 626 CEXuanwu Gate IncidentThe succession conflict between Li Shimin, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji erupted at Xuanwu Gate, reshaping early Tang politics and generations of narratives about imperial legitimacy.

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

The former Marquis of Dongyue, Jiancheng, together with King Yao, beheaded Yushan and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Kailing. A Han marquis, he attacked Cheshi; a Xiongnu surrenderer, as Marquis of Kailing, he led Loulan troops to attack Cheshi.

In fiction · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · New Book of Tang · Book of Han · Journey to the West · Romance of Sui and Tang

Li Jiancheng was the elder brother of Emperor Taizong of Tang, deceased. When Emperor Taizong toured the underworld, Li Jiancheng and Yuanji appeared together, seizing and demanding his life.

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

    Book of Han

    3 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  2. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    19 profile notes
    16 relations31 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ kill →Li Jiancheng
    • Li Shimin→ brothers →Li Jiancheng
    • Li Jiancheng→ plot against →Li Shimin
    • Li Shimin→ posthumously restore →Li Jiancheng
    Verified original text · 31
    1. 建成、元吉之诛也

      kill · Old Book of Tang, 侯君集张亮薛万彻传

    2. 太宗率长孙无忌、尉迟敬德、房玄龄、杜如晦、宇文士及、高士廉、侯君集、程知节、秦叔宝、段志玄、屈突通、张士贵等于玄武门诛之。

      kill · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上

    29 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  4. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    11 profile notes
    7 relations12 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ brothers →Li Jiancheng
    • Li Jiancheng→ plot against →Li Shimin
    • Li Yuan→ father-son →Li Jiancheng
    • Li Yuan→ crown prince →Li Jiancheng
    Verified original text · 12
    1. 建成、元吉，疾世民功高望重

      brothers · Romance of Sui and Tang, 066

    2. 建成引著元吉

      brothers · Romance of Sui and Tang, 068

    10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  5. 2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  6. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    12 profile notes
    12 relations18 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ kill →Li Jiancheng
    • Li Shimin→ brothers →Li Jiancheng
    • Li Jiancheng→ plot against →Li Shimin
    • Li Jiancheng→ brothers →Li Shimin
    Verified original text · 18
    1. 秦王世民杀皇太子建成、齐王元吉

      kill · New Book of Tang, 高祖本纪

    2. 秦王射建成即死

      shoot kill · New Book of Tang, 高祖诸子传

    16 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  7. Literature / legend

    Journey to the West

    1 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Li Jiancheng→ plot against →Li Shimin
    • Cui Jue→ shout back →Li Jiancheng
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 那建成、元吉就来揪打索命。

      demand life · Journey to the West, ch. 11

    2. 幸有崔判官唤一青面獠牙鬼使，喝退了建成、元吉

      shout back · Journey to the West, ch. 11

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History vs. fiction

In the Xuanwu Gate Incident, the cause of Li Jiancheng's death: the novel adds drama of mutual shooting and a finishing blow on top of the official history.

  • based on factHow exactly was Li Jiancheng killed in the Xuanwu Gate Incident?

    The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of the Twenty-Two Sons of Gaozu, records that Li Shimin personally shot and killed Li Jiancheng: 'Taizong then shot him, and Jiancheng fell dead at the sound of the bowstring.' Chapter 66 of the Sui and Tang Romance retains the plot of Li Shimin shooting Li Jiancheng but adds dramatic conflict, describing Li Jiancheng first 'firing three arrows in succession, but failing to hit the Prince of Qin,' then Li Shimin counterattacked 'with one arrow, which struck Jiancheng in the back,' and finally 'Changsun Wuji rushed forward like the wind and cut him down with a single stroke.' The novel softens the cruelty of Li Shimin directly killing his elder brother, adding elements of self-defense and a finishing blow by another person.

Relationship network

15 figures · 89 links
Li JianchengLi JianchengLi ShiminLi ShiminLi YuanLi YuanZhangsun WujiZhangsun WujiLi YuanjiLi YuanjiYuchi JingdeYuchi JingdeLiu HeitaLiu HeitaEmperor TangEmperor TangZhang GongjinZhang GongjinChai ShaoChai ShaoXue WancheXue WancheDuan ZhixuanWei ZhengLi FuCui Jue
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Grand Historian, 建元以来侯者年表; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 杂录三; New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传; Old Book of Tang, 侯君集张亮薛万彻传; Book of Han, 景武昭宣元成功臣表; Journey to the West, ch. 11; Romance of Sui and Tang, 004; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 梦七

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.