Later depiction of Duke Huan of Qi
Later depiction of Duke Huan of QiA transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitWikimedia Commons contributorsSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Duke Huan of Qi齐桓公

QiHistory × Fiction

A prince of Qi, born of a Ju woman, later enthroned as Duke Huan of Qi.

DIRECT FIGURES
31
RELATION RECORDS
47
SOURCE WORKS
12

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Duke Huan of Qi, 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

6 figures · 7 records
3 more in the complete record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

12 figures · 15 records
9 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

10 figures · 12 records
7 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

5 figures · 5 records
3 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

Ruler of Qi, kidnapped by Cao Mo, promised to return invaded lands. Hegemonic leader in Spring and Autumn, pacified the Rong for the Zhou king. Ruler of Qi, first hegemon, convened feudal lords.

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 · New Book of Tang · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition

A prince of Qi, born of a Ju woman, later enthroned as Duke Huan of Qi. Ruler of Qi, used Guan Zhong to achieve hegemony. Ruler of Qi, after defeat at the Battle of Changshao, heavily relied on Guan Zhong.

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
    25 relations43 verified quotations
    • Duke Huan of Qicourteous receptionDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke of ZhengthankDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Wen of Songrequest allianceDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Huan of Qiattack SongDuke Wen of Song
    Verified original text · 43
    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. 郑伯感齐不听子华之德,再遣孔叔如齐致谢

      thank · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 24

    41 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    Discourses of the States

    5 profile notes
    6 relations7 verified quotations
    • Duke Wen of Jinfather-in-law son-in-lawDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Huan of Qiruler-subjectGuan Zhong
    • Guan Zhongshoot hookDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Huan of QienfeoffGongzi Shen
    Verified original text · 7
    1. 齐侯妻之

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

    2. 管仲贼桓公而卒以为侯伯

      appoint minister · Discourses of the States, 晋语四

    5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. Official history

    Book of Han

    11 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  5. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    10 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  6. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    5 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Confuciusmock dual masterDuke Huan of Qi
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 昔齐桓公作二主,夫子讥之

      mock dual master · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志六

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  7. Literature / legend

    Liezi

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  8. 2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  9. 23 profile notes
    11 relations12 verified quotations
    • Duke Huan of Qimarry daughterDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Huan of Qicourteous receptionDuke Wen of Jin
    • Duke Huan of QihostileKing Cheng of Chu
    • Duke Huan of Qiruler-subjectGuan Zhong
    Verified original text · 12
    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

    10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  10. 5 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  11. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    5 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  12. 7 profile notes
    4 relations3 verified quotations
    • Duke Huan of QirevereKing Xiang of Zhou
    • Guan ZhongassistDuke Huan of Qi
    • Guan Zhongshoot hookDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Huan of Qiappoint prime ministerGuan Yiwu
    Verified original text · 3
    1. 未尝不以周襄王之命

      revere · Strategies of the Warring States, 韩/三

    2. 昔管仲射桓公中钩

      shoot hook · Strategies of the Warring States, 齐/六

    1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.

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  13. Official history

    Bamboo Annals

    2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  14. 24 profile notes
    10 relations8 verified quotations
    • Duke Wen of Jinfather-in-law son-in-lawDuke Huan of Qi
    • Duke Huan of Qialliance meetingDuke Xian of Jin
    • Duke Huan of Qiattack ZhengDuke Wen of Zheng
    • Duke Huan of Qiruler-subjectGuan Zhong
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 齐桓公妻之

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

    2. 齐侯盟诸侯于葵丘

      alliance meeting · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 12

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

The tragic end of Duke Huan of Qi in his later years

Relationship network

32 figures · 118 links
Duke Huan of QiDuke Huan of QiConfuciusConfuciusDuke Wen of JinDuke Wen of JinDuke of ZhengDuke of ZhengDuke Xian of JinDuke Xian of JinDuke Wen of SongDuke Wen of SongKing Cheng of ChuKing Cheng of ChuKing Xiang of ZhouKing Xiang of ZhouDuke Wen of ZhengDuke Wen of ZhengGuan ZhongGuan ZhongDuke Hui of JinDuke Hui of JinDuke Huan of LuDuke Xiang of QiMarquis of CaiDuke Zhuang of LuDuke Xiang of SongDuke Li of ZhengKing Wei of QiKing Hui of ZhouYiwuGongzi ShenBao ShuyaWen JiangDuke Yi of WeiDuke Wen of WeiDuke Xuan of ChenGuan YiwuGongzi YuanGongzi WukuiAi JiangGongzi JiuGongzi Yong
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·朱吕范传; Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 15; Liezi, 汤问篇; Records of Myriad Things, 史补; Records of the Grand Historian, 六国年表; Book of the Later Han, 儒林列传上; Discourses of the States, 晋语二; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 伎巧二

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.