Later depiction of Qin Hui
Later depiction of Qin Hui · 宋代A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitAnonymousSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Qin Hui秦桧

Song CourtHistory × Fiction

A female earth bat reincarnated as his wife, harming loyal officials.

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DIRECT FIGURES
81
RELATION RECORDS
121
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Qin Hui, and the people around them.

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

01
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

9 figures · 11 records
4 more in the complete record
02
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

20 figures · 26 records
16 more in the complete record
03
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

3 figures · 3 records
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FeatureThe History of Song dedicates an entire volume to Yue Fei, yet the most famous events are not included.History of Song made an exception by devoting an entire volume to Yue Fei's biography, detailing his military achievements, wrongful imprisonment, memorials to the throne, and literary works. However, the most familiar stories to later generations—Yue's mother tattooing characters on his back, his spearing the Young Prince of Liang, and the Eight Hammers causing a stir at Zhuxian Town—are not mentioned at all in this biography. Conversely, the most striking episodes like the twelve gold medals and the charge of 'perhaps there is' were first recorded in the official history and later copied by novels. This piece compares the two side by side, noting the source volume for each item.
Event · 1141–1142 CEThe Yue Fei CaseQin Hui advanced the case against Yue Fei, while Zhang Jun added accusations involving Zhang Xian. Yue and his son were imprisoned and killed, turning a political prosecution into a lasting cultural memory of injustice.

In history · History of Song

Powerful minister of the Southern Song, promoted Zheng Yinian. ; Treacherous official of the Southern Song, reached the position of Chancellor, advocated for peace negotiations. ; Powerful minister of the Southern Song, leader of the peace faction, later regarded as a traitor.

In fiction · Strategies of the Warring States · The Story of Yue Fei

A female earth bat reincarnated as his wife, harming loyal officials. ; Treacherous minister, framed Yue Fei, later captured by Ksitigarbha. ; Powerful minister of the Southern Song, suffered from a severe back ailment, in a dream was taken by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to Fengdu.

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

    The Story of Yue Fei

    30 profile notes
    12 relations20 verified quotations
    • Qin Hui→ frame →Yue Fei
    • Yue Fei→ framed →Qin Hui
    • Qin Hui→ demand life →Yue Fei
    • Emperor Gaozong of Song→ ruler-subject →Qin Hui
    Verified original text · 20
    1. 父亲、哥哥俱被奸臣秦桧陷害

      frame · The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十一回

    2. 害贤将岳飞之正命。

      frame · The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十三回

    18 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    History of Song

    160 profile notes
    34 relations66 verified quotations
    • Qin Hui→ frame →Yue Fei
    • Yue Fei→ framed →Qin Hui
    • Qin Hui→ appoint deputy →Yue Fei
    • Emperor Gaozong of Song→ ruler-subject →Qin Hui
    Verified original text · 66
    1. 桧亦以飞不死，终梗和议

      plot against · History of Song, 云传

    2. 救暂急而解倒悬，犹之可也

      satirize · History of Song, 奸臣·秦桧传

    64 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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History vs. fiction

The real traitorous minister, whose heinous crimes led folk literature to weave countless karmic retributions for him

  • attestedFramed Yue Fei on the charge of 'perhaps there is'

    Both the 'History of Song: Biography of Qin Hui' and the 'Biography of Yue Fei' clearly record that Qin Hui, to facilitate the peace negotiations between the Song and Jin, did not hesitate to fabricate charges and instructed Zhang Jun and Wan Qi Xie and others to frame Yue Fei. Facing Han Shizhong's interrogation, Qin Hui casually responded, 'Perhaps there is such a matter,' vividly portraying the arrogance and unreasonableness of a powerful minister. The novel made no alteration to this plot and directly adopted the most outrageous episode from official history.

  • novel inventionThe plot was exposed; the mad monk swept Qin

    In novels such as 'The Complete Story of Yue Fei', Qin Hui was mocked and ridiculed by a mad monk with a broom at Lingyin Temple, and after death, he suffered the torment of having his tongue pulled out in hell, and his wife, Lady Wang, also could not escape retribution. These plots of 'the plot being exposed' and 'suffering in hell' are entirely literary punishments fabricated by the common people out of extreme hatred for the treacherous minister, using Buddhist concepts of karma and retribution, and have no corresponding basis in reality in official history.

Relationship network

36 figures · 216 links
Qin HuiQin HuiYue FeiYue FeiEmperor Gaozong of SongEmperor Gaozong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor Xiaozong of SongEmperor Xiaozong of SongHan ShizhongHan ShizhongJin WushuJin WushuEmperor Qinzong of SongEmperor Qinzong of SongShi MiyuanShi MiyuanZhang JunZhang JunLiu QiLiu QiLi XianzhongChen JunqingWu LinZhang JunYue YunTang SituiZhao DingZhang BaoZhang XianZhang BangchangWang YingchenZhan HanHa MishiWang ShuLiu GongLi TaoLü YihaoLady YueHu AnguoHong HaoWang ShipengHan YanzhiYe YiwenNiu TongZhou Kui
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: History of Song, 乐五志; Strategies of the Warring States, 姚氏校注战国策后题; The Story of Yue Fei, 第一回; History of Song, 云传; The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十一回; History of Song, 五行志二上; The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十三回; History of Song, 何㮚孙傅陈过庭张叔夜聂昌【评论】张阁张近郑仅宇文昌龄子 常许几程之邵龚原崔公度蒲卣【评论】传

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.