CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Shang Rong商容
Prime Minister of the Shang Dynasty, who died by striking a pillar after repeatedly admonishing King Zhou to no avail.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 3
- RELATION RECORDS
- 5
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Shang Rong, 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
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Shang Rong—Yin Pobaipatron-protégé
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
1 figure · 2 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Shang Rong→King Zhou (Di Xin)remonstrate
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
1 figure · 1 record＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
King Zhou (Di Xin)→Shang Rongexecute
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Yin Jiao→Shang Rongstay overnight
Source record
4 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
A worthy of the Shang Dynasty, later deposed by King Zhou of Shang.
In fiction · Investiture of the Gods
Prime Minister of the Shang Dynasty and a veteran minister of three reigns, who once advised King Zhou to burn incense at the Nüwa Temple and dissuaded him from inscribing a poem, later resigned and returned home due to dissuading the selection of beauties, the killing of Su Hu, and cruel punishments like the burning pillar, and ultimately died by striking a pillar after entering the court to remonstrate directly.
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 / legend8 profile notes
Investiture of the Gods
5 relations9 verified quotations- Shang Rong→ remonstrate →King Zhou (Di Xin)
- King Zhou (Di Xin)→ execute →Shang Rong
- King Zhou (Di Xin)→ accept advice →Shang Rong
- Yin Jiao→ stay overnight →Shang Rong
Verified original text · 9
臣商容待罪宰相，执掌朝纲，有事不敢不奏
remonstrate · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 1
首相商容出班谏曰……苏护反商，理当正法
remonstrate · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 4
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Zhou (Di Xin)→ execute →Shang Rong
Verified original text · 1
纣废之
depose · Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Yin
History vs. fiction
In official history, he was a deposed minister of the Shang dynasty, but in the novel, he is depicted as a loyal minister who died by crashing into the dragon steps of the Nine Halls.
According to the Records of the Grand Historian, chapter on the Yin (Shang) dynasty, Shang Rong was deposed by Emperor Xin (Zhou), but after King Wu conquered the Shang, he 'honored the gate of Shang Rong', proving that Shang Rong was respected by the court and the public during his lifetime.
- novel inventionHe died by crashing into the dragon steps of the Nine Halls to remonstrate with Zhou.
In Chapter 009 of "Fengshen Yanyi" (Investiture of the Gods), it is recorded: 「商容望后一闪，一头撞倒龙盘石柱上面。──可怜七十五岁老臣，今日尽忠，脑浆喷出，血染衣襟，一世忠臣，半生孝子，今日之死，乃是前生造定的。」 The plot where Shang Rong dies by crashing into a pillar in the great hall after admonishing King Zhou is a fictional detail invented by the novel to portray a tragic loyal minister.
Relationship network
- remonstrateShang Rong → King Zhou (Di Xin)litInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 1Investiture of the Gods, ch. 4Investiture of the Gods, ch. 5Investiture of the Gods, ch. 6
Original text (4)
臣商容待罪宰相，执掌朝纲，有事不敢不奏
首相商容出班谏曰……苏护反商，理当正法
商容曰：“大夫之言有理。”传执殿官：“鸣钟鼓请王升殿。”
Original relation: admonish · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 5
执掌司天台首官杜元铣……
Original relation: admonish · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 6
- execute← King Zhou (Di Xin) → Shang Ronghist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, Annals of YinInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 9Investiture of the Gods, ch. 10
Original text (3)
将这老匹夫拿出午门，用金瓜击死！
商容撞死
Original relation: force to death · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 10
纣废之
Original relation: depose · Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Yin
- accept advice← King Zhou (Di Xin) → Shang RonglitInvestiture of the Gods, ch. 1Investiture of the Gods, ch. 2
Original text (2)
准卿奏章
纣王沈思良久：“卿言甚善，朕即免行。”
Original text (1)
商容原是殷破败座主，殷破败是商容的门生