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Xiao Zhizhong萧至忠

TangHistory × Fiction

Imperial Censor-in-Chief, later served as Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat and Chancellor with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin.

Open this figure in the atlas ↗ Read the key relationships and their sources ↓
DIRECT FIGURES
17
RELATION RECORDS
23
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Xiao Zhizhong, 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

2 figures · 2 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

7 figures · 9 records
3 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

9 figures · 10 records
5 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

2 figures · 2 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

Imperial Censor-in-Chief, later served as Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat and Chancellor with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin. Promoted from Vice Director of the Secretariat to Attendant, then to Chief of the Secretariat, and was demoted to Prefect of Xuzhou. Later served as Prefect of Jinzhou, then Chief of the Secretariat.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

As a Chancellor, praised Li Jingbo as a true remonstrance official. As a court official, formed a faction to plot rebellion and was executed.

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

    Old Book of Tang

    20 profile notes
    15 relations17 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ kill →Xiao Zhizhong
    • Xiao Zhizhong→ appoint →Emperor Zhongzong of Tang
    • Emperor Zhongzong of Tang→ appoint →Xiao Zhizhong
    • Princess Taiping→ exploit →Xiao Zhizhong
    Verified original text · 17
    1. 勒兵诛其党

      kill · Old Book of Tang, 外戚传

    2. 中书侍郎、酂国公萧至忠为侍中

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 中宗睿宗本纪

    15 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    2 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Princess Taiping→ exploit →Xiao Zhizhong
    • Li Longji→ slay →Xiao Zhizhong
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 与朝臣萧至忠、岑羲、窦怀贞、崔湜等结为党援

      form clique · Romance of Sui and Tang, 078

    2. 执岑羲、萧至忠于朝堂斩之

      slay · Romance of Sui and Tang, 078

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    22 profile notes
    16 relations16 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ kill →Xiao Zhizhong
    • Emperor Zhongzong of Tang→ appoint →Xiao Zhizhong
    • Emperor Ruizong→ kill →Xiao Zhizhong
    • Xiao Zhizhong→ ridiculed →Song Jing
    Verified original text · 16
    1. 执羲、至忠至朝堂，斩之

      behead · New Book of Tang, ch. 83

    2. 执羲、至忠至朝堂，斩之

      slay · New Book of Tang, 诸帝公主传

    14 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Xiao Zhizhong repeatedly changed his allegiance and attached himself to Princess Taiping, plotting rebellion and being executed. The novel faithfully reproduces the process of his downfall.

  • attestedXiao Zhizhong, as a partisan of Princess Taiping, plotted rebellion and was executed.

    The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Liu Youqiu, Zhong Shaojing, Guo Yuanzhen, and Zhang Shuo, records that in the second year of Xiantian, Xiao Zhizhong and Princess Taiping plotted rebellion, and "when Zhizhong and others were executed," Zhang Shuo and others suppressed the rebellion. In Chapter 78 of the Sui and Tang Romance, "Xiao Zhizhong" together with Dou Huaizhen, Cen Xi, and others attached themselves to Princess Taiping and secretly plotted to depose the emperor. Emperor Xuanzong sent imperial guards to capture and execute the rebels, and Xiao Zhizhong was executed in the court, which is consistent with historical records.

Relationship network

18 figures · 116 links
Xiao ZhizhongXiao ZhizhongEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor RuizongEmperor RuizongSong JingSong JingPrincess TaipingPrincess TaipingWu SansiWu SansiLi LongjiLi LongjiWei YuanzhongWei YuanzhongPrincess AnlePrincess AnleCui ShiCui ShiDou HuaizhenEmpress WeiZhu QinmingKing PingLu XiangxianWei ZhiguZhao Yanzhao
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 二王韦陆二李杜传; Old Book of Tang, 中宗睿宗本纪; Romance of Sui and Tang, 076; New Book of Tang, 儒学传中; Old Book of Tang, 儒学传下; Romance of Sui and Tang, 078; New Book of Tang, 刘吴韦蒋柳沈传; Old Book of Tang, 刘幽求锺绍京郭元振张说传

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.