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Xu Jingzong许敬宗

TangHistory × Fiction

Wrote inscriptions.

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DIRECT FIGURES
16
RELATION RECORDS
18
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Xu Jingzong, 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

1 figure · 1 record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

9 figures · 11 records
4 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

4 figures · 4 records
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

Wrote inscriptions. Received the imperial edict to compile the History of the Sui Dynasty.

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

Tang judicial official, ordered to welcome Li Mi. Tang minister, supported the establishment of Empress Wu.

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

    31 profile notes
    13 relations19 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ ruler-subject →Xu Jingzong
    • Xu Jingzong→ petition change rites →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Xu Jingzong→ honor sage →Confucius
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ command →Xu Jingzong
    Verified original text · 19
    1. 礼部尚书许敬宗奏言

      ruler-subject · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志五

    2. 礼部尚书许敬宗等因修改旧礼，乃奏曰

      petition change rites · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志三

    17 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    2 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    28 profile notes
    10 relations11 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ ruler-subject →Xu Jingzong
    • Xu Jingzong→ in power →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Xu Jingzong→ flee to →Li Mi
    • Xu Shiji→ colleague →Xu Jingzong
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 太子左庶子许敬宗、右庶子高季辅、少詹事张行成同掌机务。

      confer title · New Book of Tang, 宰相表上

    2. 中书令李义府、侍中许敬宗既用事

      in power · New Book of Tang, 食货志一

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Xu Jingzong fawned on the empress's faction and vigorously supported the deposition of the empress; the novel faithfully adopts his flattering words about a farmer exchanging his wife.

  • attestedXu Jingzong vigorously supported the establishment of Empress Wu and uttered the words about exchanging a wife.

    According to the biography in Old Book of Tang, Volume 82, and the section on empresses in Old Book of Tang, when Emperor Gaozong wanted to depose the empress and establish Consort Wu, 'soon he also adopted Li Yifu's strategy,' and Xu Jingzong, standing by, agreed, saying that a farmer who harvested an extra ten hu of wheat would still want to exchange his wife. In Romance of Sui and Tang, Chapter 071, Xu Jingzong is depicted as praising from the side, saying, 'A farmer who harvests an extra ten hu of wheat still wants to exchange his wife, let alone the Son of Heaven?' This helped fulfill Gaozong's intention to depose and establish, which is consistent with the official history.

Relationship network

17 figures · 99 links
Xu JingzongXu JingzongLi ShiminLi ShiminEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangConfuciusConfuciusEmperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Gaozong of TangLi MiLi MiXu ShijiXu ShijiZhangsun WujiZhangsun WujiWu HouWu HouWei ZhengWei ZhengChu SuiliangChu SuiliangEmperor GaozongYuchi JingdeYu ShinanLi JingxuanYu ZhiningShang Guan Yi
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 东夷传上; Romance of Sui and Tang, 053; New Book of Tang, 二刘殷许程柴任丘传; Old Book of Tang, 于志宁高季辅张行成传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 071; New Book of Tang, 儒学传上; Old Book of Tang, 儒学传上

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Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.