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Xu Shiji徐世𪟝

TangHistory × Fiction

Minister of War, served multiple times as Chief Commander of the March, defeated Xueyantuo and the Turks, attacked Goguryeo.

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DIRECT FIGURES
40
RELATION RECORDS
52
SOURCE WORKS
6

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Xu Shiji, 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

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

18 figures · 23 records
15 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

10 figures · 11 records
7 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

3 figures · 3 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

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

FeatureFact and Fiction in the Sui-Tang Transition: The Lingyan Pavilion Officials vs. Outlaw Brotherhoods"Romance of Sui and Tang" writes this period of history as a jianghu of sworn brotherhood, martial contests, and roaming, while the "Old Book of Tang" records a different matter. The meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion become greenwood brothers in the romance, and several of the most deeply rooted fierce generals are nowhere to be found in the official history; whereas a coup like the Xuanwu Gate Incident is actually written more plainly in the official history than in the romance. This piece compares the two sides, noting which volume each part comes from.

In history · History of Song · Old Book of Tang

Minister of War, served multiple times as Chief Commander of the March, defeated Xueyantuo and the Turks, attacked Goguryeo.; Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, Duke of Ying, served as Prefect of Diezhou.; Wagang general, served as General of the Right Martial Guard.

In fiction · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · New Book of Tang · Journey to the West · Romance of Sui and Tang

Wagang strategist, offered plans and strategies; from Lihu, sworn brother with Shan Xiongxin, later sworn with Qin Shubao.; Wagang strategist, stayed to guard the camp.

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

    40 profile notes
    20 relations33 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Xu Shiji
    • Xu Shiji→ ruler-subject →Li Shimin
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ confer title →Xu Shiji
    • Li Yuan→ confer title →Xu Shiji
    Verified original text · 33
    1. 命太子詹事、英国公李𪟝为辽东道行军总管

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪下

    2. 太子詹事、英国公李𪟝为叠州都督

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪下

    31 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    History of Song

    3 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  3. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    31 profile notes
    15 relations24 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Xu Shiji
    • Xu Shiji→ support →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    • Xu Shiji→ assist →Li Mi
    • Li Mi→ subordinate →Xu Shiji
    Verified original text · 24
    1. 秦王笑对懋功道：“佳期在限

      ruler-subject · Romance of Sui and Tang, 062

    2. 你同知节火速到徐𪟝处

      consult · Romance of Sui and Tang, 066

    22 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. 4 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  5. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    47 profile notes
    25 relations26 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Xu Shiji
    • Xu Shiji→ ruler-subject →Li Shimin
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ confer title →Xu Shiji
    • Xu Shiji→ support →Emperor Gaozong of Tang
    Verified original text · 26
    1. 以李𪟝为辽东道行军大总管

      appoint · New Book of Tang, 东夷传

    2. 李𪟝以太子詹事同中书门下三品

      subordinate · New Book of Tang, 官一志

    24 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  6. Literature / legend

    Journey to the West

    3 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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History vs. fiction

A famous general of great merit in official history is portrayed as a cunning Taoist strategist in the romance.

  • novel inventionThe divine strategist Xu Maogong

    In "Sui Tang Romance," Xu Maogong (Li Ji) is depicted as a semi-immortal Taoist strategist who is proficient in yin-yang and uncannily accurate in divination. However, the true records in "Old Book of Tang: Biographies of Li Jing and Li Ji" show that Li Ji (originally named Xu Shiji) initially assisted Li Mi, later submitted to the Tang, served through the early three reigns of the Tang dynasty, defeated Xueyantuo, pacified Goguryeo, and served both as a general and a chancellor, truly an outstanding famous general of his time, vastly different from the Taoist image in the romance. "Journey to the West" also writes his assertion of a dream omen: "此梦告准。须唤魏徵来朝，陛下不要放他出门，过此一日，可救梦中之龙。" ("Journey to the West, Chapter 010")

Relationship network

36 figures · 275 links
Xu ShijiXu ShijiLi ShiminLi ShiminEmperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Gaozong of TangLi YuanLi YuanEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangAn LushanAn LushanLi MiLi MiQin ShubaoQin ShubaoWang ShichongWang ShichongDou JiandeDou JiandeZhangsun WujiZhangsun WujiWei ZhengChu SuiliangEmperor GaozongShan XiongxinYuchi JingdeJiali KhanXu JingzongLiu HeitaEmperor TangYuwen HuajiLi YifuLuo ShixinLiu RenguiWang BodangXue RenguiYu ZhiningXu JingyeEmperor Gaozu of HanFu GongshiPei JuDu ZhenglunXue WanchePrince of JinLi DaozongHao Chujun
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 儒行; History of Song, 外国传三; New Book of Tang, 东夷传; Old Book of Tang, 东夷传上; Journey to the West, ch. 10; Romance of Sui and Tang, 009; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 器量一; History of Song, 礼志八

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.