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Yuchi Jingde尉迟敬德

TangHistory × Fiction

Originally a general under Liu Wuzhou, later surrendered to Tang.

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DIRECT FIGURES
18
RELATION RECORDS
33
SOURCE WORKS
7

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Yuchi Jingde, 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 · 14 records
5 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

12 figures · 14 records
8 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

4 figures · 4 records
1 more in the complete record
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

Originally a general under Liu Wuzhou, later surrendered to Tang. A general under Emperor Taizong, participated in the Xuanwu Gate Incident, later enfeoffed as Duke of Wu. A famous early Tang general, originally a general under Liu Wuzhou, later submitted to Tang, a meritorious figure in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

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

A native of Mayi, a blacksmith with divine strength, later became a Tang general. Liu Wuzhou's vanguard, brave. Liu Wuzhou's general, exceptionally brave.

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

    17 profile notes
    15 relations26 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ ruler-subject →Yuchi Jingde
    • Yuchi Jingde→ surrender →Li Shimin
    • Li Shimin→ great defeat →Yuchi Jingde
    • Li Yuan→ imprison →Yuchi Jingde
    Verified original text · 26
    1. 敬德、相率众八千来降

      recruit surrender · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上

    2. 遽命释之，引入卧内

      release · Old Book of Tang, 尉迟敬德秦叔宝程知节段志玄张公谨传

    24 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    History of Song

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  3. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    16 profile notes
    19 relations24 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ ruler-subject →Yuchi Jingde
    • Yuchi Jingde→ surrender →Li Shimin
    • Yuchi Jingde→ save emperor →Li Shimin
    • Qin Shubao→ defeat →Yuchi Jingde
    Verified original text · 24
    1. 敬德有失人臣之礼

      ruler-subject · Romance of Sui and Tang, 068

    2. 陛下的朝臣尉迟恭有制钱三库

      借银 · Romance of Sui and Tang, 068

    22 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. 3 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Yuchi Jingde→ seize spear →Li Yuanji
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 敬德三夺之

      seize spear · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 杂录一

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  5. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    15 profile notes
    8 relations10 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ ruler-subject →Yuchi Jingde
    • Yuchi Jingde→ surrender →Li Shimin
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ accomplice →Yuchi Jingde
    • Yuchi Jingde→ seize spear →Li Yuanji
    Verified original text · 10
    1. 尉迟敬德掷巢王首示叔方

      employ · New Book of Tang, 忠义传上

    2. 与如晦、长孙无忌、尉迟敬德、侯君集功第一

      ruler-subject · New Book of Tang, 房玄龄玄龄次子 遗爱杜如晦如晦弟 楚客如晦叔父 淹如晦五世孙 元颖元颖从子 审权等传

    8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  6. Literature / legend

    Journey to the West

    3 profile notes
    1 relations0 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ ruler-subject →Yuchi Jingde

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  7. Literature / legend

    Generals of the Yang Family

    1 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Yuchi Jingde→ dream →Hu Yanzan
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 吾弟牢记此一法……赞愕然觉来，却是梦中

      dream · Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 2

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History vs. fiction

The official history indeed records his ability to seize spears, while the door-god image originates from later novels.

  • attestedSingle whip seizing spears, outstanding martial arts

    The plot in Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties that Yuchi Gong had outstanding martial arts and could seize spears with a single whip is not fabricated out of thin air. The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Yuchi Jingde, Qin Shubao, and Cheng Zhijie explicitly records that he 'was skilled at avoiding spears; whenever he rode alone into enemy formations, even though the enemy thrust their spears at him in unison, he could never be wounded, and he could also seize the enemy's spears and thrust them back at them.' The novel faithfully reproduces this plot artistically.

Relationship network

19 figures · 150 links
Yuchi JingdeYuchi JingdeLi ShiminLi ShiminLi YuanLi YuanQin ShubaoQin ShubaoXu ShijiXu ShijiZhangsun WujiZhangsun WujiLi YuanjiLi YuanjiShan XiongxinShan XiongxinJiali KhanJiali KhanXu JingzongXu JingzongHu YanzanHu YanzanLi JianchengLiu HeitaDu RuhuiEmperor TangLiu WuzhouLuo ShixinZhang GongjinSong Jingang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 定数一; History of Song, 礼志八; New Book of Tang, 侯君集张亮薛万钧弟 万彻弟 万淑弟 万备附 盛彦师附 卢祖尚附 刘世让附 刘兰等传; Old Book of Tang, ch. 82; Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 2; Journey to the West, ch. 10; Romance of Sui and Tang, 046; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 杂录一

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.