Later depiction of Yue Fei
Later depiction of Yue Fei · 南宋A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portrait劉松年繪Source·CC-BY-SA

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Yue Fei岳飞

Yue Family ArmyHistory × Fiction

Reincarnation of the Roc, named Yue Fei by Chen Tuan, courtesy name Pengju.

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DIRECT FIGURES
101
RELATION RECORDS
215
SOURCE WORKS
2

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Yue Fei, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

2 figures · 3 records
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

2 figures · 3 records
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

11 figures · 16 records
8 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

8 figures · 10 records
5 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

7 figures · 8 records
5 more in the complete record
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FeatureThe History of Song dedicates an entire volume to Yue Fei, yet the most famous events are not included.History of Song made an exception by devoting an entire volume to Yue Fei's biography, detailing his military achievements, wrongful imprisonment, memorials to the throne, and literary works. However, the most familiar stories to later generations—Yue's mother tattooing characters on his back, his spearing the Young Prince of Liang, and the Eight Hammers causing a stir at Zhuxian Town—are not mentioned at all in this biography. Conversely, the most striking episodes like the twelve gold medals and the charge of 'perhaps there is' were first recorded in the official history and later copied by novels. This piece compares the two side by side, noting the source volume for each item.
Event · 1141–1142 CEThe Yue Fei CaseQin Hui advanced the case against Yue Fei, while Zhang Jun added accusations involving Zhang Xian. Yue and his son were imprisoned and killed, turning a political prosecution into a lasting cultural memory of injustice.

In history · History of Song

Pacified Huaixi, his congratulatory memorial contained satire; a famous Southern Song anti-Jin general, killed by Qin Hui on trumped-up charges; a famous Southern Song anti-Jin general, courtesy name Pengju, from Tangyin, Xiangzhou, repeatedly defeated the Jin army, and maintained strict military discipline.

In fiction · The Story of Yue Fei

Reincarnation of the Roc, named Yue Fei by Chen Tuan, courtesy name Pengju.; Father of Yue Lin, framed by Qin Hui.; A loyal minister, framed by Qin Hui, after death his soul went to the underworld for trial.

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. Literature / legend

    The Story of Yue Fei

    90 profile notes
    24 relations69 verified quotations
    • Qin Hui→ frame →Yue Fei
    • Emperor Gaozong of Song→ ruler-subject →Yue Fei
    • Emperor Gaozong of Song→ appoint →Yue Fei
    • Yue Fei→ framed →Qin Hui
    Verified original text · 69
    1. 父亲、哥哥俱被奸臣秦桧陷害

      frame · The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十一回

    2. 害贤将岳飞之正命。

      frame · The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十三回

    67 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    History of Song

    76 profile notes
    27 relations50 verified quotations
    • Qin Hui→ frame →Yue Fei
    • Emperor Gaozong of Song→ ruler-subject →Yue Fei
    • Emperor Gaozong of Song→ appoint →Yue Fei
    • Yue Fei→ framed →Qin Hui
    Verified original text · 50
    1. 桧亦以飞不死，终梗和议

      plot against · History of Song, 云传

    2. 康王即位，飞上书数千言

      pledge loyalty · History of Song, 云传

    48 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

Tragic famous generals who repeatedly achieved remarkable feats in official histories are highly deified in historical romances, with numerous fictional folk legends added.

  • based on factYue's mother tattooed characters on his back,精忠报国

    The 'History of Song: Biography of Yue Fei' records that when Yue Fei was on trial, he 'tore his clothes to show his back to the examiner, where there were four large characters, '尽忠报国', deeply embedded in the skin.' The official history clearly records the back tattoo, but it does not specify that it was done by his mother, and the characters are '尽忠' rather than the later popular '精忠'. Based on this real historical detail, 'The Complete Story of Yue Fei' created the classic episode of 'Yue's mother tattooing' to strengthen the ethical conflict between filial piety and loyalty.

  • novel inventionAt the military examination, he speared the Young Prince Liang to death

    In the novel, Yue Fei, in order to obtain a military rank, competed in the martial arts examination in the capital, Bianjing, against the arrogant Young Prince Liang (Chai Gui), and accidentally killed him with his spear. The 'History of Song: Biography of Yue Fei' records that Yue Fei in his early years 'responded to the recruitment of brave warriors' and was appointed as a Chenxinlang due to his extraordinary strength, but there is no record of him killing anyone in the capital's military examination. The entire episode of spearing the Young Prince Liang is purely literary fiction, intended to add heroic spirit and an image of resisting tyranny to the young Yue Fei.

  • attestedIn one day, he received twelve gold plaques

    The 'History of Song: Biography of Yue Fei' clearly records that when the Yue family army was winning successive victories, 'Qin Hui knew that Yue Fei's determination was unshakable... he requested an order to withdraw. In one day, twelve gold plaques were received.' Faced with the urgent orders, Yue Fei was indignant and wept, sighing, 'Ten years of effort, wasted in a single moment.' This highly tragic historical event is not only recorded in detail in official history but also adopted verbatim in 'The Complete Story of Yue Fei', becoming core evidence for later generations to hate the corruption of the Southern Song court.

  • based on factHe died at Fengbo Pavilion

    According to the "Song Shi·Yue Fei Zhuan", in the winter of the 11th year of Shaoxing, Yue Fei was granted death in the prison of the Dali Temple, at the age of only thirty-nine, and his son Yue Yun and subordinate general Zhang Xian were killed on the same day. The original text states: "赐死狱中。子云及张宪杀于都市。" ("Song Shi·Jianchen Zhuan San.txt") Although dying in an unjust prison and the three dying together are historical facts, the specific location of "Fengbo Pavilion" is not recorded in official history, but rather a creation of later folk literature such as "Shuo Yue Quan Zhuan", providing a symbolic dramatic stage for this centuries-old injustice.

Relationship network

36 figures · 251 links
Yue FeiYue FeiQin HuiQin HuiEmperor Gaozong of SongEmperor Gaozong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor Xiaozong of SongEmperor Xiaozong of SongHan ShizhongHan ShizhongJin WushuJin WushuNiu GaoNiu GaoWu ZixuWu ZixuJinrenJinrenEmperor XiaozongEmperor XiaozongZhang JunEmperor LizongJade EmperorLiu QiZhang JunYue YunShi HaoYue LeiYang ZaixingWu JieZhao DingWang DeZhang BaoWang GuiZhang XianTang HuaiZhang BangchangLiu GuangshiLiu YuWang YanZong ZeZhan HanDong XianHa MishiTathagata Buddha
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: History of Song, 乔行简范锺游似赵葵范谢方叔传; The Story of Yue Fei, 第一回; History of Song, 云传; The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十一回; History of Song, 何铸王次翁范同杨愿楼炤勾龙如渊薛弼罗汝楫愿萧振传; The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十三回; History of Song, 兵一志; The Story of Yue Fei, 第七十二回

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.