长

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Zhangsun Wuji长孙无忌

TangHistory × Fiction

A minister of Chu, slanderous and crafty.

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DIRECT FIGURES
30
RELATION RECORDS
41
SOURCE WORKS
5

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Zhangsun Wuji, 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

4 figures · 4 records
1 more in the complete record
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

15 figures · 17 records
12 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

16 figures · 16 records
13 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

An important counselor of Emperor Taizong, later enfeoffed as Duke of Qi.；Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Duke of Qi, served as Sikong; Sikong, Situ, Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, a meritorious official of the Lingyan Pavilion.

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

A minister of Chu, slanderous and crafty; of the Mengsun clan, a disciple of Confucius, assisted the Jisun family in guarding against Yang Hu.；Head of the Mengsun clan, participated in the campaign against Hou Fan.

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

    48 profile notes
    24 relations35 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Zhangsun Wuji
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ assist →Li Shimin
    • Li Shimin→ grant rhapsody →Zhangsun Wuji
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ petition change rites →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    Verified original text · 35
    1. 又命长孙无忌、房玄龄与学士法官

      order · Old Book of Tang, 刑法志

    2. 开府仪同三司、齐国公长孙无忌为司空

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪下

    33 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    History of Song

    3 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Emperor Zhenzong of Song→ record descendants →Zhangsun Wuji
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 录唐长孙无忌、段秀实等孙，授官

      record descendants · History of Song, 真宗本纪三

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  3. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    7 profile notes
    3 relations4 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Zhangsun Wuji
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ assist →Li Shimin
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ slay →Li Jiancheng
    Verified original text · 4
    1. 吾非秦王，乃长孙无忌与刘弘基也

      subordinate general · Romance of Sui and Tang, 054

    2. 召长孙无忌、褚遂良、徐𪟝辈，至榻前说道

      orphan entrust · Romance of Sui and Tang, 070

    2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. 8 profile notes
    2 relations4 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Zhangsun Wuji
    • Ouyang Xun→ mocked →Zhangsun Wuji
    Verified original text · 4
    1. 无忌善于筹算

      comment · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 知人一

    2. 唐太宗宴近臣，戏以嘲谑。

      banquet · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 诙谐四

    2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  5. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    43 profile notes
    18 relations17 verified quotations
    • Li Shimin→ appoint →Zhangsun Wuji
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ assist →Li Shimin
    • Zhangsun Wuji→ brother-in-law →Li Shimin
    • Emperor Gaozong of Tang→ confer title →Zhangsun Wuji
    Verified original text · 17
    1. 从秦王征讨有功

      assist · New Book of Tang, 长孙无忌从父 敞从父弟 操子 诠族叔 顺德褚遂良曾 孙璆韩瑗来济异母兄 恒李义琰等传

    2. 帝以无忌皇后兄

      brother-in-law · New Book of Tang, 长孙无忌从父 敞从父弟 操子 诠族叔 顺德褚遂良曾 孙璆韩瑗来济异母兄 恒李义琰等传

    15 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

Both record him as Taizong's trusted aide; the novel adds details of remonstration.

  • attestedWhat are the similarities and differences in the records of Zhangsun Wuji assisting Taizong?

    The 'Old Book of Tang, Consorts (part 1)' records his relationship with Taizong and his standing: 'At that time the empress's elder brother Wuji had long been on terms of commoner friendship with Taizong; as a founding meritorious minister he was entrusted as an intimate, admitted to the inner chambers, and was to be given charge of court affairs.' The novel 'Romance of Sui and Tang' (chapter 070) dramatises his remonstrance unto death: 'Wuji prostrated himself in the middle of the road, weeping and remonstrating firmly; Taizong turned back, entered the Southern Park of the East Garden, gazed south and wept, his tears falling like rain.'

Relationship network

31 figures · 203 links
Zhangsun WujiZhangsun WujiEmperor Zhenzong of SongEmperor Zhenzong of SongLi ShiminLi ShiminEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Gaozong of TangEmperor Gaozong of TangLi YuanLi YuanXu ShijiXu ShijiWu HouWu HouWei ZhengWei ZhengLi YuanjiLi YuanjiChu SuiliangChu SuiliangFang XuanlingEmperor GaozongYuchi JingdeXu JingzongLi JianchengEmperor JingzongDu RuhuiLi YifuPei XingjianXiao YuHou JunjiZhang GongjinGao ShilianYu ZhiningEmperor Gaozu of HanDu YanPrince of JinLi DaozongFeng DeyiOuyang Xun
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 交友; History of Song, 真宗本纪三; New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 东夷传上; Romance of Sui and Tang, 054; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 嘲诮二; History of Song, 礼志八; New Book of Tang, 东夷传

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.