CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Duke Zhuang of Zheng郑庄公
The eldest son of Duke Wu of Zheng, he succeeded to the throne as Duke Zhuang and contended with his younger brother by the same mother. He exchanged hostages with King Ping of Zhou, devised a plan to repel the troops of five states, and formed an alliance with Duke Xi of Qi.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 19
- RELATION RECORDS
- 28
- SOURCE WORKS
- 5
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Duke Zhuang of Zheng, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
7 figures · 7 records+
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—Duke Zhao of Zhengfather-son
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—Gongshu Duanbrothers
Duke Wu of Zheng—Duke Zhuang of Zhengfather-son
Jiang Shi—Duke Zhuang of Zhengmother-son
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
8 figures · 11 records+
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—Ji Zuruler-subject
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—Gao Qumiruler-subject
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—Ji Zhongruler-subject
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
6 figures · 7 records+
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—King Huan of Zhoubattle
Read the original source
却被郑兵如墙而进,祝聃在前,原繁在后,曼伯祭足亦领得胜之兵,并力合攻。
Duke Zhuang of Zheng—Xu Nanbattle
Duke Huan of Lu→Duke Zhuang of Zhengalliance
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 3 records+
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Gongzi Feng→Duke Zhuang of Zhengassisted
Read the original source
郑庄公见了宋使,接了国书,已知来意。便整备法驾,送公子冯归宋为君。
Duke Zhuang of Zheng→Duke Xi of Qially
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
Ruler of the state of Zheng, he contended with his younger brother Shuduan. As the monarch of Zheng, he went to court but was not treated with courtesy by King Huan. Son of Duke Wu of Zheng, he succeeded as the ruler of Zheng, put down the rebellion of Gongshu Duan, and fought against Zhou.
In fiction · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms · Discourses of the States · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition · Bamboo Annals
The eldest son of Duke Wu of Zheng, he succeeded to the throne as Duke Zhuang and contended with his younger brother by the same mother. He exchanged hostages with King Ping of Zhou, was moved by Kaoshu's remonstrance and granted him the title of Grand Master, and devised a plan to repel the troops of five states.
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.
- Literature / legend11 profile notes
Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms
20 relations23 verified quotations- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ ruler-subject →Ji Zu
- Ji Zu→ strategist →Duke Zhuang of Zheng
- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ battle →King Huan of Zhou
- King Huan of Zhou→ ruler-subject →Duke Zhuang of Zheng
Verified original text · 23
大夫祭足谏曰
ruler-subject · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 4
乃改用祭足为上卿
ruler-subject · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 7
21 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
Discourses of the States
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history2 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
5 relations5 verified quotations- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ father-son →Duke Li of Zheng
- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ battle →King Huan of Zhou
- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ father-son →Duke Zhao of Zheng
- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ brothers →Gongshu Duan
Verified original text · 5
庄公又娶宋雍氏女,生厉公突。
father-son · Records of the Grand Historian, 郑世家
周桓王率陈、蔡、虢、卫伐郑。庄公与祭仲、高渠弥發兵自救,王师大败。
battle · Records of the Grand Historian, 郑世家
3 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
Bamboo Annals
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Hui of Zhou→ reside in →Duke Zhuang of Zheng
Verified original text · 1
周惠王居于郑。
reside in · Bamboo Annals, 古本辑校
- Official history15 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
13 relations17 verified quotations- Duke Huan of Lu→ alliance →Duke Zhuang of Zheng
- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ ruler-subject →Ji Zu
- Duke Zhuang of Zheng→ battle →King Huan of Zhou
- King Huan of Zhou→ ruler-subject →Duke Zhuang of Zheng
Verified original text · 17
公及郑伯盟于越。
alliance · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 4
郑伯以璧假许田。
易田 · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 4
15 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
Regarding the reaction after Duke Zhuang of Zheng shot and wounded the King of Zhou, the official history records it briefly, while the novel adds the plot of his sounding the retreat and explaining.
The Records of the Grand Historian, 'Annals of Zhou', Part II, only records: 'In the thirteenth year, [Zheng] attacked Zhou, and Zheng shot and wounded King Huan, who withdrew and returned.' However, in the ninth chapter of Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, it adds that Duke Zhuang of Zheng sounded the retreat and explained: 'Duke Zhuang said: "Originally it was because the Son of Heaven was not enlightened, turning virtue into resentment. Today we resist the enemy, it is absolutely unavoidable. Thanks to the strength of all the ministers, the state is not lost, that is enough. How dare I ask for more! According to your words, if we capture the Son of Heaven, how should we deal with him? Even shooting the king is not permissible. If he is severely wounded and dies, I would bear the name of killing the ruler!"'
Relationship network
Original text (2)
公及郑伯盟于越。
郑伯以璧假许田。
Original relation: 易田 · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 4
Original text (1)
庄公又娶宋雍氏女,生厉公突。
Original text (1)
周惠王居于郑。
- ruler-subjectDuke Zhuang of Zheng → Ji ZulitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 4Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 7Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 2
Original text (3)
- strategist← Ji Zu → Duke Zhuang of ZhenglitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 6Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 9
Original text (2)
前者五国连兵伐郑,今我若伐宋,四国必惧
正卿祭足曰:“天子亲自将兵,责我不朝,名正言顺。不如遣使谢罪,转祸为福。”
Original relation: subordinate · Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 9
- battleDuke Zhuang of Zheng → King Huan of Zhouhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 9Records of the Grand Historian, 郑世家Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 5
Original text (3)
却被郑兵如墙而进,祝聃在前,原繁在后,曼伯祭足亦领得胜之兵,并力合攻。
周桓王率陈、蔡、虢、卫伐郑。庄公与祭仲、高渠弥發兵自救,王师大败。
郑伯御之
Original relation: drive · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 5
- ruler-subject← King Huan of Zhou → Duke Zhuang of ZhenglitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 5Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 3
Original text (2)
桓王早朝,谓郑伯曰……卿乃先王之臣,朕不敢屈在班僚
而与郑人苏忿生之田
Original relation: 换田 · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 3
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
二君相见,歃血订盟,约为兄弟
Original text (1)
公会齐侯、郑伯于中丘。
- father-sonDuke Zhuang of Zheng → Duke Zhao of Zhenghist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 10Records of the Grand Historian, 郑世家Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 2Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 6
Original text (5)
- father-son← Duke Wu of Zheng → Duke Zhuang of ZhenglitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 4Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 2
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
五国共甲车一千三百乘,将郑东门围得水泄不通。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
高渠弥曰:“陈与郑素睦,其助兵乃不得已也。”
- mother-son← Jiang Shi → Duke Zhuang of ZhenglitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 4Chronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 5
Original text (2)
姜氏夫人分娩之时
国母姜氏,闻庄公兴师伐卫,恐公孙滑被杀,绝了太叔之后,遂向庄公哀求
Original text (1)
大夫公子元进曰:“以臣战君,于理不直,宜速不宜迟也。臣虽不才,愿献一计。”
Original text (1)
- battleDuke Zhuang of Zheng → Xu NanlitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 7Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 3
Original text (2)
自统大兵望许城进发
公会齐侯、郑伯伐许。
Original relation: attack · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 3
Original text (1)
郑庄公亲统著公子吕、高渠弥、颍考叔,公孙阏等一班将士,自为中军。
- killDuke Zhuang of Zheng → Gongshu DuanlitChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 4Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 1
Original text (3)
闻共叔见杀
郑伯克段于鄢
Original relation: 克段于鄢 · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 1
命子封帅车二百乘以伐京
Original relation: attack · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 1
- brothersDuke Zhuang of Zheng → Gongshu Duanhist × litChronicles of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms, ch. 4Records of the Grand Historian, 郑世家Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition, ch. 1
Original text (3)
长曰寤生,次曰段
庄公元年,封弟段於京,号太叔。
段不弟,故不言弟
Original text (1)
公子突曰:“使勇而无刚者尝寇而速去之
Original text (1)
郑庄公见了宋使,接了国书,已知来意。便整备法驾,送公子冯归宋为君。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
吾将公子冯出居长葛,宋兵必移。
Original text (1)
庄公与祭仲、高渠弥發兵自救