CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Duke of Zhou周公旦
Younger brother of King Wu, served as regent, enfeoffed at Lu.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 15
- RELATION RECORDS
- 26
- SOURCE WORKS
- 9
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Duke of Zhou, 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
6 figures · 7 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
King Wu of Zhou—Duke of Zhoubrothers
King Wen of Zhou—Duke of Zhoufather-son
Duke of Zhou—King Chenguncle-nephew
Duke of Zhou—King Cheng of Zhouuncle-nephew
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
8 figures · 10 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
King Wu→Duke of Zhouassist governance
Emperor Zhenzong of Song→Duke of Zhouposthumous title
King Cheng→Duke of Zhouregent
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
5 figures · 7 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Duke of Zhou→Cai Shu Duexile
Duke of Zhou→Guan Shu Xiankill
Duke of Zhou→Guan Shuattack
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Duke of Zhou→Wang Shichongdream message
Duke of Zhou→Kang Shuwarn
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian · History of Song
Younger brother of King Wu, served as regent, enfeoffed at Lu. Assisted King Xuan.
In fiction · Discourses of the States · Investiture of the Gods · Songs of Chu · Book of Han · Bamboo Annals · Yi Zhou Shu · Romance of Sui and Tang
Younger brother of King Wu, built the Chan Terrace and read the prayer, assisted the royal house, presided over the enfeoffment. In the night attack, he and Mao Gongsu jointly protected King Wu.
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 / legend1 profile notes
Songs of Chu
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend4 profile notes
Investiture of the Gods
2 relations2 verified quotations- King Wu→ assist governance →Duke of Zhou
- Duke of Zhou→ assist →King Wu
Verified original text · 2
惟御弟周公旦、召公奭在朝辅相王室
assist governance · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 100
周公旦高捧祝文，上台开读
assist · Investiture of the Gods, ch. 98
- Official history1 profile notes
Discourses of the States
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history1 profile notes
Book of Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history8 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
15 relations15 verified quotations- King Wen of Zhou→ father-son →Duke of Zhou
- King Wu of Zhou→ brothers →Duke of Zhou
- King Wu of Zhou→ enfeoff →Duke of Zhou
- Duke of Zhou→ brothers →King Wu of Zhou
Verified original text · 15
次曰周公旦
father-son · Records of the Grand Historian, 管蔡世家
鲁周公旦，武王弟。
brothers · Records of the Grand Historian, 三代世表
13 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history2 profile notes
History of Song
1 relations1 verified quotations- Emperor Zhenzong of Song→ posthumous title →Duke of Zhou
Verified original text · 1
周文公曰文宪王
posthumous title · History of Song, 真宗本纪二
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Romance of Sui and Tang
1 relations1 verified quotations- Duke of Zhou→ dream message →Wang Shichong
Verified original text · 1
孤昨夜三更时分，梦见一尊冠冕神人，说：‘吾乃周文王之子姬公旦便是……
dream message · Romance of Sui and Tang, 053
- Official history4 profile notes
Yi Zhou Shu
8 relations8 verified quotations- Duke of Zhou→ colleague →Jiang Ziya
- King Wu→ assist governance →Duke of Zhou
- King Wu of Zhou→ enfeoff →Duke of Zhou
- Duke of Zhou→ uncle-nephew →King Cheng
Verified original text · 8
维周公旦、太公望开嗣王业
colleague · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷六
武王胜殷，抚国绥民，乃观于殷政，告周公旦曰
ask politics · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷四
6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
Bamboo Annals
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Cheng→ regent →Duke of Zhou
Verified original text · 1
武王没，成王少，周公旦摄政七年。
regent · Bamboo Annals, 今本-周纪
History vs. fiction
In official history, he is an outstanding statesman who established rites and music and served as regent to consolidate the Zhou dynasty, while in fiction, he is portrayed with a focus on his civil strategies and Daoist mysticism.
The Records of the Grand Historian, in the chapter on the House of Zhou Gong, records that when King Cheng was young, Zhou Gong acted as regent and ascended to the throne, suppressing the rebellions of Guan Shu, Cai Shu, and Wu Geng, establishing rites and music, and consolidating the foundation of the Zhou dynasty. (Original text: 「成王少，周公旦专王室。管叔、蔡叔疑周公之为不利于成王，乃挟武庚以作乱。周公旦承成王命伐诛武庚，杀管叔，而放蔡叔」, source: data/raw/shiji/管蔡世家.txt)
In official history, the Duke of Zhou was a statesman and military strategist; in "Investiture of the Gods," his bestowed abilities of immortal Daoist deduction and magic are purely fictional. The original text: 「周公旦者，周武王弟也。自文王在时，旦为子孝，笃仁，异于群子。」 (Records of the Grand Historian, Hereditary House of Lu Zhou Gong, data/raw/shiji/鲁周公世家.txt)
Relationship network
Original text (1)
周文公曰文宪王
Original text (1)
维周公旦、太公望开嗣王业
Original text (1)
孤昨夜三更时分，梦见一尊冠冕神人，说：‘吾乃周文王之子姬公旦便是……
Original text (2)
惟御弟周公旦、召公奭在朝辅相王室
武王胜殷，抚国绥民，乃观于殷政，告周公旦曰
Original relation: ask politics · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷四
Original text (1)
周公旦高捧祝文，上台开读
Original text (1)
- brothers← King Wu of Zhou → Duke of ZhouhistRecords of the Grand Historian, 三代世表Records of the Grand Historian, 管蔡世家
Original text (2)
- enfeoff← King Wu of Zhou → Duke of Zhouhist × litRecords of the Grand Historian, 鲁周公世家Yi Zhou Shu, 卷三
Original text (2)
封周公旦于少昊之虚曲阜，是为鲁公。
王召周公旦曰
Original relation: ruler-subject · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷三
Original text (1)
周公旦者，周武王弟也。
Original text (1)
乃命微子开代殷后，奉其先祀
Original text (1)
命诏周公旦立后嗣，属小子诵
Original text (1)
周公立相天子
Original text (1)
武王没，成王少，周公旦摄政七年。
Original text (1)
以武庚殷馀民封康叔为卫君
Original text (1)
周公旦惧康叔齿少，乃申告康叔曰
Original text (1)
成王乃命鲁得郊祭文王。
Original text (1)
- exileDuke of Zhou → Cai Shu DuhistRecords of the Grand Historian, Annals of ZhouRecords of the Grand Historian, 管蔡世家
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
管叔、蔡叔群弟疑周公，与武庚作乱，畔周
- killDuke of Zhou → Guan Shu XianhistRecords of the Grand Historian, Annals of ZhouRecords of the Grand Historian, 管蔡世家
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
管叔、蔡叔群弟疑周公，与武庚作乱，畔周
Original text (1)
降辟三叔
Original text (1)
乃囚蔡叔于郭凌
Original text (1)
临卫政殷，殷大震溃