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King Mu of Zhou周穆王
King of the Western Zhou dynasty, who campaigned north against the Quanrong, traveled west to meet the Queen Mother of the West, and returned east to govern the various Xia states.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 44
- RELATION RECORDS
- 62
- SOURCE WORKS
- 11
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
King Mu 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
2 figures · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
King Mu of Zhou—Ji Gonghonor as ancestor
King Mu of Zhou—Chang Jichuomarry eldest daughter
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
22 figures · 34 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
King Mu of Zhou→Gao Benrongreward
Ji Gong—King Mu of Zhouruler-subject
King Mu of Zhou→Queen Mother of the Westguest at
King Mu of Zhou→Zaofucharioteer
- 𠮀nu2
𠮀nu→King Mu of Zhouworship
Ming Huai→King Mu of Zhouoffer wine
Gui Yi→King Mu of Zhouworship
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
3 figures · 4 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
King Mu of Zhou→Queen Mother of the Westgive gift
King Mu of Zhou→Yin Xitrace old deeds
Gao Benrong→King Mu of Zhousave emperor
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Grand Historian
King of the Western Zhou dynasty, who campaigned north against the Quanrong, traveled west to the Hezong clan and received the command of the Earl of the River. After meeting the Queen Mother of the West in the west, he returned east to govern the various Xia states.
In fiction · Liezi · Records of Myriad Things · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Researches into Lost Records · Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition · Book of Han · Tale of King Mu · Yi Zhou Shu · Romance of Sui and Tang
King of the Zhou dynasty, who traveled west to meet the Queen Mother of the West, and had a mystical journey with a transformer. During his western tour, he saw the artisan Yanshi, and traveled north to the state of Zhongbei.
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
Records of Myriad Things
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history2 profile notes
Book of Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history2 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend3 profile notes
Liezi
2 relations2 verified quotations- King Mu of Zhou→ guest at →Queen Mother of the West
- King Mu of Zhou→ charioteer →Zaofu
Verified original text · 2
遂宾于西王母，觞于瑶池之上。
guest at · Liezi, 周穆王篇
主车则造父为御
charioteer · Liezi, 周穆王篇
- Literature / legend5 profile notes
Tale of King Mu
35 relations41 verified quotations- King Mu of Zhou→ give gift →Queen Mother of the West
- King Mu of Zhou→ guest at →Queen Mother of the West
- Queen Mother of the West→ banquet →King Mu of Zhou
- King Mu of Zhou→ charioteer →Zaofu
Verified original text · 41
好献锦组百纯，□组三百纯
give gift · Tale of King Mu, 卷三
自群玉之山以西，至于西王母之邦三千里
arrive state · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
39 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history1 profile notes
Records of the Grand Historian
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend1 profile notes
Researches into Lost Records
1 relations1 verified quotations- King Mu of Zhou→ give gift →Queen Mother of the West
Verified original text · 1
西王母乘翠凤之辇而来
meet · Researches into Lost Records, 卷三
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Romance of Sui and Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations - Literature / legend8 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
2 relations3 verified quotations- King Mu of Zhou→ give gift →Queen Mother of the West
- King Mu of Zhou→ trace old deeds →Yin Xi
Verified original text · 3
觞西王母于瑶池之上
觞之 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 伎巧二
又觞西王母于瑶池之上
觞于瑶池 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙二
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
- Official history2 profile notes
Yi Zhou Shu
4 relations4 verified quotations- Ji Gong→ ruler-subject →King Mu of Zhou
- King Mu of Zhou→ honor as ancestor →Ji Gong
- King Mu of Zhou→ ask politics →Ji Gong
- King Mu of Zhou→ ordered to speak →Rong Fu
Verified original text · 4
曰：“天子！谋父疾维不瘳，敢告天子
ruler-subject · Yi Zhou Shu, 卷八
王若曰：“祖祭公，哀余小子
honor as ancestor · Yi Zhou Shu, 祭公
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history3 profile notes
Correct Meaning of the Zuo Tradition
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
The separation of the legend of meeting the Queen Mother of the West in Journey to the West from its historical prototype
The third volume of the "Mu Tianzi Zhuan" records the mythical story of King Mu of the Western Zhou Dynasty driving eight fine horses on a western expedition, meeting the Queen Mother of the West at the Jasper Pool, where both composed poems in response. However, in the official history "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of the Zhou Dynasty," there are only a few words about King Mu obtaining the horses Ji, Wen, Li, and Lu, and his western tour of inspection, without mentioning the Queen Mother of the West or the Jasper Pool meeting and other related mythical elements. The image of the Queen Mother of the West originally belongs to ancient mythology and legends, which were gradually integrated with the historical deeds of King Mu's western tour in later generations. Therefore, the plot of the Jasper Pool meeting is not historical fact of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, but rather a literary embellishment based on historical facts by later novels and records of anomalies. The original text of "Mu Tianzi Zhuan, Volume 3" reads: "天子觞西王母于瑶池之上。"
Relationship network
To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 62 relationships in the atlas →
- give giftKing Mu of Zhou → Queen Mother of the WestlitExtensive Records of the Taiping Era, 伎巧二Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙二Researches into Lost Records, 卷三Tale of King Mu, 卷三
Original text (4)
好献锦组百纯，□组三百纯
西王母乘翠凤之辇而来
Original relation: meet · Researches into Lost Records, 卷三
觞西王母于瑶池之上
Original relation: 觞之 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 伎巧二
又觞西王母于瑶池之上
Original relation: 觞于瑶池 · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 神仙二
Original text (2)
遂宾于西王母，觞于瑶池之上。
自群玉之山以西，至于西王母之邦三千里
Original relation: arrive state · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
Original text (1)
乙丑，天子觞西王母于瑶池之上。
Original text (2)
曰：“天子！谋父疾维不瘳，敢告天子
王若曰：“祖祭公，哀余小子
Original text (1)
王若曰：“祖祭公，哀余小子
Original text (1)
王曰：“公称丕显之德，以予小子杨文武大勋，弘成、康、照考之烈
Original text (1)
Original text (3)
主车则造父为御
天子之御：造父
Original relation: 御用 · Tale of King Mu, 卷一
造父为御
Original relation: appoint · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
Original text (3)
天子美之，乃赐奔戎佩玉一只
天子赐奔戎畋马十驷
Original relation: grant horse · Tale of King Mu, 卷五
奔戎为右
Original relation: appoint · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
Original text (1)
乃生搏虎而献之
Original text (1)
七萃之士曰高奔戎刺其左骖之颈，取其清血以饮天子
Original text (1)
封□隆之葬
Original text (1)
Original text (2)
天子授河宗璧。河宗伯夭受璧
柏夭主车
Original relation: appoint · Tale of King Mu, 卷四
Original text (2)
赤乌之人丌献酒千斛于天子
赤乌之人丌好献二女于天子
Original relation: 献二女 · Tale of King Mu, 卷二
Original text (2)
𨝋父自圃郑来谒
𨝋公饮天子酒
Original relation: banquet · Tale of King Mu, 卷五
Original text (1)
乃命井利、梁固
Original text (1)
天子赐之黄金之罂。贝带朱丹七十裹。
Original text (1)
又赐之黄金之婴二九
Original text (1)
曰：“令夕朕寤遂事，惊予
Original text (1)
天子乃赐之黄金银罂四七
Original text (1)
天子赐之狗采……黄金之罂二九，贝带四十，朱丹三百裹，桂姜百□
Original text (1)
天子乃赐曹奴之人戏□黄金之鹿
Original text (1)
天子乃赐之黄金之罂三六
Original text (1)
天子使祭父受之
Original text (1)
天子赐之黄金之罂，贝带朱丹七十裹。
Original text (1)
天子乃赐赤乌之人丌默乘四
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
封丌璧臣长季绰于舂山之虱
Original text (1)
乃赐之银木𡐜采，黄金之罂二九
Original text (1)
乃赐之黄金之罂二九，银乌一只，贝带五十
Original text (1)
乃遗𨝋父如圃郑
Original text (1)
馀之人命怀……献酒于天子
Original text (1)
归遗乃膜拜而受
Original text (1)
鄄韩之人无凫乃献良马百匹
Original text (1)
智氏之夫献酒百□于天子
Original text (1)
乃献食马九百
Original text (1)
觞天子于羽陵之上，乃献良马牛羊
Original text (1)
乙巳，□诸飦献酒于天子
Original text (1)
𠮀奴乃膜拜而受