Is “Yielded the throne to his brother Boyi and died for the Zhou cause” true?

attested in history

The Records of the Grand Historian, in the Biographies of Bo Yi and Shu Qi, records that the father established Shu Qi as heir, but Shu Qi yielded to Bo Yi, who then fled; Shu Qi also fled. Later, the two together reined in their horses to admonish King Wu, and starved to death on Shouyang Mountain. (Original text: 「武王已平殷乱,天下宗周,而伯夷、叔齐耻之,义不食周粟,隐于首阳山,采薇而食之。及饿且死,作歌。」, source: data/raw/shiji/伯夷列传.txt)

Shu Qi

In history, he and his elder brother Boyi yielded the throne to each other and starved to death for righteousness; in fiction, they are equally portrayed as paragons of virtue.

Other claims about Shu Qi

Sources cited above. Compiled with AI assistance and checked against those sources; for cultural reference.Data & method →

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