Is “Assisted Kings Wen and Wu” true?
The Records of the Grand Historian, Zhou Benji, and the Book of Documents, Jun Shi, record that Tai Dian, together with San Yisheng and others, were the Four Friends of King Wen, participating in the rescue of the Earl of the West and King Wu's conquest of Shang. The novel's depiction of their positions and achievements basically conforms to historical facts. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Zhou Benji, the original text states: 「太颠、闳夭、散宜生、鬻子、辛甲大夫之徒皆往归之。」
Both official history and the novel depict him as an important minister during the reigns of King Wen and King Wu of Zhou, with the novel largely following the official records.
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