Duke Wen of Jin
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Duke Wen of Jin (晉文公) (697 BC - 628 BC) led the state of Jin in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history from 636 BC to 628 BC. His name was Ji Chong'er (姬重耳) and he was the son of Duke Xian (晉獻公). He was named Chong'er (重耳; literally, "Double Ears") although there is no material evidence of deformity. However, Zuo Zhuan also notes that "his ribs were all grown together," a sign of strength and leadership. Under his rule, Jin expanded rapidly and became the most powerful state.
After Duke Xian made Chong'er's half-brother Xiqi (奚齊) the heir to the state of Jin, Prince Chong'er fled from Jin seeing the eldest son, Shensheng (申生), was killed by their step-mother. He traveled from state to state for 19 years, earning a reputation as an impressive personality and gaining many talented followers while in exile; a lady of a foreign court once commented that "When I look at the followers of the prince of Jin, every one of them is fit to be a premier of a state".
In 636 BC he returned to Jin, guarded by troops from the state of Qin. After ascending the throne, Chong'er initiated multiple reforms such as reorganizing the military and establishing a stronger civil administration.
Under Duke Wen, Jin absorbed many small states; however, the people of the absorbed states often welcomed his rule. In 635 BC, Duke Wen refused to absorb the state of Yuan; the state later returned, however, and offered to become a part of Jin, which was finally accepted by Duke Wen.
Duke Wen also helped King Xiang of Zhou to regain his throne. After King Xiang was forced off of the throne by Prince Dai, Duke Wen led the alliance that reinstated King Xiang.
He led Jin as the head of the coalition of states against the state of Chu. At the battle of Chengpu, Jin troops defeated the state of Chu. At Jiantu, Duke Wen gained hegemony over the states. He is considered one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period.
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[edit] Stories about Duke Wen
One hot summer afternoon during the exile of Chong'er and his loyal retainers, the sun was so strong that it exhausted the Prince and also made him hungry. His advisor and personal friend Jie Zhitui (介之推) made meat soup for him. Duke Wen drank the soup and felt revitalized but he wondered where his friend managed to find meat to make the soup. It turned out that his friend had cut a piece of flesh from his own thigh to make the soup. Duke Wen felt extremely moved by his friend's loyalty and promised to reward him one day.
After Chong'er succeeded the throne as the Duke, Jie Zhitui resigned and hid himself in a mountain. Failing to invite Jie again to the court, Duke Wen ordered a fire in the hope of forcing him out and making him return to his service. The fire ended up killing Jie Zhitui and his mother. Feeling guilty about his friend, Duke Wen named the mountain after him and created Hanshi Festival (寒食節), meaning 'cold food festival', as a memorial period for Jie, wherein fire (and therefore cooking) was prohibited. It lasts for three days including the day before, on and after Qingming Festival (清明節).
[edit] Historical TV drama
- Hong Kong Television company TVB made a TV drama about Duke Wen in the early 1990 called "Legend of Duke Wen" (晉文公傳奇), starring popstar Leon Lai as Duke Wen (during the Leon craze period). The series is semi-fictional with added Wuxia scenes to dramatize the storyline.
[edit] References
- Hansen, Valerie. The Open Empire. ISBN-13: 978-0393973747
- Walker, Richard Lewis. The Multi-state System of Ancient China. ISBN-13: 978-0837151724
