Xian Zhen 先軫 (www.chinaknowledge.de)

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Zhou Dynasty

Nov 7, 2012 © Ulrich Theobald

Xian Zhen 先軫 (died 627 BCE) was a nobleman in the state of Jin 晉 during the Spring and Autumn period 春秋 (770-5th cent. BCE). Because his territory was called Yuan 原 (near modern Jiyuan 南濟, Henan), he is also known as Yuan Zhen 原軫. He was a member of the noble house of Xian 先 and served the dukes Wen 晉文公 (r. 637-628) and Xiang 晉襄公 (r. 628-621) as a general.

Xian Zhen's career began as assistant commander of the Lower Army (xiajun zuo 下軍佐), yet later he rose to the office of marshal of the Central Army (zhongjun yuanshuai 中軍元帥), a position similar to that of Counsellor-in-chief. During the battle of Chengpu 城濮 (near modern Zhencheng 鄄城, Shandong) he heavily defeated the army of Chu 楚.

When Duke Xiang succeeded to the throne the duke of Qin 秦 waged war against the state of Zheng 鄭. Xian Zhen suggested attacking Qin at the strategic point of Mt. Yao 殽山 (near modern Ningluo 寧洛, Henan). Jin obtained victory and captured the generals Baili Xi 百里奚 (Meng Mingshi 孟明視), Xi Qishu 西乞術 and Bai Yibing 白乙丙.

Yet Lady Wen Ying 文贏, a consort of Duke Wen who was a princess from Qin, suggested sending them home to be executed as a punishment for their failure. Xian Zhen was not very content about this amnesty. He died (probably intentionally) shortly later in a campaign against the Di tribes 狄. He was succeeded in office by his son Xian Qieju 先且居.

Sources:

Cang Xiuliang 倉修良, ed. (1991). Shiji cidian 史記辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 178.

Huang Banghe 黃邦和, Pi Mingxiu 皮明庥, ed. (1987). Zhong-wai lishi renwu cidian 中外歷史人物詞典 (Changsha: Hunan renmin chubanshe), 114.

Yang Qingwang 楊慶旺, Ha Hua 哈鏵, ed. (1987). Zhonghua junshi zhishi cidian 中國軍事知識辭典 (Beijing: Huaxia chubanshe), 271.

Li Zhengfu 李正夫 (1993). "Xian Zhen 先軫", in Shi Quanchang 石泉長, ed. Zhonghua baike yaolan 中華百科要覽 (Shenyang: Liaoning renmin chubanshe), 285.

Xiong Tieji 熊鐵基, Yang Youli 楊有禮, ed. (1994). Zhongguo diwang zaixiang cidian 中國帝王宰相辭典 (Wuhan: Hubei jiaoyu chubanshe), 399.

Zhang Huizhi 張撝之, Shen Qiwei 沈起煒, Liu Dezhong 劉德重, ed. (1999). Zhongguo lidai renming da cidian 中國歷代人名大辭典 (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe), Vol. 1, 575.

Zhang Ke 張克, Huang Kangbo 黃康白, Huang Fangdong 黃方東, ed. (1991). SHiji renwu cidian 史記人物辭典 (Nanning: Guangxi renmin chubanshe), 85.