Duke Xian of Jin (晋献公, Tấn Hiến công; d. 651 BC; personal name Guizhu 诡诸; reigned 676–651 BC), was the expansionist monarch of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period, famed for conquering sixteen kingdoms yet infamous for the catastrophic Li Ji Unrest (骊姬之乱).
A ferocious conqueror, Duke Xian annexed Geng, Huo, Wei, Yu, and Guo, immortalized by the famous strategist masterstroke ‘Borrowing a Way to Conquer Guo’ (假道伐虢) and ‘Extinguishing Yu’ to seize the jade disc of Bi. However, in his old age, Duke Xian became infatuated with the captured barbarian beauty Li Ji (骊姬). Blinded by her schemes to enthrone her young son Xiqi (Xiqi), Duke Xian forced his virtuous Crown Prince Shensheng (Crown Prince Shensheng) to commit suicide and drove his heroic sons Chong’er (Duke Wen of Jin) and Yiwu (Duke Hui) into exile, leaving Jin to descend into eighteen years of civil war upon his death.
Contents
Role in History (Zuo Zhuan & Shiji)
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, vol. 39): “Duke Xian swallowed sixteen realms, making Jin the terror of the north; yet his love for Li Ji burned his own palace, scattering his dragon sons to the four winds.”
Duke Xian of Jin — Historical & Literary Timeline
676 BC
Accession in Jin
Succeeds Duke Wu of Jin.
658–655 BC
Borrowing the Road to Conquer Guo and Yu
Annexes Guo and Yu through the famous thirty-six stratagem scheme.
656 BC
The Li Ji Unrest
Forces Crown Prince Shensheng to hang himself; exiles Chong’er and Yiwu.
651 BC
Passing & Civil War
Passes away; his favored heirs Xiqi and Zhuozi are butchered at his coffin.
Key Relationships
Family
- Concubine Li Ji (骊姬, Lệ Cơ): Concubine who manipulated him into destroying his elder sons.
- Son Duke Wen of Jin (Chong’er): Son driven into nineteen years of exile.
- Son Crown Prince Shensheng: Virtuous heir driven to suicide.
- Son Duke Hui of Jin (Yiwu): Exiled son who usurped the throne.
- Son Xiqi (奚齐): Favored infant son assassinated at his funeral.
Friends
- Strategist Xun Xi (荀息): Devised the plan to borrow the road through Yu.
Enemies
- Extinguished Realms States of Guo, Yu, Geng, Huo: Conquered and annexed by Duke Xian.
Other
- Assassin Minister Li Ke (里克): Slaughtered his favored heirs upon his death.
In Zuo Zhuan
“He conquered the kingdoms of others with the sword, but surrendered his own throne to the whispers of a pillow.”
Historical Context
Duke Xian laid the vast territorial foundation of Jin, but his destruction of royal lineages forced subsequent Jin rulers to rely on noble ministerial clans, leading to the Partition of Jin.