Ancient China · Legendary Ruler

Jie 桀

Dates uncertain

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Jie was a Legendary Ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 67

Events and relationships

Overthrown and captured by Tang and King Wu
Military · Defeated ruler · With Tang (湯), King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 87

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 3 passages

故以桀攻桀，猶有巧拙； Even tyrant-against-tyrant conflict leaves room for tactical skill;

以桀詐堯，若卵投石，夫何幸之有！ But trying to defeat true sage rule by trickery is like hurling an egg at rock.

湯、武征伐，陳師誓眾，而放禽桀、紂，所謂善陳不戰者也。 Tang and Wu's legitimacy made victory decisive once forces were arrayed, minimizing prolonged combat.