Ancient China · General

Tian Ji 田忌

Tián Jì

Attested BC 356 - BC 301

Passages: 13
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Tian Ji as a general. This record brings together 13 passages from 3 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Tian Ji	田忌	Tián Jì
Personal name	Ji	忌
Personal name	Tian Ji	田忌	Tián Jì
Personal name	Tian Ji	田忌	Tian Ji

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:048:s0170, shiji:065:s0042
Value: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:074:s0012

Roles

General

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 戰國時期 · Western Year: c. BC 350
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0170
Source Date: Text: 田忌為將…馬陵 · Western Interval: Start: BC 353 · End: BC 341
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:065:s0053, shiji:065:s0073
Source Date: Text: 齊威王、宣王用孫子、田忌 · Western Interval: Start: BC 356 · End: BC 301
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:074:s0012

Career and standing

Label: general / 將 · Action: appointed
Explicit · shiji:065:s0053, shiji:065:s0060

Places and affiliations

Polity: Qi / 齊 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:074:s0012

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: commanded the armies of the six states
Explicit · shiji:048:s0170
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: fought at Guiling and Maling campaigns · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 桂陵…馬陵 · Western Interval: Start: BC 353 · End: BC 341
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:065:s0058, shiji:065:s0060, shiji:065:s0073
Relation: host-of · Person Id: Sun Bin (孫臏)
Explicit · shiji:065:s0042
Relation: recommender-of · Person Id: Sun Bin (孫臏)
Explicit · shiji:065:s0049

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周聚、陳軫、邵滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之倫制其兵。 The six states thus had men like Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise their strategies; Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to serve as their intermediaries; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Ni Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, and Zhao She to command their armies.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 65Biographies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi · 11 passages

齊將田忌善而客待之。 The Qi general Tian Ji treated him well and hosted him as a guest.

忌數與齊諸公子馳逐重射。 Tian Ji often raced chariots with the Qi nobles and wagered heavily.

於是孫子謂田忌曰：「君弟重射，臣能令君勝。」 So Sun Bin said to Tian Ji, “My lord frequently wagers heavily on the races. I can make you win.”

田忌信然之，與王及諸公子逐射千金。 Tian Ji believed him and wagered a thousand jin with the king and the nobles.

既馳三輩畢，而田忌一不勝而再勝，卒得王千金。 When the three races were over, Tian Ji had lost one but won two, and in the end he won the king’s thousand jin.

於是忌進孫子於威王。 So Tian Ji recommended Sun Bin to King Wei.

於是乃以田忌為將，而孫子為師，居輜車中，坐為計謀。 So they appointed Tian Ji as general and Sun Bin as advisor. Sun Bin rode in a supply wagon, seated there and making plans.

田忌欲引兵之趙，孫子曰：「夫解雜亂紛糾者不控棬，救鬬者不搏撠，批亢擣虛，形格勢禁，則自為解耳。 Tian Ji wanted to lead troops to Zhao, but Sun Bin said, “One who untangles a snarl does not seize the fist; one who rescues a brawl does not strike the head. Strike where they are exposed and hit the void; block their form and check their momentum, and they will resolve themselves.

田忌從之，魏果去邯鄲，與齊戰於桂陵，大破梁軍。 Tian Ji followed this advice. Wei indeed abandoned Handan, fought Qi at Guiling, and was badly defeated.

齊使田忌將而往，直走大梁。 Qi sent Tian Ji as general, and he marched straight toward Daliang.

孫子謂田忌曰：「彼三晉之兵素悍勇而輕齊，齊號為怯，善戰者因其勢而利導之。 Sun Bin said to Tian Ji: “The troops of the three Jin states are fierce and brave by nature, and they look down on Qi. Qi has a reputation for cowardice. Good warriors exploit the enemy's momentum and guide it to their own advantage.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 74Biographies of Mengzi and Xun Qing · 1 passage

齊威王、宣王用孫子、田忌之徒，而諸侯東面朝齊。 Kings Wei and Xuan of Qi employed Sun Bin, Tian Ji, and men like them, until the feudal lords turned eastward to pay court to Qi.