Wanyan Xiyin (完顏希尹)

Overview

Wanyan Xiyin was a Jin statesman and co-creator of the Jurchen script, originally named Gushen.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Gushen	穀神
Posthumous name	Loyal Offering	貞獻

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1128 天會六年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 19, passage 23
AD 1119 to AD 1140 穀神（完顏希尹，制女直字）
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 35, passages 188, 190
AD 1119 to AD 1140 穀神別有傳（完顏希尹）
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 68, passages 43, 80-81

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Huandu (歡都)
father 父
Directly stated · History of Jin 68, passage 43
Spouse of Heluoshen (曷羅哂)
wife 妻
Directly stated · History of Jin 68, passage 43

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Loyal Offering Prince of Jinyuan Commandery 金源郡貞獻王
Held
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 190

Places and affiliations

Polity Jin
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 68, passage 43
Polity Jin 金 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 35, passage 188

Events and relationships

Created jurchen script
Scholarly · Creator
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 188
Gushen has his own biography elsewhere.
Biographical record · Source Text 穀神別有傳。
Directly stated · History of Jin 68, passage 81
His sons were Gushen and Mouyan.
Biographical record · Source Text 子穀神、謀演。
Directly stated · History of Jin 68, passage 80
Muzong remembered Huandu's counsel and later arranged for Talan's daughter Heluoshen to marry Huandu's son Gushen.
Biographical record · Source Text 穆宗德歡都言，後以撻懶女曷羅哂妻其子谷神。
Directly stated · History of Jin 68, passage 43
Proposed for a separate temple as a creator of Jurchen writing
AD 1194 明昌五年正月 · Posthumous commemoration · Honoree
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 35, passages 188, 190

References in the histories

History of Jin, Chapter 19Volume 19 Annals 19: Ancenstral Records: Emperor Jingxuan Zongjun, Ruizong, Zongyao, Xianzong, Yungong · 1 passage

Open chapter

以八月往陝西，或使宗弼遂將以行，或宗輔、宗幹、希尹中以一人往。」 In the eighth month march on Shaanxi—either Zongbi leads the whole way, or one of Zongfu, Zonggan, and Xiyin goes."

History of Jin, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple · 3 passages

Open chapter

諸神雜祠·貞獻郡王廟 Miscellaneous Shrines to Various Spirits: Temple of the Loyal Offering Prince of the Commandery

明昌五年正月，陳言者謂：「葉魯、穀神二賢創制女直文字，乞各封贈名爵，建立祠廟。 In the first month of Mingchang 5, a petitioner said: "The two worthies Yelu and Gushen created the Jurchen script—we beg that each be granted posthumous titles and ranks and that shrines be established.

有司謂：「葉魯難以致祭，若金源郡貞獻王穀神則既已配享太廟矣，亦難特立廟也。」 The responsible offices said: "Yelu is difficult to sacrifice to; as for Gushen, Loyal Offering Prince of Jinyuan Commandery, he already enjoys collateral sacrifice in the Grand Ancestral Temple—it is also difficult to establish a separate shrine."

History of Jin, Chapter 68Volume 68 Biographies 6: Huandu and His Son Mouyan; Yehe and His Sons Alubu, Gunan, and Egunai; Sanda's Son Pucha · 3 passages

Open chapter

穆宗德歡都言，後以撻懶女曷羅哂妻其子谷神。 Muzong remembered Huandu's counsel and later arranged for Talan's daughter Heluoshen to marry Huandu's son Gushen.

子穀神、謀演。 His sons were Gushen and Mouyan.

穀神別有傳。 Gushen has his own biography elsewhere.