Yi Yin (伊尹) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Yi Yin as a named individual and statesman. This record brings together 1 passage from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Yi Yin	伊尹	Yi Yin
Personal name	Yi Yin	伊	Yi Yin

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Uncertain

Roles

Named Individual
Statesman

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 伊 · Western Year: BC 1600
Explicit · shiji:083:s0225

References in the histories

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

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 1 passage

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今夫天下布衣窮居之士，身在貧賤，雖蒙堯、舜之術，挾伊、管之辯，懷龍逢、比干之意，欲盡忠當世之君，而素無根柢之容，雖竭精思，欲開忠信，輔人主之治，則人主必有按劍相眄之跡，是使布衣不得為枯木朽株之資也。 Now consider the scholars of the realm who dwell in poverty and low estate. Though they may possess the arts of Yao and Shun, wield the eloquence of Yi Yin and Guan Zhong, and harbor the devotion of Long Pang and Bi Gan, wishing to devote their utmost loyalty to the ruler of their age—yet lacking anyone to introduce them or vouch for their worth—no matter how they exhaust their minds and seek to offer their faithfulness, the ruler will inevitably greet them with a hand on his sword and a suspicious glare. This is what prevents men of humble birth from gaining even the advantage of the gnarled log and the rotten stump.