Duke Wen of Jin (Ji Chong’er), the 22nd ruler of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period (reigned 636–628 BCE), is renowned as one of the Five Hegemons. His path to power was extraordinary, marked by nineteen years of exile before his dramatic return and eventual dominance over the central states.
A family fractured by intrigue
The story begins with his father, Duke Xian of Jin. In his later years, the Duke grew increasingly irrational. Seeking to please a young concubine, he intended to make her son, Xiqi, his heir. Following her machinations, he had his eldest son and crown prince, Shen Sheng, killed. Fearing similar fates, Shen Sheng’s brothers, Chong’er and Yiwu, fled the state. Duke Xian, convinced they were part of Shen Sheng’s faction, sent assassins after them. Chong’er narrowly escaped an attempt by the assassin Bo Di at Pu City and found refuge in the State of Di, where he was joined by many talented Jin nobles, including Hu Mao, Hu Yan, Zhao Cui, Wei Chou, Hu Yegu, Xian Zhen and Jie Zhitui.
The long road of exile
After Duke Xian’s death in 651 BCE, Jin was plunged into turmoil. Xiqi and another son, Zhuozhu, briefly held the throne before being killed by ministers. With the help of Duke Mu of Qin, Yiwu returned to become Duke Hui of Jin. An unpopular and paranoid ruler, Duke Hui feared his brother Chong’er and again dispatched Bo Di to assassinate him. Warned by a letter, Chong’er and his retinue were forced to flee once more, embarking on a journey marked by hardship and humiliation.
Their first goal was the powerful State of Qi. En route, seeking passage through the State of Wei, they were refused entry by Duke Wen of Wei, who saw no benefit in aiding a destitute prince. The greatest trial came at Wulu, where, starving, they begged farmers for food and were mocked. Later, exhausted and desperate, they could only manage a broth of wild vegetables. Zhao Cui arrived later, sharing a small bamboo tube of thin porridge mixed with water among the group. This profound hunger left an indelible mark on them all.
Seeking allies: From Qi to Chu
In Qi, Duke Huan received them generously, but after his death and the ensuing chaos, they moved on. The State of Song, under the wounded Duke Xiang, welcomed them but was too weak to offer military aid for a return to Jin. The State of Zheng ignored them entirely. Finally, in the State of Chu, King Cheng of Chu treated Chong’er with the honors due a feudal lord. When King Cheng jestingly asked how Chong’er would repay him if he became ruler of Jin, Chong’er famously promised, “If our armies should ever meet on the battlefield, I would retreat three ‘shes’ (ninety ‘li’, or forty-five kilometers) for you.” This answer, while respectful, angered the Chu general Cheng Dechen.
He then turned and secretly said to King Cheng of Chu, “Chong’er speaks so irresponsibly. He would surely prove ungrateful in the future. Wouldn’t it be better to kill him sooner rather than later?” King Cheng of Chu replied, “Don’t say that. He is, after all, a guest, and we must treat him well.”
A rare opportunity
Duke Mu of Qin had originally installed Yiwu as the ruler of Jin, who became Duke Hui of Jin. However, Duke Hui proved ungrateful and even launched an attack against Qin, only to suffer a crushing defeat and be captured. Duke Mu’s wife, Lady Mu Ji, who was Duke Hui’s half-sister, pleaded on behalf of Jin. Duke Hui admitted his wrongdoing to Duke Mu, ceded five cities outside the Yellow River, and sent his crown prince, Yu, to Qin as a hostage, thereby restoring peace between Qin and Jin. To strengthen ties with Prince Yu, Duke Mu married his daughter, Huaiying, to him.
In 638 BCE, Prince Yu learned that his father was ill and, fearing the throne might pass to someone else, secretly fled back to Jin without even taking Huaiying with him. The following year, after Duke Hui’s death, Prince Yu ascended the throne and severed relations with Qin. Duke Mu regretted his earlier decision to support Yiwu. Now that Yiwu was dead, Prince Yu had unexpectedly turned into another Yiwu. Therefore, Duke Mu decided to support Prince Chong’er as the rightful ruler of Jin and had him brought from the State of Chu.
The final alliance: The Power of Qin
One day, King Cheng of Chu said to Chong’er,
“Duke Mu of Qin has sent someone here to invite you, my lord, to his state. He intends to help you return to your homeland. This is good news.”
Chong’er politely demurred, saying,
“I would rather stay with Your Majesty. What need is there for me to go to Qin?”
King Cheng of Chu advised him,
“Do not say that. My state is too far from your noble country. Even if I wished to send you back, we would have to pass through several other states. Qin is closest to your homeland – you could set out in the morning and arrive by evening. Moreover, with the Duke Mu of Qin willing to assist you, I can rest assured. Listen to me and go!”
Only then did Chong’er bid farewell to King Cheng of Chu and set out for the State of Qin.
The Return: A lesson remembered
In 636 BCE, Duke Mu of Qin dispatched a large army to escort Chong’er back to Jin. As they prepared to cross the Yellow River, a revealing incident occurred. Hu Shu, the steward in charge of baggage, carefully loaded all their worn-out belongings – tattered clothes, old shoes, leftover food – onto the boats, remembering their years of privation. Chong’er laughed, saying,
“I am returning to be a ruler. What need have I for these rags?”
He ordered the items thrown ashore.
Witnessing this, Hu Yan was dismayed. Presenting a piece of jade given to him by Duke Mu, he knelt before Chong’er and offered to remain in Qin as an “external minister,” implying he and the other veterans were now like the discarded “old clothes and broken shoes.” Stung, Chong’er realized his error. He had begun to forget the hunger of Wulu before even tasting power. With remorse, he ordered the humble possessions retrieved, vowing never to forget the loyalty and shared suffering of his companions. This moment cemented the principle of “remaining full without forgetting hunger”.
Ascension and Hegemony
Crossing the river, Chong’er’s forces, backed by Qin, met with success. Duke Huai of Jin fled, and the ministers of Jin welcomed Chong’er as their rightful sovereign, Duke Wen of Jin. Drawing on the wisdom hardened by exile and the loyalty of his tested followers, Duke Wen rapidly consolidated power. Within four years, he had secured victory at the Battle of Chengpu (632 BCE) against Chu, formally receiving the mandate from the Zhou king and succeeding Duke Huan of Qi as the acknowledged Hegemon of the central states.
Leave a Reply