Shu Qi: The Younger Son of the Marquis of Guzhu and a Symbol of Integrity in the "Records of the Grand Historian"

Brief Introduction

Shu Qi, the younger son of the Marquis of Guzhu at the end of the Shang Dynasty, is known together with his elder brother Bo Yi as "Bo Yi and Shu Qi." They are exemplary figures of "integrity," "yielding," and "loyalty" in traditional Chinese culture. Their lives are primarily recorded in the first biographical chapter of Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), titled "Biography of Bo Yi." Shu Qi's stories—refusing the throne, opposing King Wu of Zhou's campaign against Shang, and starving to death on Shouyang Mountain rather than eating Zhou grain—became a moral benchmark promoted by later Confucians. They also serve as an important window for understanding the spirit of ancient Chinese scholars.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Righteousness of Yielding the State: Brotherly Yielding
According to the Shiji, the Marquis of Guzhu intended to make his younger son, Shu Qi, the ruler. Shu Qi believed that the elder brother, Bo Yi, was more qualified, so he declined. Bo Yi, unwilling to disobey his father's wish, insisted on yielding the position to his younger brother. The two brothers yielded to each other repeatedly and eventually fled the State of Guzhu together. This behavior established a paradigm of political ethics based on "yielding," praised by Confucius as "seeking benevolence and achieving benevolence."

2. Remonstrating by Holding the Horse: Upholding Feudal Ethics
When King Wu of Zhou attacked King Zhou of Shang, Shu Qi and Bo Yi believed that a subject attacking a ruler was unjust and violated filial piety and loyalty. The two once held the reins of King Wu's horse to remonstrate with him, stating directly, "Your father died without burial, yet you immediately resort to war; can this be called filial?" Their advice was not accepted. This demonstrates their adherence to the old feudal order and moral principles.

3. Not Eating Zhou Grain: Starving on Shouyang
After the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, Shu Qi and Bo Yi were ashamed to eat the grain of Zhou. They secluded themselves on Shouyang Mountain and gathered ferns (wild peas) to eat. Later, realizing that even the ferns belonged to the land of Zhou, they ceased eating and eventually starved to death. Before passing away, they composed the "Song of Gathering Ferns" to express their resolve, embodying a moral belief of unyielding integrity, which became synonymous with "moral integrity."

Connection to the Content of "Shiji"

In the structure of the Shiji, Sima Qian placed the "Biography of Bo Yi" at the beginning of the biographical section, which holds special editorial significance and deep metaphorical meaning:

* Establishment of Moral Benchmark: Sima Qian used the deeds of the brothers Shu Qi and Bo Yi to establish the book's promotion of "righteousness" and "faith." As the opening of the biographies, it implies that Sima Qian's primary standard for evaluating historical figures was not the magnitude of their achievements, but the height of their morality.
* Philosophical Reflection on the Question of Heavenly Justice: The brothers Shu Qi and Bo Yi possessed high moral character yet starved to death, while Dao Zhi was violent yet died a natural death. Through this stark contrast, Sima Qian raised the question regarding the saying "The Way of Heaven is impartial, always with the good." This reflects Sima Qian's profound reflection on the contradiction between fate and moral reward, breaking away from simple theories of karma.
* Tone of Historical Perspective: The story of Shu Qi set a narrative tone of "valuing virtue over profit" for subsequent biographies. It is a key to understanding Sima Qian's historical view of "investigating the relationship between heaven and man, understanding the changes from ancient times to the present," showcasing the personal choices of historical figures amidst tremendous changes of the era.

Conclusion

Shu Qi's life, though lacking brilliant achievements, left a colorful mark in the long river of Chinese history through his spirit of adhering to principles. In the pen of the Shiji, he is not merely a historical figure but a spiritual symbol, reminding future generations of the eternal value of faith and integrity.