Cangjie (倉頡) | 24 Histories

Overview

Cangjie was a Legendary Inventor of Writing.

PeriodAncient China

IdentityLegendary · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 245; History of Jin 35, passage 194; Draft History of Qing 450, passage 154

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 20 Table of Ancient and Modern Persons 1 passage
History of Jin, Chapter 35 Volume 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 1 passage
Draft History of Qing, Chapter 450 Volume 450 Biographies 237: Li Henian, Wen Bin, Ren Daorong, Xu Zhenyi, Wu Dacheng 1 passage

Career and standing

Third grade: men of wisdom 上下智人
Nine grade table rank · Listed
Directly stated · Book of Han 20, passage 245

Source notes

Historicity legendary
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 194

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 20Table of Ancient and Modern Persons · 1 passage

Open chapter

倉頡 Cangjie

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 · 1 passage

Open chapter

遂詔令依蒼頡立廟於盩厔例，官為立廟於上京納裏渾莊，委本路官一員與本千戶春秋致祭，所用諸物從宜給之。 An edict then ordered that following the precedent of Cangjie establishing a temple at Zhouzhi, the state should build a temple at Nali Hunzhuang in the Upper Capital, charge one official of the circuit and the local chiliarch with spring and autumn sacrifices, and supply the required objects as appropriate.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 450Volume 450 Biographies 237: Li Henian, Wen Bin, Ren Daorong, Xu Zhenyi, Wu Dacheng · 1 passage

Open chapter

出為陝甘學政，奏以倉頡列祀典，允之。 Sent out as educational commissioner of Shaanxi and Gansu, he memorialized to add Cangjie, legendary inventor of writing, to the state sacrificial canon, and the court approved.