Ancient China · General of Qi

Tian Ji 田忌

Tián Jì

Attested BC 356 - BC 301

Passages: 18
Chapters: 4
Histories: 1

Overview

Tian Ji was a general of Qi.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 356 to BC 320 威王時
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passages 4-6
BC 318 宣王二年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 8
BC 319 宣王立
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 7
c. BC 350 戰國時期
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 170
BC 353 to BC 341 田忌為將…馬陵
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 65, passages 53, 73
BC 356 to BC 301 齊威王、宣王用孫子、田忌
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 12

Key source chapters

Career and standing

general 將
BC 319 宣王立 · Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 7
general 將
Appointed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 65, passages 53, 60
general 將
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 4

Places and affiliations

Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 4
Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 74, passage 12

Events and relationships

Attacked Qi border cities failed and fled
Military · Attacker · At Qi border cities 齊之邊邑
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 6
Commanded the armies of the six states
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 170
Defeated Wei at Maling
BC 318 宣王二年 · Military · Commander · At Ma Ling 馬陵 · With Sun Bin (孫臏), Tian Ying (田嬰)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 8
Fought at Guiling and Maling campaigns
BC 353 to BC 341 桂陵…馬陵 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 65, passages 58, 60, 73
Recalled as general
BC 319 宣王立 · Political · Appointee · With King Xuan of Qi (齊宣王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 7
Rescued Han and attacked Wei
BC 356 to BC 320 威王時 · Military · General · With Tian Ying (田嬰), Zou Ji (鄒忌)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 4

Show 2 more source-backed claims

Relation Host of · Person Sun Bin (孫臏)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 65, passage 42
Relation Recommender of · Person Sun Bin (孫臏)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 65, passage 49

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 75, passage 4

References in the histories

Search passages

History

18 passages

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 1 passage

於是六國之士有甯越、徐尚、蘇秦、杜赫之屬為之謀，齊明、周聚、陳軫、邵滑、樓緩、翟景、蘇厲、樂毅之徒通其意，吳起、孫臏、帶他、兒良、王廖、田忌、廉頗、趙奢之倫制其兵。 The six states thus had men like Ning Yue, Xu Shang, Su Qin, and Du He to devise their strategies; Qi Ming, Zhou Ju, Chen Zhen, Shao Hua, Lou Huan, Di Jing, Su Li, and Yue Yi to serve as their intermediaries; and Wu Qi, Sun Bin, Dai Tuo, Ni Liang, Wang Liao, Tian Ji, Lian Po, and Zhao She to command their armies.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 65Biographies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi · 11 passages

齊將田忌善而客待之。 The Qi general Tian Ji treated him well and hosted him as a guest.

忌數與齊諸公子馳逐重射。 Tian Ji often raced chariots with the Qi nobles and wagered heavily.

於是孫子謂田忌曰：「君弟重射，臣能令君勝。」 So Sun Bin said to Tian Ji, “My lord frequently wagers heavily on the races. I can make you win.”

田忌信然之，與王及諸公子逐射千金。 Tian Ji believed him and wagered a thousand jin with the king and the nobles.

既馳三輩畢，而田忌一不勝而再勝，卒得王千金。 When the three races were over, Tian Ji had lost one but won two, and in the end he won the king’s thousand jin.

於是忌進孫子於威王。 So Tian Ji recommended Sun Bin to King Wei.

於是乃以田忌為將，而孫子為師，居輜車中，坐為計謀。 So they appointed Tian Ji as general and Sun Bin as advisor. Sun Bin rode in a supply wagon, seated there and making plans.

田忌欲引兵之趙，孫子曰：「夫解雜亂紛糾者不控棬，救鬬者不搏撠，批亢擣虛，形格勢禁，則自為解耳。 Tian Ji wanted to lead troops to Zhao, but Sun Bin said, “One who untangles a snarl does not seize the fist; one who rescues a brawl does not strike the head. Strike where they are exposed and hit the void; block their form and check their momentum, and they will resolve themselves.

田忌從之，魏果去邯鄲，與齊戰於桂陵，大破梁軍。 Tian Ji followed this advice. Wei indeed abandoned Handan, fought Qi at Guiling, and was badly defeated.

齊使田忌將而往，直走大梁。 Qi sent Tian Ji as general, and he marched straight toward Daliang.

孫子謂田忌曰：「彼三晉之兵素悍勇而輕齊，齊號為怯，善戰者因其勢而利導之。 Sun Bin said to Tian Ji: “The troops of the three Jin states are fierce and brave by nature, and they look down on Qi. Qi has a reputation for cowardice. Good warriors exploit the enemy's momentum and guide it to their own advantage.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 74Biographies of Mengzi and Xun Qing · 1 passage

齊威王、宣王用孫子、田忌之徒，而諸侯東面朝齊。 Kings Wei and Xuan of Qi employed Sun Bin, Tian Ji, and men like them, until the feudal lords turned eastward to pay court to Qi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 75Biography of Lord Mengchang · 5 passages

田嬰自威王時任職用事，與成侯鄒忌及田忌將而救韓伐魏。 Tian Ying held office and managed affairs from King Wei's time onward. Together with Lord Cheng Zou Ji and the general Tian Ji, he rescued Han and attacked Wei.

成侯與田忌爭寵，成侯賣田忌。 Lord Cheng contended with Tian Ji for favor, and Lord Cheng betrayed Tian Ji.

田忌懼，襲齊之邊邑，不勝，亡走。 Tian Ji was afraid, attacked Qi's border cities, did not succeed, and fled.

會威王卒，宣王立，知成侯賣田忌，乃復召田忌以為將。 When King Wei died and King Xuan ascended, King Xuan learned that Lord Cheng had betrayed Tian Ji, and summoned Tian Ji back to serve as general.

宣王二年，田忌與孫臏、田嬰俱伐魏，敗之馬陵，虜魏太子申而殺魏將龐涓。 In King Xuan's second year, Tian Ji together with Sun Bin and Tian Ying attacked Wei, defeated them at Ma Ling, captured Wei's crown prince Shen, and killed Wei's general Pang Juan.