Just like Tuo ( Five Fathers ) is regarded as two, "Records of the Grand Historian" also divides the prince Dao (Yanshi) into Yan and Shi. Is the statement in "Records of the Grand Historian" wrong? There is a need to make an argument.
"Zuo Zhuan•Zhao Gong" records: "In the spring of the eighth year, Chen Aigong Yuanfei Zheng Ji gave birth to Prince Dao, Yanshi, the second concubine gave birth to Prince Liu, and the next concubine gave birth to Prince Sheng. The second concubine was beloved, and belonged to the Situ Zhao and the prince. Aigong had a deposed illness. In March, Jiashen, Prince Zhao and Prince Zhu killed Prince Dao Yanshi, and established Prince Liu." It means: Zheng Ji, the first lady of Chen Aigong, gave birth to Prince Dao, that is, Yanshi, the second wife gave birth to Prince Liu, and the third wife gave birth to Prince Sheng. The second wife was favored, so the young master Liu was favored. Ai Duke entrusted Liu to his younger brother Situ Zhao and his younger brother. Duke Ai suffered from a long-term non-healing disease. In the eighth year of Duke Zhao of Lu, that is, the 35th year of Duke Ai Chen (534 BC), on March 16, Situ Zhao and Prince killed Prince Dao (Yanshi) by using Duke Ai's illness, and established Prince Liu as the prince.
quotation clearly shows that Duke Ai married three wives and each gave birth to one son; Prince Dao Yanshi, who was appointed as the prince for Duke Chen Ai, was murdered by two uncles.
There are different records about the Crown Prince Dao (Yanshi), "Records of the Grand Historian: Chen Qi Family": "In the 34th year of (Chen) Aigong, at first, Aigong married Zheng (female), Changji gave birth to Prince Dao, and Shaoji gave birth to Prince Yan. Two concubines, the eldest concubine gave birth to Liu, and Shaoji gave birth to Shengsheng. Liu had favored Duke Aigong, and his younger concubine was his younger brother Situ Zhao. Aigong was sick, and in March, he killed Prince Dao (Shi) and made Liu the crown prince. Aigong was angry and wanted to kill Zhao, so he sent troops to surround Duke Aigong, and Duke Aigong killed himself. Zhuozhan made Liu the king of Chen." This statement is different from "Zuo Zhuan" that Duke Ai had two concubines, two concubines, each with one son, and a total of four sons. The Ji and Prince Yanshi were divided into two.
"The Origin of the Chen Family" commented on this: "In "Records of the Grand Historian: The Family of Chen Qi" says that the two girls are divided into Yanshi and the two are probably wrong. Now, according to the "Spring and Autumn Annals" scriptures and the saying that Prince Yanshi is one person." The author agrees with this view, and its basis is as follows:
1. Three wives, concubines, and three sons
"Zuo Zhuan" Chen Aigong's theory of "three wives, concubines, and three sons" is recorded in many Chen clan genealogy, and Prince Dao Yanshi was born by Zheng Ji. "Dao" is the name of "Yanshi", or "Dao's name is Yanshi". Some Chen family genealogy uses "Yan" or "Shi", which is the abbreviation of "Yanshi".
2. There is a surname saying "Yanshi"
"Shunyi Yuanli" is recorded in "Chen Family Surnames": "Yanshi, " Guangyun " and " Yuanhe surname Zhuan " both refer to "Yanshi, Prince Chen Dao, Yanshi, and his descendants regard the king and son as their clans." Here, "Yanshi" is regarded as the word "diao". Whether it is a character or a name, "Yanshi" is in short, only one person is a surname of the descendants.
3. There is the place name "Yanshi"
Today, Henan "Yanshi" City, is an ancient historical and cultural city. Is the place name the descendants of the Prince of Chen, Yanshi, who moved here and ordered him? He dared not speak nonsense, but he knew that the monk Xuan of the Tang Dynasty was a native of the Yanshi family, and was also the descendant of Chen Taiqiu, the descendant of Chen Shi, a descendant of Chen Hugong, who was born in the Han Dynasty. There are 3,000 Chen people in several townships including Chengguan, Shouyangshan, and other towns in Yanshi City. They are descendants of the prime minister of the time of Song Renzong, , Chen Yaozuo. Although it is unknown whether the above people are directly related to Prince Yanshi, the place name "Yanshi" has been used in conjunction with one word, which has become a special noun.
To sum up, it can be concluded that the statement in "Zuo Zhuan" - Prince Dao (Yanshi) is one person, and the statement in "Records of the Grand Historian" is wrong.
