How Can a Man Die Better? Wen Tianxiang

In our continuing series on Chinese historical figures regarded as national heroes, we look at the life of the 13th century statesman Wen Tianxiang.

Born in 1236 into a beleaguered Southern Song Dynasty, Wen Tianxiang enjoyed early recognition for his keen intellect and a rapid rise through the Song bureaucracy eventually to become chancellor. Unfortunately for him, during that same time, the Mongol Empire expanded from Mongolia all the way to Europe. Although it held out against the Mongols for a remarkably long time, by 1279 the Song had completely collapsed.

After leading an unsuccessful last-ditch struggle against the Mongols, Wen Tianxiang found himself their prisoner. But Kublai Khan had adopted a policy of amnesty for former Song officials, many of whom he eagerly hired to help him administer his new territory. The top man Kublai wanted working for him was none other than Wen Tianxiang.

But Wen proved to be another exemplar of that Confucian virtue of undying fidelity. Over four years of imprisonment, despite Kublai's repeated offers of the highest of positions and a life of luxury, Wen Tianxiang refused to serve the Mongols, asking only death. After Wen had written some of the most moving poetry of Chinese literature from his prison cell, and after Kublai finally exhausted his patience, the Mongols granted him his wish. And Wen Tianxiang won his place in the pantheon of Chinese national heroes.

Support the show