Introduction of Jie Zi Tui (開山感天介子推)

 
Jie Zi Tui (介子推) aka Jie Tui (介推) or Jie Zi (介子), born in Spring Autumn Period (生于春秋時), born year unknown (生年不詳). Hometown in Shan Xi Province, Jie Xiu Area (家鄉於山西省介休).

Since young, Jie Zi Tui had been doing self study on the various Classics written by the Sages & some Famous Politicians of Zhou Dynasty.

By the influences that Jie Zi Tui got from the study, he promised himself to be a Loyalty & Upright Person while he served the Country.

After growing up, Jie Zi Tui got a minor post in the Imperial Court of Jin Kingdom (晉國). During his serving of the Kingdom, he was greatly respected by the others and also the King of Jin.

One year, in the Jin Imperial Court, a tragic incident happened. The beloved Concubine of Jin King got rebellious and murdered the elder son of Jin King known as Shen Sheng 申生. After getting the news, Jie Zi Tui decided to save the 2nd Son of Jin King Chong Er (二公子重耳) from the murdering and so they escaped out from the Imperial Court.

During the period of the escaping & hiding, Jie Zi Tui and Chong Er suffered quite tremendously. One period, while both of them came to a deserted area, there was no where to look for food, in order not to allow Chong Er to get hungry, Jie Zi Tui had to cut a piece of fresh from his thigh and cooked it for Chong Er.

Upon receiving the meat, Chong Er was surprised to see it, after several rounds of confronting Jie Zi Tui, Jie Zi Tui had to tell the truth. After knowing the truth, Chong Er was deeply moved by Jie Zi Tui's action and Chong Er promised that once he got chance to ascend the Throne, he would make Jie Zi Tui a High Post Officer.

After 19 years of escaping, Jie Zi Tui assisted Chong Er to return to the Imperial Court. Soon, Chong Er ascended the Throne and was known as Jin Wen Gong (晋文公) in the History.

On the day of the ascending Ceremony, other Officers that assisted Chong Er to get the throne were being bestowed with Royal Titles, only Jie Zi Tui didn’t get any bestowing.

Knowing that himself was being forgotten by Chong Er, Jie Zi Tui didn't get upset or disappointed, in his mind, he always remind himself that whatever the King of the Empire did he must obey – this is the practicing of Loyalty.

Soon, Jie Zi Tui resigned from his post and returned to his hometown to take care of his sick mother.

During one of the private meetings, Chong Er was being reminded by an old officer about the credits that Jie Zi Tui had accumulated during the escaping period, only then Chong Er realized that he had made a very serious mistake of not remembering Jie Zi Tui.

Immediately, he sent an order to summon Jie Zi Tui back to the Imperial Court.

Upon receiving the Edict, Jie Zi Tui refused to return due to his sick mother (Filial Piety) and so, Jie Zi Tui had to bring his mother to Mountain Mian (棉山) to hide from the summoning.

After several round of failed summoning, Chong Er came to the hometown of Jie Zi Tui to invite Jie Zi Tui. Upon reaching, Chong Er couldn’t find Jie Zi Tui and so, Chong Er summoned the other Officers to go searching around the area. Soon, the news of Jie Zi Tui hiding in Mountain Mian was being revealed to Chong Er.

Immediately after getting the news, Chong Er sent a group of Armies to Mountain Mian to invite Jie Zi Tui out, but again, after searching, there was no sign of Jie Zi Tui.

Among the Officers, there was a bad Officer who was the enemy of Jie Zi Tui, he suggested to Chong Er of setting fire to part of the Mountain in-order to force Jie Zi Tui to come out.

Chong Er agreed and order was being given, immediately the Mountain was being lit with fire. Due to lack of control on the fire-burning, within moment, the whole Mountain was on fire, by the time Chong Er realized the seriousness, the whole mountain was gone.

After the fire was being put-out, Chong Er went to look for Jie Zi Tui, to his horror, Jie Zi Tui and his mother were being burnt alive under a tree.

From then, in-order to keep Jie Zi Tui in memory, on the day of Jie Zi Tui's Death Anniversary, the whole Country would not set fire to cook any food or the commoners would not consumed any hot stuffs, and this is how Qing Ming Festival came about (清明節).

And Mountain Mian changed to Mountain Jie (介山 dedicated the Mountain to Jie Zi Tui)

In Folks Culture & the Chinese Deity System, Jie Zi Tui is given the following titles:

1 Kai Shan Da Di (開山大帝) – Due the death in Mountain Mian

2 Gan Tian Da Di (感天大帝) – Due to the cutting of fresh from his thigh for Chong Er & his Filial Piety (this title is widely used in Hockchew & Teochew Clan, which is the one that the folks pay respect to now)

3 Ying Yi Sheng Wang (英毅圣王)