田忌 / Tian Ji

田忌 / Tian Ji appears in 《资治通鉴·周纪》16丨孙膑庞涓恩怨纠葛 桂陵之战 as the 齐国 general who recognizes 孙膑 and gives him protected status as a guest. His first major source role is the horse-racing story, where Sun Bin studies the relative quality of Tian Ji’s horses and proposes the arrangement later named 田忌赛马.

Tian Ji then becomes the commander in the rescue of 赵国. 齐威王 initially wants Sun Bin to lead, but Sun Bin argues that his punished body and social position would make army authority difficult. Tian Ji takes formal command while Sun Bin supplies the strategic design that leads to 围魏救赵 and 桂陵之战.

Connections

• 孙膑 - strategist and guest whom Tian Ji supports.
• 齐威王 and 齐国 - ruler and state context.
• Tian Ji Horse Racing / 田忌赛马 - source story built around his horse races.
• 赵国, 魏国, and 桂陵之战 - rescue campaign branch.
• Encircling Wei to Rescue Zhao / 围魏救赵 and Lure Enemy Out of Position / 诱敌离位 - strategic patterns attached to Sun Bin’s advice in Tian Ji’s campaign.