CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Gongsun Zan公孙瓒
A warlord at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Grand Administrator of Beiping, and an old friend of Liu Bei.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 10
- RELATION RECORDS
- 16
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Gongsun Zan, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
1 figure · 1 record＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Gongsun Zan—Liu Beiold friend
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
3 figures · 5 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Gongsun Zan→Liu Beiborrow troops
Zhao Yun→Gongsun Zanflee to
Gongsun Zan→Tian Yuguard east
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
7 figures · 8 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Yuan Shao—Gongsun Zanbattle
Liu Bei→Gongsun Zangrateful
Lu Bu→Gongsun Zanjointly hunted
Yuan Shu→Gongsun Zanrequest aid
Tian Chou→Gongsun Zanimprisoned
Tadun→Gongsun Zandefeat
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Liu Bei→Gongsun Zanaid in battle
Gongsun Zan→Zhang Yanrequest aid
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Fierce and arrogant in the northern frontier. A warlord of the late Han, he fought Yuan Shao in a prolonged stalemate, but was eventually defeated by Tadun who aided Yuan Shao. A native of Lingzhi, Liaoxi, he was handsome and served as a commandery clerk, later becoming General Who Rouses Might and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Ji.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Gongsun Zan was a fellow student of Liu Bei and served as Grand Administrator of Beiping. When Dong Zhuo usurped power, he led troops to join the coalition of lords against him. Later, he fought with Yuan Shao over Ji Province, was defeated, and hanged himself. He once recommended Liu Bei and lent him two thousand troops and Zhao Yun to assist him.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend7 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
8 relations9 verified quotations- Gongsun Zan→ old friend →Liu Bei
- Gongsun Zan→ borrow troops →Liu Bei
- Liu Bei→ grateful →Gongsun Zan
- Liu Bei→ borrow troops →Gongsun Zan
Verified original text · 9
此吾自幼同舍兄弟
old friend · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 5
瓒曰：“我借与君马步军二千。”
borrow troops · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history17 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
9 relations12 verified quotations- Yuan Shao→ battle →Gongsun Zan
- Gongsun Zan→ attack →Yuan Shao
- Lu Bu→ jointly hunted →Gongsun Zan
- Yuan Shu→ request aid →Gongsun Zan
Verified original text · 12
遂举兵与绍对战，绍不胜
battle · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·公孙陶四张传
绍自往征瓒，合战于界桥南二十里
battle · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·董二袁刘传
10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The ending of Gongsun Zan's defeat and death
- based on factThe circumstances of Gongsun Zan's defeat and death.
In the novel, through Zhao Yun's words, it is said that Gongsun Zan, because he did not listen to others' advice, 'was defeated and burned himself to death' (Romance of the Three Kingdoms, chapter 28: 'Unexpectedly, Gongsun Zan did not listen to others' advice, leading to his defeat and self-immolation.'). In the official history, it is recorded that he indeed died knowing he was doomed, but the details are that he killed his wife and children before hanging himself, rather than simply burning himself (Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biographies of the Two Gongsuns, Tao, and the Four Regional Lords: 'Zan, knowing he was doomed, killed his wife and children, then hanged himself.').
Relationship network
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
瓒曰：“我借与君马步军二千。”
Original text (1)
玄德闻公孙瓒已死，追念昔日荐己之恩
Original text (1)
容备去公孙瓒处，借三五千人马
Original text (1)
- battle← Yuan Shao → Gongsun Zanhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·公孙陶四张传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·董二袁刘传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 7Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21
Original text (5)
二军会于磐河之上
公孙瓒已被袁绍破了
Original relation: defeat · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21
遂举兵与绍对战，绍不胜
绍自往征瓒，合战于界桥南二十里
击破瓒于易京
Original relation: defeat · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·董二袁刘传
Original text (2)
瓒怒曰：“余弟死，祸起于绍。”遂出军屯磐河
绍悉军围之
Original relation: battle · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·公孙陶四张传
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诏书购捕公孙瓒、袁术、韩暹、杨奉等
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