CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Guo Jia郭嘉
Cao Cao's strategist, known for his ingenious plans and decisive judgment.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 7
- RELATION RECORDS
- 9
- SOURCE WORKS
- 3
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Guo Jia, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Xun Yu→Guo Jiarecommend
02KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
1 figure · 1 record＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Cao Cao—Guo Jiacry and sacrifice
03ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
3 figures · 4 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cao Cao→Guo Jiaemploy
Guo Jia—Yuan Shaoruler-subject
Source record
Sima Zhao→Guo Jiasacrifice
04CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Guo Jia→Liu Beiadvise kill
Guo Jia→Lu Buattack
Source record
Guo Jia→Sun Ceprophesy
8 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
A strategist recommended to Cao Cao by Xun Yu. Wei strategist, compared in evaluations. Former Wei military advisor, by imperial decree honored in the ancestral temple of Emperor Wu.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Book of the Later Han
Guo Jia was a worthy man recruited by Cao Cao, later becoming his strategist and repeatedly offering brilliant plans. He once suggested retreating, devised a plan to feign death, advised Cao Cao not to kill Liu Bei to win over the hearts of the realm, and used the righteousness of the Spring and Autumn Annals to persuade Cao Cao to spare a death sentence. He proposed the theory of ten victories and ten defeats, advised first taking Lü Bu, devised the plan to flood Xiapi, dissuaded Liu Bei from leading troops, suggested an eastern campaign against Liu Bei, commented that Sun Ce was impatient and lacking in strategy, and offered a delaying tactic. After his death from illness, his last plan settled Liaodong, and he was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Zhen. Cao Cao once wept at his memorial.
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.
- Official history1 profile notes
Book of the Later Han
2 relations1 verified quotations- Guo Jia→ strategist →Cao Cao
- Xun Yu→ recommend →Guo Jia
Verified original text · 1
戏志才等，皆称其举
recommend · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
- Literature / legend14 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations9 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ employ →Guo Jia
- Guo Jia→ strategist →Cao Cao
- Cao Cao→ cry and sacrifice →Guo Jia
Verified original text · 9
遂启操征聘郭嘉到兖州
employ · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10
操曰：“今只将计就计：诈言我被火伤，火毒攻发，五更已经身死。布必引兵来攻。我伏兵于马陵山中，候其兵半渡而击之，布可擒矣。”嘉曰：“真良策也！”
听从计谋 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history8 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
6 relations4 verified quotations- Guo Jia→ strategist →Cao Cao
- Guo Jia→ advise kill →Liu Bei
- Guo Jia→ ruler-subject →Yuan Shao
- Guo Jia→ attack →Lu Bu
Verified original text · 4
彧荐嘉。召见，论天下事。太祖曰
ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·程郭董刘蒋刘传
备有雄才而甚得众心
advise kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·程郭董刘蒋刘传
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The novel fictionalizes that Guo Jia left a posthumous plan to pacify Liaodong after his death, but in official history, this plan was actually devised by Cao Cao himself.
- novel inventionGuo Jia's posthumous plan to pacify Liaodong
In Chapter 33 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is written that Guo Jia left a posthumous letter before his death: 'Guo Gong, on his deathbed, wrote this personally and instructed: "If the Prime Minister follows what is written in the letter, the affairs of Liaodong will be settled."' However, in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Annals of Emperor Wu, the strategy of Cao Cao holding his troops and causing Gongsun Kang to kill the two Yuan brothers was actually Cao Cao's own plan: 'The generals asked: "When you returned, Kang sent the heads of Shang and Xi. Why?" He said: "They have always feared Shang and his brother. If I press them urgently, they will unite; if I ease off, they will plot against each other. This is the natural course."' The novel transfers this credit to Guo Jia's 'posthumous plan'.
Relationship network
- employ← Cao Cao → Guo JialitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 17Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 34
Original text (5)
遂启操征聘郭嘉到兖州
操曰：“今只将计就计：诈言我被火伤，火毒攻发，五更已经身死。布必引兵来攻。我伏兵于马陵山中，候其兵半渡而击之，布可擒矣。”嘉曰：“真良策也！”
Original relation: 听从计谋 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
郭嘉曰
Original relation: accept advice · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 17
郭嘉进曰
Original relation: ruler-subject · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32
表赠郭嘉为贞侯
Original relation: posthumous honor · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 34
- strategistGuo Jia → Cao Caohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·程郭董刘蒋刘传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 18Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 33Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
Original text (5)
戏志才等，皆称其举
Original relation: assist · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传
嘉袖出一书，白操曰
郭嘉曰：“丞相纵不杀备，亦不当使之去
Original relation: remonstrate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21
问郭嘉，嘉曰
彧荐嘉。召见，论天下事。太祖曰
Original relation: ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·程郭董刘蒋刘传
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
诏祀故军祭酒郭嘉于太祖庙庭。
Original text (1)
戏志才等，皆称其举