汉

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Emperor Xian of Han汉献帝

Archaic / OtherHistory × Fiction

Abducted by Li Jue and Guo Si, later rescued by Yang Feng and Dong Cheng.

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DIRECT FIGURES
18
RELATION RECORDS
27
SOURCE WORKS
6

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Emperor Xian of Han, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

12 figures · 16 records
9 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

5 figures · 5 records
2 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

3 figures · 3 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms

The last emperor of the Eastern Han, abdicated to Cao Pi.

In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Researches into Lost Records · In Search of the Supernatural

Abducted by Li Jue and Guo Si, later rescued by Yang Feng and Dong Cheng. ; Emperor of the Eastern Han, welcomed by Cao Cao to Xuchang. ; Han emperor, forced to abdicate.

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.

  1. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    10 profile notes
    11 relations11 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xian of Han→ confer title →Cao Cao
    • Cao Cao→ coerce →Emperor Xian of Han
    • Cao Cao→ monopolize power →Emperor Xian of Han
    • Dong Zhuo→ memorialize for destruction →Emperor Xian of Han
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 书奏，帝从之，遂以彧为侍中、光禄大夫

      confer title · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传

    2. 曹操自领司隶校尉，录尚书事

      coerce · Book of the Later Han, 孝献帝纪

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. 16 profile notes
    18 relations19 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xian of Han→ confer title →Cao Cao
    • Cao Cao→ coerce →Emperor Xian of Han
    • Cao Cao→ monopolize power →Emperor Xian of Han
    • Liu Bei→ uncle-nephew →Emperor Xian of Han
    Verified original text · 19
    1. 帝乃封操领司隶校尉

      confer title · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 14

    2. 陛下出此言

      coerce · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 66

    17 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. 6 profile notes
    6 relations7 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xian of Han→ confer title →Cao Cao
    • Cao Cao→ monopolize power →Emperor Xian of Han
    • Cao Pi→ receive abdication and become emperor →Emperor Xian of Han
    • Emperor Xian of Han→ abdicate →Cao Pi
    Verified original text · 7
    1. 天子使御史大夫郗虑持节策命公为魏公

      confer title · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪

    2. 天子娉公三女为贵人

      enfeoff as duke · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪

    5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. Literature / legend

    Researches into Lost Records

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  5. 1 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Dong Zhuo→ memorialize for destruction →Emperor Xian of Han
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 放废天子

      depose or install · In Search of the Supernatural, ch. 6

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  6. 1 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Cao Cao→ coerce →Emperor Xian of Han
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 魏武挟令迁帝

      coerce · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 草木五

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History vs. fiction

In official histories, he is a wandering emperor who ultimately abdicates to a puppet ruler, while in fiction he is portrayed with great sympathy.

  • attestedThe secret edict in the robe ordered Dong Cheng to kill Cao Cao

    The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of the Former Lord and the Book of the Later Han record that Emperor Xian secretly bestowed a garment belt edict upon Dong Cheng, ordering him to kill Cao Cao, but the plot was later leaked and thwarted. (Original text: 「盖古无丈人之名，故谓之舅也。〉辞受帝衣带中密诏，当诛曹公。先主未发。」 — Source: data/raw/sanguozhi/蜀书·先主传.txt)

  • novel inventionAfter abdicating, he was poisoned to death by Cao Pi

    The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Annals of Emperor Wen records that after Emperor Xian abdicated, he was enfeoffed as Duke of Shanyang, enjoyed the rites and music of a Son of Heaven, and died of natural illness in the second year of the Qinglong era, ending well. (Original text: 「青龙中，山阳公薨，汉主也。肃上疏曰：“昔唐禅虞，虞禅夏，皆终三年之丧，然后践天子之尊。”」——Source: data/raw/sanguozhi/魏书·锺繇华歆王朗传.txt)

  • based on factThe official history records Emperor Xian granting a secret edict in a garment belt, while the novel adds the plot of writing the secret edict in blood.

    The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of the Former Lord records that Emperor Xian issued a secret edict to kill Cao Cao, only mentioning 'he received the secret edict in the emperor's garment belt, and should kill Duke Cao.' It does not mention a blood letter. However, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 20, to dramatize Emperor Xian's sorrow and determination, it adds the plot of biting a finger to write a blood letter: 'The emperor then composed a secret edict, bit his fingertip, and wrote it in blood, secretly ordering Empress Fu to sew it into the lining of a jade belt and purple brocade.' The novel dramatizes based on historical facts.

Relationship network

19 figures · 77 links
Emperor Xian of HanEmperor Xian of HanCao CaoCao CaoLiu BeiLiu BeiDong ZhuoDong ZhuoGuan YuGuan YuCao PiCao PiCao RuiCao RuiCai YongCai YongXun YuXun YuEmperor Ling of HanEmperor Ling of HanLi JueLi JueHua XinGuo SiDong ChengWang YiYing ShaoYang FengLiu KangZhang Ji
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 4; Book of the Later Han, 五行一貌不恭淫雨服妖鸡祸青眚屋自坏讹言旱谣狼食人; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 草木五; Researches into Lost Records, 卷六; In Search of the Supernatural, ch. 6; Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 8

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.