CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Kong Rong孔融
Grand Administrator of Beihai, descendant of Confucius, killed by Cao Cao for remonstrating against the southern campaign.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 11
- RELATION RECORDS
- 16
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Kong Rong, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
8 figures · 8 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Kong Rong→Cao Caoremonstrate
Liu Bei→Kong Rongrecommend
Xun You→Kong Rongrecommend
Kong Rong→Mi Zhureceive
Wang Yun→Kong Rongconscript
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Cao→Kong Rongslay
Yuan Tan→Kong Rongattack
Xi Lü→Kong Rongdismiss office
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
4 figures · 5 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Liu Bei→Kong Rongrescue
Kong Rong→Cao Caowrite letter
Taishi Ci→Kong Rongrescue
Mi Heng→Kong Rongcommend
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Chancellor of Beihai, besieged by the Yellow Turbans, sent Taishi Ci to break out and seek aid. As Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues, he was close to Sheng Xian and wrote to Cao Cao to save him. As Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues, he was on good terms with Zhang Hong and exchanged letters.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Kong Rong, a descendant of Confucius, served as Grand Administrator of Beihai. He rescued Xuzhou and treated Taishi Ci generously. Later he held the post of Senior Grand Master of the Palace, remonstrated many times, pleaded for Yang Biao, suggested Cao Cao make peace with Yuan Shao, and recommended Mi Heng. He was killed for remonstrating against Cao Cao's southern campaign.
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 / legend5 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
8 relations8 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ slay →Kong Rong
- Kong Rong→ remonstrate →Cao Cao
- Liu Bei→ rescue →Kong Rong
- Xun You→ recommend →Kong Rong
Verified original text · 8
遂命廷尉捕捉孔融
slay · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 40
孔融谏曰
remonstrate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 23
6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history16 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
10 relations11 verified quotations- Kong Rong→ write letter →Cao Cao
- Liu Bei→ rescue →Kong Rong
- Liu Bei→ recommend →Kong Rong
- Yuan Tan→ attack →Kong Rong
Verified original text · 11
乃与曹公书曰
write letter · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·宗室传
即遣精兵三千人随慈
rescue · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·刘繇太史慈士燮传
9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
After Tao Qian's death, Liu Bei did not dare to take over Xuzhou because he feared Yuan Shu.
- attestedAfter Tao Qian's death, Liu Bei did not dare to take over Xuzhou because he feared Yuan Shu.
After Tao Qian's death, Liu Bei did not dare to take over Xuzhou because he feared Yuan Shu. Kong Rong persuaded Liu Bei, saying that Yuan Shu was a 'skeleton in a tomb.' This classic assessment is almost identical in wording in both the official history and the novel, and it is a direct quotation from the official history in the Romance.
Relationship network
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- rescue← Liu Bei → Kong Ronghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·刘繇太史慈士燮传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11
Original text (2)
乃同云长、翼德点精兵三千，往北海郡进发
即遣精兵三千人随慈
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- rescue← Taishi Ci → Kong Ronghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·刘繇太史慈士燮传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
融重待太史慈，赠与衣甲鞍马
Original text (1)
吾友祢衡，字正平，其才十倍于我
Original text (1)
北海孔融召以为主簿，守高密令。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
御史大夫郗虑知旨，以法免融官
Original text (2)
举原有道
原为计佐
Original relation: employ · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·袁张凉国田王邴管传