CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Tao Qian陶谦
Governor of Xuzhou, who ceded Xuzhou to Liu Bei because of Cao Cao's attack.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 12
- RELATION RECORDS
- 16
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Tao Qian, 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
7 figures · 9 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Tao Qian→Liu Beiyield Xuzhou
Mi Zhu→Tao Qianoffer plan
Tao Qian→Chen Dengdispatch
Tao Qian→Wang Langrecommend
Tao Qian→Sun Qianrecommend
Zang Ba→Tao Qiansubordinate
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
5 figures · 6 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Cao→Tao Qiansuppress
Tao Qian→Zhang Zhaoimprison
Lü Fan→Tao Qianplundered
Tao Qian→Zhang Wenhave conflict
Tao Qian→Zhao Yudistance
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Liu Bei→Tao Qianrescue
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Governor of Xuzhou, whom Ze Rong once attached himself to. Governor of Xuzhou, who deeply feared Sun Ce. Governor of Xuzhou, who once promised to rescue Gao Dai.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
When Tao Qian was Governor of Xuzhou, he was besieged by Cao Cao, so he wrote a letter asking for help and sent Chen Deng to Qingzhou. Liu Bei led troops to rescue him. Tao Qian, grateful for his kindness, wanted to yield Xuzhou to Liu Bei, but Liu Bei did not accept. When Tao Qian fell seriously ill, he again earnestly requested Liu Bei to take over Xuzhou, and recommended Sun Gan to assist him. Liu Bei finally accepted the post.
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 / legend3 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
8 relations9 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ suppress →Tao Qian
- Tao Qian→ yield Xuzhou →Liu Bei
- Liu Bei→ lead Xuzhou →Tao Qian
- Liu Bei→ rescue →Tao Qian
Verified original text · 9
操令但得城池，将城中百姓，尽行屠戮
attack · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10
情愿将徐州相让
yield Xuzhou · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history15 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
11 relations13 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ suppress →Tao Qian
- Tao Qian→ hostile →Cao Cao
- Tao Qian→ imprison →Zhang Zhao
- Tao Qian→ dispatch →Chen Deng
Verified original text · 13
太祖征谦
suppress · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·公孙陶四张传
秋，太祖征陶谦
suppress · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
11 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The number and timing of yielding Xuzhou
The novel describes Tao Qian repeatedly (three times yielding Xuzhou) strongly urging Liu Bei to take over Xuzhou during his lifetime, but Liu Bei firmly declined (Romance of the Three Kingdoms, chapter 11: "Tao Qian yielded repeatedly, but Xuande would not accept."). In the official history, it is only recorded that when Tao Qian was critically ill and about to die, he instructed Bieja Mi Zhu to let Liu Bei take over, and there is no plot of yielding the province multiple times during his lifetime (Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of the Former Lord: "When Qian was critically ill, he said to Bieja Mi Zhu: 'Only Liu Bei can bring peace to this province.' When Qian died, Zhu led the people of the province to welcome the Former Lord").
Relationship network
- suppress← Cao Cao → Tao Qianhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·公孙陶四张传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10
Original text (3)
操令但得城池，将城中百姓，尽行屠戮
Original relation: attack · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 10
太祖征谦
秋，太祖征陶谦
Original text (1)
- yield XuzhouTao Qian → Liu BeilitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
Original text (2)
情愿将徐州相让
谦曰：“请玄德公来，不为别事：止因老夫病已危笃，朝夕难保；万望明公可怜汉家城池为重，受取徐州牌印，老夫死亦瞑目矣！”
Original relation: abdicate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
备与张飞奔曹营，迳投徐州去见陶使君商议
Original text (2)
- dispatchTao Qian → Chen Denghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11
Original text (2)
陶谦先打发陈元龙往青州去讫
州牧陶谦表登为典农校尉
Original relation: recommend · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传
Original text (1)
- offer plan← Mi Zhu → Tao Qianhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·许糜孙简伊秦传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 11
Original text (2)
某愿亲往北海郡，求孔融起兵救援
后徐州牧陶谦辟为别驾从事
Original relation: 辟为别驾 · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·许糜孙简伊秦传
Original text (1)
谦曰：“某举一人，可为公辅：系北海人，姓孙，名干，字公祐。此人可使为从事。”
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