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Yan Zhenqing颜真卿

TangHistory × Fiction

Admired Zhang Jian.

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DIRECT FIGURES
30
RELATION RECORDS
41
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Yan Zhenqing, and the people around them.

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01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

2 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

13 figures · 15 records
9 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

12 figures · 15 records
9 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

7 figures · 7 records
4 more in the complete record
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12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

Admired Zhang Jian. A Tang dynasty minister, suggested replacing Huai'en with Guo Ziyi. Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, later Minister of Justice.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Governor of Pingyuan, raised troops to suppress rebels, was appointed as Hebei Inspector. A Tang official, won many battles.

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

    Old Book of Tang

    34 profile notes
    23 relations34 verified quotations
    • Emperor Dezong of Tang→ posthumous honor →Yan Zhenqing
    • Yan Zhenqing→ discuss rites →Emperor Dezong of Tang
    • Yan Zhenqing→ memorial reply →Emperor Suzong of Tang
    • Yan Zhenqing→ confront →An Lushan
    Verified original text · 34
    1. 可赠司徒，仍赐布帛五百端。

      posthumous honor · Old Book of Tang, 段秀实颜真卿传

    2. 废朝五日，谥曰文忠。

      posthumous title · Old Book of Tang, 段秀实颜真卿传

    32 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    2 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ appoint →Yan Zhenqing
    • Yan Zhenqing→ uncle's son →Yan Gaoqing
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 诏加颜真卿河北采访使

      appoint · Romance of Sui and Tang, 090

    2. 乃颜真卿的族兄颜杲卿

      cousin elder · Romance of Sui and Tang, 090

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    31 profile notes
    28 relations29 verified quotations
    • Emperor Dezong of Tang→ posthumous honor →Yan Zhenqing
    • Emperor Suzong of Tang→ accept advice →Yan Zhenqing
    • Yan Zhenqing→ confront →An Lushan
    • Yang Guozhong→ appointed as →Yan Zhenqing
    Verified original text · 29
    1. 颜真卿使希烈，其害旧德多矣。

      send envoy · New Book of Tang, 房琯子 孺复孙 启族孙 式张镐李泌子 繁传

    2. 真卿表其枉

      accept advice · New Book of Tang, 忠义传中

    27 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Yan Zhenqing fortified Pingyuan and became the leader of seventeen commanderies; the novel faithfully dramatizes his city-building and troop-recruiting to resist the rebels.

  • attestedYan Zhenqing foresaw that An Lushan would rebel and strictly prepared city defenses to resist the rebels.

    The Old Book of Tang, Biography of Yan Zhenqing, records that when signs of An Lushan's rebellion appeared, Yan Zhenqing, 'using the continuous rain as an excuse, repaired the city walls and dredged the moats, secretly counted the able-bodied men, and stored grain.' After the rebellion broke out, all of Hebei fell except Pingyuan, which was fully prepared, and the seventeen commanderies recommended Zhenqing as their leader. Chapter 090 of Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties follows the official history, describing Zhenqing as 'having foreseen his inevitable rebellion, and taking advantage of the long rains, he built the city walls, deepened the moats, drilled the able-bodied, and stored provisions, making secret preparations,' which fully matches the historical facts.

Relationship network

31 figures · 197 links
Yan ZhenqingYan ZhenqingEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Dezong of TangEmperor Dezong of TangEmperor Suzong of TangEmperor Suzong of TangAn LushanAn LushanEmperor DaizongEmperor DaizongYang GuozhongYang GuozhongYuan ZaiYuan ZaiLi GuangbiLi GuangbiShi SimingShi SimingWu HouWu HouLi XiliePugu Huai'enLu QiLiu YanYang YanLi FuguoTian YueWang WujunLi NaFang GuanLi MianZhu TaoLi ZhengjiDiwu QiYan GaoqingLu JiongYan ShiguLi XunZhang JianWei Zhi
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 三王鲁辛冯三李曲二卢传; Old Book of Tang, 于休烈令狐峘归崇敬奚陟张荐蒋乂柳登沈传师传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 090; New Book of Tang, 儒学传下; Old Book of Tang, 仆固怀恩梁崇义李怀光传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 091; New Book of Tang, 关董袁赵窦传; Old Book of Tang, 代宗本纪

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.