Literary image of Yang Yanzhao
Literary image of Yang Yanzhao · 1892A later literary image, not a contemporary documentary portraitIllustrator unknown, novelist = Xiong Damu (熊大木)Source·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Yang Yanzhao杨延昭

Yang Family GeneralsHistory × Fiction

Appointed as the defender of Baozhou.

DIRECT FIGURES
25
RELATION RECORDS
47
SOURCE WORKS
2

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Yang Yanzhao, and the people around them.

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

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

2 figures · 3 records
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

4 figures · 4 records
1 more in the complete record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

10 figures · 16 records
7 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

11 figures · 12 records
9 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

4 figures · 5 records
2 more in the complete record

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

FeatureYang Ye in the Song Shi, Yet Not a Single Yang Family Heroine IncludedYang Ye, the famous anti-Liao general of the early Northern Song dynasty, has completely different images in actual history and later popular romances. The legendary female generals of the Yang family, a household name in folklore, have not a single word recorded in the official history. Furthermore, the true culprit who forced Yang Ye to his death was not the treacherous Pan Renmei as depicted in the romance. By peeling back the layers of myth from romances and storytelling, we can catch a glimpse of the real, tragic frontier conflicts in the records of the "Song Shi", and the iron-blooded loyalty of the Yang Family Generals who "fought the enemy to the death and established unparalleled integrity" for the state.

In history · History of Song

Appointed as the defender of Baozhou. Son of Yang Ye, later renamed Yanzhao, a famous general of the Northern Song Dynasty. Son of Yang Ye, long stationed at the border, renowned among enemies for his prestige and strategies.

In fiction · Generals of the Yang Family

Son of Yang Ye, brave and skilled in battle; son of Yang Ye, assisted his father in combat. Core figure of the Yang Family Generals, in this story he battles the Liao army.

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

    History of Song

    13 profile notes
    10 relations11 verified quotations
    • Emperor Zhenzong of SongappreciateYang Yanzhao
    • Yang Yanzhaoruler-subjectEmperor Zhenzong of Song
    • Yang Yefather-sonYang Yanzhao
    • Yang YanzhaobattleKhitan
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 帝甚悦,指示诸王曰:“延昭父业为前朝名将,延昭治兵护塞有父风,深可嘉也。”

      appreciate · History of Song, 杨业传

    2. 帝甚悦,指示诸王曰

      ruler-subject · History of Song, 杨业延昭文广王贵荆罕儒嗣曹光实克明张晖司超【评论】传

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

  2. Literature / legend

    Generals of the Yang Family

    48 profile notes
    33 relations71 verified quotations
    • Emperor Zhenzong of SongappreciateYang Yanzhao
    • Yang Yanzhaoruler-subjectEmperor Zhenzong of Song
    • Yang YanzhaoaccuseEmperor Zhenzong of Song
    • Emperor Taizong of Songentrust promoteYang Yanzhao
    Verified original text · 71
    1. 七王将口词审过一遍,再将御状细细视之

      受理 · Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 19

    2. 帝允奏,颁旨封杨延昭为高州节度使。

      appoint official · Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 22

    69 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

Discrepancy in Yang Yanzhao's character and early deeds

Relationship network

26 figures · 132 links
Yang YanzhaoYang YanzhaoEmperor Zhenzong of SongEmperor Zhenzong of SongEmperor Taizong of SongEmperor Taizong of SongKou ZhunKou ZhunPan RenmeiPan RenmeiYang YeYang YeHu YanzanHu YanzanKhitanKhitanEight KingsEight KingsMeng LiangMeng LiangYang ZongbaoYang ZongbaoFu QianBi ShianJiao ZanQian RuoshuiGao HuaideShe TaijunYue ShengZhang NingTian KuangMu GuiyingWang QinHan YanshouJiu MeiBaniangYang Wulang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: History of Song, 上官正卢斌周审玉裴济李继宣张旦张煦张佶传; Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 3; History of Song, 吕端毕士安仲衍仲游寇准传; Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 4; History of Song, 寇准传; Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 8; History of Song, 曹翰杨信嗣党进李汉琼刘遇李怀忠米信田重进刘廷翰崔翰传; Generals of the Yang Family, ch. 9

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.