CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Zhang Yan张燕
Together with Lü Bu, defeated Zhang Yan.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 3
- RELATION RECORDS
- 3
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Zhang Yan, 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
1 figure · 1 record＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Zhang Yan→Cao Caosurrender
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
1 figure · 1 record＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Lu Bu→Zhang Yandefeat
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Gongsun Zan→Zhang Yanrequest aid
3 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Bandit leader of Changshan, defeated by Lü Bu. Leader of the Black Mountain bandits, led his followers to surrender to Cao Cao, and was enfeoffed as a marquis.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Together with Lü Bu, defeated Zhang Yan. Black Mountain bandit, surrendered to Cao Cao, appointed General Who Pacifies the North. Cao Cao's general, defended the northern camp.
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
1 relations1 verified quotations- Zhang Yan→ surrender →Cao Cao
Verified original text · 1
黑山贼张燕，引军十万来降
surrender · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 33
- Official history5 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations4 verified quotations- Zhang Yan→ surrender →Cao Cao
- Lu Bu→ defeat →Zhang Yan
- Gongsun Zan→ request aid →Zhang Yan
Verified original text · 4
黑山贼张燕率其众十馀万降
surrendered · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
遂破燕军
defeat · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布张邈臧洪传
2 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The novel says Zhang Yan was made General Who Pacifies the North after surrendering to Cao Cao, while the official history records him as a marquis.
In Chapter 33 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is recorded: "The bandit of the Black Mountain, Zhang Yan, led an army of one hundred thousand to surrender. Cao was overjoyed and made him General Who Pacifies the North." However, in Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Annals of Emperor Wu, it is recorded that in the summer of the tenth year of Jian'an, "the bandit of the Black Mountain, Zhang Yan, led his followers, more than one hundred thousand, to surrender, and was made a marquis." The novel changed his title.
Relationship network
- surrenderZhang Yan → Cao Caohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 33
Original text (2)
黑山贼张燕，引军十万来降
黑山贼张燕率其众十馀万降
Original relation: surrendered · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
- defeat← Lu Bu → Zhang YanhistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布张邈臧洪传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传
Original text (2)
Original text (1)