RAs Inspector of Qing Province he resisted Yuan Shao and went to rescue Tao Qian of Xu ProvinceShu 2 §7
NFeared Cao Cao's army, camped against the hills at a distance and could not advanceCh. 11 §24
Tian Kai 田楷
| Occupation | RGeneral · Inspector of Qing Province | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R7 |
Profile
Tian Kai was the man to whom Gongsun Zan entrusted Qing Province, and in Chen Shou's main text he appears as Inspector of Qing Province. Gongsun Zan made Liu Bei, who had come to him for refuge, a Major of a Separate Command and had him resist Yuan Shao, Governor of Ji Province, together with Tian Kai; when Yuan Shao attacked Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei went east with Tian Kai and was stationed in the State of Qi. Records, Wei 8 §13Records, Shu 2 §7–8
When Cao Cao attacked Xu Province, Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, sent an envoy to Tian Kai to report his peril, and Tian Kai went to the rescue together with Liu Bei. Liu Bei, however, received 4,000 Danyang soldiers from Tao Qian, left Tian Kai and attached himself to Tao Qian. Chen Shou's main text does not record Tian Kai's courtesy name, place of origin or death. Records, Shu 2 §8
In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 11, in the passage where Mi Zhu proposes also asking 'Tian Kai of Qing Province' for help, and he appears in 1 of its 120 chapters. His name is not in any chapter title. He sets out to relieve Xu Province together with Kong Rong, but, fearing the strength of Cao Cao's army, pitches his camp against the hills at a distance. Romance, Ch. 11 §2 · 24
In the Records
When Gongsun Zan's cousin Gongsun Fan defeated the Yellow Turbans of Qing and Xu provinces with the troops of Bohai and Gongsun Zan's power grew even stronger, Gongsun Zan advanced to Jieqiao. He then entrusted Ji Province to Yan Gang, Qing Province to Tian Kai and Yan Province to Shan Jing, and set up commanderies and counties. Yuan Shao encamped at Guangchuan and sent his general Qu Yi forward as vanguard to fight Gongsun Zan, capturing Yan Gang alive, and Gongsun Zan's troops were defeated and fled to Bohai. Records, Wei 8 §12–13
When Liu Bei, defeated by bandits, fled to Gongsun Zan, General of the Household, for refuge, Gongsun Zan memorialized making him a Major of a Separate Command and had him resist Yuan Shao, Governor of Ji Province, together with Tian Kai, Inspector of Qing Province. Liu Bei won merit in battle several times, served on probation as Prefect of Pingyuan, and later also held the post of Chancellor of Pingyuan. Zhao Yun, who had belonged to Gongsun Zan, also went along with Liu Bei and took charge of his cavalry when Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to resist Yuan Shao on behalf of Tian Kai. Records, Shu 2 §7Records, Shu 6 §39
When Yuan Shao attacked Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei went east with Tian Kai and was stationed in the State of Qi. When Lord Cao (Cao Cao) attacked Xu Province, Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, sent an envoy to Tian Kai to report his peril, and Tian Kai went with Liu Bei to rescue him. At this time Liu Bei had over a thousand soldiers of his own and the cavalry of the Wuhuan and various Hu peoples of You Province, and he had also taken in several thousand starving people. When they arrived, Tao Qian added 4,000 Danyang soldiers to Liu Bei's forces, and Liu Bei at last left Tian Kai and attached himself to Tao Qian. Records, Shu 2 §8
In Chen Shou's main text Tian Kai appears only in these passages of the Biography of Gongsun Zan, the Biography of the First Sovereign and the Biography of Zhao Yun, and his courtesy name, place of origin, later deeds and death are not recorded. Records, Wei 8 §13Records, Shu 2 §7–8Records, Shu 6 §39
In the Romance
In Chapter 11 of the Romance, when Cao Cao invades Xu Province, Tao Qian's Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage Mi Zhu proposes that he himself go to Kong Rong in Beihai Commandery to ask for troops, and that another man be sent to Tian Kai of Qing Province to ask for help as well; if the forces of both places come together, Cao Cao is sure to withdraw. Tao Qian writes two letters and first sends Chen Deng (Chen Yuanlong), who readily volunteers, to Qing Province. Romance, Ch. 11 §2–3
Chen Deng returns and reports that Tian Kai of Qing Province will gladly lead troops to the rescue, and Tao Qian is relieved. However, the two forces of Kong Rong and Tian Kai, fearing the ferocity of Cao Cao's army, pitch their camps against the hills at a distance and do not dare advance lightly, while Cao Cao, having divided his forces to face them, cannot attack the city either. Romance, Ch. 11 §24
When Liu Bei arrives, Kong Rong is overjoyed and joins forces with Tian Kai so that they support each other like the horns and legs of a deer, and while Guan Yu and Zhao Yun lend support on both flanks, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei charge into Cao Cao's camp. When Cao Cao, faced with the loss of Yan Province, withdraws his troops, Tao Qian invites Kong Rong, Tian Kai, Guan Yu, Zhao Yun and others into the city and holds a great banquet. When Liu Bei decides to stay at Xiaopei, Kong Rong and Tian Kai also each take their leave and lead their troops home. In the Romance Tian Kai appears only in this chapter. Romance, Ch. 11 §26 · 37–38 · 42
Where the Romance differs
Holding Qing Province: The Romance does not include Tian Kai's being entrusted with Qing Province by Gongsun Zan and facing Yuan Shao, and in Chapter 11 he is called only 'Tian Kai of Qing Province'. In the Records, Gongsun Zan entrusted Ji Province to Yan Gang, Qing Province to Tian Kai and Yan Province to Shan Jing, and the Biography of the First Sovereign calls him Inspector of Qing Province. Romance, Ch. 11 §2 · 24Records, Wei 8 §13Records, Shu 2 §7
His tie to Liu Bei: In Chapter 11 of the Romance, Liu Bei, at Kong Rong's request, borrows troops from Gongsun Zan and comes to Xu Province separately. In the Records, Liu Bei became a Major of a Separate Command on Gongsun Zan's memorial and resisted Yuan Shao together with Tian Kai; when Yuan Shao attacked Gongsun Zan, he was stationed in the State of Qi with Tian Kai, and he went with Tian Kai to rescue Tao Qian. Romance, Ch. 11 §22–23Records, Shu 2 §7–8
The call for help: In Chapter 11 of the Romance, Tao Qian sends Chen Deng to Tian Kai of Qing Province on Mi Zhu's advice. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only that Tao Qian sent an envoy to Tian Kai to report his peril, and does not name the envoy. Romance, Ch. 11 §2–3Records, Shu 2 §8
The relief of Xu Province: In Chapter 11 of the Romance, Tian Kai, together with Kong Rong, fears Cao Cao's army and pitches his camp against the hills at a distance, and only after Liu Bei arrives do he and Kong Rong support each other like the horns and legs of a deer. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only that Tian Kai went with Liu Bei to rescue Tao Qian, and does not describe the situation in the field. Romance, Ch. 11 §24 · 26Records, Shu 2 §8
The parting: In Chapter 11 of the Romance, after Cao Cao withdraws, Tian Kai is invited to Tao Qian's banquet and then takes his leave together with Kong Rong and leads his troops home. In the Records, when Tao Qian added 4,000 Danyang soldiers to his forces, Liu Bei left Tian Kai and attached himself to Tao Qian. Romance, Ch. 11 §38 · 42Records, Shu 2 §8
How Zhao Yun came to follow Liu Bei: In Chapter 11 of the Romance, Zhao Yun accompanies Liu Bei on his way to relieve Xu Province as a general lent by Gongsun Zan, and takes his leave once the affair is over. In the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records, when Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to resist Yuan Shao on behalf of Tian Kai, Zhao Yun went along with Liu Bei and took charge of his cavalry. Romance, Ch. 11 §23 · 42Records, Shu 6 §39
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total402 / 1000Rank 598 of 996 · Top 61%Romance total376 / 1000Rank 695 of 1,113 · Top 63%
Romance adaptation index−26Romance total − Records total
- LEA5038−12
- STR4038−2
- INT3838±0
- POL4235−7
- CHA4038−2
- VIR4850+2
- ADP4042+2
- SCH3131±0
- DIP3533−2
- DIS3833−5
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspector and commanderShu 2 §7
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspector and commanderShu 2 §8
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §26
RNo direct record — estimated from his charge of Qing ProvinceWei 8 §13
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspector and commanderShu 2 §8
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §38
RWent to the rescue on hearing of Tao Qian's perilShu 2 §8
NGladly led his troops in answer to the call for helpCh. 11 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspector and commanderShu 2 §8
NHeld back before the might of Cao Cao's army and went home once the affair was overCh. 11 §24Ch. 11 §42
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspector and commanderShu 2 §7
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspector and commanderShu 2 §8
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §24
RNo direct record — estimated from his resisting Yuan Shao and going to relieve Tao Qian together with the First SovereignShu 2 §7Shu 6 §39
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as inspectorCh. 11 §24
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Related events (1)
- Cao Cao's invasion of Xu Province 193~194 · Command
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).