Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Eastern Jin Grand Commandant

Tao Kan 陶侃

Attested AD 329 - AD 333

Passages: 7
Chapters: 3
Histories: 3

Overview

Tao Kan was an Eastern Jin Grand Commandant.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 329 蘇峻平後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 57
AD 330 to AD 333 遣使與太尉陶侃箋
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 108, passage 111

Key source chapters

Book of Jin, Chapter 108 Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui 5 passages
Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 34 Volume 34 Biographies 15: Yu Wanzhi, Liu Xiu, Shen Chong, Yu Gaozhi, Wang Chen 1 passage
Book of Song, Chapter 3 Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wu 3 1 passage

Career and standing

Grand Marshal 大司馬
Held
Directly stated · Book of Song 3, passage 43

Places and affiliations

Polity Eastern Jin 東晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 57

Works and attributed material

merit rolls 勳簿
AD 329 蘇峻平後 · Relation Submitter
Dated from the passage context · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 57

Assessments and attributes

Assessment merit-roll submissions largely not a true record · Mode named-source-report Speaker Wen Taizhen (溫太真)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 57

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 57

References in the histories

Book of Jin, Chapter 108Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui · 5 passages

遣使與太尉陶侃箋曰： His letter to Tao Kan began:

明公使君轂下：振德曜威，撫甯方夏，勞心文武，士馬無恙，欽高仰止，注情彌久。 He flattered Tao Kan's prestige on the Yangzi.

君侯植根江陽，發曜荊、衡，杖葉公之權，有包胥之志，而令白公、伍員殆得極其暴，竊為丘明恥之。 He urged Tao Kan to emulate Chu loyalists against barbarians.

今海內之望，足為楚、漢輕重者，惟在君侯。 Tao Kan alone could tip balance.

侃報抽等書，其略曰：「車騎將軍憂國忘身，貢篚載路，羯賊求和，執使送之，西討段國，北伐塞外，遠綏索頭，荒服以獻。 Tao Kan praised Murong's loyalty and frontier victories in his reply, writing in gist: "The General of Chariots and Cavalry forgets self for the state—tribute baskets crowd the road; Jie bandits sued peace yet he handed envoys to court; he struck west at Duan lands, campaigned north beyond the passes, soothed Suotou tribes—distant desert peoples submitted tribute.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 34Volume 34 Biographies 15: Yu Wanzhi, Liu Xiu, Shen Chong, Yu Gaozhi, Wang Chen · 1 passage

尋蘇峻平後，庾亮就溫嶠求勳簿，而嶠不與，以爲陶侃所上，多非實錄。 After Su Jun's defeat, Yu Liang asked Wen Qiao for the merit rolls, but Qiao refused, saying Tao Kan's submissions were largely fictitious.

Book of Song, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wu 3 · 1 passage

始安公封荔浦縣侯，長沙公封醴陵縣侯，康樂公可即封縣侯，各五百戶：以奉晉故丞相王導、太傅謝安、大將軍溫嶠、大司馬陶侃、車騎將軍謝玄之祀。 the Duke of Shi'an enfeoffed as Marquis of Lipu County, the Duke of Changsha as Marquis of Liling County, the Duke of Kangle immediately enfeoffed as county marquis, each with five hundred households—to maintain the sacrifices to former Jin Chancellor Wang Dao, Grand Tutor Xie An, Grand General Wen Qiao, Grand Marshal Tao Kan, and Cavalry General Xie Xuan.