Qin and Han · King of Qi

Tian Rong 田榮

Tián Róng

First attested BC 208; died BC 205

Passages: 55
Chapters: 8
Histories: 2

Overview

Tian Rong was a king of Qi.

Life and dates

Death

BC 205 平原人殺榮
Killed by locals · At Pingyuan 平原
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 45
BC 205 平原民殺田榮
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 75

Attested activity

BC 206 漢元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 177, 182
BC 208 to BC 205 儋弟田榮收儋餘兵
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 11, 45
BC 205 平原民殺田榮
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 42, passage 75
BC 205 漢二年
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 91, passage 31
BC 206 漢元年正月
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passages 86, 96
BC 206 漢元年秋
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 54

Show 2 more source-backed claims

BC 205 至彭城
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 104
BC 206 齊王田榮叛楚
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 145

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Tian Dan (田儋)
cousin 從弟 · paternal line
younger cousin 從弟 · paternal line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 2; Book of Han 42, passage 30
Parent of Tian Guang (田廣)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 81; Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 51
Sibling of Tian Heng (田橫)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 30; Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 2, 48
Sibling of Tian Dan (田儋)
younger brother 弟
Textual variant · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 11

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Chancellor of Qi 相
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 20
Chancellor of Qi 相
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 48
King of Qi 自立為王
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 72
King of Qi 齊王
Assumed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 43
King of Qi 齊王
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 96; Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 182

Places and affiliations

BC 206 漢元年
Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Rebelled against
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 182
Qi 齊
Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 90, passage 54
Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 96; Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 182

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 22

Events and relationships

Annexed the Three Qi
BC 205 項羽分封後 · Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passages 68, 72
Drove out Tian Jia
Military · Commander · With Tian Jia (田假)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 15
Killed Tian Shi and Tian An
Military · Commander · With Tian Shi (田市)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 42
Rebelled against Chu
BC 206 漢元年 · Military · Rebel
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 182
Rebelled in Liang
Rebellion · Ally · At Liang 梁地 · With Peng Yue (彭越)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 104
Rebelled
Rebellion · Rebel
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 96

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Sent troops
BC 206 漢元年 · Military · Ally · With Chen Yu (陳餘)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 184
Relation Rival of · Person Xiang Yu (項羽)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passages 32, 36
Relation Ally of · Person Chen Yu (陳餘)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 94, passage 38
Relation Rebelled with · Person Peng Yue (彭越)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 104
Relation Younger patrilineal cousin · Person Key Tian Dan (田儋)
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 88

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 55, passage 96; Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 182

References in the histories

Search passages

History

55 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 13 passages

田儋與從弟榮、橫起齊，自立為齊王。 Tian Dan and his younger brothers Rong and Heng rose up in Qi, establishing themselves as King of Qi.

章邯圍田榮於東阿。 Zhang Han besieged Tian Rong at Dong'e.

沛公與項梁共救田榮，大破章邯東阿。 Pei Gong and Xiang Liang together went to rescue Tian Rong and greatly defeated Zhang Han at Dong'e.

田榮歸，沛公、項羽追北，至城陽，攻屠其城。 Tian Rong returned. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu pursued the defeated enemy north to Chengyang and attacked, massacring the population of the city.

八月，田榮立田儋子市為齊王。 In the eighth month, Tian Rong established Tian Dan's son Shi as King of Qi.

秦三年十月，齊將田都畔田榮，將兵助項羽救趙。 In the tenth month of the third year of Qin, Qi general Tian Du rebelled against Tian Rong and led troops to help Xiang Yu rescue Zhao.

田榮聞羽徙齊王市於膠東而立田都為齊王，大怒，以齊兵迎擊田都。 When Tian Rong heard that Xiang Yu had moved Tian Shi, King of Qi, to Jiaodong and installed Tian Du as King of Qi, he was furious and led the Qi troops to attack Tian Du.

六月，田榮殺田市，自立為齊王。 In the sixth month, Tian Rong killed Tian Shi and established himself as King of Qi.

榮與越將軍印，因令反梁地。 Tian Rong gave Peng Yue a general's seal and ordered him to rebel in Liang territory.

越擊殺濟北王安，榮遂并三齊之地。 Peng Yue attacked and killed King of Jibei Tian An. Tian Rong then united the three Qi territories.

陳餘亦怨羽獨不王己，從田榮藉助兵，以擊常山王張耳。 Chen Yu also resented that Xiang Yu had not made him a king. He borrowed troops from Tian Rong and attacked Zhang Er, King of Changshan.

春正月，羽擊田榮城陽，榮敗走平原，平原民殺之。 In spring, in the first month, Xiang Yu attacked Tian Rong at Chengyang. Rong was defeated and fled to Pingyuan, where the people killed him.

夏四月，田榮弟橫收得數萬人，立榮子廣為齊王。 In summer, in the fourth month, Tian Rong's younger brother Heng gathered several tens of thousands of men and established Rong's son Guang as King of Qi.

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 2 passages

及齊王田榮叛楚，餘乃使夏說說田榮曰：「項羽為天下宰不平，盡王諸將善地，徙故王王惡地，今趙王乃居代！ When Qi's king Tian Rong rebelled against Chu, Chen Yu sent Xia Yue to persuade Tian Rong, saying: "Xiang Yu is unfair as steward of all under heaven. He made all his generals kings over good lands and moved former kings to bad lands; now the King of Zhao actually dwells in Dai!

田榮欲樹黨，乃遣兵從餘。 Tian Rong wanted to build his own faction and sent troops to aid Chen Yu.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 16 passages

儋從弟榮，榮弟橫，皆豪桀，宗彊，能得人。 His younger cousin Tian Rong and Rong's younger brother Tian Heng were both powerful local heroes who could attract followers.

儋從弟榮收儋餘兵東走東阿。 Tian Rong gathered Tian Dan's remaining troops and fled east to Dong'a.

榮之走東阿，章邯追圍之。 After Tian Rong fled to Dong'a, Zhang Han pursued and besieged him.

項梁聞榮急，乃引兵擊破章邯東阿下。 Hearing Tian Rong was in danger, Xiang Liang led troops and broke Zhang Han below Dong'a.

而榮怒齊之立假，乃引兵歸，擊逐假。 Tian Rong, enraged that Qi had installed Tian Jia, withdrew his troops and drove Tian Jia out.

榮乃立儋子市為王，榮相之，橫為將，平齊地。 Tian Rong then enthroned Tian Dan's son Tian Shi as king, served as his chancellor, made Tian Heng commander, and pacified Qi.

榮曰：「楚殺田假，趙殺角、閒，乃出兵。」 Tian Rong said, "Chu must kill Tian Jia and Zhao must kill Jiao and Jian—only then will I send troops."

項羽由此怨榮。 Because of this, Xiang Yu came to resent Tian Rong.

榮以負項梁，不肯助楚攻秦，故不得王。 Because Tian Rong had failed Xiang Liang and refused to aid Chu against Qin, he received no kingship.

榮使人將兵助陳餘，令反趙地，而榮亦發兵以距擊田都，都亡走楚。 Tian Rong sent men with troops to assist Chen Yu and ordered him to recover Zhao territory. Rong himself also raised troops to attack Tian Du, and Du fled to Chu.

榮留齊王市毋之膠東。 Tian Rong kept King Shi of Qi from departing for Jiaodong.

榮怒，追擊殺市於即墨，還攻殺濟北王安，自立為王，盡并三齊之地。 Tian Rong was enraged. He pursued King Shi to Jimo and killed him, then returned, attacked and killed Tian An, king of Jibei, made himself king, and annexed all the territory of the Three Qi.

榮發兵距之城陽。 Tian Rong sent troops to resist him at Chengyang.

榮兵敗，走平原，平原民殺榮。 Tian Rong's army was defeated; he fled to Pingyuan, where local people killed him.

榮弟橫收齊散兵，得數萬人，反擊項羽於城陽。 Tian Rong's brother Tian Heng gathered scattered Qi troops, raised tens of thousands, and counterattacked Xiang Yu at Chengyang.

以故橫復收齊城邑，立榮子廣為王，而橫相之，政事無巨細皆斷於橫。 For this reason Tian Heng again gathered in the cities and towns of Qi, established Tian Rong's son Tian Guang as king, and served as his chancellor. Every matter of government, large or small, was decided by Heng.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 55House of Marquis of Liu · 2 passages

乃以齊王田榮反，書告項王。 He also forwarded a report to the King of Xiang about King Tian Rong of Qi's rebellion.

彭越與齊王田榮反梁地：此兩人可急使。 Peng Yue has raised a revolt in the Liang region alongside Tian Rong of Qi. These two can be called upon immediately.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 89Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 3 passages

及齊王田榮畔楚，陳餘乃使夏說說田榮曰：「項羽為天下宰不平，盡王諸將善地，徙故王王惡地，今趙王乃居代！ When Tian Rong, the King of Qi, rebelled against Chu, Chen Yu sent Xia Yue to Tian Rong with this message: 'Xiang Yu has divided the realm unjustly. He grants the best territories to his own generals and banishes the rightful kings to wasteland. The King of Zhao has been exiled to Dai!

願王假臣兵，請以南皮為捍蔽。」 I beg Your Majesty to lend me troops. I will use Nanpi as a bulwark to shield your border.'

田榮欲樹黨於趙以反楚，乃遣兵從陳餘。 Tian Rong wished to build an alliance in Zhao to strengthen his opposition to Chu, so he sent troops to support Chen Yu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 1 passage

漢元年秋，齊王田榮畔項王，（漢）乃使人賜彭越將軍印，使下濟陰以擊楚。 In the autumn of the first year of Han, when King Tian Rong of Qi rebelled against the King of Xiang, Han sent an envoy to bestow upon Peng Yue the seal of a general and ordered him to take Jiyin and attack Chu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 1 passage

漢二年，齊王田榮畔楚，項王往擊齊，徵兵九江，九江王布稱病不往，遣將將數千人行。 In the second year of Han, Tian Rong, the King of Qi, rebelled against Chu. The King of Xiang marched to attack Qi and demanded troops from Jiujiang, but Bu, the King of Jiujiang, pleaded illness and refused to go in person, dispatching only a general with several thousand men.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi · 17 passages

儋從弟田榮，榮弟田橫，皆豪，宗彊，能得人。 His cousin Tian Rong and Rong's younger brother Tian Heng were both bold and formidable men. Their clan wielded great power and could rally followers to their cause.

儋弟田榮收儋餘兵東走東阿。 Tian Dan's kinsman Tian Rong rallied the remnants of Dan's army and retreated east to Dong'e.

田榮之走東阿，章邯追圍之。 When Tian Rong fell back to Dong'e, Zhang Han gave chase and laid siege to the city.

項梁聞田榮之急，乃引兵擊破章邯軍東阿下。 Xiang Liang, hearing of Tian Rong's dire straits, brought his forces to bear and shattered Zhang Han's army beneath the walls of Dong'e.

而田榮怒齊之立假，乃引兵歸，擊逐齊王假。 But Tian Rong, furious that Qi had installed Tian Jia as king, led his troops home and drove King Jia from the throne.

田榮乃立田儋子市為齊王。 Tian Rong then installed Tian Dan's son Shi as King of Qi.

榮相之，田橫為將，平齊地。 Rong served as chancellor and Tian Heng as general, and together they pacified the lands of Qi.

田榮曰：「使楚殺田假，趙殺田角、田閒，閒肯出兵。」 Tian Rong replied, "Have Chu execute Tian Jia, and have Zhao execute Tian Jiao and Tian Jian—only then will I send troops."

項羽往救趙，由此怨田榮。 Xiang Yu marched to Zhao's rescue, and from that time bore a deep grudge against Tian Rong.

田榮以負項梁不肯出兵助楚、趙攻秦，故不得王； Tian Rong, because he had failed Xiang Liang and refused to send troops to aid Chu and Zhao against Qin, was denied a kingdom.

頊王既歸，諸侯各就國，田榮使人將兵助陳餘，令反趙地，而榮亦發兵以距擊田都，田都亡走楚。 Once King Xiang returned west and the lords dispersed to their kingdoms, Tian Rong sent troops to aid Chen Yu, directing him to seize Zhao. At the same time, Rong raised his own forces and attacked Tian Du, who fled to Chu.

田榮留齊王市，無令之膠東。 Tian Rong kept King Shi in Qi and forbade him from proceeding to Jiaodong.

田榮怒，追擊殺齊王市於即墨，還攻殺濟北王安。 Tian Rong, enraged, gave chase and killed King Shi at Jimo. He then turned back and attacked and killed King An of Jibei.

於是田榮乃自立為齊王，盡并三齊之地。 Tian Rong thereupon proclaimed himself King of Qi, bringing all three Qi kingdoms under his rule.

齊王田榮兵敗，走平原，平原人殺榮。 King Tian Rong of Qi was defeated in battle and fled to Pingyuan, where the people of that place killed him.

榮弟橫，收齊散兵，得數萬人，反擊項羽於城陽。 Rong's younger brother Tian Heng rallied the scattered soldiers of Qi, assembling tens of thousands of men, and struck back against Xiang Yu at Chengyang.

以故田橫復得收齊城邑，立田榮子廣為齊王，而橫相之，專國政，政無巨細皆斷於相。 With Xiang Yu's attention diverted, Tian Heng recovered the cities of Qi. He installed Tian Rong's son Guang as King of Qi and served as his chancellor, concentrating all power in his own hands. Every affair of state, great or small, was decided by the chancellor.