田荣 / Tian Rong

田荣 / Tian Rong first appears in the wiki background through Qinji 128-8 as one of 田儋’s Qi kinsmen in Di County, alongside 田横. That earlier source focuses on Tian Dan’s seizure of Qi kingship, but it places Tian Rong inside the same restored-Qi network from the beginning.

Qinji 130-3 makes Tian Rong the central Qi-side survivor after 章邯 kills Tian Dan and defeats the relief army at Linji. Tian Rong gathers defeated troops, withdraws to Dong’e, and is then besieged by Zhang Han until 项梁 attacks and defeats Qin outside the city.

After returning to 齐国, Tian Rong rejects the officials’ installation of 田假 as Qi king. He argues that succession should at least pass through the strongest anti-Qin actor in Qi, then drives Tian Jia to 楚国, while 田角 and 田间 flee to 赵国. He installs Tian Dan’s son as king, takes the chancellorship himself, and makes 田横 general.

The same source turns Tian Rong from rescued ally into coalition blocker. When Xiang Liang asks Qi and Zhao to join a joint attack on Zhang Han, Tian Rong demands that Chu kill Tian Jia and Zhao kill Tian Jiao plus Tian Jian before Qi will send troops. Chu and Zhao refuse to kill refugees who have entrusted themselves to them, so Tian Rong refuses to cooperate. His page therefore sharpens 反秦阵营诸侯化分裂: internal restoration legitimacy can override the common anti-Qin battlefield interest.

Hanji 143 records the settlement penalty for that non-cooperation. Xiang Yu does not give Tian Rong a kingship because Tian Rong repeatedly refused orders and did not join the westward campaign. Instead, the Qi field is divided among 田巿, 田都, and 田安, making Tian Rong a major excluded actor inside 周秦混合制.

Hanji 144 part 2 gives the rebellion response. Tian Rong attacks 田都, who flees to 项羽, then kills 田巿 after Tian Shi tries to obey the new Jiaodong assignment. Tian Rong makes himself Qi king, gives 彭越 a general’s seal to attack 田安, and later supplies troops to 陈馀 so Zhao can be reopened against 张耳. His excluded status therefore turns into the first large eastern revolt against Xiang Yu’s order.

Hanji 148-2 shows Tian Rong’s revolt shaping Xiang Yu’s timing. A copied letter from Tian Rong to 赵歇 reaches 项羽 through 张良 alongside 刘邦’s self-justifying Guanzhong letter. Xiang Yu does not trust Liu Bang, but the source says he first focuses on Tian Rong because the Qi challenge looks more immediately active.

Hanji 149 part 2 closes Tian Rong’s personal branch but not the Qi resistance branch. Xiang Yu defeats him at Chengyang; Tian Rong flees to Pingyuan and is killed by local people hoping to show submission. The episode’s point is that Tian Rong’s death could have opened pacification, but Xiang Yu’s subsequent killing, burning, and plunder force Qi people back into resistance.

Hanji 151 part 1 gives that continuing branch a named succession. 田横 gathers the remnants and installs Tian Rong’s son 田广 as Qi king around 莒城 / 城阳. Tian Rong’s failed kingship therefore still shapes 彭城之战 because his line supplies the banner that keeps 项羽 busy in Qi.

Connections

• 田儋 and 田横 - Qi kinship and restored-state network.
• 齐国, 楚国, and 赵国 - polities involved in the succession and refugee dispute.
• 章邯 and 项梁 - Qin pressure and Chu rescue at Dong’e.
• 田假, 田角, and 田间 - rival Qi figures whose deaths Tian Rong demands.
• 反秦阵营诸侯化分裂, 联盟自保失灵, and 六国复国式反秦策略 - concept branches clarified by his refusal to join Xiang Liang.
• Hanji 144 part 2, 彭越, 陈馀, and 分配反噬 - excluded Qi actor becomes rebellion organizer.
• Hanji 148-2, 张良, 赵歇, and 怀王之约 - Tian Rong’s letter helps Xiang Yu prioritize Qi before Liu Bang.
• Hanji 149 part 2, 项羽, 田假, and 暴行反噬式动员 - Tian Rong’s death followed by failed Qi pacification.
• Hanji 151 part 1, 田横, 田广, 莒城 / 城阳, and 彭城之战 - succession banner and renewed resistance after Tian Rong’s death.