Gu Tan (simplified: 顾谭, traditional: 顧譚, pinyin: Gù Tán), courtesy name Zimo (子默 Zǐmò), was an official of Eastern Wu and grandson of Gu Yong. He served as a companion to the heir Sun Deng together with Zhuge Ke, Zhang Xiu, and Chen Biao. He and his younger brother Gu Cheng supported Crown Prince Sun He in the Two Palaces conflict. After the Battle of Quebei (241), Quan Cong’s faction accused Gu Tan, Gu Cheng, and Zhang Xiu of colluding with the Army Supervisor Chen Xun to exaggerate their merit. In 245 all three were exiled to Jiao Province. Gu Tan died in exile.
Biography
Service under Sun Deng and Sun He
Gu Tan was from the Gu clan of Wu Commandery. He and Gu Cheng were grandsons of Gu Yong and nephews of Lu Xun (through Lu Xun’s sister). Gu Tan served as companion to Sun Deng and later backed Sun He when the succession was disputed. At the Battle of Quebei he held a military post; he and Gu Cheng and Zhang Xiu were rewarded above Quan Cong’s sons.
Slander and exile
The Wu lu (cited in the SGZ annotation to Gu Tan’s biography) states that Quan Cong and his sons slandered Gu Tan, Gu Cheng, and Zhang Xiu, claiming they had inflated their merit with Chen Xun. Sun Quan exiled all three to Jiao Province in 245. Gu Tan died in exile. Gu Cheng was later further accused (by Sun Hong) and ordered to commit suicide; Zhang Xiu was also executed.
Legacy
Gu Tan is remembered as one of the officials who supported the heir in the Two Palaces conflict and who fell victim to the Quan faction’s slander, alongside Gu Cheng and Zhang Xiu.