diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 4e24b5f..b8abfc1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@ dist/
 Thumbs.db
 .idea/
 .vscode/
+.claude/
 
 # Local runtime/config artifacts
 config.yaml
 data/
 logs/
+outputs/
 clawhub-zaomeng-skill/runtime/data/
 .tools/
diff --git a/src/skill_support/novel_preparation.py b/src/skill_support/novel_preparation.py
index b91ae93..b31e089 100644
--- a/src/skill_support/novel_preparation.py
+++ b/src/skill_support/novel_preparation.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import re
 import unicodedata
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -10,6 +11,10 @@
 
 from src.utils.text_parser import load_novel_text, split_sentences
 
+_ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE: dict[str, "_AliasRegistry"] = {}
+
+_DEFAULT_ALIAS_FILE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent / "zaomeng-skill" / "character_aliases.json"
+
 MIXED_EXCERPT_MIN_CHARS = 3_000
 MIXED_EXCERPT_MIN_SENTENCES = 40
 
@@ -56,18 +61,113 @@
 MATCH_IGNORED_PATTERN = re.compile(r"[\s\u3000\u00b7\u2027\u30fb'\"`~!@#$%^&*()_+\-=\[\]{}\\|;:,.<>/?，。！？：；、“”‘’《》【】（）]")
 
 
+class _AliasRegistry:
+    __slots__ = ("canonical_to_spec", "alias_to_canonical")
+
+    def __init__(self, canonical_to_spec: dict[str, str], alias_to_canonical: dict[str, str]):
+        self.canonical_to_spec = canonical_to_spec
+        self.alias_to_canonical = alias_to_canonical
+
+    @property
+    def empty(self) -> bool:
+        return not self.canonical_to_spec
+
+
+_EMPTY_REGISTRY = _AliasRegistry({}, {})
+
+
+def _load_alias_registry(alias_file: str | Path | None = None) -> _AliasRegistry:
+    path = Path(alias_file) if alias_file else _DEFAULT_ALIAS_FILE
+    cache_key = str(path)
+    if cache_key in _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE:
+        return _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key]
+
+    if not path.exists():
+        _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key] = _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+        return _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(path.read_text("utf-8"))
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
+        _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key] = _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+        return _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+
+    canonical_to_spec: dict[str, str] = {}
+    alias_to_canonical: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for canonical, aliases in data.items():
+        if canonical.startswith("_") or not isinstance(aliases, list):
+            continue
+        all_names = [canonical] + [str(a).strip() for a in aliases if str(a).strip()]
+        canonical_to_spec[canonical] = "|".join(all_names)
+        for name in all_names:
+            alias_to_canonical[name] = canonical
+            normalized = _normalize_match_text(name)
+            if normalized and normalized not in alias_to_canonical:
+                alias_to_canonical[normalized] = canonical
+
+    registry = _AliasRegistry(canonical_to_spec, alias_to_canonical)
+    _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key] = registry
+    return registry
+
+
+def _resolve_character_aliases(
+    characters: list[str] | None,
+    registry: _AliasRegistry,
+) -> list[str] | None:
+    if not characters or registry.empty:
+        return characters
+    resolved: list[str] = []
+    for name in characters:
+        clean = str(name or "").strip()
+        if not clean:
+            resolved.append(clean)
+            continue
+        if "|" in clean:
+            resolved.append(clean)
+            continue
+        if clean in registry.canonical_to_spec:
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[clean])
+            continue
+        if clean in registry.alias_to_canonical:
+            canonical = registry.alias_to_canonical[clean]
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[canonical])
+            continue
+        normalized = _normalize_match_text(clean)
+        if normalized and normalized in registry.alias_to_canonical:
+            canonical = registry.alias_to_canonical[normalized]
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[canonical])
+            continue
+        if normalized and normalized in registry.canonical_to_spec:
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[normalized])
+            continue
+        resolved.append(clean)
+    return resolved
+
+
+def _canonical_name(character_spec: str) -> str:
+    clean = str(character_spec or "").strip()
+    return clean.split("|", 1)[0].strip()
+
+
+def _split_aliases(character_spec: str) -> list[str]:
+    parts = [a.strip() for a in str(character_spec or "").split("|")]
+    return [a for a in parts if a]
+
+
 def prepare_novel_excerpt(
     text: str,
     *,
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     return build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
         text,
         max_sentences=max_sentences,
         max_chars=max_chars,
         characters=characters,
+        alias_file=alias_file,
     )["excerpt"]
 
 
@@ -77,14 +177,19 @@ def build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    registry = _load_alias_registry(alias_file)
+    characters = _resolve_character_aliases(characters, registry)
     clean = str(text or "").strip()
     if not clean:
+        requested = _normalize_characters(characters)
+        canonical = [_canonical_name(c) for c in requested]
         return {
             "excerpt": "",
-            "requested_characters": _normalize_characters(characters),
+            "requested_characters": canonical,
             "matched_characters": [],
-            "missing_characters": _normalize_characters(characters),
+            "missing_characters": canonical,
             "excerpt_strategy": "empty",
             "excerpt_stages": _empty_stage_blocks(),
         }
@@ -102,12 +207,13 @@ def build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
             return payload
 
     selected_indices = _select_leading_indices(sentences, max_sentences=max_sentences, max_chars=max_chars)
+    canonical_requested = [_canonical_name(c) for c in requested]
     return _build_excerpt_result(
         sentences,
         selected_indices,
-        requested_characters=requested,
+        requested_characters=canonical_requested,
         matched_characters=[],
-        missing_characters=requested,
+        missing_characters=canonical_requested,
         excerpt_strategy="leading_sentences",
         max_chars=max_chars,
     )
@@ -119,12 +225,14 @@ def load_prepared_novel_excerpt(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     return prepare_novel_excerpt(
         load_novel_text(str(novel_path)),
         max_sentences=max_sentences,
         max_chars=max_chars,
         characters=characters,
+        alias_file=alias_file,
     )
 
 
@@ -134,6 +242,7 @@ def build_excerpt_payload(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, object]:
     path = Path(novel_path)
     excerpt_payload = build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
@@ -141,6 +250,7 @@ def build_excerpt_payload(
         max_sentences=max_sentences,
         max_chars=max_chars,
         characters=characters,
+        alias_file=alias_file,
     )
     return {
         "source_path": str(path),
@@ -161,9 +271,12 @@ def _normalize_characters(characters: list[str] | None) -> list[str]:
     seen: set[str] = set()
     for item in list(characters or []):
         name = str(item or "").strip()
-        if not name or name in seen:
+        if not name:
             continue
-        seen.add(name)
+        canonical = _canonical_name(name)
+        if canonical in seen:
+            continue
+        seen.add(canonical)
         ordered.append(name)
     return ordered
 
@@ -174,10 +287,12 @@ def _normalize_match_text(text: str) -> str:
 
 
 def _sentence_mentions_character(sentence: str, character: str) -> bool:
-    normalized_character = _normalize_match_text(character)
-    if not normalized_character:
-        return False
-    return normalized_character in _normalize_match_text(sentence)
+    normalized_sentence = _normalize_match_text(sentence)
+    for alias in _split_aliases(character):
+        normalized_alias = _normalize_match_text(alias)
+        if normalized_alias and normalized_alias in normalized_sentence:
+            return True
+    return False
 
 
 def _leading_excerpt(sentences: list[str], *, max_sentences: int, max_chars: int) -> str:
@@ -213,19 +328,25 @@ def _character_focused_excerpt(
     max_sentences: int,
     max_chars: int,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    character_hits: dict[str, list[int]] = {name: [] for name in characters}
+    canonical_to_spec = {_canonical_name(name): name for name in characters}
+    character_hits: dict[str, list[int]] = {canon: [] for canon in canonical_to_spec}
+    all_hit_indices: list[int] = []
+    seen_hits: set[int] = set()
 
     for idx, sentence in enumerate(sentences):
-        for name in characters:
-            if _sentence_mentions_character(sentence, name):
-                character_hits[name].append(idx)
-
-    matched = [name for name, hits in character_hits.items() if hits]
-    missing = [name for name in characters if not character_hits[name]]
+        for canon, spec in canonical_to_spec.items():
+            if _sentence_mentions_character(sentence, spec):
+                character_hits[canon].append(idx)
+                if idx not in seen_hits:
+                    seen_hits.add(idx)
+                    all_hit_indices.append(idx)
+
+    matched = [canon for canon, hits in character_hits.items() if hits]
+    missing = [canon for canon in canonical_to_spec if not character_hits[canon]]
     if not matched:
         return {
             "excerpt": "",
-            "requested_characters": characters,
+            "requested_characters": list(canonical_to_spec.keys()),
             "matched_characters": [],
             "missing_characters": missing,
             "excerpt_strategy": "leading_sentences",
@@ -268,6 +389,7 @@ def _character_focused_excerpt(
             selected_indices,
             character_hits=character_hits,
             matched_characters=matched,
+            character_specs=list(characters),
             max_sentences=max_sentences,
             max_chars=max_chars,
         )
@@ -275,7 +397,7 @@ def _character_focused_excerpt(
     return _build_excerpt_result(
         sentences,
         selected_indices,
-        requested_characters=characters,
+        requested_characters=list(canonical_to_spec.keys()),
         matched_characters=matched,
         missing_characters=missing,
         excerpt_strategy="character_windows_mixed" if augmented else "character_windows",
@@ -305,6 +427,7 @@ def _augment_character_excerpt_indices(
     *,
     character_hits: dict[str, list[int]],
     matched_characters: list[str],
+    character_specs: list[str] | None = None,
     max_sentences: int,
     max_chars: int,
 ) -> list[int]:
@@ -350,11 +473,12 @@ def add_candidates(indices: list[int], *, radius: int = 0) -> None:
     if enough():
         return ordered
 
-    add_candidates(_dialogue_candidate_indices(sentences, matched_characters), radius=0)
+    spec_list = character_specs if character_specs else matched_characters
+    add_candidates(_dialogue_candidate_indices(sentences, spec_list), radius=0)
     if enough():
         return ordered
 
-    add_candidates(_thought_or_evaluation_indices(sentences, matched_characters), radius=0)
+    add_candidates(_thought_or_evaluation_indices(sentences, spec_list), radius=0)
     return ordered
 
 
@@ -505,7 +629,13 @@ def _build_representative_hit_plan(
     *,
     center_budget: int,
 ) -> list[int]:
-    per_character = {name: _spread_sample_indices(character_hits.get(name, []), sample_cap=3) for name in matched_characters}
+    per_character = {
+        name: _spread_sample_indices(
+            character_hits.get(name, []),
+            sample_cap=max(1, min(len(sorted(set(character_hits.get(name, [])))), center_budget)),
+        )
+        for name in matched_characters
+    }
     ordered_centers: list[int] = []
     seen: set[int] = set()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_novel_preparation.py b/tests/test_novel_preparation.py
index 4ba228e..0777341 100644
--- a/tests/test_novel_preparation.py
+++ b/tests/test_novel_preparation.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 from src.skill_support.novel_preparation import (
     build_excerpt_payload,
+    build_excerpt_payload_from_text,
     load_prepared_novel_excerpt,
     prepare_novel_excerpt,
 )
@@ -159,5 +160,82 @@ def test_prepare_novel_excerpt_uses_mixed_character_strategy_when_window_is_too_
         self.assertIn("结尾余波未散", payload["excerpt"])
 
 
+class AliasKnowledgeBaseTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        import sys
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "zaomeng-skill" / "tools"))
+        from _skill_support.novel_preparation import (
+            _load_alias_registry,
+            _resolve_character_aliases,
+            _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE,
+        )
+        self._load_alias_registry = _load_alias_registry
+        self._resolve_character_aliases = _resolve_character_aliases
+        self._cache = _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE
+        self._cache.clear()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self._cache.clear()
+
+    def _alias_file(self):
+        return Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "zaomeng-skill" / "character_aliases.json"
+
+    def test_canonical_name_resolves_all_aliases(self):
+        reg = self._load_alias_registry(self._alias_file())
+        result = self._resolve_character_aliases(["孙悟空"], reg)
+        self.assertEqual(len(result), 1)
+        self.assertIn("齐天大圣", result[0])
+        self.assertIn("孙行者", result[0])
+        self.assertIn("孙猴子", result[0])
+
+    def test_alias_reverse_lookup(self):
+        reg = self._load_alias_registry(self._alias_file())
+        result = self._resolve_character_aliases(["齐天大圣"], reg)
+        self.assertEqual(len(result), 1)
+        self.assertTrue(result[0].startswith("孙悟空|"))
+
+    def test_unknown_name_passes_through(self):
+        reg = self._load_alias_registry(self._alias_file())
+        result = self._resolve_character_aliases(["张三丰"], reg)
+        self.assertEqual(result, ["张三丰"])
+
+    def test_manual_pipe_not_overridden(self):
+        reg = self._load_alias_registry(self._alias_file())
+        result = self._resolve_character_aliases(["李四|李老四"], reg)
+        self.assertEqual(result, ["李四|李老四"])
+
+    def test_missing_file_graceful_degradation(self):
+        reg = self._load_alias_registry("/nonexistent/path/aliases.json")
+        self.assertTrue(reg.empty)
+        result = self._resolve_character_aliases(["孙悟空"], reg)
+        self.assertEqual(result, ["孙悟空"])
+
+    def test_alias_matching_in_excerpt(self):
+        text = "那齐天大圣一个筋斗翻了十万八千里。唐僧在后面叫道悟空快回来。孙行者笑道师父莫急。"
+        payload = build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
+            text,
+            characters=["孙悟空"],
+            max_sentences=10,
+            max_chars=500,
+            alias_file=self._alias_file(),
+        )
+        matched = payload["matched_characters"]
+        self.assertTrue(any("孙悟空" in m for m in matched))
+        self.assertIn("齐天大圣", payload["excerpt"])
+
+    def test_reverse_alias_matching_in_excerpt(self):
+        text = "猪八戒扛着钉耙走在前面。天蓬元帅当年何等威风。"
+        payload = build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
+            text,
+            characters=["天蓬元帅"],
+            max_sentences=10,
+            max_chars=500,
+            alias_file=self._alias_file(),
+        )
+        matched = payload["matched_characters"]
+        self.assertTrue(any("猪八戒" in m for m in matched))
+        self.assertIn("猪八戒", payload["excerpt"])
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/zaomeng-skill/character_aliases.json b/zaomeng-skill/character_aliases.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0692ebb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zaomeng-skill/character_aliases.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+  "_meta": {
+    "description": "角色别名知识库：canonical_name → [alias1, alias2, ...]。支持双向查找。"
+  },
+  "孙悟空": ["齐天大圣", "孙行者", "孙猴子", "美猴王", "弼马温"],
+  "猪八戒": ["天蓬元帅", "猪悟能", "呆子"],
+  "唐僧": ["唐三藏", "玄奘", "金蝉子"],
+  "沙悟净": ["沙僧", "沙和尚", "卷帘大将"],
+  "贾宝玉": ["宝二爷", "怡红公子", "绛洞花主"],
+  "林黛玉": ["颦儿", "潇湘妃子", "林妹妹"],
+  "薛宝钗": ["宝姐姐", "蘅芜君"],
+  "王熙凤": ["凤姐", "凤辣子", "琏二奶奶"],
+  "武松": ["武二郎", "行者武松"],
+  "林冲": ["豹子头", "林教头"],
+  "鲁智深": ["鲁达", "花和尚"],
+  "宋江": ["及时雨", "呼保义", "宋公明"]
+}
diff --git a/zaomeng-skill/tools/_skill_support/novel_preparation.py b/zaomeng-skill/tools/_skill_support/novel_preparation.py
index 3e13a81..b394787 100644
--- a/zaomeng-skill/tools/_skill_support/novel_preparation.py
+++ b/zaomeng-skill/tools/_skill_support/novel_preparation.py
@@ -3,11 +3,16 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import re
 import unicodedata
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
+_ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE: dict[str, "_AliasRegistry"] = {}
+
+_DEFAULT_ALIAS_FILE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent / "character_aliases.json"
+
 TEXT_ENCODINGS = (
     "utf-8-sig",
     "utf-8",
@@ -64,6 +69,89 @@
 MATCH_IGNORED_PATTERN = re.compile(r"[\s\u3000\u00b7\u2027\u30fb'\"`~!@#$%^&*()_+\-=\[\]{}\\|;:,.<>/?，。！？：；、“”‘’《》【】（）]")
 
 
+class _AliasRegistry:
+    __slots__ = ("canonical_to_spec", "alias_to_canonical")
+
+    def __init__(self, canonical_to_spec: dict[str, str], alias_to_canonical: dict[str, str]):
+        self.canonical_to_spec = canonical_to_spec
+        self.alias_to_canonical = alias_to_canonical
+
+    @property
+    def empty(self) -> bool:
+        return not self.canonical_to_spec
+
+
+_EMPTY_REGISTRY = _AliasRegistry({}, {})
+
+
+def _load_alias_registry(alias_file: str | Path | None = None) -> _AliasRegistry:
+    path = Path(alias_file) if alias_file else _DEFAULT_ALIAS_FILE
+    cache_key = str(path)
+    if cache_key in _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE:
+        return _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key]
+
+    if not path.exists():
+        _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key] = _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+        return _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(path.read_text("utf-8"))
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, OSError):
+        _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key] = _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+        return _EMPTY_REGISTRY
+
+    canonical_to_spec: dict[str, str] = {}
+    alias_to_canonical: dict[str, str] = {}
+    for canonical, aliases in data.items():
+        if canonical.startswith("_") or not isinstance(aliases, list):
+            continue
+        all_names = [canonical] + [str(a).strip() for a in aliases if str(a).strip()]
+        canonical_to_spec[canonical] = "|".join(all_names)
+        for name in all_names:
+            alias_to_canonical[name] = canonical
+            normalized = _normalize_match_text(name)
+            if normalized and normalized not in alias_to_canonical:
+                alias_to_canonical[normalized] = canonical
+
+    registry = _AliasRegistry(canonical_to_spec, alias_to_canonical)
+    _ALIAS_REGISTRY_CACHE[cache_key] = registry
+    return registry
+
+
+def _resolve_character_aliases(
+    characters: list[str] | None,
+    registry: _AliasRegistry,
+) -> list[str] | None:
+    if not characters or registry.empty:
+        return characters
+    resolved: list[str] = []
+    for name in characters:
+        clean = str(name or "").strip()
+        if not clean:
+            resolved.append(clean)
+            continue
+        if "|" in clean:
+            resolved.append(clean)
+            continue
+        if clean in registry.canonical_to_spec:
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[clean])
+            continue
+        if clean in registry.alias_to_canonical:
+            canonical = registry.alias_to_canonical[clean]
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[canonical])
+            continue
+        normalized = _normalize_match_text(clean)
+        if normalized and normalized in registry.alias_to_canonical:
+            canonical = registry.alias_to_canonical[normalized]
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[canonical])
+            continue
+        if normalized and normalized in registry.canonical_to_spec:
+            resolved.append(registry.canonical_to_spec[normalized])
+            continue
+        resolved.append(clean)
+    return resolved
+
+
 def _decode_score(text: str) -> tuple[int, int, int, int]:
     if not text:
         return (-10_000, 0, 0, 0)
@@ -160,12 +248,14 @@ def prepare_novel_excerpt(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     return build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
         text,
         max_sentences=max_sentences,
         max_chars=max_chars,
         characters=characters,
+        alias_file=alias_file,
     )["excerpt"]
 
 
@@ -175,14 +265,19 @@ def build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    registry = _load_alias_registry(alias_file)
+    characters = _resolve_character_aliases(characters, registry)
     clean = str(text or "").strip()
     if not clean:
+        requested = _normalize_characters(characters)
+        canonical = [_canonical_name(c) for c in requested]
         return {
             "excerpt": "",
-            "requested_characters": _normalize_characters(characters),
+            "requested_characters": canonical,
             "matched_characters": [],
-            "missing_characters": _normalize_characters(characters),
+            "missing_characters": canonical,
             "excerpt_strategy": "empty",
             "excerpt_stages": _empty_stage_blocks(),
         }
@@ -200,12 +295,13 @@ def build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
             return payload
 
     selected_indices = _select_leading_indices(sentences, max_sentences=max_sentences, max_chars=max_chars)
+    canonical_requested = [_canonical_name(c) for c in requested]
     return _build_excerpt_result(
         sentences,
         selected_indices,
-        requested_characters=requested,
+        requested_characters=canonical_requested,
         matched_characters=[],
-        missing_characters=requested,
+        missing_characters=canonical_requested,
         excerpt_strategy="leading_sentences",
         max_chars=max_chars,
     )
@@ -217,12 +313,14 @@ def load_prepared_novel_excerpt(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> str:
     return prepare_novel_excerpt(
         load_novel_text(novel_path),
         max_sentences=max_sentences,
         max_chars=max_chars,
         characters=characters,
+        alias_file=alias_file,
     )
 
 
@@ -232,6 +330,7 @@ def build_excerpt_payload(
     max_sentences: int = 80,
     max_chars: int = 12_000,
     characters: list[str] | None = None,
+    alias_file: str | Path | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, object]:
     path = Path(novel_path)
     excerpt_payload = build_excerpt_payload_from_text(
@@ -239,6 +338,7 @@ def build_excerpt_payload(
         max_sentences=max_sentences,
         max_chars=max_chars,
         characters=characters,
+        alias_file=alias_file,
     )
     return {
         "source_path": str(path),
@@ -254,14 +354,29 @@ def build_excerpt_payload(
     }
 
 
+def _canonical_name(character_spec: str) -> str:
+    """Extract the canonical name (first '|'-separated part)."""
+    clean = str(character_spec or "").strip()
+    return clean.split("|", 1)[0].strip()
+
+
+def _split_aliases(character_spec: str) -> list[str]:
+    """Split '孙悟空|齐天大圣|孙行者' into ['孙悟空', '齐天大圣', '孙行者']."""
+    parts = [a.strip() for a in str(character_spec or "").split("|")]
+    return [a for a in parts if a]
+
+
 def _normalize_characters(characters: list[str] | None) -> list[str]:
     ordered: list[str] = []
     seen: set[str] = set()
     for item in list(characters or []):
         name = str(item or "").strip()
-        if not name or name in seen:
+        if not name:
+            continue
+        canonical = _canonical_name(name)
+        if canonical in seen:
             continue
-        seen.add(name)
+        seen.add(canonical)
         ordered.append(name)
     return ordered
 
@@ -272,10 +387,12 @@ def _normalize_match_text(text: str) -> str:
 
 
 def _sentence_mentions_character(sentence: str, character: str) -> bool:
-    normalized_character = _normalize_match_text(character)
-    if not normalized_character:
-        return False
-    return normalized_character in _normalize_match_text(sentence)
+    normalized_sentence = _normalize_match_text(sentence)
+    for alias in _split_aliases(character):
+        normalized_alias = _normalize_match_text(alias)
+        if normalized_alias and normalized_alias in normalized_sentence:
+            return True
+    return False
 
 
 def _leading_excerpt(sentences: list[str], *, max_sentences: int, max_chars: int) -> str:
@@ -311,24 +428,25 @@ def _character_focused_excerpt(
     max_sentences: int,
     max_chars: int,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    character_hits: dict[str, list[int]] = {name: [] for name in characters}
+    canonical_to_spec = {_canonical_name(name): name for name in characters}
+    character_hits: dict[str, list[int]] = {canon: [] for canon in canonical_to_spec}
     all_hit_indices: list[int] = []
     seen_hits: set[int] = set()
 
     for idx, sentence in enumerate(sentences):
-        for name in characters:
-            if _sentence_mentions_character(sentence, name):
-                character_hits[name].append(idx)
+        for canon, spec in canonical_to_spec.items():
+            if _sentence_mentions_character(sentence, spec):
+                character_hits[canon].append(idx)
                 if idx not in seen_hits:
                     seen_hits.add(idx)
                     all_hit_indices.append(idx)
 
-    matched = [name for name, hits in character_hits.items() if hits]
-    missing = [name for name in characters if not character_hits[name]]
+    matched = [canon for canon, hits in character_hits.items() if hits]
+    missing = [canon for canon in canonical_to_spec if not character_hits[canon]]
     if not matched:
         return {
             "excerpt": "",
-            "requested_characters": characters,
+            "requested_characters": list(canonical_to_spec.keys()),
             "matched_characters": [],
             "missing_characters": missing,
             "excerpt_strategy": "leading_sentences",
@@ -371,6 +489,7 @@ def _character_focused_excerpt(
             selected_indices,
             character_hits=character_hits,
             matched_characters=matched,
+            character_specs=list(characters),
             max_sentences=max_sentences,
             max_chars=max_chars,
         )
@@ -378,7 +497,7 @@ def _character_focused_excerpt(
     return _build_excerpt_result(
         sentences,
         selected_indices,
-        requested_characters=characters,
+        requested_characters=list(canonical_to_spec.keys()),
         matched_characters=matched,
         missing_characters=missing,
         excerpt_strategy="character_windows_mixed" if augmented else "character_windows",
@@ -408,6 +527,7 @@ def _augment_character_excerpt_indices(
     *,
     character_hits: dict[str, list[int]],
     matched_characters: list[str],
+    character_specs: list[str] | None = None,
     max_sentences: int,
     max_chars: int,
 ) -> list[int]:
@@ -452,11 +572,12 @@ def add_candidates(indices: list[int], *, radius: int = 0) -> None:
     if enough():
         return ordered
 
-    add_candidates(_dialogue_candidate_indices(sentences, matched_characters), radius=0)
+    spec_list = character_specs if character_specs else matched_characters
+    add_candidates(_dialogue_candidate_indices(sentences, spec_list), radius=0)
     if enough():
         return ordered
 
-    add_candidates(_thought_or_evaluation_indices(sentences, matched_characters), radius=0)
+    add_candidates(_thought_or_evaluation_indices(sentences, spec_list), radius=0)
     return ordered