RThrough a joke, had the proposal to punish those who merely had brewing tools like actual brewers droppedShu 8 §29
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a civil officialCh. 35 §12
Jian Yong 簡雍
| Occupation | ROfficial · General Who Manifests Virtue | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | Native place | Zhuo Commandery | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R9 |
Profile
Jian Yong, courtesy name Xianhe, was a man of Zhuo Commandery. Having known the First Sovereign, Liu Bei, since his youth, he followed him in his wanderings, and when the First Sovereign reached Jing Province he became an Attendant Gentleman (congshi zhonglang) together with Mi Zhu and Sun Qian, serving constantly as a guest in discussion and traveling back and forth on missions. Records, Shu 8 §28
In the 19th year of Jian'an (214), when the First Sovereign besieged Chengdu, Jian Yong went to persuade Liu Zhang, and Liu Zhang rode out of the city in the same carriage as Jian Yong and surrendered. The First Sovereign appointed him General Who Manifests Virtue (zhaode jiangjun). The Records do not state when he died. Records, Shu 2 §33Records, Shu 8 §28–30
In his assessment, Chen Shou said of him, together with Mi Zhu, Sun Qian and Yi Ji, that 'all were treated with courtesy by their age for their gracious bearing and refined discourse.' In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 18 as a man from Liu Bei's home district serving as his staff adviser, and he features in 14 of its 120 chapters; no chapter title bears his name. He goes to Xudu to seek help, and in Chapter 65 he enters Chengdu and brings about Liu Zhang's surrender. Records, Shu 8 §59Romance, Ch. 18 §24 · 28Romance, Ch. 65 §42–43
In the Records
Jian Yong, courtesy name Xianhe, was a man of Zhuo Commandery. He had known the First Sovereign, Liu Bei, since his youth and followed him in his wanderings. When the First Sovereign reached Jing Province, Jian Yong, together with Mi Zhu and Sun Qian, became an Attendant Gentleman (congshi zhonglang), serving constantly as a guest in discussion and traveling back and forth on missions. Records, Shu 8 §28
When the First Sovereign entered Yi Province, Liu Zhang met Jian Yong and grew very fond of him. In the summer of the 19th year of Jian'an (214), after Luo fell and the First Sovereign had besieged Chengdu for several tens of days, he sent Jian Yong to persuade Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang at last rode out of the city in the same carriage as Jian Yong and surrendered. The First Sovereign appointed Jian Yong General Who Manifests Virtue (zhaode jiangjun). Records, Shu 8 §28Records, Shu 2 §33
Having taken Yi Province, the First Sovereign again assumed the post of Governor of Yi Province, making Zhuge Liang his arms and legs and Fa Zheng his chief strategist, and treating Xu Jing, Mi Zhu and Jian Yong as guests and friends. At the same time Sun Qian, promoted from Attendant Gentleman to General Who Upholds Loyalty, was shown courtesy next after Mi Zhu and equal to Jian Yong, while Yi Ji, made Attendant Gentleman to the General of the Left, was treated next after Jian Yong, Sun Qian and others. Records, Shu 2 §33Records, Shu 8 §26 · 32
Jian Yong enjoyed leisurely discussion and was by nature casual, haughty and unrestrained. Even in the First Sovereign's presence he sat with his legs sprawled out or leaned to one side, without dignified bearing, doing as he pleased. With Zhuge Liang and those below him he took a couch all to himself and talked lying down with his neck on a pillow, bowing to no one. Records, Shu 8 §29
Once, when drought had led to a ban on liquor and brewers were punished, officials found brewing tools in a household, and those discussing the case wished to punish that household the same as those who had made liquor. Jian Yong, out on an excursion with the First Sovereign, pointed to a man and a woman walking along the road and asked why they were not arrested, since they were about to commit adultery. When the First Sovereign asked how he knew, Jian Yong replied that they had the tools for it, just like those who had intended to brew. The First Sovereign laughed heartily and pardoned those who had intended to brew. Chen Shou wrote that Jian Yong's wit was all of this kind. Records, Shu 8 §29–30
The Records do not state when or how Jian Yong died. In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong and Yi Ji were all treated with courtesy by their age for their gracious bearing and refined discourse. Records, Shu 8 §28–30 · 59
In the Romance
In Chapter 18 of the Romance, when Gao Shun approaches Xiaopei, Jian Yong, a man from Liu Bei's home district and his staff adviser, volunteers, carries Liu Bei's letter through the night to Xudu to tell Cao Cao of the emergency, and returns with Cao Cao's main army. In Chapter 19 he stays behind in Xu Province with Mi Zhu, and in Chapter 24, when Cao Cao attacks Xu Province, he and Mi Zhu cannot hold it and abandon the city and flee. Romance, Ch. 18 §24 · 28–29Romance, Ch. 19 §24Romance, Ch. 24 §28
In Chapter 28 he is at the side of Liu Bei, who has taken refuge with Yuan Shao, and discusses a plan of escape with Sun Qian. Jian Yong tells Liu Bei simply to say to Yuan Shao that he will go to Jing Province and persuade Liu Biao to attack Cao Cao together; he himself tells Yuan Shao that Liu Bei will not come back, so he will go along both to persuade Liu Biao and to keep watch on Liu Bei, and so obtains orders to accompany him. When Guo Tu voices suspicion, Yuan Shao refuses to listen, saying that Jian Yong has insight of his own. Romance, Ch. 28 §47–51
In Chapter 41, when a violent wind rises on the road to Dangyang as Liu Bei leads the common people, Jian Yong, who is well versed in yin and yang, casts a divination in his sleeve and says it is a sign of great misfortune, urging him to abandon the people and leave, but Liu Bei does not follow his advice. In the turmoil that follows, Jian Yong, chasing after the two ladies, is speared by an enemy officer and falls from his horse; lying in the grass, he tells Zhao Yun that the two ladies have fled carrying A Dou. Riding a horse lent by Zhao Yun, he goes on ahead to bring the news. Romance, Ch. 41 §34–35 · 42–43 · 49
In Chapter 45 he firmly holds E County while Liu Bei goes to Jiangdong to meet Zhou Yu, and in Chapter 49 he stays behind with Sun Qian to guard the city when Liu Bei goes to Fankou. In Chapter 63 he follows Zhuge Liang into Xichuan together with Jiang Wan and others. Romance, Ch. 45 §15Romance, Ch. 49 §40Romance, Ch. 63 §33
In Chapter 65, as Liu Bei's staff adviser, he goes beneath the walls of Chengdu and calls for the gates to be opened. Once inside, he sits in his carriage glancing about arrogantly, until Qin Mi draws his sword and rebukes him; flustered, he gets down from the carriage to greet him and says with a laugh that he did not recognize him and begs not to be blamed. He explains to Liu Zhang in detail that Liu Bei is generous and magnanimous and has no intention of harming him, whereupon Liu Zhang resolves to surrender, and the next day rides out of the city in the same carriage as Jian Yong to surrender. In the same chapter Liu Bei, having taken Yi Province, also promotes and rewards Sun Qian, Jian Yong and others. Romance, Ch. 65 §42–43 · 47
Where the Romance differs
The envoy to Xudu: In Chapter 18 of the Romance, when Gao Shun approaches Xiaopei, Jian Yong goes to Xudu and asks Cao Cao for help. The Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records say only that when Lü Bu sent Gao Shun to attack Liu Bei, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to his relief without success, and the Biography of Jian Yong has no such mission either. Romance, Ch. 18 §24 · 28Records, Wei 1 §48Records, Shu 8 §27–30
The plan to leave Yuan Shao: In Chapter 28 of the Romance, Jian Yong devises the escape plan and, on the pretext of keeping watch on Liu Bei, obtains Yuan Shao's permission to go with him. In the Records, the First Sovereign, secretly wishing to leave Yuan Shao, persuaded Yuan Shao to ally with Liu Biao in the south, and Yuan Shao sent the First Sovereign with his own troops to Runan. Jian Yong does not appear. Romance, Ch. 28 §47–51Records, Shu 2 §18
Divination and wound at Changban: In Chapter 41 of the Romance, Jian Yong, versed in yin and yang, divines an ill omen, and after being speared from his horse he brings the news to Zhao Yun. The Biography of Jian Yong in the Records has none of this. Romance, Ch. 41 §34 · 42–43Records, Shu 8 §27–30
Persuading Liu Zhang: In Chapter 65 of the Romance, Jian Yong enters the city, is rebuked by Qin Mi, and then persuades Liu Zhang. In the Records, Liu Zhang had been very fond of Jian Yong ever since the First Sovereign entered Yi Province, and when the First Sovereign sent him to persuade Liu Zhang, Liu Zhang came out in the same carriage and surrendered. Qin Mi's rebuke is not in the Biography of Jian Yong. Romance, Ch. 65 §42–43Records, Shu 8 §28
Character and wit: The Records describe Jian Yong as so haughty that he sat sprawled even before the First Sovereign and talked lying down with Zhuge Liang and those below him, and relate the joke about brewing tools with which he made the First Sovereign laugh. The Romance has only the scene in Chapter 65 where he sits in his carriage glancing about arrogantly and is rebuked by Qin Mi; the joke about brewing tools is absent. Records, Shu 8 §29–30Romance, Ch. 65 §42
Office: In the Records he became an Attendant Gentleman in Jing Province and was appointed General Who Manifests Virtue after Yi Province was pacified. In the Romance he is called a staff adviser, and in Chapter 65 his name merely appears among those who are promoted and rewarded. Records, Shu 8 §28Romance, Ch. 18 §24Romance, Ch. 65 §42 · 47
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total478 / 1000Rank 299 of 996 · Top 31%Romance total478 / 1000Rank 152 of 1,113 · Top 14%
Romance adaptation index±0Romance total − Records total
- LEA3130−1
- STR3131±0
- INT4862+14
- POL5035−15
- CHA5845−13
- VIR5055+5
- ADP5060+10
- SCH4242±0
- DIP8078−2
- DIS3840+2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a guest in discussionShu 8 §28
NDevised the plan to escape from Yuan Shao, who even said he had insight of his ownCh. 28 §47Ch. 28 §50
RLiu Zhang was very fond of him, and his discourse won him the courtesy of his ageShu 8 §28Shu 8 §59
NNo direct record — estimated from Liu Zhang's generous treatment of himCh. 65 §43
RNo direct record — estimated from his following the First SovereignShu 8 §28
NEscaped by volunteering to keep watch on Liu Bei; urged abandoning the people at an ill omenCh. 28 §50Ch. 41 §34
6 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as guest and envoyShu 8 §28
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a civil official guarding Xu ProvinceCh. 22 §52
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a guestShu 8 §28
NNo direct record — estimated from his role as a civil officialCh. 22 §52
RLong followed the First Sovereign, but was haughty and unrestrainedShu 8 §28Shu 8 §29
NDeceived Yuan Shao to follow his lord; looked about arrogantly in ChengduCh. 28 §50Ch. 65 §42
RNo direct record — estimated from the record of his love of discussionShu 8 §29
NNo direct record — estimated from the record of his knowledge of yin and yangCh. 41 §34
RPersuaded Liu Zhang to surrender during the siege of Chengdu and traveled on missionsShu 8 §28Shu 8 §59
NPersuaded Liu Zhang to surrender and tricked Yuan Shao into letting him go alongCh. 65 §42Ch. 28 §50Ch. 18 §28
RNo direct record — estimatedShu 8 §28
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 35 §12
Special — talents Records +0 · Romance +10
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Divination & astronomy
NSkilled +10 Quite versed in yin and yang, he divined an ill omenCh. 41 §34
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (14)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Records · Records vol. 38 「少與先主有舊，隨從周旋」
Related events (2)
- Lord and Vassals Reunite at Gucheng 200 · Appears (Romance scene)
- Zhao Yun Rescues His Lord Single-Handed 208 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).