RAssessment: kept the provinces and commanderies in order and guarded them, showing authority and kindnessWei 18 §38Wei 18 §92
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as Administrator of JiangxiaCh. 41 §30
Wen Pin 文聘
| Occupation | RGeneral · General of the Rear NGeneral · Administrator of Jiangxia | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Wei |
| Born | Native place | Nanyang Commandery Wan County | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R14 |
Profile
Wen Pin, courtesy name Zhongye, was a man of Wan County in Nanyang Commandery. A senior general under Liu Biao charged with guarding the north, he went over to Cao Cao after Liu Biao's son Liu Cong surrendered to Cao Cao. Records, Wei 18 §34
Cao Cao made him Administrator of Jiangxia and entrusted him with the frontier bordering Wu, and in his several decades at Jiangxia Wen Pin won merit in the attacks on Guan Yu. In the 7th year of Huangchu (226), when Sun Quan surrounded him at Shiyang with a host of 50,000, he held firm and drove him off. He rose to General of the Rear and Marquis of Xinye, and after his death received the posthumous name Marquis Zhuang. Records, Wei 18 §35–38Records, Wu 2 §54
In his assessment, Chen Shou, author of the Records, said of him together with Li Tong, Zang Ba and Lü Qian that they 'kept the provinces and commanderies in order and guarded them, and all showed authority and kindness.' In the Romance he first appears at Liu Biao's banquet in Chapter 34 as a general who invites Zhao Yun to a seat outside, and he appears in 9 of its 120 chapters; his name does not appear in any chapter title. Records, Wei 18 §92Romance, Ch. 34 §37–38
In the Records
Wen Pin, courtesy name Zhongye, was a man of Wan County in Nanyang Commandery. He became a senior general under Liu Biao and was charged with guarding the north. Liu Biao died and was succeeded by his son Liu Cong, and when Cao Cao attacked Jing Province, Liu Cong surrendered with the whole province and called on Wen Pin to go with him. Wen Pin did not follow, saying, 'I could not keep the province whole; I shall only await punishment.' Records, Wei 18 §34
Only after Cao Cao had crossed the Han River did Wen Pin go to him. When Cao Cao asked why he had come so late, Wen Pin said that he had failed to support Liu of Jing Province, and after Liu Biao's death he had hoped to hold the Han River region and preserve its territory, but circumstances had left him no choice and it had come to this; out of grief and shame he had had no face to appear early, and he sobbed and wept. Cao Cao, moved, said, 'Zhongye, you are truly a loyal subject,' and treated him with generous courtesy. Records, Wei 18 §34–35
Cao Cao gave Wen Pin troops and had him pursue and attack Liu Bei at Changban together with Cao Chun. Because Jiangxia bordered Wu and the people there were uneasy, Cao Cao made him Administrator of Jiangxia, placed him in command of the northern troops and entrusted him with frontier affairs, and bestowed on him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. The Annals of Emperor Wu record that in the 13th year of Jian'an (208), when merit was assessed for the submission of Jing Province, Liu Biao's senior general Wen Pin was made Administrator of Jiangxia and allowed to command his original troops. Records, Wei 18 §35Records, Wei 1 §103–104
Together with Yue Jin, Wen Pin attacked Guan Yu at Xunkou and won merit, for which he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yanshou Village and given the additional title General Who Attacks Rebels. He also attacked Guan Yu's baggage train at Hanjin and burned his boats at Jingcheng. Records, Wei 18 §36
When Emperor Wen took the throne, Wen Pin's rank was raised to Marquis of Chang'an District and he was granted the Tally of Authority (jiajie). When he and Xiahou Shang besieged Jiangling, he was ordered to garrison Miankou separately; stationed at Shifan, he took charge of a force on his own and won merit holding off the enemy, and he was promoted to General of the Rear and enfeoffed as Marquis of Xinye. Records, Wei 18 §37
In the 7th year of Huangchu (226), Sun Quan, hearing that Emperor Wen of Wei had died, attacked Jiangxia and surrounded Shiyang. The Biography of Wen Pin records that Sun Quan in person surrounded Wen Pin very closely with a host of 50,000, but when Wen Pin held firm and did not move, Sun Quan stayed for more than twenty days and then lifted the siege and left, and Wen Pin pursued and defeated him. According to the Annals of Emperor Ming, there was a proposal at court to send a relief army, but Emperor Ming said that attackers need twice the strength of defenders, so Sun Quan would not be able to hold out for long. Wen Pin's fief was increased by 500 households, bringing it to 1,900 households in all. Records, Wu 2 §54Records, Wei 18 §37Records, Wei 3 §3
In his several decades at Jiangxia, Wen Pin exercised authority with kindness, his name resounded in the enemy state, and the enemy dared not invade. The court divided his fief to enfeoff his son Wen Dai as a full marquis and bestowed on his nephew Wen Hou the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. When Wen Pin died, he was given the posthumous name Marquis Zhuang. Because Wen Dai had died before him, his adopted son Wen Xiu succeeded him. It is said that Huan Yu of Qiao Commandery, who became Administrator of Jiangxia in the Jiaping era, had a reputation second only to Wen Pin's. Records, Wei 18 §38–39
In the autumn of the 4th year of Zhengshi (243), in the 7th month, an imperial edict ordered that Wen Pin, General of the Rear, be honored with sacrifices in the temple courtyard of Taizu together with Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang, Zhang He, Zhang Liao and others. Records, Wei 4 §14
In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Pin and Lü Qian kept the provinces and commanderies in order and guarded them, and all showed authority and kindness. Records, Wei 18 §92
In the Romance
In Chapter 34 of the Romance, when Cai Mao plans to harm Liu Bei at a banquet, Kuai Yue proposes that Wen Pin and Wang Wei set up a separate table in the outer hall to entertain the military officers, so as to keep Zhao Yun occupied first. Wen Pin and Wang Wei invite Zhao Yun to take his seat; Zhao Yun declines, and only reluctantly goes when Liu Bei tells him to. Romance, Ch. 34 §37–38
In Chapter 41, after Liu Cong has surrendered, Liu Bei arrives beneath the walls of Xiangyang, and Wei Yan tries to open the city gate and let Liu Bei's troops in. Wen Pin comes out shouting, 'Wei Yan, you nameless underling! Do you not know the great general Wen Pin?', and fights Wei Yan. Later, when he alone is missing among Cao Cao's generals and Cao Cao sends someone to look for him, he finally comes and sobs that, grieved and ashamed at having failed to let his lord preserve his territory, he had no face to appear early. Cao Cao says, 'Truly a loyal subject!', makes him Administrator of Jiangxia, bestows on him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes, and has him lead the way. Romance, Ch. 41 §12 · 30
In the same chapter, when he blocks Liu Bei's path at Dangyang, Liu Bei rebukes him: 'Traitor to your master, how can you still show your face to anyone?', and Wen Pin, his face full of shame, leads his troops away to the northeast. In Chapter 42 he pursues Zhao Yun as far as Changban Bridge, but on seeing Zhang Fei sitting on his horse on the bridge and dust rising behind the woods east of the bridge, he suspects an ambush and dares not approach. Romance, Ch. 41 §37Romance, Ch. 42 §2 · 6
In Chapter 48 he goes out with thirty patrol boats to bring back the boats of Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan, but when Han Dang and Zhou Tai attack with all their might, he cannot withstand them and turns his boats to flee. In Chapter 49, as Huang Gai's boats approach, he says he is 'quite familiar with matters on the water' and goes out with patrol boats, shouting that the southern boats must not come near the camp, but is struck in the left arm by an arrow and falls down in his boat. In Chapter 50 Mao Jie rescues him and brings him to Cao Cao. Romance, Ch. 48 §25 · 30Romance, Ch. 49 §46–47Romance, Ch. 50 §7
At the archery contest at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in Chapter 56, when Cao Xiu hits the very center of the target, Wen Pin rides out shouting that 'the Chancellor's brocade robe should first be yielded to someone of another surname,' and with a single shot loosed from a galloping horse he too hits the red center. Romance, Ch. 56 §10–11
In Chapter 71 he blocks the path of Zhang Zhu, who has broken out while Huang Zhong is surrounded at the foot of the Northern Hill and is trying to return to camp. In Chapter 86, when Cao Pi attacks Wu in the 5th year of Huangchu (224), he sets out as one of the senior generals, and when a violent wind threatens to capsize the dragon boat, on Cao Zhen's orders he rows over in a small boat, carries Cao Pi on his back and flees into an inlet. Romance, Ch. 71 §39Romance, Ch. 86 §28 · 43
Where the Romance differs
The fight at the gate of Xiangyang: In Chapter 41 of the Romance, Wen Pin fights Wei Yan, who is trying to welcome Liu Bei in, in front of Xiangyang. The Biography of Wen Pin in the Records has no such episode, and the Biography of Wei Yan says only that Wei Yan followed Liu Bei into Shu at the head of his retainers. Romance, Ch. 41 §12Records, Wei 18 §33–39Records, Shu 10 §57
How he went over to Cao Cao: In Chapter 41 of the Romance, Wen Pin alone is missing among the generals and comes only when Cao Cao sends someone to look for him. In the Records, he stayed behind when Liu Cong called on him to go along, saying he would await punishment, and went to Cao Cao of his own accord only after Cao Cao had crossed the Han River. Cao Cao's question about why he was late, Wen Pin's tears and Cao Cao's words calling him a 'loyal subject' are the same in both books. Romance, Ch. 41 §30Records, Wei 18 §34–35
Changban: In Chapters 41 and 42 of the Romance, Wen Pin withdraws in shame at Liu Bei's rebuke, and at Changban Bridge he dares not approach on seeing Zhang Fei. The Records state only that Cao Cao gave Wen Pin troops and had him pursue and attack Liu Bei at Changban together with Cao Chun. Liu Bei's rebuke does not appear. Romance, Ch. 41 §37Romance, Ch. 42 §6Records, Wei 18 §35
Red Cliffs: In Chapters 48 and 49 of the Romance, Wen Pin goes out with the navy, is chased off by Han Dang and Zhou Tai, and is struck in the left arm by an arrow while trying to stop Huang Gai's boats. The Biography of Wen Pin in the Records does not mention the Battle of Red Cliffs. Romance, Ch. 48 §30Romance, Ch. 49 §47Records, Wei 18 §33–39
Archery at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace: In Chapter 56 of the Romance, Wen Pin competes with Cao Xiu in archery at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace. The Biography of Wen Pin in the Records has no such episode. Romance, Ch. 56 §11Records, Wei 18 §33–39
His merit in defending Jiangxia: In the Records, Wen Pin attacked Guan Yu at Xunkou together with Yue Jin, struck Guan Yu's baggage train and boats at Hanjin and Jingcheng, and in the 7th year of Huangchu (226) held off Sun Quan's host of 50,000 at Shiyang for more than twenty days. In the Romance, Wen Pin's scenes are confined to 9 chapters between Chapters 34 and 86, with neither a scene of fighting Guan Yu nor the battle at Shiyang. Records, Wei 18 §36–37Romance, Ch. 71 §39Romance, Ch. 86 §28
Cao Pi's campaign against Wu: In Chapter 86 of the Romance, Wen Pin sets out as a senior general in Cao Pi's campaign against Wu in the 5th year of Huangchu (224) and rescues Cao Pi by carrying him off the capsizing dragon boat. The Biography of Wen Pin in the Records has no such episode; his merit under Emperor Wen is recorded as holding off the enemy while garrisoned separately at Miankou during the siege of Jiangling with Xiahou Shang. Romance, Ch. 86 §28 · 43Records, Wei 18 §37
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 total574 / 1000Rank 122 of 996 · Top 13%Romance total458 / 1000Rank 208 of 1,113 · Top 19%
Romance adaptation index−116Romance total − Records total
- LEA7855−23
- STR4566+21
- INT5240−12
- POL6638−28
- CHA6842−26
- VIR8062−18
- ADP6250−12
- SCH3331−2
- DIP5242−10
- DIS3832−6
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RIn decades at Jiangxia his authority and kindness made his name resound in the enemy state, which dared not invadeWei 18 §38
NNo direct record — estimated from his being treated by Cao Cao as a loyal subjectCh. 41 §30
RHeld firm against Sun Quan's siege of 50,000 and pursued and defeated him, and struck Guan Yu's baggage trainWei 18 §37Wei 18 §36Wei 18 §92
NWas pushed back by Han Dang and Zhou Tai in the naval battle and fled, and halted at Changban Bridge suspecting an ambushCh. 48 §30Ch. 42 §6
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as the general who struck Guan Yu's baggage train and burned his boatsWei 18 §36
NFought Wei Yan from mid-morning to mid-afternoon until Wei Yan's soldiers were all lostCh. 41 §12Ch. 56 §11
RWept while awaiting punishment for failing to hold the province, and Taizu called him truly a loyal subjectWei 18 §34
NCao Cao called him a loyal subject, but Liu Bei rebuked him as a traitor to his masterCh. 41 §30Ch. 41 §37
RNo direct record — estimated from his judgment in holding fast without moving to drive off Sun QuanWei 18 §37Wei 3 §3
NNo direct record — estimated from his halting on suspicion of an ambushCh. 42 §6
RCame late at Liu Cong's surrender but explained his circumstances and was instead treated generouslyWei 18 §34
NWon recognition despite surrendering late, and saved Cao Pi by carrying him off the capsizing dragon boatCh. 41 §30Ch. 86 §43
RExplained the reasons for his lateness in an orderly way and moved TaizuWei 18 §34
NExplained the reasons for his lateness and moved Cao CaoCh. 41 §30
2 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalWei 18 §34
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalCh. 56 §11
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a frontier generalWei 18 §38
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalCh. 49 §46
Special — talents Records +0 · Romance +20
-
Archery
NSkilled +10 At the Bronze Sparrow Terrace archery contest, hit the red center while shooting from a galloping horseCh. 56 §11
-
Naval warfare
NSkilled +10 Said he was familiar with matters on the water and went out leading the patrol boatsCh. 49 §46Ch. 48 §25
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 (9)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history Changed allegiance 1 times
Related events (5)
- The Northern Army Chains Its Warships 208 · Appears (Romance scene)
- Battle of Changban 208 · Command
- Battle of Han River 219 · Command
- Zhao Yun Defeats a Host with a Few on the Han River 219 · Appears (Romance scene)
- Xu Sheng Defeats Cao Pi with Fire 224 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).