RNo direct recordShu 13 §27
NCredited the defense of the city to Lü Kai and recommended him to KongmingCh. 87 §27
Wang Kang 王伉
| Occupation | RNOfficial · Administrator of Yongchang | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Shu Commandery | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R4 |
Profile
Wang Kang was a native of Shu Commandery. While he was Assistant of the Commandery (fucheng) of Yongchang, Yong Kai surrendered to Wu and Wu, from afar, appointed Yong Kai Administrator of Yongchang; together with Lü Kai, an officer of Yongchang Commandery, Wang Kang led the officials and people, closed the borders and held off Yong Kai. Records, Shu 13 §20–21
In a memorial submitted during his southern campaign, Zhuge Liang praised Lü Kai, the Assistant of the Commandery Wang Kang and others for having kept their loyalty in a remote land for more than ten years. Wang Kang was enfeoffed as a village marquis and became Administrator of Yongchang. Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, his later deeds or his death. Records, Shu 13 §27
The Records has no separate biography of him; he appears twice in the biography of Lü Kai in Records of Shu 13, the Biographies of Huang, Li, Lü, Ma, Wang and Zhang, and his name is not in the assessment at the end of the volume. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 87 as the Administrator of Yongchang who refuses to join the rebellion and defends Yongchang, and appears in 2 of its 120 chapters; no chapter title bears his name. In Chapter 91, as he withdraws the army, Zhuge Liang leaves him behind with Lü Kai to guard the four commanderies. Records, Shu 13 §21 · 27 · 65Romance, Ch. 87 §2Romance, Ch. 91 §10
In the Records
According to the biography of Lü Kai in Records of Shu 13, when Yong Kai and the others heard that the Former Sovereign Liu Bei had died at Yong'an, they grew even more arrogant and cunning. The Protector-General Li Yan wrote six sheets explaining where his advantage and harm lay, but Yong Kai answered with a single sheet. Records, Shu 13 §20
Yong Kai also surrendered to Wu, and Wu, from afar, appointed him Administrator of Yongchang. Yongchang lay west of Yizhou Commandery, its roads were blocked and it was cut off from Shu, and the commandery's administrator had also been replaced. Lü Kai, Officer of the Five Bureaus and Officer of Merit of Yongchang Commandery, together with the Assistant of the Commandery Wang Kang, a native of Shu Commandery, led and urged on the officials and people, closed the borders and held off Yong Kai. Yong Kai repeatedly sent proclamations to Yongchang, and the one who wrote the reply was Lü Kai. Chen Shou wrote that because Lü Kai's authority and kindness were clearly felt within and he had the trust of the commandery, he was able to keep his integrity intact. Records, Shu 13 §20–22 · 26
In the spring of the 3rd year of Jianxing (225) Zhuge Liang led his host on a campaign to the south. When Zhuge Liang had set out to attack Yong Kai and was on the road, Yong Kai had already been killed by Gao Ding's followers. Arriving in the south, Zhuge Liang submitted a memorial saying that Lü Kai, an officer of Yongchang Commandery, and the Assistant of the Commandery Wang Kang and others had kept their loyalty in a remote land for more than ten years, and that though Yong Kai and Gao Ding pressed them from the northeast, they held to righteousness and had no dealings with them; he had not expected the customs of Yongchang to be so honest and upright. Records, Shu 5 §24Records, Shu 13 §27
Lü Kai became Administrator of Yunnan and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yangqian Village, but he happened to be killed by rebellious tribesmen. Wang Kang was also enfeoffed as a village marquis and became Administrator of Yongchang. Records, Shu 13 §27
These two passages are the only places where Wang Kang appears in Chen Shou's main text. His courtesy name, his deeds after becoming Administrator of Yongchang and his death are not recorded. In his assessment at the end of volume 13, Chen Shou named Huang Quan, Li Hui, Lü Kai, Ma Zhong, Wang Ping and Zhang Ni, but not Wang Kang. Records, Shu 13 §21 · 27 · 65
In the Romance
Chapter 87 of the Romance opens with an urgent report from Yizhou in the 3rd year of Jianxing (225). Meng Huo, King of the Man, has raised 100,000 Man troops and invaded the border; Yong Kai, Administrator of Jianning, has joined with Meng Huo in rebellion; and Zhu Bao, Administrator of Zangke Commandery, and Gao Ding, Administrator of Yuexi Commandery, have surrendered their cities. Only Wang Kang, Administrator of Yongchang, refuses to join the rebellion. When the troops under Yong Kai, Zhu Bao and Gao Ding all serve as guides for Meng Huo and attack Yongchang Commandery, Wang Kang, together with the Officer of Merit Lü Kai, gathers the people and defends the city to the death, but the situation is desperate. On hearing this, Zhuge Liang tells the Later Sovereign Liu Shan that he will personally lead a great army on the campaign. Romance, Ch. 87 §2–3
In the same chapter, after Gao Ding's subordinate general E Huan stabs Yong Kai to death and also kills Zhu Bao, so that the forces on all three routes are pacified, Wang Kang, Administrator of Yongchang, comes out of the city to welcome Zhuge Liang. When Zhuge Liang asks who helped him defend the city and keep it safe, Wang Kang replies that the commandery is not in danger today entirely thanks to the efforts of Lü Kai of Buwei in Yongchang, courtesy name Jiping. Zhuge Liang at once summons Lü Kai to see him, and Lü Kai presents the 'Map for Pacifying the Man' and becomes Military Instructor and concurrently Guide Officer. Romance, Ch. 87 §21 · 26–29
In Chapter 91, after offering sacrifices at the Lu River, Zhuge Liang leads the great army back across the river. On reaching Yongchang he leaves Wang Kang and Lü Kai behind to guard the four commanderies, and charges Meng Huo to lead his people home, govern diligently and care well for the people. This is Wang Kang's last appearance in the Romance. Romance, Ch. 91 §9–10
Where the Romance differs
His post during the rebellion: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, Wang Kang is already Administrator of Yongchang when the rebellion breaks out. In the Records, the administrator of Yongchang Commandery had been replaced at that time and Wang Kang was the Assistant of the Commandery, and Wu, on the contrary, appointed Yong Kai Administrator of Yongchang. Wang Kang was enfeoffed as a village marquis and became Administrator of Yongchang after Zhuge Liang's southern campaign. Romance, Ch. 87 §2Records, Shu 13 §21 · 27
How Yongchang was defended: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, the troops of Yong Kai, Zhu Bao and Gao Ding serve as guides for Meng Huo and attack Yongchang Commandery, and Wang Kang and Lü Kai defend the city to the death. In the Records, Lü Kai and Wang Kang closed the borders and held off Yong Kai, and Yong Kai repeatedly sent proclamations. Zhuge Liang's memorial says only that Yong Kai and Gao Ding pressed them from the northeast; Lü Kai's biography has no record of an attack on Yongchang Commandery, and Meng Huo does not appear in it. Romance, Ch. 87 §2–3Records, Shu 13 §20–27
Relationship with Lü Kai: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, Wang Kang is the administrator and Lü Kai the Officer of Merit, and Wang Kang credits the defense of the commandery entirely to Lü Kai's efforts. In the Records, Lü Kai led the officials and people together with the Assistant of the Commandery Wang Kang, and Zhuge Liang's memorial also praised 'Lü Kai and the Assistant of the Commandery Wang Kang and others' together. After the southern campaign Lü Kai became Administrator of Yunnan and Marquis of Yangqian Village, and Wang Kang a village marquis and Administrator of Yongchang. Romance, Ch. 87 §27Records, Shu 13 §21 · 27
Yong Kai's death: In Chapter 87 of the Romance, only after Gao Ding's subordinate general E Huan stabs Yong Kai to death and his head is presented to Zhuge Liang does Wang Kang come out of the city to welcome Zhuge Liang. The Records says only that when Zhuge Liang had set out to attack Yong Kai and was on the road, Yong Kai had already been killed by Gao Ding's followers. Romance, Ch. 87 §21–22 · 27Records, Shu 13 §27
After the southern campaign: In Chapter 91 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang leaves Wang Kang and Lü Kai behind to guard the four commanderies. The Records says only that Wang Kang was enfeoffed as a village marquis and became Administrator of Yongchang, with no mention of his taking charge of four commanderies. Lü Kai, after becoming Administrator of Yunnan, was killed by rebellious tribesmen. Romance, Ch. 91 §10Records, Shu 13 §27
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 total477 / 1000Rank 300 of 996 · Top 31%Romance total503 / 1000Rank 105 of 1,113 · Top 10%
Romance adaptation index+26Romance total − Records total
- LEA5052+2
- STR3838±0
- INT4240−2
- POL5052+2
- CHA4848±0
- VIR8080±0
- ADP5855−3
- SCH3533−2
- DIP3840+2
- DIS3865+27
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RLed the officials and people, closed the borders and held off Yong KaiShu 13 §21
NGathered the people with Lü Kai and defended Yongchang to the deathCh. 87 §3
RNo direct recordShu 13 §21
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §3
RNo direct recordShu 13 §21
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §3
RAs Assistant of the Commandery of Yongchang, held together a commandery whose administrator had been replacedShu 13 §21
NKongming left him with Lü Kai to guard the four commanderiesCh. 91 §10
RUrged on the officials and people to hold off Yong KaiShu 13 §21
NGathered the people and defended the cityCh. 87 §3
RZhuge Liang: kept his loyalty in a remote land for more than ten yearsShu 13 §27
NAlone refused to join the rebellion and credited his success to Lü KaiCh. 87 §2Ch. 87 §27
RHeld out without dealings with Yong Kai despite his proclamationsShu 13 §21Shu 13 §27
NDid not follow when three administrators joined the rebellionCh. 87 §2
RNo direct recordShu 13 §21
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §27
RNo direct recordShu 13 §21
NNo direct recordCh. 87 §27
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 (2)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Romance · Romance ch. 87 「于是永昌太守王伉出城迎接孔明」 · Q124424606
Related events (1)
- Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign 225 · Command
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).