RSent out troops every year though at odds with Liu Biao and facing a strong enemyWu 8 §38
NBelieved in heterodox teachings, wore a red cloth on his head and burned incenseCh. 29 §17
Zhang Jin 張津
| Occupation | RNRuler · Inspector of Jiao Province | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Nanyang Commandery | |
| Cause of death | RKilled NKilled Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R9 |
Profile
Zhang Jin was a man of Nanyang who served as Inspector of Jiao Province at the end of the Later Han. The Records give him no biography of his own; his name appears in the biography of Shi Xie and in a memorial by Xue Zong included in Xue Zong's biography. After the death of the previous Inspector Zhu Fu, the Han sent him as Inspector of Jiao Province. Records, Wu 8 §38Records, Wu 4 §41
In his memorial Xue Zong wrote that Zhang Jin, having fallen out with Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, raised troops every year even though his forces were weak, and that, exercising little control and lacking in authority and martial strength, he was treated with contempt by his commanders and in the end was killed. The biography of Shi Xie records that he was killed by his own general Ou Jing. Records, Wu 8 §38–39Records, Wu 4 §41
Chen Shou's assessments do not mention him. In the Romance he appears only in Sun Ce's words in Chapter 29, 1 of its 120 chapters, and is named in no chapter title. Intending to kill Yu Ji, Sun Ce cites him as a former Inspector of Jiao Province who believed in heterodox teachings and in the end was killed by enemy troops. Records, Wu 4 §51Records, Wu 8 §63Romance, Ch. 29 §17
In the Records
According to the biography of Shi Xie, Zhu Fu, Inspector of Jiao Province, was killed by barbarian bandits and the province and its commanderies fell into turmoil. After Zhu Fu's death, the Han sent Zhang Jin as Inspector of Jiao Province. Records, Wu 4 §36 · 41
Zhang Jin was later killed by his own general Ou Jing. Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, then sent Lai Gong of Lingling to replace Zhang Jin. When the Han court heard that Zhang Jin had died, it issued Shi Xie an edict under the imperial seal, saying that the rebel Liu Biao had again sent Lai Gong to spy on the southern lands, and made Shi Xie General of the Household Who Pacifies the South to supervise seven commanderies, while continuing to hold the post of Administrator of Jiaozhi. Records, Wu 4 §41
When Lü Dai was recalled from Jiao Province, Xue Zong of Wu, fearing that his successor would not be the right man, submitted a memorial. The memorial recorded that the former Inspector Zhu Fu of Kuaiji had appointed many men from his home region as senior officials, who preyed upon the people, and that when the people rebelled and mountain bandits rose, he fled to sea, wandered and perished; next, it said, came Zhang Jin of Nanyang. Records, Wu 8 §32 · 37–38
Xue Zong said that Zhang Jin fell out with Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, and raised troops every year though his forces were weak and the enemy strong, so that his commanders grew weary and resentful and came and went as they pleased. Zhang Jin exercised little control and lacked authority and martial strength, so he was treated with contempt by them and in the end came to be killed. The memorial recorded that afterwards Lai Gong of Lingling came, and that even when Bu Zhi later arrived, many of Zhang Jin's old commanders such as Yi Liao and Qian Bo remained, and Bu Zhi removed them one by one and restored order. Records, Wu 8 §38–39
Chen Shou's text does not record Zhang Jin's courtesy name, the year of his birth, or the year of his death. Neither the assessment of Fascicle 4, which contains the biography of Shi Xie, nor that of Fascicle 8, which contains the biography of Xue Zong, mentions him. Records, Wu 4 §41 · 51Records, Wu 8 §63
In the Romance
In Chapter 29 of the Romance, when Sun Ce imprisons Yu Ji as a sorcerer, Zhang Zhao and several dozen others write a joint petition and bow before Sun Ce, begging to stand surety for the immortal Yu. Sun Ce asks how they, all men who have read books, can fail to see reason, and cites the case of Zhang Jin. Romance, Ch. 29 §16–17
According to Sun Ce, Zhang Jin, a former Inspector of Jiao Province, believed in heterodox teachings, played the zither, burned incense and always wrapped his head in a red cloth, claiming that he could add to the might of troops going out to battle, but in the end he was killed by enemy troops. Sun Ce says that such things are of no benefit whatever, and that his wish to kill Yu Ji is meant to forbid heterodoxy and awaken the deluded. Then, at Lü Fan's suggestion, he has Yu Ji pray for rain. In the Romance Zhang Jin appears only in these words. Romance, Ch. 29 §17–18
Where the Romance differs
Death: In Sun Ce's words in Chapter 29 of the Romance, Zhang Jin is in the end killed by enemy troops. In the biography of Shi Xie in the Records, he was killed by his own general Ou Jing, and Xue Zong's memorial records that, lacking authority and martial strength, he was treated with contempt by his commanders and then killed. Romance, Ch. 29 §17Records, Wu 4 §41Records, Wu 8 §39
Heterodox teachings: In Chapter 29 of the Romance, Sun Ce says that Zhang Jin believed in heterodox teachings, wrapped his head in a red cloth, played the zither and burned incense. Neither the biography of Shi Xie nor Xue Zong's memorial in Chen Shou's text contains anything of the kind. Romance, Ch. 29 §17Records, Wu 4 §41Records, Wu 8 §38–39
The quarrel with Liu Biao: Xue Zong's memorial in the Records records that Zhang Jin fell out with Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, and raised troops every year though his forces were weak. Sun Ce's words in Chapter 29 of the Romance do not mention a quarrel with Liu Biao. Records, Wu 8 §38Romance, Ch. 29 §17
Origin and appointment: The Records call him a man of Nanyang and record that he was the inspector sent by the Han after the death of Zhu Fu, Inspector of Jiao Province. Chapter 29 of the Romance calls him only a former Inspector of Jiao Province. Records, Wu 8 §38Records, Wu 4 §41Romance, Ch. 29 §17
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 total305 / 1000Rank 979 of 996 · Top 99%Romance total315 / 1000Rank 1,053 of 1,113 · Top 95%
Romance adaptation index+10Romance total − Records total
- LEA2230+8
- STR3031+1
- INT3020−10
- POL2831+3
- CHA2535+10
- VIR4040±0
- ADP2828±0
- SCH3538+3
- DIP3231−1
- DIS3531−4
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RWas treated with contempt by his commandersWu 8 §39
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
8 similar abilities — show evidence
RSent out troops every year with weak forces, and his commanders came and went as they pleasedWu 8 §38Wu 8 §39
NClaimed heterodox teachings could add to his army's might, but was killed by enemy troopsCh. 29 §17
RRecorded as lacking in authority and martial strengthWu 8 §39
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
RRecorded as exercising little controlWu 8 §39
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
RNo direct record — estimatedWu 4 §41
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
RCame to be killed by his subordinate general Ou JingWu 8 §39Wu 4 §41
NRelied on heterodox teachings and was in the end killed by the enemyCh. 29 §17
RNo direct record — estimatedWu 4 §41
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
RFell out with Liu Biao, Governor of Jing ProvinceWu 8 §38
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
RNo direct record — estimatedWu 8 §39
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 29 §17
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 (1)
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