RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 23 §26
NSet out to rescue his friend Tao Qian, and spoke with straight words without flatteryCh. 10 §34Ch. 22 §14
Bian Rang 邊讓
| Occupation | RNOfficial · Administrator of Jiujiang | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Chenliu Commandery | |
| Cause of death | RExecuted NExecuted Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R5 |
Profile
Bian Rang was a man of Chenliu. In Chen Shou's main text he appears only once, as Yang Jun's teacher in the account of Yang Jun in the Biographies of He, Chang, Yang, Du, Zhao and Pei in Records of Wei 23, where it is written that Bian Rang regarded Yang Jun as a vessel of uncommon capacity. His offices, deeds and death are not in Chen Shou's main text. Records, Wei 23 §26
In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 10 as Administrator of Jiujiang and a close friend of Tao Qian, and he appears in 2 of its 120 chapters; no chapter has his name in its title. In Chapter 10, when he comes with 5,000 troops to rescue Xu Province, Cao Cao sends Xiahou Dun to intercept and kill him on the road, and in Chapter 22 Yuan Shao's proclamation names him as a man whom Cao Cao beheaded and whose head was hung up for display. Romance, Ch. 10 §34Romance, Ch. 22 §14
In the Records
Yang Jun was a man of Huojia County in Henei Commandery who studied under Bian Rang of Chenliu. Bian Rang regarded Yang Jun as a vessel of uncommon capacity. This single line is the only place in Chen Shou's main text where Bian Rang appears. Records, Wei 23 §26
In the Romance
In Chapter 10 of the Romance, Cao Cao invades Xu Province to avenge the death of his father Cao Song, ordering that whenever a city is taken its people are to be slaughtered to the last one. At that time Bian Rang, Administrator of Jiujiang, is a close friend of Tao Qian; hearing that Xu Province is in trouble, he leads 5,000 troops himself to come to its rescue. When Cao Cao hears of this he is enraged and has Xiahou Dun intercept and kill him on the road. The Romance does not record separately in this chapter what became of Bian Rang afterwards. Romance, Ch. 10 §33–34
In Chapter 22 the proclamation that Yuan Shao has his secretary Chen Lin compose lists Cao Cao's crimes and names Bian Rang. It says that Bian Rang, former Administrator of Jiujiang, was renowned throughout the realm for his outstanding talent and fine character and spoke with straight words and an upright countenance, without flattery, yet suffered the punishment of having his head cut off and hung up for display, while his wife and children met the calamity of being reduced to ashes. The proclamation goes on to say that from then on the scholars were filled with anger and grief and the people's resentment grew ever heavier, so that when one man raised his arm the whole province joined its voice to his, and Cao Cao was defeated in Xu Province and had his territory taken by Lü Bu. Romance, Ch. 22 §10 · 14
Where the Romance differs
Office: In Chapters 10 and 22 of the Romance, Bian Rang appears as Administrator of Jiujiang and former Administrator of Jiujiang. Chen Shou's main text calls him only 'Bian Rang of Chenliu' and does not give his office. Romance, Ch. 10 §34Romance, Ch. 22 §14Records, Wei 23 §26
Rescue of Xu Province: In Chapter 10 of the Romance, Bian Rang, a close friend of Tao Qian, leads 5,000 troops to rescue Xu Province. Bian Rang does not appear in the record of the campaign against Tao Qian in the Annals of Emperor Wu in Chen Shou's main text. Romance, Ch. 10 §34Records, Wei 1 §26–28
Death: In Chapter 10 of the Romance, Cao Cao has Xiahou Dun intercept and kill him on the road, and the proclamation in Chapter 22 says that he was beheaded and his head hung up for display. Bian Rang's death is not recorded in Chen Shou's main text. Romance, Ch. 10 §34Romance, Ch. 22 §14Records, Wei 23 §26
The proclamation: Chapter 22 of the Romance gives the text of the proclamation written by Chen Lin, and names Bian Rang's death in it. The Biography of Chen Lin in Chen Shou's main text has only Cao Cao's question to Chen Lin, why, when he formerly wrote a proclamation for Benchu, he had not been content to list Cao Cao's own crimes but had gone on to his father and grandfather; the text of the proclamation is not included. Romance, Ch. 22 §10 · 14Records, Wei 21 §14–15
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 total422 / 1000Rank 485 of 996 · Top 49%Romance total484 / 1000Rank 139 of 1,113 · Top 13%
Romance adaptation index+62Romance total − Records total
- LEA3140+9
- STR3135+4
- INT4040±0
- POL4042+2
- CHA4262+20
- VIR4572+27
- ADP4038−2
- SCH5860+2
- DIP4055+15
- DIS5540−15
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 23 §26
NRenowned throughout the realm; at his death the scholars were outraged and the whole province rose in responseCh. 22 §14
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 23 §26
NSpoke with straight words and an upright countenance, without flatteryCh. 22 §14
RRecognized his student Yang Jun as a vessel of uncommon capacityWei 23 §26
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 22 §14
6 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated as a scholarWei 23 §26
NLed 5,000 troops to rescue Tao Qian but was intercepted on the roadCh. 10 §34
RNo direct record — estimated as a scholarWei 23 §26
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as AdministratorCh. 10 §34
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 23 §26
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 10 §34
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 23 §26
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Administrator of JiujiangCh. 10 §34
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerWei 23 §26
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 10 §34
RThe teacher who taught Yang JunWei 23 §26
NRenowned throughout the realm for his outstanding talent and fine characterCh. 22 §14
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)
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