| Occupation | RScholar · General of the Household of the Right NScholar · Academician | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | Native place | Guanghan Commandery Fu County | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R5 |
Li Zhuan, courtesy name Qinzhong, was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. He received in full the learning that his father Li Ren had acquired in Jing Province from Sima Hui, Song Zhong and others together with Yin Mo of the same county, and he applied his mind not only to the Five Classics and the works of the philosophers but also to the skills of arithmetic, divination, medicine, crossbows and machinery. Records, Shu 12 §46
In the 1st year of Yanxi (238), when the Later Sovereign (Liu Shan) established the crown prince, Li Zhuan became Cadet of the Crown Prince, and even after serving as Supervisor (puye) and moving on to Palace Grandee (zhongsan dafu) and General of the Household of the Right he continued to attend the crown prince. He wrote commentaries on several classics and the Taixuan Zhigui, and he died in the Jingyao era. Records, Shu 12 §47
In his assessment Chen Shou said that he, together with Xu Ci, Meng Guang and Lai Min, was widely read and had heard much, and that although they were not praised for virtuous conduct or achievement, they were all scholars of their age. In the Romance his name appears in Chapter 91 as an Academician among the officials Zhuge Liang leaves in Chengdu before the northern campaign, and he appears in 1 of its 120 chapters; there is no chapter with his name in its title. Records, Shu 12 §102Romance, Ch. 91 §40
According to the biography of Li Zhuan in Records of Shu 12, Li Zhuan's courtesy name was Qinzhong and he was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. His father Li Ren, courtesy name Dexian, went to study in Jing Province together with Yin Mo of the same county and learned from Sima Hui, Song Zhong and others. Li Zhuan received that learning in full, and also discussed principles under Yin Mo, so that there was nothing in the Five Classics and the works of the philosophers that he had not read. Records, Shu 12 §46
He also had a wide liking for various arts, and applied his mind to the skills of arithmetic, divination, medicine, crossbows and machinery. He first became an Assistant Clerk of the province and a Clerk of the Masters of Writing. Records, Shu 12 §46
In the 1st year of Yanxi (238), when the Later Sovereign (Liu Shan) established the crown prince, Li Zhuan was made Cadet of the Crown Prince and then moved to Supervisor (puye), and he was transferred again to Palace Grandee (zhongsan dafu) and General of the Household of the Right but was still made to attend the crown prince. The crown prince prized his wide knowledge and was very fond of him. But because he was frivolous and rash in his bearing and liked jokes and teasing, the world did not take him seriously. Records, Shu 12 §47
Li Zhuan wrote commentaries on the old-text Changes, Book of Documents, Mao Odes, Three Rites and Zuo Commentary, as well as the Taixuan Zhigui, all of which took the Han scholars Jia Kui and Ma Rong as their standard and differed from Zheng Xuan. He was far removed from Master Wang and had never seen his writings, yet the conclusions of their meaning were largely the same. Li Zhuan died in the Jingyao era. Records, Shu 12 §47
In his assessment in Records of Shu 12, Chen Shou said that Xu Ci, Meng Guang, Lai Min and Li Zhuan were widely read and had heard much, and that Yin Mo was versed in the Zuo Commentary; although they were not praised for virtuous conduct or achievement, they were truly all scholars of their age. Records, Shu 12 §102
In Chapter 91 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang submits his memorial on setting out and prepares to launch the northern campaign. The Grand Astrologer Qiao Zhou earnestly remonstrates, citing the flourishing aura of the north, but Zhuge Liang does not heed him and decides on the officials who will stay in Chengdu to govern the affairs of Shu. He makes Guo Youzhi, Dong Yun and Fei Yi Palace Attendants in overall charge of palace affairs, leaves Xiang Chong behind as senior general in command of the Imperial Guard, makes Du Qiong Grandee Remonstrant and Meng Guang and Lai Min Libationers, and among these makes Yin Mo and Li Zhuan Academicians. This is the only time Li Zhuan's name appears in the Romance. Romance, Ch. 91 §39–40
Office: In Chapter 91 of the Romance, Li Zhuan becomes an Academician together with Yin Mo among the officials Zhuge Liang leaves in Chengdu when he sets out on the northern campaign. In the Records, Li Zhuan's first posts were Assistant Clerk of the province and Clerk of the Masters of Writing; after becoming Cadet of the Crown Prince in the 1st year of Yanxi (238) he served as Supervisor (puye), Palace Grandee (zhongsan dafu) and General of the Household of the Right, and there is no record of his becoming an Academician. Romance, Ch. 91 §40Records, Shu 12 §46–47
Learning and character: Chapter 91 of the Romance merely gives Li Zhuan's name. The Records says that he mastered the Five Classics and the works of the philosophers and even arithmetic, divination, medicine, crossbows and machinery, and wrote commentaries on the old-text classics and the Taixuan Zhigui, but that because he was frivolous in his bearing and liked jokes and teasing, the world did not take him seriously. Romance, Ch. 91 §40Records, Shu 12 §46–47
Relationship with Yin Mo: Chapter 91 of the Romance only says that Yin Mo and Li Zhuan were made Academicians side by side. In the Records, Li Zhuan's father Li Ren went to study in Jing Province together with Yin Mo of the same county, and Li Zhuan discussed principles under Yin Mo. Romance, Ch. 91 §40Records, Shu 12 §46
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.
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.
RRead widely in the Five Classics and the philosophers and wrote commentaries on the old-text classics; assessment: a scholar of his ageShu 12 §46Shu 12 §47Shu 12 §102
NAppointed Academician together with Yin Mo at the time of the northern campaignCh. 91 §40
RFrivolous and rash in bearing, and fond of jokes and teasingShu 12 §47Shu 12 §102
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant Clerk and Clerk of the Masters of WritingShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant Clerk and Clerk of the Masters of WritingShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his wide interest in arithmetic, divination, machinery and the likeShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant Clerk and Clerk of the Masters of WritingShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RThe crown prince was very fond of him, but the world did not take him seriouslyShu 12 §47
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant Clerk and Clerk of the Masters of WritingShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant Clerk and Clerk of the Masters of WritingShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Assistant Clerk and Clerk of the Masters of WritingShu 12 §46
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as AcademicianCh. 91 §40
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.
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