[ Served under Yuan Shu. A fierce warrior who was killed by Zhang Fei.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Chi Ling
Simplified Chinese: 纪灵
Pronunciation: Ji4 Ling2 
Min-Nan: Ki Leng
Fact vs. Fiction
Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction
- Ji Ling’s weapon, supposedly a trident of some sort, is not mentioned in historical sources.
- Ji Ling did not duel with Guan Yu historically.
- Ji Ling did duel with Zhang Fei and die historically.
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 14-17, 21
Biography
Ji Ling was an officer who served under Yuan Shu. Historically, very little is known about him. Perhaps all he historically did was lead an attack on Liu Bei. This attack, however, ended up being for naught because Lü Bu arranged for peace between Liu Bei and Yuan Shu before any fighting could commence. Ji Ling is seldom, if ever, mentioned doing anything else in historical sources.
In the novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Ji Ling receives much more attention. He is described as a powerful man who carried a large, 50–pound trident of some sort. On at least a few occassions in the story, Ji Ling clashes with Liu Bei’s army. Though Ji Ling fights hard, he often ends up being defeated by Liu Bei. First, Ji Ling is challenged by Guan Yu, and more or less draws with him (neither Guan Yu or Ji Ling can injure the other, but Ji Ling gets tired after awhile and flees, thus causing Liu Bei to win a victory). Next, Ji Ling attempts to assault Liu Bei again, but is dissuaded from the attack by another warlord named Lü Bu. Finally, during a time when Yuan Shu was in desparate straits already, Ji Ling engages Zhang Fei in a duel. Despite being able to match Guan Yu for 50 bouts, Ji Ling is slain by Zhang Fei in 10 bouts. No offspring of Ji Ling’s is mentioned, and Yuan Shu is defeated at long last soon after Ji Ling’s demise.