Three Kingdoms History: Wei Yan

Romance of the Three Kingdoms Officer Encyclopedia

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Wei Yan (Wenchang)   魏延 (文長)

Lived: AD 175–234

Biographies:

Served: Han Xuan, Shu

Talented commander. Killed Han Xuan and surrendered his territory to Liu Bei.

Officer Details

Wade-Giles: Wei Yen (Wên-ch‘ang)
Simplified Chinese: 魏延 (文长)
Pronunciation: Wei4 Yan2 (Wen2chang2)  

Birthplace: Yi Yang City
(Presently Tong Bo in He Nan Province)

Rank and Titles

General of the Standard; General Who Maintains Distant Lands in Peace, Governor of Hanzhong; General Who Suppresses the North; Marquis of a Chief Village (AD 223); Major of the Prime Minister, Inspector of Liangzhou (AD 227); Advisor of the Front Army, General Who Conquers the West, Marquis of Nanzheng (AD 230)

Fact vs. Fiction

Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction

  • Wei Yan never killed Han Xuan to save Huang Zhong.
    (Han Xuan surrendered Changsha of his own accord.)
  • In fact, there is no historic record of Wei Yan having ever been a general of Liu Biao.
  • Wei Yan served under Zhang Fei for a brief period before Liu Bei took Han Zhong, and was highly respected by Zhang Fei for his intelligence.
  • Wei Yan did not slay the fictional Cao Zun.
  • Wei Yan did not slay Wang Shuang historically.
Literary Appearances

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 41, 53, 55, 56, 60-65, 70-72, 81, 85-97, 99-104, 105

Search Results
Why do people think Wei Yan is so great?
Date: 10/07     Replies:  16
Wei Yan
Date: 01/07     Replies:  19
Would it be better if Wei Yan was one of the Five Tigers?
Date: 03/05     Replies:  58
Wei Yan
Date: 07/04     Replies:  73
What was Wei Yan's intention before death?
Date: 08/03     Replies:  40
Wei Yan's plan to take Changan
Date: 06/03     Replies:  69
How would you justify Wei Yan's actions?
Date: 04/03     Replies:  22
Why Wei Yan over Zhang Fei?
Date: 02/03     Replies:  24
Unfair treatment of Wei Yan!
Date: 02/03     Replies:  26
Wei Yan
Date: 07/02     Replies: 290

Biographies

Wei Yan SGYY Biography
Date: 02/04     Replies:   3
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May 22, 2008