Three Kingdoms History: Officer Names

Wu officer. Advised Puyang Xing to make Sun Hao Emperor after Sun Xiu’s death.

Fictional lieutenant under Guo Huai in AD 228. Defeated and spared by Zhao Yun.

Vassal of Liu Biao. Said to be a skilled writer, he later joined Cao Cao.

Served Cao Fang, and later, Jin. Attacked Wu with Sima Shi after Sun Quan’s death.

Member of Li Jue’s Tiger Army. Wouldn’t arrest Huangfu Li for ethical reasons.

* Incorrectly translated as ‘Wang Chan’ in some Brewitt-Taylor editions.

Minister of Wu who was executed by Sun Chen.

* Appears as Wang Chun in both the Moss Roberts and Brewitt-Taylor translations of the novel.

Accused Prince Li of treason after receiving no bribe. Accused Empress Song of witchcraft.

Warned Guan Yu about Lü Meng, Pang Jun and an ambush but was ignored.

Part of the ‘Jade Girdle’ plot to kill Cao Cao. Courtier of Dong Cheng. Executed ...

* Wang Fu appears as Wang Zifu (王子服) in the novel, SGZ Shu, and other sources. This appears to be an error. Rafe de Crespigny wrote the following in To Establish Peace I: “The main text of SGZ 32 gives the personal name of Wang Fu as, but Xiandi qijuzhu, quoted by PC, and the parallel texts HHS 9, 381, and HHS 72/62, 2343, all omit the character zi. It is presumably dittography from the name of Wu Zilan immediately preceding.”

Came up with a plan to trick Jiang Wei but it failed, died valiantly.

Defender of Yuecheng, surrendered on the loss of Hanzhong.

Warned that Sun Hao’s army was formidable and that they should wait a year.

Fought against Wu and Guanqiu Jian, fighting in three duels and advising to win hearts.

A minister of Wei. Supported Cao Mao when Mao tried to remove Sima Zhao.

Commander of the force that conqured Wu.

Served Shu. Defended Yongchang against Yong Kai’s attack.

Prefect of Henei during the Later Han. Joined the Dong Zhuo alliance.

Originally the prefect of Huiji, he later joined Wei. Debated with Zhuge Liang.

Minister of Liu Zhang. Strongly advised Zhang to not allow Liu Bei into Yi.

Shu governor who did well economically. He warned Zhuge Liang of the risk of malaria.

A famed man from Taiyuan who refused service and reformed others.

Plotted against Sima Yi but plan was leaked and he was forced into suicide.

Officer of Zhong Hui during the conquest of Shu.

A military commander, he was forced into withdrawing after Tian Yu shamed him.

Served Wei but later surrendered to Shu. Served in the northern campaigns.

* Also known as He Ping (何平).

Served Han as Commandant of the Exemplary Cavalry. Killed by Li Jue and Guo Si’s ...

Served Wei. District Governor of Tian Shui before helping Deng Ai’s invasion of Shu.

* Shi 碩 in Kongshi can also be translated as Shuo.

A child prodigy, one of the seven men of the bamboo grove, noted for his meanness.

Governor of Jingzhou. Tried to have Cao Yin killed, but was killed first by Sun Jian.

Served Shu. Wang Lian’s son.

Minister of Wei who betrayed Cao Mao, leading to his death.

* 沈 can also be pronounced Chen, and his name is sometimes translated as such.

Served Cao Rui. Defeated Zhang Ni, and was later killed by Wei Yan.

The son of Wang Lang. Aided the Sima’s in creating Jin. Father of Sima Zhao’s ...

Civil officer, advised Sima Zhao to pray to the fountain so he could feed the troops.

Served Liu Biao and Liu Cong loyally. Died protecting Cong from Cao Cao.

Convinced Sima Zhao to name Sima Yan heir, along with Jia Chong, Pei Xiu and others.

Served Yuan Tan loyally. Joined Cao Cao after Yuan Tan’s death in AD 205.

Wang Ping’s son and heir.

Taken into Cao Mao’s confidence but betrayed it to Sima Zhao.

Diaochan’s father. Orchestrated the plot which resulted in Dong Zhuo’s death.

Fictional officer under Yuan Tan. Killed after only a few bouts by Xu Huang.

Originally an officer of Liu Dai, he later submitted with Dai to Cao Cao.

Sent to keep an eye on Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, he played a part in the death of both.

Of a wealthy family, he gave his property to Cao Cao to raise troops to restore the Han.

Han loyalist. Participated in a coup with Geng Ji and Jin Yi. Captured by Xiahou Dun.

A scholarly man. Advised settling the likes of Han Sui, against excess, proposed legal ...

Helped Sun Xiu against Sun Chen, warning the Wu ruler of the danger he was in.

At first an officer of Lü Bu, he later joined Cao Cao. Killed by Yan Liang.

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

Served Wu. Historian who completed the last fifty-five juan of the Wu shu ...

Served as messenger between Xian and Cao Cao, reminded Cao Pi of the Han’s achievements.

A fierce general in service under Yuan Shao. Killed in battle with Cao Cao.

Son of Wen Qin and brother of Wen Yang. Followed his brother everywhere.

Warned that the Wu front was secure but that Cao Ren might have problems against Guan Yu.

After Liu Zong’s surrender he secluded himself in shame. Later served Cao Cao

* Real name Wen Ping

Lieutenant Governor of Yang. Rebelled against Sima Shi with Guanqiu Jian.

Wen Qin’s son. Fought Sima Shi’s army. Later pledged loyalty to Zhuge Dan.

* Originally named Wen Chu (文俶).

Served Kong Rong. Wielded an iron mace. Maimed by Lü Bu after fighting ten bouts.

A commander-in-chief for the Yellow Turbans. Defeated and captured by Li Tong.

Served Liu Bei and Liu Shan in Shu. Son of Wu Kuang. Cousin of Wu Yi.

* Also called Hu Ban in some versions of the novel.

Was promoted into office by Sun He. Helped to pacify the Shanyue.

Adviser to Zhuge Dan.

Lady Wu’s younger brother. Served Sun Jian, then Yuan Shu, then Sun Ce.

Made Prefect of Cangwu through Liu Biao’s backing. Old friend of Liu Bei. Killed ...

Served Liu Yan and Zhang then Liu Bei. Killed in battle with Cao Zhang.

Part of the ‘Jade Girdle’ plot to kill Cao Cao. Friend of Dong Cheng and Wang ...

* In SGZ: Shu 2 a man by the name of Wu Zilan 吳子蘭 is described as one of the conspirators. It is likely that this is Wu Shi, and that Zilan was his style.

General of the Flying Cavalry, fled when his position was untenable. Du Yu executed him.

Held out in his city of Jianping until Sun Hao surrendered.

Brother-in-law of Liu Zhang. Later servant of Liu Bei, who his younger sister married.

* Wu Yi4 (懿) or Yi1 (壹) are both proper.

Helped Cao Pi become heir, used his wits to avoid disaster in the silk hamper affair.