Jiang Wan

Historical Record

Jiang Wan, courtesy name Gongyan, was a native of Xiangxiang in Lingling. In his youth he won equal renown with his cousin Liu Min. When Liu Bei entered Shu, Jiang Wan accompanied him in the capacity of a provincial clerk, and was later appointed Chief of Guangdu. However, on one occasion when Liu Bei was touring Guangdu, he found that Jiang Wan had neglected his administrative duties and was at that moment drunk; Liu Bei flew into a rage and meant to punish him. It was thanks to the intercession of the Military Adviser General Zhuge Liang, who called Jiang Wan "a vessel for the altars of state, not a talent fit for a mere hundred li," and pointed out that in governing he took the security of the people as his foundation and did not put outward embellishment first, urging Liu Bei to look into the matter more carefully. Liu Bei, who had always esteemed Zhuge Liang, therefore imposed no heavy punishment, merely dismissing Jiang Wan from office ^c:3208.

Not long after his dismissal, Jiang Wan dreamed at night of an ox's head streaming with blood, and was greatly disturbed by it. The dream-diviner Zhao Zhi interpreted it: "To see blood is for matters to be made clear. The ox's horns and nose form the shape of the character 'gong' (lord); your rank will surely reach the highest—a most auspicious sign." Before long, Jiang Wan was appointed Magistrate of Shifang. After Liu Bei styled himself King of Hanzhong, Jiang Wan entered the court as a Gentleman of the Masters of Writing ^c:3208.

In the first year of Jianxing, when Zhuge Liang opened his own office to govern affairs, he recruited Jiang Wan as Officer of the Eastern Bureau. When Jiang Wan was recommended as a Flourishing Talent, he firmly tried to yield the honor to Liu Yong, Yin Hua, Pang Yan, Liao Chun, and others; Zhuge Liang instructed him: "To turn one's back on kin and forsake virtue, and so harm the people—this others do not conceal in their hearts, and it would truly leave far and near unable to understand the meaning. Therefore you ought to make plain your merits and standing, so as to show the purity and gravity of this selection." Afterward Jiang Wan was promoted to Adviser to the Army. In the fifth year of Jianxing, when Zhuge Liang was stationed at Hanzhong, Jiang Wan, together with the Chief Clerk Zhang Yi, jointly took charge of the affairs of the rear office. In the eighth year, Jiang Wan succeeded Zhang Yi as Chief Clerk, with the added title of General Who Comforts the Army. On Zhuge Liang's repeated campaigns, Jiang Wan was always able to supply ample food and troops to meet his needs. Zhuge Liang often said: "Gongyan is devoted, loyal, and refined; he is one fit to aid me in the kingly enterprise." He even secretly memorialized the Latter Sovereign Liu Shan, saying, "Should I meet with misfortune, the affairs that follow should be entrusted to Jiang Wan" ^c:6177.

After Zhuge Liang's death, Jiang Wan was appointed Master of Writing and Director, and before long was further given the titles of Acting Protector of the Capital, Bearer of the Imperial Credentials, and Inspector of Yi Province, then promoted to General-in-Chief and Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anyang Precinct ^c:6178. At that time Shu Han had just lost its commander, and within and without the court all felt fear and danger. Jiang Wan, however, "stood out from the crowd, holding the foremost place among the assembled officials, with neither a grieving countenance nor a joyful expression, his bearing and manner just as on ordinary days," and so gradually won the trust of all ^c:6178.

In the first year of Yanxi, Liu Shan issued an edict commanding Jiang Wan to lead all the armies and encamp at Hanzhong, to await Eastern Wu's movements and form, east and west, a pincer of horns, so as to take advantage of any change in the state of Wei. He further ordered Jiang Wan to open his own office, and the next year added the title of Grand Marshal. Jiang Wan once submitted a memorial reporting that he was unwell in body, yet still set forth a strategic conception, holding that Liang Province was a key frontier region against the Hu where one could advance or retreat with resources, and that the Qiang and Hu thirsted for Han like the thirsty for water; he advised that Jiang Wei be made Inspector of Liang Province, while he himself would lead troops as Jiang Wei's backing, so as to respond to operations in the northeast ^c:6179.

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Jiang Wan's image broadly matches the histories, but he is portrayed more as an important aide and successor to Zhuge Liang, his character traits and strategic vision further heightened in the novel. He first appears in chapter 63, introduced as "a famous scholar of Jingxiang," then serving as a secretary, accompanying Kongming into Shu ^c:3209.

In the novel, Jiang Wan repeatedly accompanied Zhuge Liang on campaign, especially in the southern campaign against Meng Huo, where as an Adviser to the Army he showed a certain anxiety and doubt over Zhuge Liang's military dispositions. For example, at the battle of the Lu River, Jiang Wan felt uneasy about the layout of the camp built by Lü Kai, believing it repeated the error by which Liu Bei was defeated at the Battle of Xiaoting, and fearing the Man troops would attack with fire. Zhuge Liang, however, smiled and said, "Do not be so suspicious; I have my own marvelous calculation," showing that Jiang Wan fell short of Zhuge Liang in military strategy, while also setting off Zhuge Liang's resourcefulness ^c:13423. When Meng Huo withdrew to hold the Tulong Cave, Jiang Wan once advised withdrawing the army home, holding that "Meng Huo has been captured four times and is already cowed—how would he dare come out again? Moreover the weather is now scorching, the men and horses weary, and to campaign against him is of no benefit," but Zhuge Liang did not heed him, again highlighting his military caution and Zhuge Liang's foresight ^c:3210.

When Ma Su lost Jieting and was beheaded, Jiang Wan hurried from Chengdu and tried to plead for Ma Su, holding that "with the realm not yet settled, to slay a man of wisdom and strategy—is it not a pity?" ^c:6181 Zhuge Liang refused on the grounds of strict military law, and recalled the late sovereign Liu Bei's appraisal of Ma Su, which further reinforces Jiang Wan's generous and benevolent character (novel only).

After Zhuge Liang's death, Jiang Wan's standing rose markedly. In chapter 105, he was given the added titles of Chancellor and General-in-Chief and Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, inheriting Zhuge Liang's legacy and becoming the actual holder of power in Shu Han ^c:6182. The novel also depicts Yang Yi, who, presuming on his great merit and believing his seniority above Jiang Wan's, yet ranked beneath him, harbored resentment and even uttered the wild words: "In the old days, when the Chancellor had just died, had I taken the whole army over to Wei, would I be left in such obscurity as this!" Fei Yi secretly memorialized these words, and Liu Shan in fury wished to behead Yang Yi. Jiang Wan, however, petitioned Liu Shan, recalling that Yang Yi had accompanied the Chancellor and won many merits, and advised reducing him to a commoner. Liu Shan followed this, and Yang Yi in the end cut his own throat in shame and died ^c:13422. This episode shows not only Jiang Wan's generosity but also his steadiness and grasp of the larger situation as Zhuge Liang's successor.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han (serves): Jiang Wan served Shu Han throughout his life, from Liu Bei's entry into Shu to his holding of power after Zhuge Liang's death, remaining always an important pillar of the Shu Han regime ^c:6178.
* Zhuge Liang (mentor/predecessor): Zhuge Liang was Jiang Wan's discoverer and mentor. He not only interceded for Jiang Wan when Liu Bei meant to punish him, but in his lifetime prized Jiang Wan's talent, calling him "a vessel for the altars of state," and secretly memorialized the Latter Sovereign recommending Jiang Wan as his successor ^c:6177. In the novel, Zhuge Liang's trust in and cultivation of Jiang Wan runs throughout.
* Dong Yun (friend_of/colleague): Dong Yun and Jiang Wan were both important assisting ministers of Shu Han's later period. The histories record that Jiang Wan once submitted a memorial yielding place to Fei Yi and Dong Yun, and memorialized that "Dong Yun has served within for years, aiding the royal house, and ought to be granted rank and land to reward his merit and toil," which shows the two were close and held each other in mutual esteem ^c:3205.
* Fei Yi (colleague): Fei Yi, together with Jiang Wan and Dong Yun, was called one of the "Four Heroes," a core figure of the Shu Han regime after Zhuge Liang's death. Jiang Wan once submitted a memorial wishing to yield the office of Inspector of Yi Province to Fei Yi ^c:3205. In the novel, Fei Yi also assisted the Latter Sovereign together with Jiang Wan and jointly handled the affair of Yang Yi ^c:13422.
* Yang Yi (rival/subordinate): In history, Yang Yi vied for power with Wei Yan, and after Zhuge Liang's death Yang Yi was demoted for his insolent words. In the novel, Yang Yi, presuming on his great merit, was discontented at being ranked below Jiang Wan, and in the end was reduced to a commoner for his resentful words and cut his own throat in shame ^c:13422 (novel only; in history Yang Yi killed himself after being exiled, though for reasons somewhat different from the novel).
* Wei Yan (commands_in): Wei Yan was an important general of Shu Han, at odds with Yang Yi. After Zhuge Liang's death, Wei Yan vied for power with Yang Yi and was in the end killed ^c:6174. In the novel, in dealing with Wei Yan's revolt, Jiang Wan showed trust in Zhuge Liang's posthumous plan and judged Wei Yan more accurately ^c:13419 (novel only).
* Qiao Zhou (commands_in): After Jiang Wan took charge of government, he appointed Qiao Zhou as Attendant Clerk for Education, placing him in overall charge of the province's scholars, showing his regard for education and talent ^c:3207.
* Ma Su (commands_in): In the novel, Jiang Wan once pleaded for Ma Su, embodying his generosity and benevolence ^c:6181 (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

* Dismissal at Guangdu and Zhuge Liang's intercession: When Jiang Wan first served as Chief of Guangdu, his neglect of administration and his drunkenness angered Liu Bei, who meant to punish him. Zhuge Liang overruled the others, calling him "a vessel for the altars of state" and interceding for him, so that Jiang Wan escaped heavy punishment, and foretold his future achievements. This event was both a turning point in Jiang Wan's career and a display of Zhuge Liang's discernment of men ^c:3208.
* Zhuge Liang's secret memorial of recommendation: In his lifetime Zhuge Liang placed high hopes in Jiang Wan, secretly memorializing the Latter Sovereign Liu Shan and clearly stating, "Should I meet with misfortune, the affairs that follow should be entrusted to Jiang Wan," regarding him as his own successor. This embodies Zhuge Liang's high recognition of Jiang Wan's ability and loyalty, and laid the foundation for Jiang Wan's smooth assumption of power after Zhuge Liang's death ^c:6177.
* "His bearing and manner just as on ordinary days" after Zhuge Liang's death: When Zhuge Liang died, all of Shu Han was shaken and hearts were full of dread. At this time Jiang Wan "stood out from the crowd, holding the foremost place among the assembled officials, with neither a grieving countenance nor a joyful expression, his bearing and manner just as on ordinary days," and by his composure and gravity steadied the court and won general esteem ^c:6178.
* Anxiety over Zhuge Liang's military dispositions in the southern campaign against Meng Huo: In the novel, during Zhuge Liang's southern campaign against Meng Huo, Jiang Wan raised doubts about the placement of the camp at the Lu River and Meng Huo's withdrawal strategy, displaying his cautious character. Although these doubts were resolved by Zhuge Liang's resourcefulness, this scene depicts Jiang Wan's character as an assisting minister and sets off Zhuge Liang's far-sightedness ^c:13423 (novel only).
* Handling the affair of Yang Yi: After Zhuge Liang's death, Yang Yi, discontented at Jiang Wan's standing, uttered resentful words and even threatened to defect to Wei. When Liu Shan meant to behead Yang Yi, Jiang Wan, mindful of Yang Yi's merits, strongly advised reducing him to a commoner rather than putting him to death, displaying his generous and benevolent character and his concern for maintaining internal stability in Shu Han ^c:13422 (novel only).