Historical Record
Jiang Qin, courtesy name Gongyi, was a native of Shouchun in Jiujiang. When Sun Ce attacked Yuan Shu, Jiang Qin accompanied and served him. When Sun Ce crossed the river and advanced eastward, Jiang Qin was appointed Major of a Detached Division and granted military authority. He followed Sun Ce in campaigns across various regions, pacifying three commanderies, and afterward joined Sun Ce in capturing Yuzhang Commandery. Subsequently, Jiang Qin was transferred to the post of Commandant of Geyang, and successively served as magistrate of three counties. During this time he devoted himself to suppressing and pacifying bandits, and was therefore promoted to Commandant of the Western Department. When the bandits Lü He and Qin Lang of Kuaiji Commandery rose in revolt, Jiang Qin led troops to suppress them and ultimately succeeded in capturing Lü He and Qin Lang, pacifying five counties. For his merit, he was transferred to General of the Household Who Subdues the Yue, with the two places of Jingju and Zhaoyang as his fief. When He Qi campaigned against the bandits of Yi, Jiang Qin led ten thousand troops fighting shoulder to shoulder with He Qi, and ultimately succeeded in pacifying the Yi bandits. Later, he joined the campaign against Hefei, and when the Wei general Zhang Liao attacked Sun Quan north of the ford, Jiang Qin fought valiantly and achieved merit, and was therefore promoted to General Who Routs Bandits while concurrently serving as Commander of Ruxu. Afterward he was recalled to the capital to serve as Protector of the Army of the Right at the ford, in charge of handling litigation c:3213.
In the Novel
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Qin's image is given more legendary color and drama. When he first appears, he does not directly join Sun Ce; rather, together with Zhou Tai, amid the chaos of the times, he gathered men and lived by plundering on the Yangzi River. Having long heard of Sun Ce's reputation for recruiting the worthy, they led more than three hundred men to come and join him c:3214. Sun Ce was greatly pleased, appointed them Colonels of the Vanguard, and absorbed their followers. On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, when Zhou Yu deployed the naval forces, Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai were appointed commanders of the second division, preparing for the decisive battle with Cao Cao c:6187. After Zhou Yu devised a scheme to behead Cao Cao's envoys, he directly appointed Jiang Qin as commander of the right wing, ready to cook rations at the fourth watch the next day, set sail at the fifth watch, and advance with beating drums and battle cries c:6188. When Zhou Yu and Lu Su discussed how to take Nan Commandery, Jiang Qin volunteered to serve as vanguard, leading five thousand elite troops to cross the river ahead c:3215. When Liu Bei, aided by Lady Sun, fled from Eastern Wu, Jiang Qin, together with Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Pan Zhang, and others, was ordered to pursue them along the river, even declaring they would first slay Lady Sun and then behead Liu Bei—displaying his loyalty and resolve c:13431. After Guan Yu carelessly lost Jing Province, Jiang Qin appears again in the novel, joining Han Dang, Zhou Tai, and others to surround and attack Guan Yu, ultimately causing Guan Yu to flee in defeat while his officers and men gradually scattered c:3216. These episodes have no clear basis in the histories and are literary inventions of the novel meant to enrich the character and the plot.
Key Relationships
* Sun Ce: Jiang Qin was an early follower of Sun Ce, accompanying and serving him from the time Sun Ce attacked Yuan Shu. After Sun Ce crossed the river eastward, Jiang Qin was granted military authority and followed Sun Ce in pacifying the three commanderies of Jiangdong and Yuzhang, making him an important general of Sun Ce's faction c:3213.
* The Sun Wu faction: Jiang Qin was one of the founding meritorious officials of the Sun Wu regime, holding many posts including Major of a Detached Division, Commandant of Geyang, county magistrate, Commandant of the Western Department, General of the Household Who Subdues the Yue, General Who Routs Bandits, Commander of Ruxu, and Protector of the Army of the Right at the ford—rendering great service to the establishment and consolidation of Sun Wu c:3213.
* Zhou Yu: In the novel, Jiang Qin was a capable subordinate of Zhou Yu, repeatedly taking part in important battles under Zhou Yu's command, such as serving as vanguard of the right wing at the Battle of Red Cliffs and volunteering as vanguard in taking Nan Commandery c:6188 c:3215 (novel only).
* Zhou Tai: In the novel, Jiang Qin frequently appears alongside Zhou Tai. The two once lived by plundering together on the Yangzi River, later joined Sun Ce together, and fought side by side in many battles, such as the Battle of Red Cliffs and the pursuit of Liu Bei c:3214 c:6187 c:13431 (novel only).
Iconic Scenes
* Pacifying the bandits of Kuaiji: Jiang Qin led troops to suppress Lü He, Qin Lang, and others who had risen in revolt in Kuaiji Commandery, successfully capturing them and pacifying five counties—demonstrating his outstanding military talent and his ability to maintain local stability c:3213.
* Achieving merit through hard fighting at the Battle of Hefei: At the Battle of Hefei, facing the Wei general Zhang Liao's surprise attack on Sun Quan, Jiang Qin fought valiantly and achieved merit, and was therefore promoted to General Who Routs Bandits while serving as Commander of Ruxu, showing his bravery and loyalty at a critical moment c:3213.
* Serving as vanguard of the right wing at the Battle of Red Cliffs: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, on the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhou Yu appointed Jiang Qin as vanguard of the right wing, ready for the decisive battle with Cao Cao—an iconic moment of his participation in a major battle in the novel c:6188 (novel only).
* Pursuing Liu Bei: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Liu Bei, aided by Lady Sun, fled from Eastern Wu, Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai and other generals were ordered to pursue them along the river, even going so far as to declare they would first slay Lady Sun and then behead Liu Bei—an episode that highlights his loyalty to Sun Quan and his resolve in carrying out orders c:13431 (novel only).
* Surrounding and attacking Guan Yu: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Qin joined Han Dang, Zhou Tai, and other generals in surrounding and attacking Guan Yu, ultimately causing Guan Yu to flee in defeat. This scene greatly elevates Jiang Qin's image in the novel, making him one of Eastern Wu's important generals in opposing Shu Han c:3216 (novel only).
Relationships
7 relationships
Lord & vassal1
Enemies1
Other5
Quotes
5 recorded lines · 3 featured
「便是吳侯怕道如此，封一口劍在此，教先殺他妹，後斬劉備。違者立斬！」
This line shows Jiang Qin's devotion to duty and fearlessness before power, a classic portrayal of his character.
「他終是些步軍，急行不上。徐、丁二將軍，可飛報都督，教水路棹快船追趕；我四人在岸上追趕。無問水旱之路，趕上殺了，休聽他言語。」
This line embodies Jiang Qin's determination to pursue Liu Bei and his military deployment, a display of both wisdom and valor.
「雲長何不早降！」
This line is Jiang Qin's attempt to persuade Guan Yu to surrender under specific historical circumstances, carrying important historical context.
Chapters8 回 ▸
- 史ch.55ch.60
- 演ch.15ch.44ch.45ch.51ch.55ch.76
Relationship timeline4 条 ▸
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- I am Jiang Qin, courtesy name Gongyi, from Shouchun in Jiujiang. I now serve as commandant of Ruxu. Looking back on the
Life events2 ▸
- 0195-01-01 · NiuzhuBattle of Niuzhu· Warrior
- 0215-01-01 · Xiaoyao FordBattle of Xiaoyao Ford· Warrior