Xiang Lang

史载（Historical Record）

Xiang Lang, styled Juda, was a native of Yicheng in Xiangyang. In his youth he studied under Sima Decao, and was on good terms with Xu Shu, Han Song, Pang Tong, and others^[1]. The Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, had once appointed him chief of Linju. After Liu Biao died, Xiang Lang submitted to Liu Bei. After Liu Bei pacified the lands south of the Yangtze, he dispatched Xiang Lang to oversee the military and civil affairs of the four counties of Zigui, Yidao, Wushan, and Yiling^[1].

After Shu Han was established, Xiang Lang was appointed Grand Administrator of Baxi, and later transferred to Grand Administrator of Fangling. After the Latter Sovereign Liu Shan took the throne, he served as Colonel of Infantry, and succeeded Wang Lian as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor^[1]. During Chancellor Zhuge Liang's southern campaign, Xiang Lang remained behind to garrison Chengdu, taking charge of affairs in the rear. In the fifth year of Jianxing (227), he followed Zhuge Liang on the Northern Expedition to Hanzhong^[2].

Xiang Lang had always been on good terms with Ma Su. When Ma Su fled after the loss of Jieting, Xiang Lang, though knowing the circumstances, did not report them, and was therefore sternly censured by Zhuge Liang, dismissed from office and sent back to Chengdu^[2]. Some years later, he was appointed Superintendent of the Imperial Household. After Zhuge Liang died, Xiang Lang was again appointed General of the Left, and for his old merit was posthumously enfeoffed as Marquis of Xianming, ranked as Specially Advanced^[2].

Although Xiang Lang dabbled in literature in his early years, he did not stress conduct, and was known for his administrative ability. After being dismissed from the post of Chief Clerk, he lived at leisure with nothing to do for nearly twenty years (the sources originally record thirty years, but Pei Songzhi's annotation holds this to be an error)^[2]. During this time he immersed himself in the study of the classics tirelessly. Past the age of eighty, he still personally collated books, correcting errors, accumulating a great many volumes, unmatched in his time. He opened his door to receive guests, guiding and promoting the younger generation, but spoke only of the meaning of the ancient classics, never touching on current affairs, and was therefore praised by people. From the ministers in power down to the children, all held him in great respect^[2]. In the tenth year of Yanxi (247), Xiang Lang died. On his deathbed he admonished his son Xiang Tiao, stressing the importance of "harmony," holding that "poverty is no calamity to a man; only harmony is to be prized"^[2]. Xiang Tiao later served as Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief during the Jingyao era, and after entering Jin rose to such posts as Grand Administrator of Jiangyang and Army Marshal of Nanzhong^[2].

In the fifteenth year of Jianxing (237), the Latter Sovereign Liu Shan's Empress, Lady Zhang, died, and her younger sister, Honored Lady Zhang, was established as Empress. In the first month of spring in the first year of Yanxi (238), Liu Shan sent Xiang Lang bearing the imperial credentials to confer the seal and ribbon, investing Honored Lady Zhang as Empress^[3].

演中（In the Novel）

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Xiang Lang's image appears mainly after Liu Bei entered Yi Province. He is portrayed as a civil official who, after Liu Bei took Yi Province, was assigned by Zhuge Liang, together with Ma Liang, Yi Ji, Mi Zhu, and others, to assist Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province^[4]. The novel devotes little ink to Xiang Lang, mainly presenting him, against the background of Liu Bei's faction, as an important civil official assisting in the management of Jing Province affairs. This accords with the historical record of his early renown for "administrative ability," but the novel does not detail his specific administrative achievements or his actions during his time in Jing Province. Moreover, the novel does not mention Xiang Lang's deep friendship with Ma Su and the punishment he suffered for it, nor his later-life devotion to scholarship. The novel's portrayal of Xiang Lang is more a symbolic presence as one of the many civil officials of Liu Bei's faction, rather than a deep depiction of his personal experiences and character.

关键关系

* Liu Biao's faction: In his early years Xiang Lang served the Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, as chief of Linju^[1].
* Liu Bei's faction / Shu Han: After Liu Biao died, Xiang Lang submitted to Liu Bei, and after Liu Bei pacified the lands south of the Yangtze and Shu, long held important posts in the Shu Han regime, such as Grand Administrator of Baxi, Chief Clerk to the Chancellor, Superintendent of the Imperial Household, and General of the Left^[1],^[2].
* Zhuge Liang: Xiang Lang served as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor, a subordinate of Zhuge Liang. He was sternly punished by Zhuge Liang and dismissed for shielding Ma Su^[2]. Yet after Zhuge Liang died, Xiang Lang was still posthumously enfeoffed for his old merit, showing Zhuge Liang's recognition of his ability and his cherishing of talent.
* Ma Su: Xiang Lang was close to Ma Su, and even knowingly failed to report when Ma Su fled, leading to his own dismissal^[2].
* Sima Decao, Xu Shu, Han Song, Pang Tong: In his youth Xiang Lang studied under Sima Decao, and was on good terms with Xu Shu, Han Song, Pang Tong, and others^[1].
* Xiang Tiao: Xiang Lang's son, who inherited his learning and held office after entering Jin^[2].
* Guan Yu: In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Xiang Lang was assigned by Zhuge Liang to assist Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province^[4] (novel-only).

标志性场景

* Overseeing the military and civil affairs of the four southern counties: After Liu Bei pacified the lands south of the Yangtze, Xiang Lang was charged with overseeing the military and civil affairs of the four counties of Zigui, Yidao, Wushan, and Yiling, showing that he was relied upon early in Liu Bei's faction and possessed outstanding administrative ability^[1].
* Serving as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor and managing rear affairs: During Zhuge Liang's southern campaign, Xiang Lang remained behind to garrison Chengdu and manage affairs in the rear, indicating his prominent and trusted position in the Shu Han regime^[1].
* Dismissed over the Ma Su affair: Because of his friendship with Ma Su, Xiang Lang knowingly failed to report and angered Zhuge Liang, leading to his dismissal—a major turning point in his political career, and an embodiment of Zhuge Liang's stern attitude in managing the army^[2].
* Late-life devotion to scholarship and promotion of the young: After his dismissal, Xiang Lang turned to immerse himself in the classics, collating errors, and opened his door to receive guests and draw in the younger generation, becoming a great scholar of his age, respected by his contemporaries. This displays his personal transformation from administration to scholarship and his lofty character^[2].
* Investing Empress Zhang: As General of the Left, Xiang Lang bore the imperial credentials and conferred the seal and ribbon to invest the Latter Sovereign Liu Shan's empress—an embodiment of his political standing and honor in his later years^[3].
* Assisting Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province: In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Xiang Lang, as a civil official, was assigned by Zhuge Liang to assist Guan Yu in garrisoning Jing Province, taking part in an important strategic deployment of Liu Bei's faction^[4] (novel-only).