Jiang Jiong

Historical Record

Based on the available historiographical material, the record of Jiang Jiong is absent. In the official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the person Jiang Jiong is not directly mentioned, nor is there any detailed description of his life or office. Therefore, from a historiographical standpoint, Jiang Jiong is not a figure with a clear historical record.

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Jiong is mentioned as the father of the important figure Jiang Wei, and his image is shaped mainly through Jiang Wei's account and background introduction. Jiang Jiong is set as the Merit Officer of Tianshui Commandery, an office indicating that he held a certain standing and responsibility within the commandery office. According to the novel's description, Jiang Jiong's death was connected with a Qiang rebellion: because he died at his post in the campaign to suppress the Qiang rebellion, he was posthumously recognized as having "died in the service of the king" ^c:5055. This episode not only provides a reasonable background for Jiang Wei's appearance but also shapes Jiang Wei's virtue of "serving his mother with utmost filial piety," and hints at Jiang Wei's later resolve to enter military service and serve his country. The novel's portrayal of Jiang Jiong is meant to set off Jiang Wei's loyalty, righteousness, and talent, making his character fuller, and to foreshadow Jiang Wei's later becoming an important general of late Shu Han. However, these descriptions of Jiang Jiong have no corresponding record in the historiographical material and belong to the literary creation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei: In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Jiong is set as the Merit Officer of Tianshui Commandery, which belonged to the Cao Wei regime, so in his lifetime Jiang Jiong served Cao Wei. His "dying in the service of the king" while suppressing a Qiang rebellion ^c:5055 also embodies his loyalty to Cao Wei (novel only).
* Jiang Wei: Jiang Jiong is the father of Jiang Wei. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Wei's family background, his virtue of "serving his mother with utmost filial piety," and his later motive for entering military service are all closely tied to Jiang Jiong's experience and death. Jiang Jiong's sacrifice provides an important foundation for Jiang Wei's growth and life choices (novel only).

Signature Scenes

Jiang Jiong does not appear directly in Romance of the Three Kingdoms; his image and deeds are presented mainly through Jiang Wei's account and narration. His signature scene can be summarized as:

* Jiang Wei's recollection of his father at his first appearance: In Chapter 92 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Zhuge Liang first launched the Northern Expedition and his army reached Tianshui Commandery, Jiang Wei, introducing himself to the commandery's Grand Administrator Ma Zun, mentioned the life of his father Jiang Jiong. Jiang Wei said, "My father's name was Jiong; in former days he was Merit Officer of Tianshui Commandery, and when the Qiang rose in revolt, he died in the service of the king." ^c:5055 This scene is not only the only moment Jiang Jiong is clearly mentioned in the novel but also, through Jiang Wei's account, sketches the image of Jiang Jiong as loyal, brave, and dutiful. Jiang Jiong's sacrifice also indirectly brought about Jiang Wei's later outstanding military performance and his eventual becoming an important military pillar of late Shu Han. Though this scene contains no direct action by Jiang Jiong, it profoundly shapes Jiang Jiong's character background through his son Jiang Wei's recollection, and lays the foundation for Jiang Wei's image of loyalty and filial piety (novel only).