Li Zhuan

Historical Record

Li Zhuan, styled Qinzhong, was a native of Fu County in Zitong (near present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). His father Li Ren, styled Dexian, traveled together with Yin Mo of the same county to Jing Province to study, taking as teachers eminent scholars such as Sima Hui and Song Zhong. Li Zhuan inherited his father's learning and further studied and deeply explored its principles under Yin Mo. He read widely, with no work among the Five Classics or the various schools of philosophy that he had not perused, and made deep study of various arts as well. In all matters—arithmetic, divination, medicine, bows and crossbows, and the ingenuity of mechanical contrivance—he devoted his energies and delved deeply ^c:5721.

Li Zhuan first served as a clerk-assistant in the provincial office, then rose to be a clerk-secretary of the Imperial Secretariat. In the first year of Yanxi (238 CE), when the Latter Lord Liu Shan installed the heir apparent, Li Zhuan was appointed Concubine's Steward to the Crown Prince, charged with tutoring him. Thereafter he successively held the posts of Deputy Director, Grandee of the Palace, Gentleman-Commandant of the Right, and others, always attending upon the heir apparent. The heir apparent was very fond of him for his broad learning and great knowledge ^c:5721. However, Li Zhuan's disposition was somewhat frivolous and unrestrained; he loved to joke and tease others, and so in the eyes of the people of the time his reputation never reached the height it deserved ^c:5721.

Li Zhuan authored many works, including the Old Text versions of the Changes, the Documents, the Mao Odes, the Three Rituals, as well as the Zuo Commentary, the Taixuan Zhigui, and others. The arguments and views of these works mostly followed the doctrines of Jia Kui, Ma Rong, and others, differing from the views of Zheng Xuan. It is worth noting that, although his doctrines differed from those of Wang Su, many of the views in his works coincided with Wang Su's, even though he had not at first seen the books written by Wang Su ^c:5721. Li Zhuan died in the Jingyao period (258–263 CE) ^c:5721.

In the Novel

According to the available materials, Li Zhuan (styled Qinzhong) does not appear in novels such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms ^c:2476. Therefore, there is at present no record of his literary portrayal, plot development, or characterization in the novel. This indicates that Li Zhuan is mainly a figure existing in the official historical records, and that his life, deeds, and personality were not adopted or artistically reworked by the novel. The novel's selection and depiction of Three Kingdoms figures tends to emphasize those with dramatic conflict, military talent, or political influence, while Li Zhuan, a scholar-official, may not have fit the novel's narrative focus.

Key Relationships

* Li Ren (father): Li Zhuan's father, styled Dexian. Li Ren studied together with Yin Mo in Jing Province under eminent scholars such as Sima Hui and Song Zhong, laying the foundation for Li Zhuan's learning ^c:5721.
* Yin Mo (teacher): A man of the same county as Li Zhuan, and a fellow student of his father Li Ren. Li Zhuan inherited his father's learning and further studied and deeply explored its principles under Yin Mo, who was an important guide in his scholarship ^c:5721.
* Shu Han (the regime he served): Li Zhuan served the Shu Han regime all his life, beginning as a provincial clerk-assistant and clerk-secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, then holding the posts of Concubine's Steward to the Crown Prince, Deputy Director, Grandee of the Palace, Gentleman-Commandant of the Right, and others, always attending the heir apparent; he was an important civil official of Shu Han's later period ^c:5721.
* The heir apparent (the one he served): After being appointed Concubine's Steward to the Crown Prince in the first year of Yanxi, Li Zhuan continuously attended the heir apparent. The heir apparent was very fond of him for his broad learning and great knowledge ^c:5721.

Iconic Scenes

* Reading widely, versed in many arts: Li Zhuan not only mastered the Five Classics and the various schools of philosophy but also made deep study of many arts such as arithmetic, divination, medicine, bows and crossbows, and the ingenuity of machinery, displaying his broad learning and interests ^c:5721. This scene embodies his character as an all-round scholar.
* Attending the heir apparent, deeply favored: After becoming Concubine's Steward to the Crown Prince, Li Zhuan was deeply favored by the heir apparent for his broad knowledge. Although his disposition was frivolous and he loved to tease, the heir apparent's recognition of his learning highlights his talent in matters of culture and education ^c:5721.
* Authoring works, differing from Zheng Xuan: Li Zhuan authored the Changes, the Documents, the Mao Odes, the Three Rituals, the Zuo Commentary, the Taixuan Zhigui, and others; his doctrines mostly followed those of Jia Kui and Ma Rong, differing from Zheng Xuan. This independent scholarly insight and authorship is an important hallmark of his standing as a scholar ^c:5721.