Quan Ji

Historical Record

Biographical material on Quan Ji is lacking, and the official histories contain no clear record of his life and deeds. We therefore cannot verify from the sources Quan Ji's specific identity, experiences, or actual role in the Three Kingdoms period.

In the Novel

In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Quan Ji appears in the capacity of a Yellow Gate Attendant, and is a close attendant at the side of the Wu ruler Sun Liang^[1]. In the novel, Quan Ji is cast as an imperial uncle—his mother being the elder sister of Sun Chen—a kinship that plays a key role in the development of the story^[1]. Discontent with Sun Chen's monopoly of power, Sun Liang wept to Quan Ji and planned to do away with Sun Chen. Quan Ji expressed his loyalty in this and volunteered to assist Sun Liang^[1]. He advised Sun Liang to draft an edict, so that when they acted it could be shown to the assembly to win over Sun Chen's subordinates. Sun Liang adopted this advice and secretly handed the edict to Quan Ji^[1].

After returning home, however, Quan Ji told the matter to his father Quan Shang. Quan Shang in turn told his wife, that is, Quan Ji's mother. Although Quan Ji had been enjoined by Sun Liang on no account to let his mother know, lest the secret leak, his mother in the end disclosed the secret to Sun Chen^[1]. This leak directly led to Sun Liang's failure. On learning of it, Sun Chen acted swiftly, surrounding the inner palace and arresting Quan Shang, Liu Cheng, and others^[1]. In the end Sun Liang was deposed, and Quan Ji's family was implicated as a result. In the novel, Quan Ji's image revolves chiefly around his role as Sun Liang's confidant and as the tragic figure whose plan was leaked through family ties, highlighting how, in a struggle for power, even those closest may, for various reasons, become the key to a reversal of fortunes.

Key Relationships

* Sun Liang (serves): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Quan Ji is a Yellow Gate Attendant and confidant of the Wu ruler Sun Liang^[1]. Sun Liang trusted him greatly, confiding to him the secret plot to do away with Sun Chen and entrusting him with great responsibility. Quan Ji's actions, however, ultimately failed to help Sun Liang succeed; instead, the leak by his relatives led to Sun Liang's deposition.
* Quan Shang (father): Quan Ji told his father Quan Shang of Sun Liang's secret plot to do away with Sun Chen^[1]. Quan Shang was a key link in the chain by which the secret was passed on.
* Quan Ji's mother (Sun Chen's elder sister): Quan Ji's mother was the elder sister of Sun Chen^[1]. It was she who leaked Sun Liang's plan to remove Sun Chen to Sun Chen, directly causing the failure of Sun Liang's coup and plunging Quan Ji and his family into difficulty (novel only).
* Sun Chen (uncle): Sun Chen was Quan Ji's maternal uncle^[1]. Quan Ji's mother's informing on the plot enabled Sun Chen to counterattack in time, consolidating his own power and finally deposing Sun Liang.

Iconic Scenes

* Receiving the secret charge: Discontent with Sun Chen's monopoly of power, the Wu ruler Sun Liang wept to Quan Ji and planned to do away with Sun Chen^[1]. Quan Ji loyally declared his willingness to serve and advised Sun Liang to draft an edict to be shown to the assembly when they acted. Sun Liang adopted his advice and secretly handed the edict to him. This scene displays Sun Liang's trust in Quan Ji and Quan Ji's key role in the plot.
* The leaking of the plot: Quan Ji told Sun Liang's secret plot to do away with Sun Chen to his father Quan Shang, who in turn told his wife (Quan Ji's mother). Although Sun Liang had enjoined Quan Ji on no account to let his mother know, his mother in the end disclosed the secret to Sun Chen^[1]. This leak directly led to the failure of Sun Liang's coup; it is Quan Ji's most iconic scene in the novel and the turning point of the whole affair.