Bian Xi
Encyclopedia
Bian Xi is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
. He was said to be a former Yellow Turban rebel
who later surrendered to the warlord Cao Cao
. During the Battle of Guandu
in 200, Bian was tasked with guarding Sishui Pass (north of present day Xingyang
, Henan
). He was killed by Guan Yu
during an attempted plot to assassinate the latter.
. In his hurry, Guan failed to obtain an official document from Cao and thus had been challenged twice along the way, by Kong Xiu
at Dongling Pass (south of present day Dengfeng
, Henan
) and by Han Fu
and Meng Tan (孟坦) at Luoyang
respectively. On both occasions Guan slew those who stood in his way.
When Guan arrived at Sishui Pass, Bian pretended to welcome him warmly and then invited Guan to attend a banquet at Zhenguo Temple
. A monk named Pujing (普净) hinted to Guan that Bian had laid 200 men in ambush in the temple and was waiting to assassinate him. Guan paid greater attention to his surroundings and sensed danger. Before the soldiers could lay hands on him, Guan had drawn his sword and killed those near him. He grabbed his Green Dragon Crescent Blade
and chased Bian, who turned and hurled his mace at him. Guan blocked the attack and caught up with Bian and sliced him into half.
Luo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
. He was said to be a former Yellow Turban rebel
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
who later surrendered to the warlord Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
. During the Battle of Guandu
Battle of Guandu
The Battle of Guandu was a military conflict between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle, which concluded with victory for Cao Cao, was a turning point in the war between the two warlords...
in 200, Bian was tasked with guarding Sishui Pass (north of present day Xingyang
Xingyang
Xingyang , is one of county-level cities of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. It is 15 kilometers in the west of Zhengzhou city and is the nearest city to Zhengzhou as well...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). He was killed by Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
during an attempted plot to assassinate the latter.
Biography
In 200, Guan Yu concluded his short service under Cao Cao and bade farewell to the latter to reunite with Liu BeiLiu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
. In his hurry, Guan failed to obtain an official document from Cao and thus had been challenged twice along the way, by Kong Xiu
Kong Xiu
Kong Xiu is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He served as a military general under the warlord Cao Cao and was in charge of defending Dongling Pass...
at Dongling Pass (south of present day Dengfeng
Dengfeng
Dengfeng is a county-level city in Zhengzhou, Henan province. In ancient times, it was known as Yangcheng .Dengfeng has an area of 1220 square kilometers and a population of 630,000....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) and by Han Fu
Han Fu (fictional)
Han Fu is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He served as a general under the warlord Cao Cao, and was appointed as Administrator of Luoyang...
and Meng Tan (孟坦) at Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
respectively. On both occasions Guan slew those who stood in his way.
When Guan arrived at Sishui Pass, Bian pretended to welcome him warmly and then invited Guan to attend a banquet at Zhenguo Temple
Zhenguo Temple
Zhenguo Temple is a Buddhist temple located 10 km away from Pingyao in the village of Hadongcun, in Shanxi Province, China. The temple's oldest hall, the Wanfo Hall, was built in 963 during the Northern Han dynasty, and is notable for featuring very large brackets that hold up the roof and flying...
. A monk named Pujing (普净) hinted to Guan that Bian had laid 200 men in ambush in the temple and was waiting to assassinate him. Guan paid greater attention to his surroundings and sensed danger. Before the soldiers could lay hands on him, Guan had drawn his sword and killed those near him. He grabbed his Green Dragon Crescent Blade
Guan dao
A Guan Dao, Kwan Dao, or Kuan Tao is a type of Chinese pole weapon that is currently used in some forms of Chinese martial arts. In Chinese it is properly called a 偃月刀 yan yue dao , the name under which it always appears in texts from the Song to Qing dynasties such as the Wujing Zongyao and...
and chased Bian, who turned and hurled his mace at him. Guan blocked the attack and caught up with Bian and sliced him into half.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms
- List of fictional people of the Three Kingdoms