| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 金旋, 金旋, Jīn Xuán |
| Other name | Kim Toàn, Kim Tuyền, Nguyên Cơ |
| Courtesy name | 元机, 元機, Yuánjī, Yuan Ji, tự Nguyên Cơ |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Jingzhao Commandery, Sili (司隶京兆尹; Kinh Triệu Doãn, Tư Lệ) |
| Died | 209 |
| Death Reason | Novel: shot dead by Gong Zhi (巩志, Củng Chí) from the Wuling wall (Ch.53). History: SGZ lists surrender among the four southern administrators; Pei note (Sanfu Juelu) says killed resisting Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị). |
| FAMILY | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Han → Liu Biao orbit → independent Administrator of Wuling |
| Battles | Defence of Wuling against Zhang Fei (novel, 209); southern Jing four-commandery campaign |
Jin Xuan (金旋, Kim Toàn / Kim Tuyền), courtesy name Yuanji (元机 / 元機, tự Nguyên Cơ) (? – 209), was Administrator of Wuling Commandery in southern Jing Province. A Jingzhao native and distant descendant of Western Han statesman Jin Midi (金日磾, Kim Nhật Đê), he held Han court posts before taking Wuling. After Red Cliffs, Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) seized the four southern commanderies; Jin Xuan’s fate splits between history (surrender vs death in fighting) and the novel (killed by his own officer).
Historical Career
Jin Xuan was a native of Jingzhao Commandery (around modern Xi’an) and a descendant of the famous Western Han statesman Jin Midi (金日磾, Kim Nhật Đê). He held successive court appointments—Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Consultant (Yilang), and General of the Household—before becoming Administrator of Wuling in southern Jing Province. After the Battle of Red Cliffs (208), Liu Bei moved south to seize the four commanderies of Changsha, Guiyang, Lingling and Wuling. The main text of the Records of the Three Kingdoms states that the four administrators, including Jin Xuan, all surrendered. A note by Pei Songzhi quoting the Sanfu Juelu, however, records that Jin Xuan was attacked and killed by Liu Bei’s forces and that Wuling passed into Liu Bei’s hands. His son Jin Yi (金祎, Kim Y) later plotted against Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) in 218 and was executed when the conspiracy failed.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 53: When Zhang Fei (张飞, Trương Phi) approaches Wuling with three thousand men, Jin Xuan’s assistant Gong Zhi (巩志, Củng Chí) urges surrender. Jin Xuan nearly executes him for the suggestion and rides out to fight. Confronted by Zhang Fei’s thunderous roar he loses courage, turns and flees back toward the city. Gong Zhi, standing on the wall, shoots him through the face with an arrow, denouncing him for rejecting Heaven’s will. Gong Zhi then opens the gates, presents Jin Xuan’s head to Zhang Fei, and is rewarded by Liu Bei with the governorship of Wuling.
Jin Xuan (金旋, Kim Toàn) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Rise to Administrator of Wuling
Holds successive Han court posts (Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Consultant, General of the Household) before appointment as Administrator of Wuling Commandery in southern Jing.
Defeat by Zhang Fei and Death
Historically either surrenders or is killed when Liu Bei seizes the four southern commanderies. In the novel he rejects Gong Zhi’s advice to surrender, is routed by Zhang Fei’s roar, and is shot in the face by Gong Zhi while fleeing back into the city. Gong Zhi surrenders Wuling and is made its new governor.
Historical Note
The historical record is divided: the main text of the Sanguozhi lists Jin Xuan among the four administrators who surrendered, while Pei Songzhi’s note states that he was killed in the fighting. The novel adopts the more dramatic version, turning the episode into a tale of obstinacy punished by a subordinate’s arrow and thereby justifying Gong Zhi’s elevation. In both accounts Jin Xuan remains a minor local power whose brief resistance (or submission) marks the quiet incorporation of Wuling into Liu Bei’s growing Jing Province base. His only lasting historical footprint is the later anti-Cao conspiracy of his son Jin Yi.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Jin Xuan on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Jin Midi (金日磾, Kim Nhật Đê): Distant ancestor. Celebrated Xiongnu prince and loyal Regent Minister of the Western Han dynasty.
- Jin Yi (金祎, Kim Y): Son. Official who launched the Gengzi Year plot against Cao Cao in Xuchang in 218 AD and was executed when it failed.
Friends
- Han Xuan (韩玄, Hàn Huyền): Fellow Administrator among the Four Commanderies of Southern Jingzhou in 208–209 AD.
- Liu Du (刘度, Lưu Độ): Administrator of Lingling commandery in the same southern Jing pacification arc.
- Zhao Fan (赵范, Triệu Phạm): Administrator of Guiyang commandery in the same four-commandery campaign.
Enemies
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): Lord who campaigned south in 208–209 AD to annex Wuling commandery.
- Zhang Fei (张飞, Trương Phi): Shu hero who marched against Wuling, routing Jin Xuan’s army in the novel.
- Gong Zhi (巩志, Củng Chí): Subordinate officer under Jin Xuan in Wuling. Novel only: shoots Jin Xuan dead from the city wall and surrenders Wuling to Liu Bei. History: Gong Zhi is a literary figure; SGZ does not record this assassination.
Other
- Liu Biao (刘表, Lưu Biểu): Former overlord of Jing Province under whose regional order the southern commanderies, including Wuling, had been administered before the post–Red Cliffs realignment.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Northern power whose temporary hold on Jing after Liu Cong’s surrender framed the southern commanderies’ choices; later target of Jin Yi’s 218 plot (Jin Xuan’s historical legacy through his son).
- Pei Songzhi / Sanfu Juelu tradition: Preserves the alternate historical note that Jin Xuan was killed resisting Liu Bei — the source behind the novel’s death drama versus the SGZ main-text surrender list.
In Novel
Chapter 53
- Jin Xuan (金旋, Kim Toàn / Kim Tuyền): Administrator of Wuling, courtesy name Yuanji (元机, tự Nguyên Cơ). Rejects Gong Zhi (巩志, Củng Chí)’s advice to surrender to Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị); rides out against Zhang Fei (张飞, Trương Phi), is routed by Zhang Fei’s roar, flees to the wall, and is shot through the face by Gong Zhi, who then opens Wuling to Liu Bei.
In History
Summary
- Jin Xuan (金旋, Kim Toàn), courtesy name Yuanji, was a late Eastern Han official from Jingzhao and Administrator of Wuling among the southern Jing commanderies.
Year: 209 AD
- When Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) moved on the four southern commanderies, the SGZ main text lists Jin Xuan among those who surrendered; Pei Songzhi’s note quoting the Sanfu Juelu says he was killed resisting the attack.
Novel vs History
- Novel Ch.53: killed by subordinate Gong Zhi (巩志, Củng Chí) after refusing surrender.
- History: surrender or death in fighting — no Gong Zhi assassination in the primary chronicle; Gong Zhi is literary.
Historical Record
- SGZ notices on Liu Bei’s Jing campaigns; Pei annotation citing Sanfu Juelu; later career of son Jin Yi (金祎, Kim Y) (218 plot).
Gallery
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