Jinhuan Sanjie

Kim Hoàn Tam Kết

August 5, 2026|Three Kingdoms

NAME
Chinese Name	金环三结, 金環三結, Jīnhuán Sānjié
Other name	Kim Hoàn Tam Kết
INFORMATION
Died	225
Death Reason	Novel only: killed by Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) with a single spear thrust in a dawn raid on his central camp; head taken (Ch.87). No historical death.
CAREER
Allegiance	Nanman (Meng Huo) — First Cave Marshal — novel only
Battles	Three Cave Marshals campaign vs Shu (Ch.87) — novel only

Here is the exhaustive biography of Jinhuan Sanjie (金环三结, Kim Hoàn Tam Kết) (? – 225, novel), also written 金環三結, a fictional Nanman officer under Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) and First of the “Three Cave Marshals” (三洞元帅) in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He has no historical existence.

Historical Status

Jinhuan Sanjie does not appear in the Sanguozhi, Huayang Guozhi, or other early southern campaign notices. He is invented together with Dong Tuna (董荼那, Đổng Đồ Na) and Ahui Nan (阿会喃, A Hội Nam) as the three cave commanders who serve Meng Huo during Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng)’s southern campaign of 225. Modern scholarship treats the colourful Nanman cast (Jinhuan Sanjie, Dongtuna, Ahuinan, King Mulu, Wutugu, etc.) as late Yuan / early Ming literary inventions.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Ch. 87 — Three Cave Marshals: After Zhuge Liang has defeated Yong Kai (雍闿, Ung Khải) and the first wave of southern rebels, Meng Huo summons his three cave marshals: First Cave Marshal Jinhuan Sanjie; Second Cave Marshal Dong Tuna; Third Cave Marshal Ahui Nan. Meng Huo orders them to advance by three separate routes, each with 50,000 troops; whoever wins will be made Cave Lord. Jinhuan Sanjie takes the central route.

Ch. 87 — Dawn raid: Zhuge Liang deliberately withholds Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) and Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên) from the first dispositions, claiming middle-aged generals unfamiliar with the terrain might lose their edge. Stung by the implied slight, Zhao Yun and Wei Yan secretly lead a dawn raid on Jinhuan Sanjie’s camp. In the confusion Jinhuan Sanjie rides out, encounters Zhao Yun, and is killed by a single spear thrust; his head is taken. Dong Tuna and Ahui Nan are captured alive shortly afterward. Destruction of the “Three Caves” army marks an early stage in Zhuge Liang’s subjugation of the Nanman.

History vs novel: Entirely novelistic — no historical Three Cave Marshals or death by Zhao Yun’s spear in 225.

Jinhuan Sanjie (金环三结, Kim Hoàn Tam Kết) — Literary Timeline

225 AD — Three Cave Campaign

Appointed First Cave Marshal (Ch.87)

Given 50,000 men for the central route against Zhuge Liang’s invading army, alongside Dong Tuna and Ahui Nan on the flanks.

225 AD — Death

Killed by Zhao Yun at Dawn

Zhao Yun and Wei Yan surprise his camp; Jinhuan Sanjie dies to Zhao Yun’s spear and his head is taken. Fellow marshals captured. No historical counterpart.

Historical Note

Jinhuan Sanjie is a pure novelistic invention. No contemporary source names a Nanman officer of this title, nor do historical accounts of Zhuge Liang’s 225 campaign describe “Three Cave Marshals.” The character exists to provide an early, colourful defeat that demonstrates Shu arms and Zhuge Liang’s foresight before the more elaborate contests with Meng Huo himself. In popular culture he is remembered as the first cave commander to fall to Zhao Yun’s spear.

For overview notes, see Jinhuan Sanjie on Wikipedia (stub; treat novel Ch.87 as primary).

Key Relationships

Family

No father, mother, spouse, or children are named in the novel (fictional Nanman cave marshal). Kin unrecorded — do not invent.

Friends

Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch): Nanman king who appoints Jinhuan Sanjie First Cave Marshal of the central route (Ch.87).
Dong Tuna (董荼那, Đổng Đồ Na): Second Cave Marshal; fellow commander of a flanking route; captured alive after Jinhuan Sanjie falls.
Ahui Nan (阿会喃, A Hội Nam): Third Cave Marshal; fellow flanking commander; captured alive in the same operation.

Enemies

Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân): Kills Jinhuan Sanjie with a single spear thrust in the dawn raid and takes his head (Ch.87).
Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên): Joint commander of the surprise assault on the central camp.
Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Overall strategist who withholds Zhao Yun and Wei Yan to sting them into the decisive night/dawn strike.

Other

Yong Kai (雍闿, Ung Khải): Southern rebel defeated earlier in the same campaign arc before Meng Huo fields the Three Cave Marshals.
Three Cave Marshals / three routes: Novel organisation — Jinhuan Sanjie centre, Dong Tuna and Ahui Nan on the wings, each with 50,000.
History: No attested Nanman marshal Jinhuan Sanjie — all bonds above are novel-only.

In Novel

Chapter 87

Jinhuan Sanjie (金环三结, Kim Hoàn Tam Kết): First Cave Marshal under Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch); central route with 50,000 alongside Dong Tuna (董荼那, Đổng Đồ Na) and Ahui Nan (阿会喃, A Hội Nam); Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) and Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên) dawn-raid his camp; Zhao Yun kills him with one spear thrust and takes his head. History: no such person.