Bian Xi
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese: | 卞喜 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 卞喜 |
| Pinyin: | Biàn Xǐ |
| Wade-Giles: | Pien Hsi |
| Zi: | None |
Bian Xi (? – 200) is a fictional character in the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. 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 Xi was the warden of the Sishui Pass (汜水關, north of present day Xingyang, Henan). He was killed by Guan Yu during an attempted plot to assassinate the latter.
[edit] Death in Guan Yu's hands
In 200, Guan Yu concluded his short service under Cao Cao and bade farewell to the latter to reunite with his former lord and sworn brother Liu Bei. In his hurry Guan Yu had failed to obtain an official document from Cao Cao and thus had been challenged twice along the way, by Kong Xiu at Dongling Pass (東岭關, south of present day Dengfeng, Henan) and by Han Fu and Meng Tan (孟坦) at Luoyang respectively. On both occasions Guan Yu slew those who stood in his way.
As Guan Yu continued his journey through the night to arrive at Sishui Pass, where Bian Xi was the warden, he was welcomed with mocked hospitality. Bian Xi then invited Guan Yu to the Zhenguo Temple (镇国寺) near the pass, where he had laid down two hundred troops in ambush. However, a monk named Pujing (普净), who was from the same county as Guan Yu, gave away the plot in a hint to the latter.
Having been warned, Guan Yu paid more heed to his surroundings and saw through the ambush. Before the soldiers could lay their hands on him, he had drawn a sword and slain those near him. Grabbing his Green Dragon Crescent Sabre, Guan Yu then chased after Bian Xi, who turned and hurled his mace at his pursuer. Guan Yu deflected the attack with his weapon and caught up with his foe, who was then slashed in half.
[edit] References
- Luo Guanzhong (1986). San Guo Yan Yi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0.
- Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.
