CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Chen Lin陈琳
A literary figure of the Three Kingdoms period, served as a registrar, later as secretary to Yuan Shao, and ultimately submitted to Cao Cao.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 3
- RELATION RECORDS
- 5
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Chen Lin, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
2 figures · 4 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Chen Lin→Cao Caosurrender
Chen Lin→Yuan Shaomaster-servant
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
1 figure · 1 record＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Chen Lin→Zang Hongurge surrender
3 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Corresponded with Zhang Hong. Praised Zhang Zhao as a talented scholar of the region. As a strategist for Yuan Shao, rewrote Gongsun Zan's letters.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chen Lin initially served as registrar to He Jin and advised against summoning outside troops and entering the palace, but He Jin did not listen. Later, he became Yuan Shao's secretary and drafted a denunciation. After Yuan Shao's defeat, he was pardoned by Cao Cao and served as a civil official, once presenting a poem.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend5 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
1 relations1 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ pardon →Chen Lin
Verified original text · 1
操怜其才，乃赦之，命为从事
pardon · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32
- Official history8 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
5 relations7 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ pardon →Chen Lin
- Chen Lin→ surrender →Cao Cao
- Yuan Shao→ lord-minister →Chen Lin
- Chen Lin→ master-servant →Yuan Shao
Verified original text · 7
太祖爱其才而不咎
forgive · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王卫二刘傅传
阴夔及陈琳乞降
surrender · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
In the Battle of Ye City, Chen Lin did not follow Yuan Shang to surrender
- based on factThe Romance has Chen Lin stationed inside Ye City to defend, rather than following Yuan Shang to beg for surrender.
In the Battle of Ye City, the official history Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Annals of Emperor Wu records that Yuan Shang was besieged, and 'Shang was afraid. Therefore, the former Inspector of Yuzhou, Yin Kui, and Chen Lin begged to surrender, but the Duke did not permit.' However, in Chapter 32 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Shang 'left Shen Pei and Chen Lin to guard Jizhou,' and when begging for surrender, only 'sent Yin Kui, the Inspector of Yuzhou, to Cao's camp to request surrender.' Chen Lin, on the other hand, was captured after the city fell and brought before Cao Cao, leading to the saying 'the arrow is on the string.'
Relationship network
- pardon← Cao Cao → Chen Linhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王卫二刘傅传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32
Original text (2)
操怜其才，乃赦之，命为从事
太祖爱其才而不咎
Original relation: forgive · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王卫二刘傅传
- surrenderChen Lin → Cao CaohistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王卫二刘傅传
Original text (2)
阴夔及陈琳乞降
袁氏败，琳归太祖
Original relation: submit · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王卫二刘傅传
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- urge surrenderChen Lin → Zang HonghistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布张邈臧洪传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传
Original text (2)
绍令洪邑人陈琳书与洪，喻以祸福
绍令洪邑人陈琳书与洪
Original relation: 写信劝降 · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传