Chen Zhen (Three Kingdoms)

For other people named Chen Zhen, see Chen Zhen.

Chen Zhen
Minister of Shu Han
Born	(Unknown)
Died	235
Names
Traditional Chinese	陳震
Simplified Chinese	陈震
Pinyin	Chén Zhèn
Wade–Giles	Ch'en Chen
Courtesy name	Xiaoqi (Chinese: 孝起; pinyin: Xiàoqǐ; Wade–Giles: Hsiao-ch'i)

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen.

Chen Zhen (died 235), courtesy name Xiaoqi, was a minister of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period.

Life

Chen Zhen hailed from Nanyang. When Liu Bei became Governor of Jing, Chen Zhen was hired to serve as a local officer and was stationed in various commanderies. When Liu Bei entered Shu, Chen Zhen remained in his service, where he progressed in rank and soon became Imperial Secretariat at the capital. When Sun Quan declared himself emperor, Liu Shan sent Chen Zhen to offer his congratulations and to form an alliance, which he did, and they also fleshed out their countries’ borders. When he died in AD 235, his son Chen Ji succeeded him.

In fiction

Chen Zhen first appears in the novel in service to Yuan Shao, though in Sanguozhi it seems his first appearance is in service to Liu Bei. His actions under Yuan Shao are not unlike his duties with Liu Bei, where he performs diplomatic tasks such as delivering Liu Bei's letter to Guan Yu in Luoyang, and meeting with Sun Ce to request aid against Cao Cao. Also in the novel, it was he who suggested to Liu Bei that he meet with the seer Li Yi (李意) while mourning the deaths of his brothers.

Appointments and titles held

• Assistant Officer (從事)
• Captain of the North District of Shu Commandery (蜀郡北部都尉)
• Administrator of Wenshan (汶山太守)
• Administrator of Jianwei (犍為太守)
• Chief Imperial Secretary (尚書令)
• Minister of the Guards (衛尉) - title granted by Sun Quan
• Marquis of Chengyang (城陽亭侯)

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms

References

• Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 39, Biography of Chen Zhen.