Fán Jiàn 樊建 [Chángyuán 長元]

(Last Updated 2021 June 23)

Dǒng Jué, in Chancellor [Zhūgě] Liàng’s time was Office Director Scribe, [Zhūgě] Liàng appraised him stating: “Director Scribe Dǒng is an excellent serviceman. Every time I speak with him, his thoughts are cautious and appropriate.” Transferred to Registrar. After [Zhūgě] Liàng died, he was gradually promoted to reach Secretariat Documents Deputy-Director, succeeding Chén Zhī as Secretariat Documents Director, promoted to General-in-Chief, judging Terrace affairs, and Yìyáng’s Fán Jiàn succeeded him. (1) Yánxī Fourteenth Year [251], as a Colonel he was sent to Wú, it happened that Sūn Quán was seriously ill, and did not personally meet Jiàn. [Sūn] Quán asked Zhūgě Kè: “How does Fán Jiàn compare to Zōng Yù?” [Zhūgě] Kè replied: “His talent and knowledge does not match Yù, but his elegance and nature surpasses him.” Later he became Attendant Internal, administering as Secretariat Documents Director. From when [Zhūgě] Zhān, [Dǒng] Jué, [Fán] Jiàn governed affairs, Jiāng Wéi always campaigned outside, the eunuch Huáng Hào secretly held power’s handle, everyone protected one another, unable to rectify and correct it, (2) however Jiàn specially did not with [Huáng] Hào have harmonious and friendly dealings. The year after Shǔ was defeated, in spring, Jué and Jiàn both went to the capital, together becoming Chancellor of State’s advisors to the army, that autumn both were simultaneously Cavalier Regular Attendant, sent to Shǔ to show appreciation for labors. (3)

董厥者，丞相亮時為府令史，亮稱之曰：「董令史，良士也。吾每與之言，思慎宜適。」徙為主簿。亮卒後，稍遷至尚書僕射，代陳祗為尚書令，遷大將軍，平臺事，而義陽樊建代焉。〔一〕延熙（二）十四年，以校尉使吳，值孫權病篤，不自見建。權問諸葛恪曰：「樊建何如宗預也？」恪對曰：「才識不及預，而雅性過之。」後為侍中，守尚書令。自瞻、厥、建統事，姜維常征伐在外，宦人黃皓竊弄機柄，咸共將護，無能匡矯，〔二〕然建特不與皓和好往來。蜀破之明年春，厥、建俱詣京都，同為相國參軍，其秋並兼散騎常侍，使蜀慰勞。〔三〕

• (1) Citing Jìn Bǎiguānbiǎo: Dǒng Jué appellation Gōngxí, also was Yìyáng man. Jiàn appellation Chángyuán.

〔一〕　案晉百官表：董厥字龔襲，亦義陽人。建字長元。

• (2) Sūn Shèng’s Yìtóng jì states: Zhān and Jué and the rest believed Wéi enjoyed battle and was without achievement, the state’s interior was wearied and harmed, and that it was appropriate to memorialize Hòuzhǔ to summon him back as Yìzhōu Inspector, seizing his military authority; Shǔ elders yet have the story of Zhān’s memorial to have Yán Yǔ succeed Wéi. Jìn Yǒnghé Third Year [347], Shǔ historian Cháng Qú said that the Shǔ elders say: “Chén Shòu once was Zhān’s official, was by Zhān insulted, and therefore used this matter to assign the evil to Huáng Hào, and say Zhān could not rectify and correct it.”

　　〔二〕　孫盛異同記曰：瞻、厥等以維好戰無功，國內疲弊，宜表後主，召還為益州刺史，奪其兵權；蜀長老猶有瞻表以閻宇代維故事。晉永和三年，蜀史常璩說蜀長老云：「陳壽嘗為瞻吏，為瞻所辱，故因此事歸惡黃皓，而云瞻不能匡矯也。」

• (3) Hàn Jìn Chūnqiū states: Fán Jiàn became Dispensing Affairs Internal, Jìn Wǔ-dì [Sīmǎ Yán] asked of Zhūgě Liàng’s governing of state, Jiàn replied: “Hearing of evil he was certain to correct it, but did not boast excessively, rewards and punishments were trusted, sufficient to move the divine enlightenment.” The Emperor said: “Excellent! If I obtained this man to assist myself, how would there be today’s toils?” Jiàn bowed head and said: “I your servant humbly hear of the realm Under Heaven’s discussions, all say Dèng Ài met with injustice, Your Majesty knows but does not acknowledge it, is this what Féng Táng called: ‘Though obtaining Pō and Mù but not able to use them’?” The Emperor laughed and said: “I just wished to clear him, your words raised my thoughts.” Therefore he sent out Imperial Order correcting [Dèng] Ài’s case.

　　〔三〕　漢晉春秋曰：樊建為給事中，晉武帝問諸葛亮之治國，建對曰：「聞惡必改，而不矜過，賞罰之信，足感神明。」帝曰：「善哉！使我得此人以自輔，豈有今日之勞乎！」建稽首曰：「臣竊聞天下之論，皆謂鄧艾見枉，陛下知而不理，此豈馮唐之所謂『雖得頗、牧而不能用』者乎！」帝笑曰：「吾方欲明之，卿言起我意。」於是發詔治艾焉。