Wang Yuanji

Wang Yuanji (onyomi: Ō Genki) is Wang Lang's granddaughter, Wang Su's daughter and historically Sima Zhao's wife. Known for her intelligence and practicality, she foresaw Zhong Hui's rebellion. She is briefly mentioned in chapter 119 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms giving birth to Sima Yan and Sima You.

Her Dynasty Warriors counterpart is Sima Zhao's supervisor. She was voted the most popular character in Gamecity's character popularity poll for Dynasty Warriors 7 and second most popular for the Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends poll. She placed third place as the character fans would want as their girlfriend according to Famitsu's character survey. The latest poll for the eighth installment puts her in ninth. The character poll for overseas fans puts her in first place for the Jin division, first in the semi-finals, and fourth in the final round. She was the second most popular Dynasty Warriors character for the Musou Orochi 2 Ultimate Halloween costume poll. Fans ranked her as their top choice in Shin Sangoku Musou Online Z's first survey for most popular general. She won fifth place in the Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate popularity poll.

This counterpart has a character image song titled PUNISH YOU and a duet with Sima Zhao called PROMISE.

Dynasty Warriors
Jin's Story Mode has her mainly featured as support for the Wei army. She is hired by Sima Shi to watch over Sima Zhao. At first, she attends to him and begrudgingly persuades him to rescue Zhuge Dan at Dongxing. She rightly places blame on him since their downfall is Sima Zhao's fault. Over time, she gradually learns to accept him and helps him overcome his laziness. In their faction's ending, she accompanies the landless Sima Zhao.

In Dynasty Warriors 7, her first Legendary Battle has her participate in a mock battle staged by Sima Shi. They both want to correct Sima Zhao's laziness and seek to discipline him in their battle. Wang Yuanji's second Legendary Battle allows her to personally subjugate Zhong Hui's revolt.

Wang Yuanji resumes the same duties in the eighth title. She is first seen joining the Sima clan's suppression of the rebels at Xiangping. With Zhang Chunhua's encouragement, Wang Yuanji continuously lends her support to Sima Zhao and his brother during their campaigns. During the historical route, she seems worried by his change of character as he rises in power. In the hypothetical route, she joins the fight at Jianye to defeat Wu and supports Sima Shi in the final battle at Chibi. Afterwards, she chooses to stay behind in the capital rather than follow Sima Zhao. In Wu's hypothetical route, she and Zhang Chunhua appear at Runan to engage Wu's strategists after they overcome the first set of traps.

Jin's added hypothetical stages in Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends has her help defend Hefei Castle from Sun Quan's forces and aid Sima Zhao in subjugating Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei's rebellion. She also assists Sima Shi's hunt for the ingredient needed for the perfect meat bun, albeit comically losing most of her prior respect towards the elder Sima sibling when finding out he is not as quirk-less she assumed him to be.

Wang Yuanji's bond stories in Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed reveal her more intimate moments as a wife and mother. Having given birth to her sixth child, Sima Zhao is elated when the baby turns out to be a girl. Although her husband is eager to spoil the baby, Wang Yuanji believes it's better to love all of their children equally. Despite motherhood being her current priority, she still finds time to scold Sima Zhao when he's slacking off on his duties.

Dynasty Warriors 9 sees Wang Yuanji begin her story with first dealing with the rebellion by Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong before Cao Shuang launches an assault on Shu at Mt. Xingshi that ultimately fails shortly after taking command following Wei Emperor Cao Rui's death and Crown Prince Cao Fang being still too young to take the Wei Imperial throne yet, then begins spending the Wei treasury on his own personal interests. Fed up with his slandering and destroying everything that Cao Cao and Cao Pi worked so hard to build up, Sima Yi launches his coup d'etat against Cao Shuang to try and save Wei with those officers loyal to his cause, including his wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, Deng Ai, Zhong Hui, Guo Huai, Zhuge Dan, Jia Chong, and Xiahou Ba. After Sima Yi and his wife, Zhang Chunhua, pass away, Wang Yuanji continues to aid her husband Sima Zhao and his elder brother Sima Shi with defending Wei against the Wu and Shu Kingdoms, starting with escaping the Wu ambush at Dongxing shortly after Sun Quan passed away, fighting them off at New Hefei Castle, then focusing on dealing with Jiang Wei at Mt. Tielong. However, during the battle, Sima Shi is wounded above his left eye by an arrow while rescuing Sima Zhao from Jiang Wei.

With Sima Shi injured, Wang Yuanji aids her husband Sima Zhao with dealing with a rebellion in their own ranks from Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin, along with Wen Qin's sons, which include Wen Yang, with support from Wu, but Sima Shi leading the assault only antagonizes his wounds, and he soon passes away after handing command of the army to Sima Zhao as his final act with Zhao, Wang Yuanji, and Jia Chong at his side on his deathbed. With Sima Zhao now in command, Wang Yuanji continues to aid her husband, with first dealing with Shu when they attack Duangu, where several Shu soldiers surrender and reveal that Shu is falling apart under Liu Shan and Jiang Wei, so Sima Zhao welcomes them into his forces, only to later learn that Zhuge Dan has betrayed them and joined Wu, aided by Wen Qin after he escaped the previous assault on Shouchun when allied with Guanqiu Jian.

Incensed by his betrayal, Sima Zhao plans retaliation and has his forces mobilize for attacking Shouchun to capture the traitor. After duping Zhuge Dan into executing Wen Qin, causing his sons to defect back to Wei to avenge him, Zhuge Dan is captured, and reveals he betrayed Sima Zhao because the Wei Emperor Cao Mao told him to. Realizing that the Cao family have realized the Sima family are too dangerous to continue serving Wei, under Jia Chong's encouragement, Sima Zhao forms the Jin Kingdom and plans to overthrow Wei, Wu, and Shu to establish the Jin Dynasty on the ruins of the Three Kingdoms.

To start, he begins by attacking Luoyang to slay Cao Mao, but leaves Jia Chong to deliver the death blow to the Emperor while he waits outside, but his offer to Yuanji to stay by his side through their future endeavors causes her to run off before Zhong Hui returns with a report of victory against Shu at Taoyang after he, Deng Ai, and Wen Yang defended the west from Jiang Wei's final Northern Campaign. Deciding the Three Kingdoms are finished, Sima Zhao makes plans to advance on Shu next and capture Chengdu now that Jiang Wei had weakened Shu's defenses with his failed attacks against Wei. With the deaths of Ma Dai, Guan Yinping, and Yueying during their attempts to defend Shu to the death, Liu Shan decides to give up and surrender. Meeting with Sima Zhao outside Chengdu with Xingcai to formally surrender Shu to the Wei/Jin forces, Liu Shan asks Sima Zhao to please create a new world where there will be no more sadness and grief, and Sima Zhao promises to do that for him. With that, Zhao, Jia Chong, and Yuanji escort Liu Shan and Xingcai to Luoyang where they will live in exile, with Sima Zhao refusing to do as Jia Chong suggests and executing Liu Shan.

Yuanji's ending has her looking for her husband following their victory and planning for the future, only to find him fast asleep in her room after being directed there by Jia Chong. He admits that he's not used to his new position, but she reminds him that he's still himself, no matter his rank, and then agrees to forgive him this once for running out on his duties, but asks that he doesn't go running off somewhere else without telling her first. Appreciating her concern and love for him, Sima Zhao thanks her before going to sleep again, resting his head in her lap, leaving Yuanji smiling at her husband.

Warriors Orochi
Wang Yuanji was one of the many officers stationed Ueda Castle during the original timeline of Warriors Orochi 3, and Sima Zhao mentions that she was captured by Dong Zhuo when the castle fell. Taishi Ci and company hurry to her rescue before she is overwhelmed by the serpent army. Unlike Zhuge Dan, she believes Sima Zhao when he explains he came from the future and agrees to their idea to raise an army. Following Sima Zhao's forces throughout the game, she helps the effort to rescue Taigong Wang and company, Lu Meng, and assists protecting Da Ji against the forces led by Sima Yi and Sima Shi.

In the PSP port of the game, Wang Yuanji participates in one of the new stages involving Ueda Castle. This time, she personally leads the charge against Yuan Shao's army in an attempt to prevent the castle from falling right into their hands. Her efforts in repelling both the demon troops and the unknown generals impress the mysterious Seimei Abe who later offers his services to the Coalition.

In Ultimate, she is one of the many officers pulled into the mirror realm. She, along with the Hōjō and Sakon, are sent to Kawanakajima, where they are forced to fight Lu Xun, Ginchiyo, and Sima Zhao, who are equally confused in their new environment. After capturing the three, Shennong and Kaguya arrive to clear the misunderstanding.

In Warriors Orochi 4, Wang Yuanji was lost in the new world alongside Sima Zhao and Sima Shi before being picked up and rescued by Nobunaga's forces. As a result, they all join the Oda forces and resist Liu Bei and Kenshin's Resistance.

The trio are tasked with stealing one of the Snake Bracelets of the Resistance, but Sima Yi and Zhang Chunhua unexpectedly appear and defeat them. Upon capture, she and both Sima brothers surrender to the Resistance.

When the Resistance and the Oda army merge to fight the Olympians, she and Sima Zhao are tasked with helping defend Honnōji from Cao Pi and Athena's forces. While Sima Zhao is sent to Baidi Castle after a new Snake Bracelet is reported there, Wang Yuanji senses something amiss and leads a rescue party, finding him under attack from Jia Chong, Seimei Abe and Kanbei Kuroda. She later accompanies Sima Zhao once more to Fan Castle, where he, Ma Chao and Hanbei must hold out against the continuous assault from the Asgardian Army after Zeus's death. During the battle, she scoffs at the idea of traveling back in time and preventing Zeus from being killed.

During one of the DLC scenarios, she joins Daqiao as part of her "Wife Challenge", where the pair defeat and learn the secrets of other wives as well as additional ways to charm men. The contest culminates with a final task to defeat Katsuie, who was dubbed as a "man's ideal wife".

Warriors All-Stars
Wang Yuanji is stranded in the Warriors All-Stars world yet she vaguely recognizes the other Dynasty Warriors heroes. While being followed by monsters, she is forced to fight Zhao Yun and Zhou Cang as they believe her to be commanding monsters, as well as Lu Bu. A fierce fight is induced however Tamaki ceases their fighting and elaborates on their foreign surroundings. Quickly realizing that the spring's power will return her to her respective home and time, Wang Yuanji agrees to side with Tamaki.

During one ending route, she cooperates with Ōka and Sophie as they attempt to uncover the truth about the world. They learn from Setsuna that being the Ruler is a sacrifice but then learn from Shiki that it is Yomi who drains the powers of the Ruler so that she may resurrect. After deciding, the trio makes up their minds to join Shiki to protect Tamaki. Ōka and Sophie lament how they would like to take Horō and Plachta with them. The trio ends up being confronted as they join Shiki as Tamaki questions them in disbelief. Plachta is the same way as Tamaki, staring in disbelief as she sees Sophie team up with Shiki. Once confirming that their defection is true, the trio prepare to fight as Zhao Yun and Horō also prepare for battle.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Wang Yuanji debuts in the twelveth title and is available only in the later scenarios. She has good stats for domestic matters and low for warfare even though she has good aptitude with bow troops.

Development
According to the producer, Wang Yuanji was added as an "adult" character and deliberately sought to balance her with the rest of the female cast. She went through several iterations during her design process, but Suzuki believes that she fills the spot for "tsundere" of the series. He notes she quickly became popular with fans in Japan and was frequently asked questions regarding her before the game's release. Her high popularity rating has surprised the development team each time. Suzuki has responded that it's the first time that a new character has been so well received during their debut. Even by the time of the newest entry, he and Atsushi Miyauchi are still mystified by her popularity with Japanese fans.

The reason why Koei decided to collaborate with Lawson was that the public relation departments from both companies were acquaintances with one another. At first, Lawson representatives didn't want to allow a clothing option for a character. Once they looked at the rough design for the concept, they approved it. Wang Yuanji was chosen with hopes to avoid offending fans of the returning cast.

Furusawa remarked that her character model in Warriors All-Stars uses Dead or Alive's Yawaraka Engine, meaning that her breasts will have gravity physics not seen in Dynasty Warriors. Developers adjusted parameters to react in a way that they think is faithful to her character. For her reprisal in Warriors All-Stars, Ito remarked that Wang Yuanji has a slightly softer side with the characters she befriends in this game. During battle, she's the same as she is in Dynasty Warriors. Ito also said that it's a conscious effort for her to act calm and reserved since she hardly acts like Wang Yuanji in her daily life.

Personality
Despite her conservative and quiet countenance, Wang Yuanji is a caring and gentle woman to the weak and innocent. A perceptive woman who thinks of the greater good for her country, she rarely has tolerance for procrastination or excessiveness. Whenever possible she seeks to reach quick, efficient, and decisive conclusions to conflicts. Although she may seem like a passive stoic, Yuanji is gregarious enough to congratulate her comrades with an open smile. If Yuanji confesses her genuine feelings to someone dear to her, she becomes rather bashful with her sincerity. In the Japanese script, she always formally addresses the Sima siblings by their style names.

With Sima Zhao, however, she spares him no sympathy and is rather curt with him. More often than not, she is usually patronizing him to take responsibility for his actions. As she watches him mature through his struggles, Yuanji genuinely accepts him and his faults. She usually shows her concern for him indirectly, her cold shoulder belying the respect she has for him. Both Sima Yi and Sima Shi are aware of his faults, asking her to not misunderstand the Sima family due to Sima Zhao's behavior. During most situations where Sima Zhao assumes leadership, she becomes concerned about his hardened personality yet promises to forever support him.

Comically, while she tends to express her concern and devotion to Sima Shi's cause (which causes Sima Zhao to be miffed and likely jealous of this), there are times where Sima Shi's more quirky aspects emerge that causes Yuanji express to her own chagrin that the two brothers are just as silly as one another.

For her Warriors Orochi appearance, she has special conversations with Taishi Ci, Sakon, and Nene. The latest installment gives her particular attention to Athena, who is still attempting to find ways to help encourage humans. She becomes friends with Takakage Kobayakawa and the two bookworms often discuss the different libraries and records together.

Voice Actors

 * Tara Platt - Dynasty Warriors series (English-uncredited)
 * Kate Poisson - Dynasty Warriors 9 (English)
 * Carrie Savage - Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao (English-uncredited)
 * Yi Zhu - Dynasty Warriors 9 (Chinese)
 * Kim Hyeon-sim - Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed (Korean)
 * Yeo Minjeong - Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao (Korean)
 * Kanae Ito - Dynasty Warriors series, Warriors Orochi series, Warriors All-Stars (Japanese)
 * Etsuko Kozakura - Youkai Sangokushi (Japanese)
 * Asami Seto - Sangokushi Hadou (Japanese)
 * Marie Ōta - Youkai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars (Japanese)

Live Action Performers

 * Arisa Fujisaki - Butai Shin Sangoku Musou

Quotes

 * See also: Wang Yuanji/Quotes


 * "I must go out and live up to the responsibilities I have been entrusted with."
 * "I'm first place? I thought it was some kind of joke, not that there would be any good reason to... It's not like I'm happy or anything... Don't misunderstand me..."
 * "A lot of people voted for someone as unsociable as me. I feel like it's inexcusable... But let me say just this. ...Thank you. I'm so happy."
 * "Did I get a bit too strict with everybody? I-it's not like I'm bothered that my ranking dropped down..."


 * "My lady, might I speak with you?"
 * "What do you want? I'm not in the mood to listen to your whining."
 * "Come now, don't be like that. You're all I have."
 * "Then, why don't you listen to my complaints sometimes? Like the one about the guy who is always complaining to me...."
 * "Forgive me."
 * Sima Zhao and Wang Yuanji; Dynasty Warriors 7


 * "I know Zhao can be a nuisance. As his older brother, I offer my apologies."
 * "That is all a part of being married. Don't give it a second thought."
 * "If you ever have any trouble, just let me know. I will do whatever I can to help."
 * "Then you will listen to my complaints?"
 * "...No, I won't do that. You should tell them to Zhao directly."
 * Sima Shi and Wang Yuanji; Dynasty Warriors 8


 * "You have lots of life experience, don't you Master Huang Zhong. Can I ask you about the best way to motivate someone?"
 * "Easy. Spank them on the rump until they do what you want! That'll get them moving, before you know it!"
 * "T-That might be a little too forward. I want this person to act on their own, without too much prompting from me."
 * "You call that forward? Anyway, if you want them to act on their own, use of praise is a good track to take. It's probably a lack of confidence that is keeping them from acting. So you need to start by giving them some."
 * "Confidence, you say? Interesting. Thank you. I'll just try not to go too far and make him over confident!"
 * Wang Yuanji and Huang Zhong; Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers


 * "Master Sakon, will you lend me your knowledge? I'm trying to motivate someone who hardly does anything."
 * "You're too perfect, that's your problem. It makes people come to depend on you. Why don't you try playing dumb? Men really go for a woman who needs to rely on them for help."
 * Wang Yuanji and Sakon Shima; Warriors Orochi 3


 * "Lady Yuanji, you look happy. Has something good happened?"
 * "You noticed that? I was trying to act normally."
 * "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
 * "Not at all. I actually think you'll like this too. It turns out, I found a library stocked with books. I heard you like to read, Master Takakage, so I thought..."
 * "Yes, indeed! I couldn't ask for more! A library? Please, take me with you to see it."
 * "Of course. Even in this other world, there are people who just can't settle down unless they are reading. I'm happy I'm not the only one. Follow me, then."
 * "Lead on. Thank you so much for this!"
 * Takakage and Wang Yuanji; Warriors Orochi 4

Gameplay

 * See also: Wang Yuanji/Movesets

Weapons

 * See also: Wang Yuanji/Weapons

Dynasty Warriors 8
Wang Yuanji still uses the throwing knives as her default weapon in this title.

Historical Information
Wang Yuanji was Wang Lang's granddaughter and Wang Su's daughter. She was a well studied child as she could understand Shijing, Lunyu, and the Sangfu when she was eight years old. She was loyal to her father and faithfully performed the chores around her household. Wang Lang was proud of her character and was said to have wished her to be another grandson. These words have also been interpreted as him lamenting her headstrong, tomboyish nature during her childhood.

When she was fifteen years old, she was married to Sima Zhao. During their marriage, she gave birth to Sima Yan, Sima Ding'guo, Sima You, Sima Zhou, and Sima Guangde. Her devotion to her family extended to her mother-in-law as she served her well. Wang Yuanji was a loving mother to her sons and was known to be a strong figure for their wives. With her knowledge in various literature, she would fortify the maidens with virtue and integrity.

At one time during Sima Zhao's reign, Wang Yuanji apparently foresaw Zhong Hui's eventual betrayal. To him she personally confided, "Zhong Hui is one who moves for his own merit and forgets his duties to you. He will surely rebel if left unattended." Her predictions of his character proved correct as he revolted not too many years afterward.

After her father died, she dressed in clothes of mourning and wept for him ceaselessly. She was named Empress Dowager after her husband's death during Sima Yan's reign. Wang Yuanji was admitted to the court yet sought to be simple and practical with conducting herself. However, since her followers apparently disapproved of her methods, her vassals were disorderly and instigated fights against one another. For this reason, she was said to have kept a low profile in political matters. It's not clear if the harsh charges against her were caused from her own ineptitude or due to purposeful slander from discontent retainers. She died in 268 with the honors of an empress and was buried at Chongyang Tomb with her husband.

Trivia

 * Wang Yuanji via her Dynasty Warriors 7 design appeared as a boss character during a collaboration quest in Road to Dragons.
 * Yura, one of the cosplayers in the Tokyo Game Show 2017 Cosplay Contest, won the Special Recognition award for her cosplay as Dynasty Warriors 7 Wang Yuanji.

Gallery
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