The Mad Scholar: Lessons from Mi Heng on Neurodivergence in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

This article is a neurodivergent reading of the peripheral character of Mi Heng 禰衡 within Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義 (sanguo yanyi) by Luo Guanzhong 羅貫中 (1280–1360). In a close reading, I discuss Mi Heng as a neurodivergent figure who subverts the normative behavioural codes of the court, in addition to his embodyminded difference of superior cognitive ability. Following this, I consider how insights from Mad Studies can enrichen the discussion, creating a maddened neurodivergent reading approach. In this maddening, I address how Mi Heng is ultimately persecuted as a result of his neurotypology. I then conclude with reflections on the future possibilities of this model. This paper proactively engages with non-Western literature to disrupt the Eurocentric nature of Early Modern Neurodiversity Studies and learns from Critical Neurodiversity Studies in its drawing on Mad Studies theorising. Lay Abstract This article focuses on the minor character of Mi Heng禰衡 as he is depicted in the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三國演義 ( sanguo yanyi ) by Luo Guanzhong 羅貫中 (1280 – 1360). I read the text in detail and first consider how Mi Heng is a neurodivergent character who goes against the accepted behaviour in the court. I also consider his internal differences, namely his superior cognition. After this, I draw on ideas from Mad Studies to make the discussion richer. By doing this, I create a ‘maddened neurodivergent reading approach’. When I apply ideas from mad studies to the conversation, I discuss how Mi Heng is persecuted because of his neurodivergence. I then finish by thinking more about the future ways this model can be applied. This paper proactively engages with non-Western literature, which is important due to the focus on European and Western literature within the field of Early Modern Neurodiversity Studies. The paper also learns from Critical Neurodiversity Studies which reminds us of the importance of drawing on Mad Studies ideas.