The Three-Body Problem

The Three-Body Problem

by Liu Cixin

Wei Cheng Character Analysis

Though Wei is first introduced to Wang Miao as the spaced-out husband of Shen Yufei, he is actually a visionary mathematician. After Wei accidentally stumbles on what he calls an “evolutionary” approach to the three-body problem, he becomes a point of fascination (and combat) for the warring factions of the ETO. In addition to his genius mathematical abilities, Wei’s most distinctive characteristic is his apathy. Though abstract theories interest him, he feels too “lazy” to think about real-life situations and relationships.

Wei Cheng Quotes in The Three-Body Problem

The The Three-Body Problem quotes below are all either spoken by Wei Cheng or refer to Wei Cheng . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
).

Chapter 16 Quotes

I then introduced a third sphere, and to my astonishment, the situation changed completely. Like I said, any geometric figure turns into numbers in the depths of my mind. The sphereless, one-sphere, and two-sphere universes all showed up as a single equation or a few equations, like a few lonesome leaves in late fall. But this third sphere gave “emptiness” life. The three spheres, given initial movements, went through complex, seemingly never repeating movements. The descriptive equations rained down in a thunderstorm without end.

Related Characters: Wei Cheng (speaker)
Page Number and Citation: 193
Explanation and Analysis:

Chapter 30 Quotes

If I tell you more, you really won't be able to sleep. Forget it. What's the point of worrying? We should learn to be as philosophical as Wei Cheng and Shi Qiang. Just do the best within your responsibility. Let's go drinking and then go back to sleep like good bugs.

Related Characters: Ding Yi (speaker), Wang Miao, Wei Cheng , Shi Qiang
Page Number and Citation: 330
Explanation and Analysis:
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Wei Cheng Character Timeline in The Three-Body Problem

The timeline below shows where the character Wei Cheng appears in The Three-Body Problem. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6. The Shooter and the Farmer
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
...she makes her money. He is greeted by Shen’s husband, a seemingly spaced-out man named Wei Cheng. Though Wei has nothing to do with the Frontiers of Science—nobody even knows if... (full context)
Chapter 16. The Three-Body Problem
Scientific Discovery and Political Division Theme Icon
History and Legacy Theme Icon
...to his office. When he arrives, he is met by computer specialist Xu Bingbing and Wei Cheng, Shen Yufei’s spacey husband. Wei explains that his life is in danger, though General... (full context)
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
As Wei tells it, he was always a lazy person, ever since childhood. Though he had an... (full context)
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
As he fell asleep that night, Wei imagined a sphere to symbolize his emptiness. When that initial empty sphere reminded him of... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
Wei had effectively discovered the three-body problem on his own. Though years earlier, a mathematician named... (full context)
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
Such an algorithm would take a tremendous amount of computing power, and Wei only had paper at the monastery. Still, Wei worked tirelessly, discarding his notes as he... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Scientific Discovery and Political Division Theme Icon
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
That night, Wei saw Shen praying at a temple on the monastery grounds. When he got closer, he... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Though the monks warned him against it, Wei left with Shen. Soon after, the two were married, though there was never any real... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Scientific Discovery and Political Division Theme Icon
Trauma and Cyclical Harm Theme Icon
History and Legacy Theme Icon
Wei says that yesterday, a man called him and told him that unless he stopped researching... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
History and Legacy Theme Icon
To continue the investigation on Wei’s behalf, Wang leaves with Shi and Xu Bingbing (the computer specialist). As they drive away,... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Scientific Discovery and Political Division Theme Icon
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
History and Legacy Theme Icon
Now, Wei confesses that when Pan Han had arrived at this house, he and Shen had fought.... (full context)
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Theory vs. Lived Experience Theme Icon
Wei gives Wang a disk with all of his mathematical work on the three-body problem; he... (full context)
Chapter 21. Rebels of Earth
Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon
Scientific Discovery and Political Division Theme Icon
...organization’s key code of conduct by killing Shen. Pan defends himself by saying that if Wei had discovered a solution to the Three Body Problem, the Trisolarans would never come to... (full context)