Shen Yufei Character Analysis in The Three-Body Problem

Shen Yufei, a renowned Japanese physicist, introduces Wang Miao to the mysterious organization known as the Frontiers of Science. After the environmentalist Pan Han assassinates Shen, Wang discovers that Shen was intimately involved in the ETO. She led the Redemptionist faction of the organization, which views the Trisolarans with a kind of religious fervor. Shen hoped humanity would be saved—and not destroyed—by alien life. So, she encouraged her husband, Wei Cheng, to keep solving the three-body problem, hoping that Trisolarans will be able to save their own planet rather than taking over Earth.

Shen Yufei Character Timeline in The Three-Body Problem

The timeline below shows where the character Shen Yufei appears in The Three-Body Problem. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Wang explains that he was introduced to the Frontiers of Science through Shen Yufei, a Japanese physicist of Chinese descent. Her arguments were fascinating, but while Wang was... (full context)

Technology, Progress, and Destruction Theme Icon

...As his wife breaks down into sobs at her husband’s turmoil, Wang decides to call Shen Yufei. (full context)

Wang arrives at Shen’s house, which is lovely and expensive, though Wang does not understand where she makes her... (full context)

When Wang enters, he sees that Shen is wearing a V-suit, which is a kind of virtual reality suit that allows players... (full context)

...his career, Pan argued that “technological progress was a disease in human society.” Wang sees Shen and Pan speak, but Shen does not let Pan into her house. (full context)

Scientific Discovery and Political Division Theme Icon

Angrily, Wang calls Shen Yufei to demand answers, and Shen implies that some form of higher power is involved.... (full context)

...mother, who is herself a retired astrophysicist. After he hangs up, Wang’s mind drifts to Shen Yufei and the video game she was playing on www.3body.net. He decides to grab a... (full context)

Before he leaves, Wang asks Ye where he can observe the cosmic background radiation (as Shen Yufei instructed him to do). Ye recommends a place in the suburbs of Beijing, and... (full context)

...the universe is giving him a message in Morse code. Using the Morse code chart Shen Yufei gave him, Wang comes to realize that the universe is continuing to give the... (full context)

A few hours later, Wang leaves the planetarium and dials Shen Yufei. When he asks her what happens at the end of the countdown, she tells... (full context)

...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 Chang and... (full context)

...Wei worked tirelessly, discarding his notes as he went. A few days later, a young woman—Shen Yufei—came to Wei’s room, holding his scrap paper and telling him he was “brilliant.” Shen... (full context)

That night, Wei saw Shen praying at a temple on the monastery grounds. When he got closer, he heard her... (full context)

Though the monks warned him against it, Wei left with Shen. Soon after, the two were married, though there was never any real passion or love;... (full context)

...unless he stopped researching the three-body problem, he would be killed. Then, later that night, Shen had threatened her husband with a gun, telling him that if he stopped working on... (full context)

Wang, Xu, and Shi arrive at Shen’s house, but they are too late—she has already been shot and killed. Shi nervously tries... (full context)

Now, Wei confesses that when Pan Han had arrived at this house, he and Shen had fought. They had spoken of warring sides in a conflict; they mentioned the Adventists... (full context)

...Han, who climbs on top of a table. When someone asks Pan if he murdered Shen Yufei, he replies without hesitation that he did, calling her a traitor. (full context)

...interrogate Pan, telling him he has broken the organization’s key code of conduct by killing Shen. Pan defends himself by saying that if Wei had discovered a solution to the Three... (full context)

As Pan begins to panic, Ye calmly berates him for killing Shen Yufei simply because she was a Redemptionist. Before Pan can run, one of Ye’s henchwomen... (full context)