Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history,starting in 169 AD and ending with the reunification of the land in 280 by Western Jin. The novel is based primarily on the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志),written by Chen Shou.
Guan Yu,courtesy name Yunchang,was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Along with Zhang Fei,he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on most of his early exploits. Guan Yu played a significant role in the events leading up to the end of the Han dynasty and the establishment of Liu Bei's state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. While he is remembered for his loyalty towards Liu Bei,he is also known for repaying Cao Cao's kindness by slaying Yan Liang,a general under Cao Cao's rival Yuan Shao,at the Battle of Boma. After Liu Bei gained control of Yi Province in 214,Guan Yu remained in Jing Province to govern and defend the area for about seven years. In 219,while he was away fighting Cao Cao's forces at the Battle of Fancheng,Liu Bei's ally Sun Quan broke the Sun–Liu alliance and sent his general LüMeng to conquer Liu Bei's territories in Jing Province. By the time Guan Yu found out about the loss of Jing Province after his defeat at Fancheng,it was too late. He was subsequently captured in an ambush by Sun Quan's forces and executed.
Ma Chao (176–222),courtesy name Mengqi,was a Chinese military general and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. A descendant of the general Ma Yuan,Ma Chao was the eldest son of Ma Teng,a prominent warlord in Liang Province. In 211,he formed a coalition with Han Sui and other northwestern warlords and revolted against the Han central government,which was led by the warlord Cao Cao. The coalition broke up after losing the Battle of Tong Pass against Cao Cao's forces. Ma Chao initially retreated,but later returned to attack and seize control of Liang Province by killing the provincial inspector Wei Kang and forcing Wei Kang's subordinates to submit to him. About a year after Ma Chao started his uprising,Emperor Xian issued an imperial decree ordering the execution of Ma Chao's family members,who were in Ye city at the time. In the meantime,Wei Kang's subordinates,led by Zhao Ang,Yang Fu and others,rebelled against Ma Chao and forced him out of Liang Province. Ma Chao retreated to Hanzhong Commandery,where he borrowed troops from the warlord Zhang Lu,and returned to attack Liang Province but was ultimately defeated and driven back. Ma Chao took shelter under Zhang Lu for a while until around 214,when he heard that the warlord Liu Bei was fighting for control over Yi Province with Yi Province's governor,Liu Zhang. He defected to Liu Bei's side and assisted Liu Bei in capturing Yi Province from Liu Zhang. Ma Chao had served as a general under Liu Bei since then and participated in the Hanzhong Campaign in 219. He died in 222.
The Yellow Turban Rebellion,also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion,was a peasant revolt in China against the Eastern Han dynasty. The uprising broke out in 184 AD during the reign of Emperor Ling. Although the main rebellion was suppressed by 185 AD,pockets of resistance continued and smaller rebellions emerged in later years. It took 21 years until the uprising was fully suppressed in 205 AD. The rebellion,which got its name from the colour of the cloths that the rebels wore on their heads,marked an important point in the history of Taoism due to the rebels' association with secret Taoist societies. The revolt was also used as the opening event in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Liu Bei,courtesy name Xuande (玄德),was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the Han imperial family,Liu Bei's father died when he was a child and left his family impoverished. To help his mother,he sold shoes and straw mats. When he reached the age of fifteen,his mother sent him to study under Lu Zhi. In his youth,Liu Bei was known as ambitious and charismatic. He gathered a militia army to fight the Yellow Turbans. Liu Bei fought bravely in many battles and grew famous for his exploits. Rather than join the coalition against Dong Zhuo,he joined his childhood friend Gongsun Zan and fought under him against Yuan Shao.
Zhang Fei,courtesy name Yide,was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. Zhang Fei and Guan Yu,who were among the earliest to join Liu Bei,shared a brotherly relationship with their lord and accompanied him on most of his early exploits. Zhang Fei fought in various battles on Liu Bei's side,including the Red Cliffs campaign (208–209),takeover of Yi Province (212–214),and Hanzhong Campaign (217–218). He was assassinated by his subordinates in 221 after serving for only a few months in the state of Shu Han,which was founded by Liu Bei earlier that year.
The Five Tiger Generals is a popular appellation in Chinese culture for the top five military commanders serving under one lord. Although the term does not appear in Chinese historical records and is not used officially,it has been heavily used in literature texts,folklore,as well as popular culture.
Huang Zhong,courtesy name Hansheng,was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219,in which his force routed that of an enemy general,Xiahou Yuan,who was killed in action during the raid.
Guan Ping was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Guan Xing,courtesy name Anguo,was an official of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Mi Fang,courtesy name Zifang,was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He was also the younger brother of Mi Zhu,who also served Liu Bei. In 219,Mi Fang surrendered to Liu Bei's ally-turned rival Sun Quan,directly resulting in the loss of Jing Province and the death of Guan Yu. The Australian Sinologist Rafe de Crespigny notes that Mi Fang had the remarkable record of serving each of the leaders of the Three Kingdoms during his lifetime.
Wang Fu,courtesy name Guoshan,was an official of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Zhang Bao was the eldest son of Zhang Fei,a general who served the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Little is known about Zhang Bao's life because Zhang Fei's biography in the historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms only mentioned that he was Zhang Fei's eldest son and that he died early.
Liu Yu was a Chinese military general,politician,and warlord who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty.
Lady Mi was a younger sister of Liu Bei's associate Mi Zhu who gave her to him as a principal wife after Liu Bei's wife or wives and children had been captured by LüBu in 196. Though information on her life are scarce,she is mostly remembered for sacrificing her life in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms at the Battle of Changban to assure that Zhao Yun and the infant Liu Shan are safe from their pursuers.
Sun Qian,,sometimes known as Sun Gan,courtesy name Gongyou,was a Chinese diplomat and official serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. His talent was noted by the scholar Zheng Xuan. So Liu Bei gave Sun Qian a position on his staff after he took Xu. Along with Jian Yong and Mi Zhu,Sun Qian frequently served as an ambassador for Liu Bei,most notably to Yuan Shao and Liu Biao. After Liu Bei took Yi Province,Sun Qian was promoted and held a rank equal to Jian Yong.
Liu Yan,courtesy name Junlang,was a Chinese politician and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han emperors. For most of his career he served as the Governor of Yi Province,which he developed into an independent power base. His domain was passed on to his son Liu Zhang,and eventually to Liu Bei,who founded the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.
The Battle of Bowang,also known as the Battle of Bowang Slope,was a battle fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 202 in the late Eastern Han dynasty.
The Legend of Guan Gong is a 2004 Chinese television series based on the story of Guan Yu,a general of the late Han Dynasty. The series has been released in North America by Image Entertainment.
