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Zhuge Liang

Shu Han chancellor who planned the alliance with Sun Quan, governed for Liu Bei's heir, and led repeated northern campaigns against Wei

Also known as Zi Kongming · Wo Long · Zhu Ge Kong Ming

Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming, came from Yangdu in Langya (modern Yinan, Shandong) and farmed at Longzhong after following his uncle Zhuge Xuan to Jing province. When Liu Bei visited him three times in 207, he proposed holding Jing and Yi provinces in alliance with Sun Quan, the plan later known as the Longzhong Plan; the following year he went to Wu and helped bring about the allied victory over Cao Cao at Red Cliff. Liu Bei made him chancellor on taking the imperial title in 221, and after Liu Bei entrusted his heir to him at Baidi, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wuxiang and ran the affairs of Shu Han. He subdued the southern region in 225, presented the Memorial on Dispatching the Troops in 227 and then led several campaigns against Wei. He died in camp at Wuzhang Plains in 234 and was named Marquis Zhongwu. Chen Shou edited his writings in twenty-four sections and judged him stronger at running armies than at surprise tactics.

Life and times

  1. 181 CEBornHanThree Kingdoms
  2. 208Battle of Red CliffsTook partage 27The Sun-Liu alliance used a fire attack to defeat Cao Cao's river fleet, checking his southern advance and reshaping the Yangtze power balance.
    1. Zhuge Liang Forges the Sun-Liu AllianceZhuge Liang traveled to Chaisang to negotiate an alliance with Sun Quan, while Zhou Yu and Lu Su convinced the court to resist Cao Cao's armada.
  3. 220Three Kingdoms DivideTook partage 39Cao Pi founded Wei, Liu Bei founded Shu Han, and Sun Quan ruled Wu as three courts contested Jingzhou, Hanzhong, and the frontier.
    1. Liu Bei's Three Visits to Longzhongc. 207age 26Liu Bei called three times on the recluse Zhuge Liang, who set out a plan to hold Jingzhou and Yizhou and ally with Sun Quan.
    2. Zhuge Liang Dies at Wuzhang Plains234age 53On his last northern campaign, Zhuge Liang faced Sima Yi at the Wuzhang Plains for over a hundred days and died in camp.
  4. 221Battle of YilingTook partage 40Burning connected encampments along the Yangtze, finalizing the tripartite borders of the Three Kingdoms.
    1. Lu Xun Burns Liu Bei's CampsLu Xun withheld attacks during scorching summer months before launching fire attacks against Liu Bei's extended camps at Yiling.
    2. Liu Bei Entrusts Zhuge Liang223age 42In 223, while gravely ill at Baidicheng, Liu Bei entrusted Zhuge Liang with the future of Shu Han.
  5. 225Zhuge Liang Southern CampaignTook partage 44Winning hearts through seven captures of Meng Huo, integrating the Southwest into the imperial fold.
    1. Zhuge Liang Pacifies NanzhongChancellor Zhuge Liang led the southern expedition across the Jinsha River, winning hearts and minds through the strategic reconciliation of local tribes.
  6. 227Zhuge Liang's Memorial and Hanzhong Marchage 46Before leading the Shu Han army north to Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang submitted his memorial on the campaign to Liu Shan.
  7. 228Ma Su Defeated at Jietingage 47On Zhuge Liang's first northern campaign, Ma Su disobeyed orders and was routed by Zhang He at Jieting, forcing the Shu Han army back to Hanzhong.
  8. 234 CEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Sayings11
    1. Three Visits to the Thatched CottageThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's First Memorial on the Expedition: courting talent again and again
    2. Bowing in Devotion Until ExhaustedThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's Second Memorial on the Expedition: all-out devotion to a cause
    3. Pooling Wisdom for Greater BenefitThree KingdomsIdiom from a Zhuge Liang directive to his staff: pooling ideas to do things better
    4. Belittling Oneself Without CauseThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's memorial: belittling oneself without cause
    5. Not Knowing What One Is SayingThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's memorial: once modesty, now rambling, empty talk
    6. +6 more
      1. Bending to the Task Until DeathThree KingdomsFamous line from Zhuge Liang's Second Memorial: devotion to the cause until death
      2. A Time of Life-or-Death CrisisThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's First Memorial on the Expedition: a moment of life-or-death crisis
      3. Committing Crimes and Breaking the LawThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's First Memorial on the Expedition: wrongdoing and lawbreaking
      4. Weeping Before the Memorial on Departing for WarThree KingdomsLine from Zhuge Liang's Memorial on Dispatching the Troops: tears before setting out north
      5. Revival Close Enough to Count the DaysThree KingdomsIdiom from Zhuge Liang's Memorial on Dispatching the Troops: a revival only days away
      6. Let Your Aims Be Lofty and Far-ReachingThree KingdomsFamous line from Zhuge Liang's letter to his nephew: set your sights high and far
  2. Literature · Prose4
    1. First Memorial on the ExpeditionThree KingdomsZhuge Liang's memorial to the Shu Han ruler Liu Shan on the eve of the first northern campaign
    2. Letter of Admonition to My SonThree KingdomsZhuge Liang's 86-character letter to his son Zhuge Zhan on stillness, frugality and resolve
    3. Second Memorial on the ExpeditionThree KingdomsMemorial attributed to Zhuge Liang before his second northern campaign: Wei must be fought
    4. Admonition to My NephewThree KingdomsZhuge Liang's hundred-character letter urging his nephew to set lofty aims
  3. Literature · Poetry1
    1. Liangfu ChantThree KingdomsOld Qi song tied to Zhuge Liang, lamenting three knights killed by two peaches

Family tree

  1. Direct kin
    Zhuge JinElder brother
    Zhuge Liang
    Son
    Zhuge Zhan

Connections

  1. Shared events9
    1. Cao Cao155 CE–220 CE
    2. Cao Pi187 CE–226 CE
    3. Guan Yuc. 160 CE–220 CE
    4. Zhou Yu175 CE–210 CE
    5. Ma Su190 CE–228 CE
    6. Lu Su172 CE–217 CE
    7. Lu Xun183 CE–245 CE
    8. Zhang HeBirth unknown–231…
    9. Zhang FeiBirth unknown–221…
  2. Interactions1
    1. Meng HuoPolitical: Captured and released seven times · 185 CE–245 CEZhuge Liang Pacifies Nanzhong
  3. Rulers and officials2
    1. Liu BeiSovereign · 161 CE–223 CE
    2. Liu ChanSovereign · 207 CE–271 CE
  4. Others2
    1. Sun QuanWu-Shu alliance partner · 182 CE–252 CE
    2. Sima YiOpponent in the northern campaigns · 179 CE–251 CE