RNo direct record — estimatedWei 6 §91
NUnable to see his sick father, he wept outside the gate and turned backCh. 40 §14Ch. 35 §22
Liu Qi 劉琦
| Occupation | ROfficial · Inspector of Jing Province | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Shanyang Commandery Gaoping County Unverified | |
| Cause of death | RIllness NIllness Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R3 |
Profile
Liu Qi was the eldest son of Liu Biao. He has no biography of his own in the Records and appears in the biographies of Zhuge Liang and Liu Biao, the Biography of the First Sovereign and elsewhere. When Liu Biao favored his younger son Liu Cong, Liu Qi asked Zhuge Liang how to keep himself safe, and after Huang Zu died he went out to become Administrator of Jiangxia. Records, Shu 5 §9–10Records, Shu 2 §23Records, Wei 6 §91
In the 13th year of Jian'an (208), when Liu Bei was defeated at Changban and came to Hanjin, Liu Qi met him at the head of a following of more than ten thousand and went with him to Xiakou. After the battle of Red Cliffs Liu Bei submitted a memorial making him Inspector of Jing Province, but he later died of illness. Records, Wei 1 §104Records, Shu 2 §22–24
Chen Shou, the author of the Records, wrote in his assessment in the Biography of Liu Biao that Yuan Shao and Liu Biao 'set aside the heir by the principal wife and raised a younger son, abandoning propriety and exalting favor,' so that their succession collapsed. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 34 as the eldest son whom Liu Biao describes as 'worthy in character but weak,' and he appears in 11 of its 120 chapters. No chapter title bears his name, but the young lord in the title of Chapter 39, 'In Jingzhou city the young lord thrice seeks a plan,' is he. Records, Wei 6 §96Romance, Ch. 34 §17Romance, Ch. 39 §13–19
In the Records
Liu Qi, the eldest son of Liu Biao, held Zhuge Liang in deep regard. Heeding the words of his second wife, Liu Biao favored his younger son Liu Cong and was displeased with Liu Qi. Liu Qi repeatedly wanted to plan with Zhuge Liang a way to keep himself safe, but Zhuge Liang refused every time and would not make plans with him. So Liu Qi took Zhuge Liang strolling in the rear garden, climbed a high tower with him, and in the midst of the drinking had someone take away the ladder. Then he said, 'Today we reach neither heaven above nor earth below; the words leave your mouth and enter only my ears,' and asked whether he could now speak. Records, Shu 5 §9
Zhuge Liang replied, 'Have you not seen how Shensheng was in danger while he stayed inside, and Chong'er was safe while he was outside?' Liu Qi understood his meaning and secretly planned a way to go out. In the spring of the 13th year of Jian'an (208) Sun Quan attacked Huang Zu, and Huang Zu, who had fled with nothing but his own life, was beheaded by the horseman Feng Ze. With Huang Zu dead in this way and a way out open to him, Liu Qi at last became Administrator of Jiangxia. Records, Shu 5 §10Records, Wu 2 §11
The Biography of Liu Biao records the matter differently. Liu Biao and his wife loved their youngest son Liu Cong and wished to make him the heir, and Cai Mao and Zhang Yun became his faction; so they sent the eldest son Liu Qi out as Administrator of Jiangxia. The faction then raised Liu Cong as heir, and Liu Qi and Liu Cong thereby became enemies. Records, Wei 6 §91
In the 8th month of the 13th year of Jian'an (208) Liu Biao died, and Liu Cong succeeded him and was stationed at Xiangyang. Lu Su told Sun Quan that Liu Biao had just died and that his two sons had never been on good terms, and asked to be sent with orders to offer condolences to the two sons and observe the situation. But by the time Lu Su reached Nan Commandery, Liu Cong had already surrendered to Cao Cao. Records, Wei 1 §104Records, Wu 9 §40–42
When Cao Cao caught up with Liu Bei at Changban in Dangyang, Liu Bei headed by a byway toward Hanjin, met Guan Yu's boats and crossed the Mian, and then met the following of more than ten thousand of Liu Qi, Liu Biao's eldest son and Administrator of Jiangxia, and went with him to Xiakou. Persuading Sun Quan, Zhuge Liang said that the soldiers who had returned from Changban together with the picked men of Guan Yu's navy numbered ten thousand, and that the Jiangxia soldiers Liu Qi had gathered were no fewer than ten thousand. Records, Shu 2 §22–23Records, Shu 5 §15
After the armies of Liu Bei and Sun Quan crushed Cao Cao at Red Cliffs, Liu Bei submitted a memorial making Liu Qi Inspector of Jing Province and campaigned south against four commanderies. When Liu Qi died of illness, the officials acclaimed Liu Bei as Governor of Jing Province, and Liu Bei made Gong'an his seat. The Records do not give the year of Liu Qi's death. Records, Shu 2 §23–24
In his assessment in the Biography of Liu Biao, Chen Shou said that Yuan Shao and Liu Biao were both renowned in their time for their imposing bearing and capacity, but were outwardly magnanimous and inwardly jealous. He also wrote that they 'set aside the heir by the principal wife and raised a younger son, abandoning propriety and exalting favor,' and that it was no misfortune that their succession collapsed and their altars toppled. Records, Wei 6 §96
In the Romance
In Chapter 34 of the Romance, Liu Biao tells Liu Bei that his eldest son Qi, born of his first wife Lady Chen, is worthy but weak, and agonizes over the succession. When Liu Bei comes to the gathering at Xiangyang, Liu Qi says that his father's breathing ailment has flared up and asks him to entertain the guests. In Chapter 35 Liu Biao sends Liu Qi with Sun Qian to Xinye to apologize for Cai Mao's attempt to harm Liu Bei. At the banquet Liu Qi weeps, saying that his stepmother Lady Cai is always trying to harm him, and Liu Bei advises him to be careful and to fulfil his filial duty. Romance, Ch. 34 §17 · 34–35Romance, Ch. 35 §21–23
In Chapter 39 Liu Qi comes to Liu Bei and tearfully begs him for help, saying his stepmother will not tolerate him; seeing him off, Liu Bei whispers in his ear that he will send Zhuge Liang to return the visit and tells him to act in such and such a way. When Zhuge Liang, visiting the next day, refuses again and again, Liu Qi leads him to a small tower on the pretext of showing him an old book and has the ladder taken away. When Zhuge Liang still will not speak, Liu Qi draws his sword and tries to cut his own throat. Zhuge Liang cites the stories of Shensheng and Chong'er and tells him that, since Huang Zu has just died and there is no one to hold Jiangxia, he should ask to station troops there and guard it. After consulting Liu Bei, Liu Biao has Liu Qi lead three thousand troops to guard Jiangxia. Romance, Ch. 39 §13–19 · 20–21
In Chapter 40 Liu Biao, gravely ill, writes a testament charging Liu Bei to assist his eldest son Liu Qi and make him master of Jing Province. Hearing of this, Lady Cai bars the inner gate, and when Liu Qi comes to visit his sick father, Cai Mao blocks him at the outer gate. Liu Qi weeps loudly outside the gate and returns to Jiangxia, and Liu Biao, waiting for him, dies on the wushen day of the 8th month. When Lady Cai consults with Cai Mao and others and sets up Liu Cong as master, Liu Qi sends Yi Ji to bring Liu Bei the news of the death and asks him to go together to Xiangyang to call them to account. Romance, Ch. 40 §13–14 · 29
In Chapter 41 Liu Bei sends Guan Yu, and then Zhuge Liang, to Jiangxia to ask for help. In Chapter 42 Liu Qi, in a white robe and silver armor, raises all the troops of Jiangxia and leads boats to Hanjin to meet Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang proposes that Liu Bei stay at Xiakou and Liu Qi at Jiangxia separately, but Liu Qi asks his uncle to come to Jiangxia for a while too and put his troops and horses in order before going to Xiakou, and so they go to Jiangxia together. When Lu Su comes to offer condolences, Zhuge Liang asks whether Xiangyang sent condolences when Sun Ce died, and Liu Qi answers, 'Between Jiangdong and our house lies the feud of a slain father.' Romance, Ch. 41 §19 · 32–33Romance, Ch. 42 §21–25 · 32–33
In Chapter 45 Liu Bei leaves Liu Qi to guard Jiangxia and goes to Xiakou. In Chapter 49 Liu Qi comes to Xiakou in person to seek news and together with Liu Bei welcomes Zhuge Liang on his return. Zhuge Liang tells him that Wuchang is the most vital point, and that he should array his troops at the river mouth and capture those who flee there, but must not lightly leave the city walls. Romance, Ch. 45 §11Romance, Ch. 49 §30–31 · 35
In Chapter 52, when Lu Su demands the return of Jing Province, Zhuge Liang says that Liu Biao's son is still alive and shows him Liu Qi, who is helped out from behind a screen. Lu Su goes back and tells Zhou Yu that Liu Qi has indulged excessively in wine and women and that his illness has entered his vitals, so he will not last beyond half a year. Ma Liang advises letting Liu Qi convalesce and submitting a memorial to make him Inspector of Jing Province, and Liu Bei sends Liu Qi to Xiangyang to relieve Guan Yu. In Chapter 53, just as Zhuge Liang, seeing a falling star, says it is a sign that a member of the imperial clan will be lost, word comes that Liu Qi has died of illness; Liu Bei weeps bitterly and sends Guan Yu to Xiangyang to guard it and see to the funeral. Romance, Ch. 52 §6–9 · 12 · 14Romance, Ch. 53 §45–46
Where the Romance differs
His mother: In Chapter 34 of the Romance, Liu Biao calls Liu Qi his eldest son, born of his first wife Lady Chen. In the Records, the biography of Zhuge Liang says only that Liu Biao heeded the words of his second wife, and the Biography of Liu Biao only that Liu Biao and his wife loved Liu Cong; neither identifies Liu Qi's mother. Romance, Ch. 34 §17Records, Shu 5 §9Records, Wei 6 §91
The plan in the tower: In Chapter 39 of the Romance, Liu Bei whispers the scheme in Liu Qi's ear, and when Liu Qi draws his sword to kill himself, Zhuge Liang tells him specifically to ask to guard Jiangxia. In the biography of Zhuge Liang in the Records, Zhuge Liang spoke only of Shensheng and Chong'er, and Liu Qi grasped his meaning and planned in secret to go out. There is no whisper from Liu Bei and no drawn sword. Romance, Ch. 39 §14 · 17–19Records, Shu 5 §9–10
How he went out to Jiangxia: In Chapter 39 of the Romance, Liu Qi submits a request and Liu Biao, after consulting Liu Bei, gives him three thousand troops. In the Biography of Liu Biao in the Records, Liu Biao and his wife, wishing to make Liu Cong the heir, sent the eldest son Liu Qi out as Administrator of Jiangxia. Romance, Ch. 39 §20–21Records, Wei 6 §91
His father's deathbed: In Chapter 40 of the Romance, Liu Biao writes a testament charging Liu Bei to assist Liu Qi and make him master of Jing Province, and Liu Qi, coming to visit his sick father, is blocked by Cai Mao and turns back. The Biography of Liu Biao in the Records says only that Liu Biao died of illness and Liu Cong succeeded him; there is no testament and no story of the visit. Romance, Ch. 40 §13–14Records, Wei 6 §89–91
The meeting at Hanjin: In Chapters 41–42 of the Romance, Liu Bei sends Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang to Jiangxia to ask for help, and Liu Qi raises all the troops of Jiangxia and comes to Hanjin to meet him. In the Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records, Guan Yu had separately been sent with several hundred boats to meet at Jiangling, and Liu Bei, heading for Hanjin, met Guan Yu's boats and then met Liu Qi's following of more than ten thousand and went with him to Xiakou. No envoys sent to ask for help appear. Romance, Ch. 41 §19Romance, Ch. 42 §21–22Records, Shu 2 §21 · 23
Lu Su's condolences: In Chapter 42 of the Romance, Lu Su comes to Jiangxia to offer condolences and meets Liu Bei through Liu Qi's arrangement. In the Biography of Lu Su in the Records, Lu Su set out after asking to offer condolences to Liu Biao's two sons, but when he reached Nan Commandery Liu Cong had already surrendered, and he met Liu Bei at Changban in Dangyang. Nothing is said of his meeting Liu Qi. Romance, Ch. 42 §30 · 33Records, Wu 9 §41–42
Around Red Cliffs: In Chapter 49 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang has Liu Qi array his troops at the river mouth of Wuchang and capture those who flee there. In the Records, Liu Qi appears only in going with Liu Bei to Xiakou and in the passage where Zhuge Liang tells Sun Quan of his Jiangxia soldiers; no part he played in the battle of Red Cliffs is recorded. Romance, Ch. 49 §35Records, Shu 2 §23–24Records, Shu 5 §15
Inspector of Jing Province: In Chapter 52 of the Romance, Ma Liang advises making Liu Qi Inspector of Jing Province, and Zhuge Liang shows the sick Liu Qi to Lu Su when Lu Su demands the return of Jing Province. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only that Liu Bei submitted a memorial making Liu Qi Inspector of Jing Province, without saying who advised it. Romance, Ch. 52 §6–7 · 12Records, Shu 2 §24
Illness and death: In Chapter 52 of the Romance, Lu Su judges that Liu Qi has fallen ill from excessive indulgence in wine and women, and in Chapter 53 Liu Qi dies of illness in Xiangyang, which Zhuge Liang foresees from a falling star. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only 'When Liu Qi died of illness,' without giving the cause of the illness or the place and year of his death. Romance, Ch. 52 §9 · 14Romance, Ch. 53 §45–46Records, Shu 2 §24
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total456 / 1000Rank 347 of 996 · Top 35%Romance total457 / 1000Rank 213 of 1,113 · Top 20%
Romance adaptation index+1Romance total − Records total
- LEA4545±0
- STR3135+4
- INT4538−7
- POL4035−5
- CHA5050±0
- VIR5072+22
- ADP6255−7
- SCH3535±0
- DIP4040±0
- DIS5852−6
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RGathered ten thousand Jiangxia soldiers and joined forces with the First SovereignShu 5 §15Shu 2 §23
NRaised all the troops of Jiangxia and brought warships, and guarded JiangxiaCh. 42 §21Ch. 45 §11
RNo direct record — estimatedShu 2 §23
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 42 §21
RGrasped Zhuge Liang's analogy of Shensheng and Chong'er and planned a way outShu 5 §9
NHad no plan to escape disaster and sought one from his uncle and KongmingCh. 35 §22Ch. 39 §17
RNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as Inspector of Jing Province by memorialShu 2 §24
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 42 §24
RLed a following of more than ten thousand in JiangxiaShu 2 §23Shu 5 §15
NLiu Biao meant to make him master of Jing Province, and he commanded the troops of JiangxiaCh. 40 §13Ch. 42 §22
RRemoved the ladder to seek a plan and escaped danger as Administrator of JiangxiaShu 5 §9
NObtained a plan from Kongming and took refuge in JiangxiaCh. 39 §17Ch. 40 §14
RNo direct record — estimatedShu 5 §9
NNo direct record — estimatedCh. 35 §22
RHeld Zhuge Liang in deep regard and sought his guidanceShu 5 §9
NTrusted Kongming and Xuande and sought their guidanceCh. 39 §17Ch. 35 §22
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (11)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Family
| Parents | Liu Biao Novel & History, Lady Chen Romance |
|---|---|
| Relatives | Lady Cai Romance |
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.
Related events (1)
- Liu Bei Flees to Hanjin Ford 208 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).