RNo direct record — estimated from his analysis of the character's formShu 10 §60
NLong known to be deeply versed in the principles of the Book of ChangesCh. 104 §23
Zhao Zhi 趙直
| Occupation | ROccultist NOccultist · Army Major | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R3 |
Profile
Zhao Zhi was a dream interpreter of Shu. He has no biography of his own in the Records and appears once each in the record of Jiang Wan in Records of Shu 14 and the record of Wei Yan in Records of Shu 10. When Jiang Wan, after being dismissed as Chief of Guangdu County, dreamed of an ox's head streaming with blood, Zhao Zhi interpreted it to mean that his rank would surely reach that of a duke. Records, Shu 14 §2–3
In the 12th year of Jianxing (234), when Wei Yan asked him about a dream in which horns grew on his head, Zhao Zhi deceived Wei Yan by telling him it was the image of the enemy breaking apart of its own accord without a battle, but after withdrawing he told others that it meant using a knife on one's head, and that its ill omen was grave. Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, origin or death, and the Records contain no assessment of him. Records, Shu 10 §59–60
In the Romance he appears in Chapter 104 as an Army Major versed in the principles of the Book of Changes, and appears only in this one of its 120 chapters; his name is in no chapter title. The Romance depicts him as giving Wei Yan's dream a favorable reading in terms of the qilin and the azure dragon, and as confiding to Fei Yi, whom he meets on the road, that it was an ill-omened dream. Romance, Ch. 104 §23–25
In the Records
Jiang Wan, as a Provincial Assistant Clerk, followed the First Sovereign, Liu Bei, into Shu and was appointed Chief of Guangdu County. When the First Sovereign, on an excursion, suddenly arrived at Guangdu and found that Jiang Wan had left the various affairs unattended and was thoroughly drunk, he flew into a rage and meant to punish him with death. When Zhuge Liang interceded, calling him a vessel fit to support the altars of the state, the First Sovereign did not punish him but merely dismissed him from office. Records, Shu 14 §2–3
After being reprimanded, Jiang Wan dreamed one night that an ox's head was at his gate, streaming with blood. Deeply troubled, he summoned the dream interpreter Zhao Zhi and asked him about it. Zhao Zhi called it a greatly auspicious sign, saying, 'Seeing blood means that matters will become clear. An ox's horns and nose form the shape of the character gong (公, duke), so your rank will surely reach that of a duke.' Before long Jiang Wan was made Prefect of Shifang County, and when the First Sovereign became King of Hanzhong, he entered the court as a Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. Records, Shu 14 §3
In the 12th year of Jianxing (234), when Zhuge Liang marched out through the mouth of the Northern Valley, Wei Yan led the vanguard. Ten li out from Zhuge Liang's camp, Wei Yan dreamed that horns grew on his head and asked the dream interpreter Zhao Zhi about it. Zhao Zhi deceived Wei Yan, saying, 'The qilin has horns but does not use them. This is the image of the enemy breaking apart of its own accord without a battle.' Records, Shu 10 §59–60
But after withdrawing, Zhao Zhi told others, 'The character for horn (角) is knife (刀) with use (用) below it. Using a knife on one's head—the ill omen is grave.' That autumn, after Zhuge Liang died, Wei Yan quarreled with Yang Yi, and when his troops scattered he fled to Hanzhong with a few of his sons, and was cut down by Ma Dai, whom Yang Yi had sent. Records, Shu 10 §60–61 · 63–64
These two passages are the only places in Chen Shou's main text where Zhao Zhi appears. His courtesy name, origin, offices and death are not recorded, and the Records contain no assessment of him. Records, Shu 14 §3Records, Shu 10 §60
In the Romance
In Chapter 104 of the Romance, Wei Yan, in his own camp, dreams one night that two horns suddenly sprout on his head, and is much puzzled by it. The next day, when the Army Major Zhao Zhi arrives, Wei Yan invites him in and asks him to interpret the omen, saying that he has long known that Zhao Zhi is deeply versed in the principles of the Book of Changes. After pondering for a long while, Zhao Zhi replies that the qilin has horns on its head and the azure dragon has horns on its head too, so it is the image of transformation and soaring flight, a greatly auspicious sign. Wei Yan is overjoyed and says that if it turns out as he says, he will reward him generously. Romance, Ch. 104 §23–24
Having taken his leave, Zhao Zhi has gone less than a few li when he meets the Master of Writing Fei Yi. Zhao Zhi confides that Wei Yan's dream is not in fact an auspicious sign, but that, fearing to anger him if he spoke plainly, he interpreted it in terms of the qilin and the azure dragon; the shape of the character for horn (角) is knife (刀) with use (用) below it, so it amounts to using a knife on one's head, and its ill omen is no small one. Fei Yi tells him not to let this leak out, then goes to Wei Yan's camp and informs him that the Chancellor passed away at the third watch the night before. Romance, Ch. 104 §24–25
Where the Romance differs
Status: In Chapter 104 of the Romance, Zhao Zhi appears as an Army Major deeply versed in the principles of the Book of Changes. The records of Wei Yan and Jiang Wan in the Records describe him only as a dream interpreter and do not mention any office. Romance, Ch. 104 §23Records, Shu 10 §60Records, Shu 14 §3
When the dream came: In Chapter 104 of the Romance, Wei Yan has his dream at just about the time Fei Yi comes to tell him that the Chancellor passed away at the third watch the night before. In the Records, it was a dream he had in the 12th year of Jianxing (234), when Zhuge Liang marched out through the mouth of the Northern Valley and Wei Yan, as vanguard, was ten li out from the camp; Zhuge Liang's illness became critical in the autumn of that year. Romance, Ch. 104 §23 · 25Records, Shu 10 §59–61
The reading given to Wei Yan: In Chapter 104 of the Romance, Zhao Zhi says that the qilin and the azure dragon both have horns on their heads, so it is the image of transformation and soaring flight. In the Records, he said that the qilin has horns but does not use them, so it is the image of the enemy breaking apart of its own accord without a battle. Romance, Ch. 104 §23Records, Shu 10 §60
Who heard the ill-omened reading: In Chapter 104 of the Romance, Zhao Zhi confides to the Master of Writing Fei Yi, whom he meets on the road, that it was an ill-omened dream, and Fei Yi urges him not to let it leak out. The Records state only that Zhao Zhi, after withdrawing, spoke 'to others', without identifying who heard it. Romance, Ch. 104 §24–25Records, Shu 10 §60
Jiang Wan's dream: In the record of Jiang Wan in the Records, Zhao Zhi interpreted the ox-head dream of the dismissed Jiang Wan as an auspicious sign that he would reach the rank of duke. In the Romance, Zhao Zhi appears only in Chapter 104, and this episode is not depicted. Records, Shu 14 §3Romance, Ch. 104 §23–25
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 total427 / 1000Rank 469 of 996 · Top 48%Romance total444 / 1000Rank 258 of 1,113 · Top 24%
Romance adaptation index+17Romance total − Records total
- LEA3133+2
- STR3131±0
- INT5558+3
- POL3535±0
- CHA4040±0
- VIR4242±0
- ADP5860+2
- SCH4555+10
- DIP5052+2
- DIS4038−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a dream-interpreting divinerShu 10 §60
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Army MajorCh. 104 §23
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a dream-interpreting divinerShu 10 §60
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Army MajorCh. 104 §23
RSaw that Wei Yan's dream was ill-omened but concealed it outwardlyShu 10 §60
NRead the character for horn as knife with use below it and saw through the ill omenCh. 104 §24Ch. 104 §25
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a divinerShu 10 §60
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Army MajorCh. 104 §23
RNo direct record — estimated from Jiang Wan and Wei Yan asking him to interpret their dreamsShu 14 §3
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Army MajorCh. 104 §23
RDeceived Wei Yan by calling the dream auspicious, but called it ill-omened behind his backShu 10 §60
NGave Wei Yan a false reading for fear of angering himCh. 104 §24
RAvoided trouble by passing it off to Wei Yan's face as an auspicious dreamShu 10 §60
NRead the dream as auspicious for fear of angering Wei Yan if he spoke plainlyCh. 104 §24
RSmoothed things over with Wei Yan by speaking of the qilin's hornsShu 10 §60
NPleased Wei Yan by likening him to the qilin and the azure dragonCh. 104 §23
RNo direct record — estimated from his role as a divinerShu 14 §3
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Army MajorCh. 104 §23
Special — talents Records +10 · Romance +10
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Divination & astronomy
RNSkilled +10 Interpreted the dreams of Wei Yan and Jiang Wan, and their good and ill omens came trueShu 10 §60Shu 14 §3Ch. 104 §23
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 (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Romance · Romance ch. 104 「行军司马赵直至」 · Q124605100