| Occupation | RGeneral · General Who Guards the East NGeneral · Five Tiger General | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | R? N? Unverified | Native place | Changshan Commandery Zhending County |
| Died | R229 N228 Unverified | Place of death | |
| Cause of death | NIllness Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R20 |
Zhao Yun, courtesy name Zilong, was a native of Zhending County in Changshan State. Originally a follower of Gongsun Zan, he went with Liu Bei and took command of his cavalry. When Liu Bei abandoned his wife and children and fled at Changban in Dangyang, Zhao Yun personally carried the infant Later Sovereign, Liu Shan, in his arms and protected Lady Gan, so that both escaped harm. Records, Shu 6 §39
After Chengdu was pacified he became General Who Assists the Army (Yijun jiangjun), and in the 1st year of Jianxing (223) he became General Who Conquers the South (Zhengnan jiangjun) and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongchang Village. In the 6th year of Jianxing (228) he fared badly at Ji Valley while holding off the great army of Cao Zhen and was demoted to General Who Guards the Army (Zhenjun jiangjun); he died the following year. His posthumous title, Marquis Shunping, was conferred in the 4th year of Jingyao (261). Records, Shu 6 §40–41Records, Shu 3 §38 · 41
Chen Shou, author of the Records, grouped him with Huang Zhong in his assessment, saying they were "strong, fierce, vigorous and brave, and together served as claws and teeth." In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 7 and appears in 49 of its 120 chapters; five chapter titles bear his name, including Chapter 41, "Zhao Zilong Rescues His Lord Riding Alone." Records, Shu 6 §44Romance, Ch. 7 §12–13Romance, Ch. 41 §41Romance, Ch. 52 §25Romance, Ch. 61 §15Romance, Ch. 71 §45Romance, Ch. 92 §6
He originally belonged to Gongsun Zan. When Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to resist Yuan Shao on behalf of Tian Kai, Zhao Yun went along with Liu Bei and took charge of his cavalry. Records, Shu 6 §39
When Cao Cao led his elite cavalry in hot pursuit and caught up at Changban in Dangyang, Liu Bei abandoned his wife and children and fled south with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and some dozens of horsemen. At that time Zhao Yun personally carried the infant son, that is, the Later Sovereign, Liu Shan, and protected the Later Sovereign's mother, Lady Gan, so that both escaped harm. The Biography of Empress Gan likewise records that in the desperate situation Liu Bei abandoned Lady Gan and the Later Sovereign, but that they escaped the disaster thanks to Zhao Yun's protection. Zhao Yun was promoted to General of the Standard (Yamen jiangjun). Records, Shu 2 §22Records, Shu 6 §39Records, Shu 4 §3
When Liu Bei entered Shu, Zhao Yun stayed behind in Jing Province. When Liu Bei turned back from Jiameng to attack Liu Zhang and summoned Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang led Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and others up the Yangtze, pacifying the commanderies and counties along the way. At Jiangzhou, Zhao Yun went separately up the Outer River to Jiangyang and joined Zhuge Liang at Chengdu. After Chengdu was pacified he became General Who Assists the Army. Records, Shu 6 §39–40Records, Shu 2 §32
In the 1st year of Jianxing (223) he became Central Protector of the Army (Zhong hujun) and General Who Conquers the South, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongchang Village, and was then transferred to General Who Guards the East (Zhendong jiangjun). In the 5th year of Jianxing (227) he followed Zhuge Liang to garrison Hanzhong. Records, Shu 6 §40–41
The following year Zhuge Liang spread word that he would take Mei County by way of the Xie Valley road, and had Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi occupy Ji Valley as a decoy force. While Cao Zhen of Wei sent a great army to block them, Zhuge Liang personally attacked Qishan. With weak troops against a strong enemy, Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi fared badly at Ji Valley, but they gathered their men and held firm, and did not suffer a great defeat. When the army withdrew, Zhao Yun was demoted to General Who Guards the Army. In a memorial Zhuge Liang cited "the failure to take precautions at Ji Valley" together with the disobedience of orders at Jieting, and said the fault lay entirely with himself, for he had no proper method in assigning men. Records, Shu 5 §32–33Records, Shu 6 §41
He died in the 7th year of Jianxing (229). Originally, under Liu Bei only Fa Zheng had received a posthumous title, and under the Later Sovereign posthumous titles went to Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi, to the favored Chen Zhi, and to Xiahou Ba, who had come from afar to submit. Posthumous titles were then conferred on Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong and Huang Zhong, and on Zhao Yun as well, whose title was Marquis Shunping; opinion at the time regarded this as an honor. According to the Biography of the Later Sovereign, Guan Yu and the other four received their titles in the ninth month of the 3rd year of Jingyao (260), and Zhao Yun in the third month of the 4th year of Jingyao (261). Records, Shu 6 §41Records, Shu 3 §38 · 40–41
His eldest son Zhao Tong succeeded him, rose to Gentleman of the Tiger Guard (Huben zhonglang), and acted as supervisor of the army (lingjun). His second son Zhao Guang, a Standard General, followed Jiang Wei to Tazhong and was killed in battle. Records, Shu 6 §42
The Encomia on the Supporting Ministers of Ji Han, written by Yang Xi in the 4th year of Yanxi (241), praised Zhao Yun, General Who Conquers the South, as "generous and weighty." Beneath this encomium Chen Shou noted that Chen Dao, who has no biography of his own, was always second only to Zhao Yun in reputation and rank, and that both were renowned for loyalty and courage. Records, Shu 15 §33 · 58
In his assessment Chen Shou said that Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were strong, fierce, vigorous and brave, and together served as claws and teeth, and that they were perhaps of the same kind as Guan Ying and the Lord of Teng. Records, Shu 6 §44
He first appeared in Chapter 7 of the Romance, at the battle of the Pan River, rescuing Gongsun Zan, who had tumbled down a slope while pursued by Wen Chou. A young general eight chi tall, he fought Wen Chou for fifty or sixty bouts without either side prevailing. The next day he unhorsed Yuan Shao's general Qu Yi with a single thrust of his spear. Liu Bei, who valued him, clasped his hands and wept when they parted, and in Chapter 28 met him again when he was holding the mountain stronghold on Mount Woniu. Zhao Yun burned the stronghold and followed Liu Bei. Romance, Ch. 7 §12–13 · 17–18 · 23 · 25Romance, Ch. 28 §56–58
At the battle of Changban in Chapter 41, having lost the household placed in his care, he rode back in alone; he found Lady Gan and escorted her to Changban Slope, then went back again and found Lady Mi, holding A Dou, inside a collapsed wall. Lady Mi refused to mount his horse, entrusted A Dou to him and threw herself into a dry well. Zhao Yun pushed over the wall to cover the well and, with A Dou tucked inside his armor, broke through the encirclement with the Qinggang Sword he had taken from Xiahou En. The Romance records that in this battle he killed more than fifty famous generals of Cao Cao's camp. In Chapter 42 Liu Bei, on receiving A Dou, threw the child to the ground, saying that because of this child he had nearly lost one of his great generals. Romance, Ch. 41 §41 · 45–48 · 50–57 · 60–62Romance, Ch. 42 §3–4
In Chapter 52 he took Guiyang with three thousand troops. When the surrendered governor Zhao Fan, after swearing brotherhood with him, tried to give him his widowed sister-in-law Lady Fan as a wife, Zhao Yun declared it a violation of human relations, knocked Zhao Fan down with his fist and walked out. In Chapters 54–55 he accompanied Liu Bei into Eastern Wu carrying three brocade pouches given to him by Zhuge Liang, and by opening them one after another enabled Liu Bei to escape together with Lady Sun. In Chapter 61, when Lady Sun tried to take A Dou with her to Eastern Wu, he chased her in a fishing boat, leapt aboard her large ship and seized A Dou. Romance, Ch. 52 §26 · 32–37 · 41Romance, Ch. 54 §24–26Romance, Ch. 55 §7–8 · 15 · 21–22Romance, Ch. 61 §15–19
At the battle of the Han River in Chapter 71 he rescued Huang Zhong, who had been surrounded by Zhang He and Xu Huang. When Cao Cao came after him in person, he threw the camp gates wide open, lowered the banners and silenced the drums, and stood alone outside the gate; then he had the archers and crossbowmen hidden in the moat open fire, driving Cao Cao's troops into the Han River. Hearing of this, Liu Bei said, "Zilong's whole body is courage." In Chapter 73 he was appointed one of the Five Tiger Generals together with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong. Romance, Ch. 71 §40–48Romance, Ch. 73 §9
In Chapter 81 he tried to dissuade Liu Bei from attacking Wu, arguing that the traitor to the state was Cao Cao, not Sun Quan, but his advice was not accepted. In Chapter 84, after Liu Bei's crushing defeat at Yiling, he rushed from Jiangzhou to rescue him, speared the Wu general Zhu Ran from his horse, and headed for Baidi City with Liu Bei. Romance, Ch. 81 §1–3Romance, Ch. 84 §29–30
In Chapter 91, on the eve of the Northern Expedition, when Zhuge Liang was reluctant to use him on account of his age, he stepped forward declaring that if he were not made vanguard he would dash his head against the steps and die. In Chapter 92 at Mount Fengming he killed Han De's eldest son Han Ying and third son Han Qiong, captured the second son Han Yao, and then speared Han De himself to death, whereupon Deng Zhi said that at seventy his valor was the same as ever. In Chapters 95–96, during the withdrawal, he alone held the rear at Ji Valley and came back without losing a single man or horse, and he declined the reward Zhuge Liang offered, saying the army had earned no merit. When he died of illness in Chapter 97, Zhuge Liang wept that he had lost one of his arms, and the Later Sovereign posthumously made him Grand General and gave him the posthumous title Marquis Shunping. Romance, Ch. 91 §44–45Romance, Ch. 92 §6–13Romance, Ch. 95 §53–56Romance, Ch. 96 §3–5Romance, Ch. 97 §4–5
Before Gongsun Zan: In Chapter 7 of the Romance, Zhao Yun said that he had originally been under Yuan Shao's jurisdiction and was on his way to join Gongsun Zan after abandoning Yuan Shao. The Records state only that he "originally belonged to Gongsun Zan." Romance, Ch. 7 §13Records, Shu 6 §39
When he joined Liu Bei: In the Romance he parted from Liu Bei in Chapter 7 and only followed him after they met again at Mount Woniu in Chapter 28. In the Records he went along when Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to resist Yuan Shao, and took charge of his cavalry. Romance, Ch. 7 §25Romance, Ch. 28 §56–58Records, Shu 6 §39
Lady Mi: In Chapter 41 of the Romance, Lady Mi entrusted A Dou to Zhao Yun and threw herself into a well. The Biography of Zhao Yun and the Biography of Empress Gan in the Records say only that Zhao Yun protected the Later Sovereign, Liu Shan, and Lady Gan so that they escaped the disaster; Lady Mi does not appear. Romance, Ch. 41 §53–55Records, Shu 6 §39Records, Shu 4 §3
Guiyang: In Chapter 52 of the Romance, Zhao Yun took Guiyang and rejected Zhao Fan's marriage proposal. The Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records says only that Zhao Fan, Administrator of Guiyang, surrendered to Liu Bei together with the administrators of three other commanderies, and the Biography of Zhao Yun has no account of Guiyang. Romance, Ch. 52 §26 · 36–37Records, Shu 2 §24Records, Shu 6 §38–42
The brocade pouches and A Dou on the river: The three brocade pouches of Chapters 54–55 of the Romance and the scene in Chapter 61 where he leapt aboard Lady Sun's ship to recover A Dou do not appear in the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records. Romance, Ch. 54 §24Romance, Ch. 61 §17–19Records, Shu 6 §38–42
The empty camp on the Han River: The scene in Chapter 71 of the Romance where he left the camp gates open and drove off Cao Cao's troops, and Liu Bei's remark that his "whole body is courage," do not appear in the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records. Romance, Ch. 71 §45–48Records, Shu 6 §38–42
Offices: In Chapter 73 of the Romance he was appointed one of the Five Tiger Generals, and in Chapter 97 he was called General Who Guards the South. In the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records, his offices ran from General of the Standard and General Who Assists the Army to Central Protector of the Army and General Who Conquers the South in the 1st year of Jianxing (223), and then General Who Guards the East; after Ji Valley he was demoted to General Who Guards the Army. Romance, Ch. 73 §9Romance, Ch. 97 §4Records, Shu 6 §39–41
The remonstrance and Yiling: In Chapter 81 of the Romance Zhao Yun tried to dissuade Liu Bei from attacking Wu, and in Chapter 84 at Yiling he rescued Liu Bei and speared Zhu Ran from his horse. The Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records contains neither this remonstrance nor the battle of Yiling, and in the Records Zhu Ran died in the 12th year of Chiwu (249) at the age of sixty-eight. Romance, Ch. 81 §1–3Romance, Ch. 84 §29–30Records, Shu 6 §38–42Records, Wu 11 §24
His role in the first Northern Expedition: In Chapters 91–92 of the Romance, Zhao Yun volunteered as vanguard and routed Han De and his sons at Mount Fengming. In the Records, Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi occupied Ji Valley as the decoy force for Zhuge Liang's rumored advance by the Xie Valley road, and fared badly because their troops were weak and the enemy strong. Romance, Ch. 91 §45Romance, Ch. 92 §6–13Records, Shu 5 §32Records, Shu 6 §41
The outcome at Ji Valley: In Chapter 96 of the Romance he returned without losing a single man or horse, and Zhuge Liang rewarded him. In the Records he merely avoided a great defeat and was demoted to General Who Guards the Army, and Zhuge Liang cited "the failure to take precautions at Ji Valley" in his memorial. Romance, Ch. 96 §3–5Records, Shu 6 §41Records, Shu 5 §33
Death and posthumous title: In Chapter 97 of the Romance, Zhao Yun's death was announced after news of Cao Xiu's defeat at Shiting in the ninth month of the 6th year of Jianxing (228) reached Hanzhong, and the Later Sovereign at once made him Grand General posthumously and gave him the posthumous title Marquis Shunping. In the Records he died in the 7th year of Jianxing (229), his posthumous title was conferred in the third month of the 4th year of Jingyao (261), and no posthumous appointment as Grand General is recorded. Romance, Ch. 97 §1 · 3–5Records, Shu 6 §38–42Records, Shu 3 §38 · 41
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.
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.
RNo direct record — estimated from his role in the decoy force at Ji ValleyShu 6 §41
NRemonstrated against the eastern campaign, saying the state's traitor was Cao Cao; saw through Zhao Fan's scheme; was surrounded at Mount FengmingCh. 81 §1Ch. 52 §39Ch. 92 §18
RAt Changban, when the First Sovereign abandoned his wife and children, he protected the Later Sovereign and Lady GanShu 6 §39
NRefused, saying he could not spoil a great undertaking for the sake of one woman; a heart like iron or stoneCh. 52 §43Ch. 41 §39Ch. 61 §18
RNo direct record — estimated from his service as Central Protector of the Army and as a generalShu 6 §40
NAdvised that the fields and houses of Yi Province be returned to the people so that popular feeling would submitCh. 65 §49
RNo direct record — estimated from his leaving Gongsun Zan to follow the First SovereignShu 6 §39
NRecommended a man of Xichuan and brought about his surrenderCh. 65 §29
RAssessment: strong, fierce, vigorous and brave; carried and protected the Later Sovereign at ChangbanShu 6 §44Shu 6 §39
NKilled over fifty famous generals of Cao Cao's camp at Changban; cut down the Han brothers at seventyCh. 41 §62Ch. 7 §18Ch. 92 §8
RWhen things went badly at Ji Valley, gathered his men and held firmShu 6 §41
NHeld the rear himself to escort the retreat; cautious and meticulous, never rashCh. 95 §53Ch. 52 §40Ch. 35 §2
RCommanded the First Sovereign's cavalry; at Ji Valley rallied his weak troops and avoided a great defeatShu 6 §39Shu 6 §40Shu 6 §41
NOpened his camp gates on the Han River and drove off Cao Cao's army; lost nothing in the retreat from Ji ValleyCh. 71 §45Ch. 71 §47Ch. 95 §58
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a military commanderShu 6 §40
NReceived Zhao Fan with the courtesy due a guest and accepted his seal; welcomed Zhang SongCh. 52 §32Ch. 60 §23
NSkilled +10 Shot Han Qiong dead with a single arrowCh. 92 §8
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.
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Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).
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