RNo direct record — estimated as a friend of Zhuge LiangShu 5 §3
NDiscussed the state of the realm in terms of the cycle of order and disorder and the mandate of HeavenCh. 37 §21Ch. 37 §22
Cui Zhouping 崔州平
| Occupation | NScholar | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Boling Commandery | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R2 |
Profile
Cui Zhouping was a man of Boling and a friend of Zhuge Liang from the days when Zhuge Liang, having lost his uncle Zhuge Xuan, tilled the fields himself. When Zhuge Liang always compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi but the people of the time would not grant it, Cui Zhouping, together with Xu Shu of Yingchuan, was on close terms with Zhuge Liang and held that it was truly so. Records, Shu 5 §3
After becoming Chancellor, Zhuge Liang recalled, in an instruction issued to the officials, that when he first befriended Cui Zhouping long ago he had often heard from him about his own merits and failings. Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, offices or death. Records, Shu 9 §4 · 6
In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 37 and features in 2 of the 120 chapters, and his name appears in no chapter title. Liu Bei, returning from his first fruitless visit to the Sleeping Dragon, mistakes him for the Sleeping Dragon, and he speaks of the cycle of order and disorder and says that the realm cannot be pacified all at once. In Chapter 113 Sima Wang says that in his youth he befriended him in Jingnan and discussed battle formations with him. Romance, Ch. 37 §19–22Romance, Ch. 113 §33
In the Records
Zhuge Liang, who lost his father early, followed his uncle Zhuge Xuan, who had become Grand Administrator of Yuzhang, but when the Han court chose Zhu Hao to replace Zhuge Xuan, Zhuge Xuan went to rely on Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, with whom he had long been acquainted. After Zhuge Xuan died, Zhuge Liang tilled the fields himself and liked to chant the 'Liangfu Yin'. Zhuge Liang, eight chi tall, always compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, but the people of the time would not grant it; only Cui Zhouping of Boling and Xu Shu (Yuanzhi) of Yingchuan were on close terms with Zhuge Liang and held that it was truly so. Records, Shu 5 §2–3
Zhuge Liang, after later becoming Chancellor, issued an instruction to the officials saying that taking part together in handling affairs was a way to gather the thoughts of many and widen loyal and beneficial counsel. He said that when he first befriended Cui Zhouping long ago he had often heard from him about his merits and failings; that when he later befriended Xu Yuanzhi (Xu Shu) he had been diligently enlightened by him; that earlier, when he took part in affairs with Dong Youzai (Dong He), Dong He said everything he had to say whenever he spoke; and that later, when he worked with Hu Weidu (Hu Ji), Hu Ji repeatedly remonstrated with him and held him back. Records, Shu 9 §4 · 6
Zhuge Liang went on to say that although his nature was mean and dull and he could not accept all their advice, he had remained on good terms with these four men from beginning to end, which should be enough to show that he did not distrust frank speech. Chen Shou wrote that this was how Zhuge Liang remembered Dong He. Records, Shu 9 §6
In Chen Shou's main text, Cui Zhouping appears only in these two passages, in the Biography of Zhuge Liang and the Biography of Dong He. His courtesy name, offices, later deeds and death are not recorded. Records, Shu 5 §3Records, Shu 9 §6
In the Romance
In Chapter 37 of the Romance, when Liu Bei asks what sort of man Zhuge Liang, whom Xu Shu recommended on leaving, is, Sima Hui answers that Kongming is a close friend of four men: Cui Zhouping of Boling, Shi Guangyuan of Yingchuan, Meng Gongwei (Meng Jian) of Runan, and Xu Yuanzhi. He says that the four devoted themselves to refining their learning to perfection and purity, while Kongming alone grasped its broad outline, and that Kongming once pointed to the four and said that if they entered official service they could rise to be inspectors or commandery administrators. Romance, Ch. 37 §9–10
Liu Bei goes with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to the thatched cottage at Longzhong, but the boy says that the master went out early this morning and that he does not know when he will return. On the way back, Liu Bei sees a man of fine bearing coming along a secluded mountain path, wearing a carefree scarf and a black cloth robe and leaning on a goosefoot staff, and taking him for Master Sleeping Dragon, he hastily dismounts and pays his respects. The man reveals that he is not Kongming but Kongming's friend, Cui Zhouping of Boling. Romance, Ch. 37 §16–19
The two sit facing each other on a rock in the woods, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stand in attendance beside them. When Liu Bei says that he wishes to meet Kongming to seek a plan for settling the state, Cui Zhouping cites how Gaozu destroyed the lawless Qin, how Wang Mang usurped the throne, and how Emperor Guangwu restored the dynasty, saying that order and disorder have alternated and that now is the time of passing from order into disorder, so the realm cannot be pacified all at once. Quoting the saying that those who follow Heaven are at ease and those who defy Heaven toil, he says that Liu Bei will only waste his heart and strength in vain, and Liu Bei answers that, as a descendant of the Han imperial house, how could he leave everything to fate and the mandate of Heaven. Romance, Ch. 37 §20–22
Cui Zhouping says that, as a man of the hills and wilds, he is unfit to discuss the affairs of the realm, and that he himself was about to visit Kongming and does not know where he has gone. To Liu Bei's request that he come with him to his county, he answers that he loves living at leisure and has long since lost any wish to win merit and fame, and he bows deeply with clasped hands and leaves. When Zhang Fei says they met a pedantic scholar and heard nothing but idle talk, Liu Bei says that these too are the words of a recluse. On the day Liu Bei makes his second visit in the snow, Zhuge Jun, the Sleeping Dragon's younger brother, tells him that his elder brother went out yesterday to roam abroad by arrangement with Cui Zhouping. Romance, Ch. 37 §23–24 · 26 · 35
In Chapter 113, when Deng Ai is trapped in Jiang Wei's Long Snake Coiling on the Ground Formation, the man who breaks in from the northwest corner and rescues him is Sima Wang. Asked by Deng Ai how he knew this formation, Sima Wang answers that when he studied in Jingnan in his youth he befriended Cui Zhouping and Shi Guangyuan and once discussed this formation with them. Romance, Ch. 113 §32–34
Where the Romance differs
Zhuge Liang's friends: In Chapter 37 of the Romance, Sima Hui names Cui Zhouping, Shi Guangyuan, Meng Gongwei and Xu Yuanzhi as Zhuge Liang's four close friends. Chen Shou's main text in the Biography of Zhuge Liang in the Records names only two, Cui Zhouping of Boling and Xu Shu of Yingchuan, as the friends who held it to be truly so when Zhuge Liang compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. Romance, Ch. 37 §9Records, Shu 5 §3
Meeting with Liu Bei: In Chapter 37 of the Romance, Liu Bei meets Cui Zhouping and talks with him on the way back from his first visit to the Sleeping Dragon. The Biography of Zhuge Liang in the Records says only that the First Sovereign went three times in all before he saw Zhuge Liang, and records no meeting with Cui Zhouping on the way. Romance, Ch. 37 §19–23Records, Shu 5 §4
Cui Zhouping's words: In Chapter 37 of the Romance, Cui Zhouping tells Liu Bei that order and disorder alternate, so the realm cannot be pacified all at once, and says that he himself has no wish to win merit. The Records contain no words he spoke to Liu Bei; there is only Zhuge Liang's recollection, in an instruction issued after he became Chancellor, that when he first befriended Cui Zhouping he had often heard from him about his merits and failings. Romance, Ch. 37 §21–23Records, Shu 5 §3Records, Shu 9 §6
Battle formations: In Chapter 113 of the Romance, Sima Wang says that in his youth in Jingnan he befriended Cui Zhouping and Shi Guangyuan and discussed the Long Snake Coiling on the Ground Formation with them. Neither battle formations nor Sima Wang appear in the two passages of Chen Shou's main text in the Records where Cui Zhouping appears. Romance, Ch. 113 §33–34Records, Shu 5 §3Records, Shu 9 §6
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 total433 / 1000Rank 441 of 996 · Top 45%Romance total484 / 1000Rank 139 of 1,113 · Top 13%
Romance adaptation index+51Romance total − Records total
- LEA3131±0
- STR3131±0
- INT4564+19
- POL3535±0
- CHA4245+3
- VIR5052+2
- ADP4555+10
- SCH5058+8
- DIP4055+15
- DIS6458−6
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct recordShu 5 §3
NExpounded his theory of the mandate of Heaven to Liu BeiCh. 37 §20Ch. 37 §22
RNo direct recordShu 5 §3
NLoving leisure, declined the invitation to enter serviceCh. 37 §23
7 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated as a scholarShu 5 §3
NNo direct record — estimated as a recluseCh. 37 §19
RNo direct recordShu 5 §3
NNo direct recordCh. 37 §19
RNo direct recordShu 5 §3
NNo direct recordCh. 37 §20
RNo direct recordShu 5 §3
NNo direct recordCh. 37 §20
RNo direct recordShu 5 §3
NNo direct record — estimated as a recluse with no wish for merit and fameCh. 37 §23
RNo direct record — estimated as a scholar who associated with Zhuge LiangShu 5 §3
NArgued from historical precedents and discussed battle formationsCh. 37 §21Ch. 113 §33
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 (2)
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