| Occupation | RGeneral · General of the Rear NGeneral · Five Tiger General | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | R? N148 Unverified | Native place | Nanyang Commandery |
| Died | R220 N222 Unverified | Place of death | |
| Cause of death | NKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R16 |
Huang Zhong, courtesy name Hansheng, was a man of Nanyang Commandery. Under Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, he served as General of the Household guarding You County (攸縣) in Changsha Commandery, and after Cao Cao pacified Jing Province he was placed under Han Xuan, Administrator of Changsha. When Liu Bei pacified the southern commanderies, Huang Zhong pledged himself to him and became his subject. Records, Shu 6 §35
Following Liu Bei into Shu, he was always first onto the walls in the attack on Liu Zhang, and in the 24th year of Jian'an (219) he cut down Xiahou Yuan at Mount Dingjun and became General Who Conquers the West. When Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong, Huang Zhong was given the same standing as Guan Yu and the others and received the rank of Marquis Within the Passes; he died the following year. Records, Shu 6 §35–37
In his assessment, Chen Shou, author of the Records, said that he and Zhao Yun 'were strong, fierce, vigorous and valiant, and together served as claws and fangs.' In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 53 as a veteran general of Changsha and appears in 16 of its 120 chapters; his name is in the title of Chapter 53, 'Guan Yunchang Releases Huang Hansheng out of Righteousness', and in the titles of Chapters 70 and 71. Records, Shu 6 §44Romance, Ch. 53 §9 · 14Romance, Ch. 70 §45–46Romance, Ch. 71 §25
Huang Zhong, courtesy name Hansheng, was a man of Nanyang Commandery. Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, made him General of the Household and had him guard You County (攸縣) in Changsha Commandery together with Liu Biao's nephew Liu Pan. When Cao Cao pacified Jing Province, he gave Huang Zhong the acting duties of Assistant General and kept him at his former post, placing him under Han Xuan, Administrator of Changsha. When Liu Bei pacified the southern commanderies, Huang Zhong at last pledged himself to him as his subject and followed Liu Bei into Shu. Records, Shu 6 §35
When Liu Bei turned back from Jiameng to attack Liu Zhang, he had Huang Zhong and Zhuo Ying put their troops in order and march against Liu Zhang; entering the passes, he took the wives and children of the officers and soldiers as hostages, then advanced with Huang Zhong, Zhuo Ying and the others to Fu County and seized its city. Chen Shou wrote that in this campaign Huang Zhong was always first onto the walls and broke the enemy lines, and that his courage and resolve were foremost in the three armies. After Yi Province was pacified, Huang Zhong became General Who Attacks Barbarians. Records, Shu 2 §32Records, Shu 6 §35–36
In the spring of the 24th year of Jian'an (219), Liu Bei crossed the Mian River southward from Yangping and set up camp relying on the terrain of Mount Dingjun, and Xiahou Yuan led his troops to contest the ground. When Fa Zheng said, 'Now we can strike,' Liu Bei ordered Huang Zhong to attack from the heights with drums beating and battle cries. Xiahou Yuan's troops were extremely well trained, but Huang Zhong pressed forward relentlessly with spearpoints leading, urging on his men; gongs and drums shook the sky and the shouting echoed through the valleys. In a single battle he cut down Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Yuan's army was routed, and Zhao Yong, Inspector of Yi Province appointed by Cao Cao, and others were also beheaded at this time. Huang Zhong was promoted to General Who Conquers the West. Records, Shu 2 §38Records, Shu 7 §32Records, Shu 6 §36
That autumn, in the memorial the officials submitted to raise Liu Bei as King of Hanzhong, 'Your servant Huang Zhong, General Who Conquers the West' was among the signatories. When Liu Bei, having become King of Hanzhong, wanted to make Huang Zhong General of the Rear, Zhuge Liang said that Huang Zhong's reputation had never been of the same class as Guan Yu's and Ma Chao's, and that if he were set at once in the same rank, Ma Chao and Zhang Fei, who had seen his achievements close at hand, would accept it, but Guan Yu, far away, would surely be displeased. Liu Bei said, 'I will explain it to him myself,' and in the end he gave Huang Zhong the same standing as Guan Yu and the others and bestowed on him the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Records, Shu 2 §40Records, Shu 6 §36–37
Liu Bei sent Fei Shi to appoint Guan Yu General of the Front, but Guan Yu, hearing that Huang Zhong had been made General of the Rear, refused the appointment, saying, 'A true man will never stand in the same rank as an old soldier.' Fei Shi admonished him that although the King of Hanzhong had honored Hansheng for the merit of a single occasion, in the weight he held in his heart how could Hansheng be equal to the Lord Marquis, and Guan Yu, deeply moved, accepted the appointment. Records, Shu 11 §39–41
Huang Zhong died the following year (the 25th year of Jian'an, 220) and was posthumously named Marquis Gang. The Biography of the Later Sovereign records that in the autumn of the 3rd year of Jingyao (260), in the 9th month, posthumous names were conferred on the late generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong and Huang Zhong. His son Huang Xu died early, leaving no heir. Records, Shu 6 §37Records, Shu 3 §40
In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were strong, fierce, vigorous and valiant and together served as claws and fangs, men of the same kind as Guan Ying and Lord Teng. Records, Shu 6 §44
In Chapter 53 of the Romance, Han Xuan, Administrator of Changsha, hearing that Guan Yu's army is coming, summons the veteran general Huang Zhong. Huang Zhong is portrayed as a general who can draw a bow of two dan and hits the mark a hundred times in a hundred shots. He fights Guan Yu for more than a hundred bouts without a decision, and the next day, when his horse stumbles on its forelegs and throws him, Guan Yu tells him to go and change horses and does not cut him down. The day after that, Huang Zhong feigns flight, twice draws his bowstring without an arrow, and with the third arrow strikes only the base of the tassel on Guan Yu's helmet, repaying him for sparing his life. Romance, Ch. 53 §9 · 11–17
Han Xuan suspects collusion and tries to behead Huang Zhong, but Wei Yan cuts down the executioner and rescues Huang Zhong, then kills Han Xuan and surrenders the city. Huang Zhong pleads illness and does not come out, but when Liu Bei visits his house in person, he comes out and submits, asking to be allowed to bury Han Xuan's body east of Changsha. He also recommends Liu Biao's nephew Liu Pan, who is put in charge of Changsha Commandery. Romance, Ch. 53 §17–21 · 23 · 26
In Chapter 62, as the army advances on Luo, Huang Zhong volunteers to attack the camps of Leng Bao and Deng Xian, but Wei Yan says the old general is too advanced in years and offers to go in his place, and the two quarrel. On Pang Tong's advice each takes one camp; Wei Yan secretly sets out first, is defeated and pursued, and Huang Zhong appears, rescues Wei Yan and kills Deng Xian. Romance, Ch. 62 §33–37 · 42–43
In Chapter 70, when Zhang He attacks Jiameng Pass, Zhuge Liang provokes Huang Zhong by saying he is nearly seventy, and Huang Zhong whirls a great broadsword, draws two strong bows until they snap, and sets out together with the veteran general Yan Yan. By losing again and again on purpose, he falls back to the pass and makes the enemy overconfident, then at night opens the pass, charges down and recovers the camps. Next he cuts down Han Xuan's younger brother Han Hao in a single bout, and Yan Yan cuts down Xiahou De, and they take Mount Tiandang. Romance, Ch. 70 §25–26 · 30 · 35–36 · 38 · 44–46
In Chapter 71, Zhuge Liang sends him to Mount Dingjun with Fa Zheng attached. Following Fa Zheng's plan, Huang Zhong sets up a camp at every step forward to draw out Xiahou Yuan; he captures Xiahou Shang alive in a single bout, and at the exchange of prisoners for Chen Shi, he puts an arrow into Xiahou Shang's back. After seizing the high mountain opposite, when Fa Zheng waves a red flag from the summit, he charges down the mountain and cleaves Xiahou Yuan in two from head to shoulder. Liu Bei promotes him to General-in-Chief Who Conquers the West. Romance, Ch. 71 §1 · 19–22 · 24–28 · 33
In the same chapter, when he tries to burn the provisions at the foot of the Northern Hill and is surrounded by Zhang He and Xu Huang, Zhao Yun rescues him. In Chapter 73, Liu Bei, King of Hanzhong, names Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong the Five Tiger Generals, and Guan Yu refuses the seal and ribbon, saying, 'What sort of man is Huang Zhong, that he dares to stand in the same rank as I?', until he accepts them after hearing Fei Shi's words. Romance, Ch. 71 §38–39 · 42–43Romance, Ch. 73 §9 · 31–32
In Chapters 82 and 83, in the 1st month of spring in the 2nd year of Zhangwu (222), hearing that Liu Bei has said old generals are of no use, he goes to the camp at Yiling with only five or six men. He cuts down Shi Ji, a lieutenant of Pan Zhang, and drives off Pan Zhang, but the next day, pursuing Pan Zhang alone with 5,000 troops, he is trapped by an ambush and struck in the hollow of the shoulder by Ma Zhong's arrow. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao bring him back, and after saying, 'Your servant is seventy-five this year; I have lived long enough,' Huang Zhong breathes his last that night in the imperial camp. Liu Bei has him provided with inner and outer coffins and buried at Chengdu. Romance, Ch. 82 §40–41Romance, Ch. 83 §1–7 · 9
How he came over at Changsha: In Chapter 53 of the Romance, Huang Zhong contends with Guan Yu for three days, is saved by Wei Yan when Han Xuan is about to behead him, and submits when Liu Bei visits his house. The Records state only that after Cao Cao pacified Jing Province he was under Han Xuan, Administrator of Changsha, and that when Liu Bei pacified the southern commanderies he pledged himself to him as his subject. The fight with Guan Yu does not appear, and the Biography of Wei Yan in the Records says only that Wei Yan followed Liu Bei into Shu at the head of his retainers, with no Changsha episode. Romance, Ch. 53 §13–20 · 23Records, Shu 6 §35Records, Shu 10 §57
Liu Pan: In Chapter 53 of the Romance, Huang Zhong, after submitting, recommends Liu Pan, who was living idly in You County, and Liu Pan is put in charge of Changsha Commandery. In the Records, Liu Pan was Liu Biao's nephew, who guarded You County together with Huang Zhong in Liu Biao's time. There is no record of Huang Zhong recommending him. Romance, Ch. 53 §26Records, Shu 6 §35
The battles at Fu and Luo: In Chapter 62 of the Romance, Huang Zhong competes with Wei Yan for merit, rescues Wei Yan and kills Deng Xian. In the Biography of the First Sovereign in the Records, Huang Zhong and Zhuo Ying put their troops in order and marched against Liu Zhang, and Liu Gui, Leng Bao, Zhang Ren, Deng Xian and the others sent by Liu Zhang were all defeated at Fu and fell back to Mianzhu. There is no quarrel with Wei Yan, and no killing of Deng Xian by Huang Zhong. Romance, Ch. 62 §34–35 · 42–43Records, Shu 2 §32
Mount Tiandang: In Chapter 70 of the Romance, Huang Zhong, together with Yan Yan, defeats Zhang He, cuts down Han Hao and takes Mount Tiandang. The Biography of Huang Zhong in the Records has neither a battle at Mount Tiandang nor any fighting alongside Yan Yan. In the Records, Yan Yan was Liu Zhang's Administrator of Ba Commandery who was captured by Zhang Fei, and he appears in the Biography of Zhang Fei. Romance, Ch. 70 §29 · 44–46Records, Shu 6 §34–37 · 17
The slaying of Xiahou Yuan: In Chapter 71 of the Romance, on Fa Zheng's plan Huang Zhong takes the mountain opposite, and at the signal of a red flag he charges down the mountain and cleaves Xiahou Yuan in two with his broadsword. In the Records, when Fa Zheng said, 'Now we can strike,' Liu Bei ordered Huang Zhong to attack from the heights with drums beating and battle cries, and Huang Zhong pressed forward with spearpoints leading and cut down Xiahou Yuan in a single battle. Neither the mountain opposite nor the flag signal appears. Romance, Ch. 71 §24–28Records, Shu 7 §32Records, Shu 6 §36
The provisions at the Northern Hill: In Chapter 71 of the Romance, Huang Zhong is surrounded while trying to burn the provisions at the foot of the Northern Hill, and Zhao Yun rescues him. This episode is absent from Chen Shou's main text in both the Biography of Huang Zhong and the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records. Romance, Ch. 71 §39 · 42–43Records, Shu 6 §34–37 · 38–42
Offices: In Chapter 71 of the Romance he becomes General-in-Chief Who Conquers the West after slaying Xiahou Yuan, and in Chapter 73 he is named one of the Five Tiger Generals together with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and Ma Chao. In the Records he was promoted to General Who Conquers the West, and Liu Bei, having become King of Hanzhong, made him General of the Rear and gave him the same standing as Guan Yu and the others despite Zhuge Liang's misgivings. The title 'Five Tiger Generals' does not exist in the Records. Romance, Ch. 71 §33Romance, Ch. 73 §9Records, Shu 6 §36–37Records, Shu 11 §39
Age: In Chapter 70 of the Romance Zhuge Liang says he is nearly seventy, and in Chapter 83 Huang Zhong says himself that he is seventy-five. The Records do not record his age. There is only Guan Yu's remark before Fei Shi calling him an 'old soldier'. Romance, Ch. 70 §25Romance, Ch. 83 §7Records, Shu 6 §34–37Records, Shu 11 §39
Death: In Chapter 83 of the Romance, Huang Zhong joins the campaign against Wu in the 2nd year of Zhangwu (222), is struck by Ma Zhong's arrow and dies in the imperial camp. In the Records he died the year after Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong (the 25th year of Jian'an, 220), and Liu Bei's campaign against Wu came later, in the autumn of the 1st year of Zhangwu (221), in the 7th month. The Records do not say how he died. Romance, Ch. 83 §5–7Records, Shu 6 §37Records, Shu 2 §68
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 serving the First Sovereign to the end after pledging himself to himShu 6 §35Shu 6 §37
NShot only the tassel of Guan Yu's helmet to repay his life being spared, and stayed loyal to the First Sovereign to the endCh. 53 §15Ch. 83 §7
RNo direct record — estimated as having followed Fa Zheng's judgment in the attack at Mount DingjunShu 7 §32
NDevised a plan to make the enemy overconfident, and Zhang He judged him to combine strategy and courageCh. 70 §36Ch. 70 §43Ch. 71 §15
RZhuge Liang said his reputation was not of Guan Yu's and Ma Chao's class, and Guan Yu scorned him as an old soldierShu 6 §36Shu 11 §39
NXuande treated him very generously, and the First Sovereign grieved without end at his deathCh. 53 §25Ch. 83 §9
RUrged on his men at Mount Dingjun and routed Xiahou Yuan's elite armyShu 6 §36Shu 2 §38Shu 7 §32
NMade the enemy overconfident by feigned retreats before a night raid, and crushed Xiahou Yuan's army at Mount DingjunCh. 70 §36Ch. 71 §26
RAlways first onto the walls and broke enemy lines, foremost in courage in the three armies, and cut down Xiahou YuanShu 6 §35Shu 6 §36Shu 6 §44
NFought Guan Yu to a draw over a hundred bouts, cut down Xiahou Yuan with one stroke, and slew Shi Ji past the age of seventyCh. 53 §12Ch. 71 §28Ch. 83 §3
RNo direct record — estimated from his military careerShu 6 §35
NNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalCh. 65 §47
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as a generalShu 6 §36
NNo direct record — estimated from his asking for the veteran general Yan Yan as his lieutenantCh. 70 §26
NMaster +25 Skill to pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces, and still drew a two-dan bow past seventyCh. 53 §17Ch. 83 §2
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).
Ownership and authorship assigned by 3KDEX from source sentences — not yet reviewed (unverified).