RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 6 §62
NWon over Ma Yan and Zhang Yi to surrender, and talked Gao Gan round with a false surrenderCh. 32 §44Ch. 33 §27
Lü Kuang 呂曠
| Occupation | RNGeneral | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Dongping Commandery | |
| Cause of death | NKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R2 |
Profile
Lü Kuang was a man of Dongping and a general of Yuan Shang. He has no biography of his own in the Records and appears once each, together with Lü Xiang, in the Annals of Emperor Wu in Records of Wei 1 and the Biographies of Dong, the Two Yuans and Liu in Records of Wei 6. In winter of the 8th year of Jian'an (203), when Cao Cao reached Liyang to rescue Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang lifted the siege of Pingyuan and returned to Ye; at this time Lü Kuang, together with Lü Xiang, turned against Yuan Shang and stationed himself at Yangping, then led his followers to surrender and was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Records, Wei 1 §77 · 80Records, Wei 6 §62
Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name, his later deeds or his death, and the assessments of Records of Wei 1 and 6 do not deal with him either. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 32 as a senior general of Yuan Shang, and he appears in 3 of its 120 chapters; no chapter has his name in its title. The Romance portrays him as a brother of Lü Xiang and, after his surrender to Cao Cao, has him march on Xinye in Chapter 35 and die pierced by Zhao Yun's spear. Records, Wei 1 §80 · 173Records, Wei 6 §62 · 96–97Romance, Ch. 32 §13Romance, Ch. 35 §32 · 35
In the Records
In the 8th month of the 8th year of Jian'an (203), Cao Cao set out to attack Liu Biao and stationed his army at Xiping. When Cao Cao left Ye and went south, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fought over Ji Province, and Yuan Tan, defeated by Yuan Shang, fled to Pingyuan and held it. When Yuan Shang pressed his attack hard, Yuan Tan sent Xin Pi to offer surrender and ask for help. Cao Cao turned his army back and in winter, in the 10th month, reached Liyang, where he arranged a marriage alliance with Yuan Tan for his son Cao Zheng. Records, Wei 1 §77 · 80Records, Wei 6 §62
Hearing that Cao Cao was coming north, Yuan Shang lifted the siege of Pingyuan and returned to Ye. The Annals of Emperor Wu record that at this time Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang of Dongping turned against Yuan Shang and stationed themselves at Yangping, then led their followers to surrender, and Cao Cao enfeoffed them as full marquises. The Biographies of Dong, the Two Yuans and Liu call the two men generals of Yuan Shang and record that they turned against him and went over to Taizu (Cao Cao). Records, Wei 1 §80Records, Wei 6 §62
The Biographies of Dong, the Two Yuans and Liu go on to record that Yuan Tan also secretly had generals' seals carved and gave them to Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang. Taizu knew that Yuan Tan was being deceitful, but he reassured him by forming the marriage alliance and then led his army back. Records, Wei 6 §62–63
These two passages are the only places in Chen Shou's main text where Lü Kuang appears. His courtesy name, his deeds after being enfeoffed as a full marquis and his death are not recorded, and the assessments of the Annals of Emperor Wu and the Biographies of Dong, the Two Yuans and Liu do not deal with him either. Records, Wei 1 §80 · 173Records, Wei 6 §62 · 96–97
In the Romance
In Chapter 32 of the Romance, Yuan Shang, hearing that Yuan Tan intends to surrender to Cao Cao, personally leads a great army to Liyang to rescue Yuan Tan. When Yuan Shang asks who will lead the vanguard, the senior generals Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang, two brothers, volunteer, and Yuan Shang gives them thirty thousand troops and has them reach Liyang first. Later, when Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fight each other and Yuan Tan's general Cen Bi comes out hurling abuse, Lü Kuang spurs his horse forward, brandishing his blade, and cuts down Cen Bi within a few bouts. Romance, Ch. 32 §12–13 · 19
In the same chapter, when Cao Cao's army crosses the Yellow River, Yuan Shang returns to Ye and has Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang cover the rear. When the pursuing Yuan Tan says that he never slighted the two generals while his father was alive, so why do they now follow his younger brother and press him so hard, the two dismount and surrender to Yuan Tan. Yuan Tan tells them to surrender not to him but to Chancellor Cao and takes them to meet Cao Cao, who promises his daughter to Yuan Tan as a wife and makes the two Lüs the go-betweens. After stationing his army at Liyang, Cao Cao enfeoffs the two as full marquises and has them follow the army to be employed. Romance, Ch. 32 §27–29
When, on Guo Tu's advice, Yuan Tan has two generals' seals carved and secretly sends them, the two Lüs, as soon as they receive them, bring them straight to Cao Cao and report. Cao Cao says that Yuan Tan wants to use the two as insiders and strike at him once he has crushed Yuan Shang, tells them to accept the seals for the time being, and from then on harbors the intention of killing Yuan Tan. In the same chapter Cao Cao sends the two Lüs to win over Yuan Shang's generals Ma Yan and Zhang Yi and bring them to surrender, and when he attacks the Western Hills he first has the two Lüs, Ma Yan and Zhang Yi cut Yuan Shang's supply route. Romance, Ch. 32 §30–31 · 44
In Chapter 33, following Guo Jia's advice, he goes with Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan, Lü Xiang, Ma Yan and Zhang Yi, each leading the troops of his own command, to attack You Province by three routes. When Gao Gan blocks the mouth of the Hu Pass, Xun You proposes a ruse of false surrender, and Cao Cao summons the surrendered generals Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang and whispers instructions in their ears. Lü Kuang and the others lead a few dozen men to the foot of the pass and shout for the gate to be opened, saying that Cao Cao is treacherous and treats them poorly, so they wish to serve their old master again. The two climb up onto the pass and propose to Gao Gan that they raid Cao Cao's camp that night; Gao Gan sets out with the two Lüs in front and runs into an ambush, and meanwhile Yue Jin and Li Dian seize the pass. Romance, Ch. 33 §22 · 26–28
In Chapter 35, Cao Cao gives Cao Ren, Li Dian and the surrendered generals Lü Kuang, Lü Xiang and others thirty thousand troops and stations them at Fancheng. Saying that they have not won the slightest merit since surrendering, the two Lüs ask for five thousand picked troops so that they can cut off Liu Bei's head and present it, and Cao Ren gives them five thousand troops and sends them to Xinye. Lü Kuang comes out shouting, 'I am the senior general Lü Kuang. By the Chancellor's command I have come to capture you!', but against Zhao Yun, whom Liu Bei sends out, he lasts only a few bouts before he is pierced by the spear and falls from his horse. The defeated troops go back and report to Cao Ren that the two Lü generals have been killed. Romance, Ch. 35 §29–32 · 35
Where the Romance differs
Leaving Yuan Shang: In Chapter 32 of the Romance, Lü Kuang, covering the rear on Yuan Shang's orders, dismounts and surrenders to Yuan Tan after hearing the words of the pursuing Yuan Tan, and goes with Yuan Tan to meet Cao Cao. In the Records, when Yuan Shang lifted the siege of Pingyuan and returned to Ye, Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang turned against Yuan Shang and stationed themselves at Yangping, then led their followers to surrender to Cao Cao; nothing is said of a surrender to Yuan Tan. Romance, Ch. 32 §27–28Records, Wei 1 §80Records, Wei 6 §62
Relationship with Lü Xiang: Chapter 32 of the Romance calls Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang brothers. In the Records, the Annals of Emperor Wu simply list them side by side as 'Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang of Dongping', and the Biographies of Dong, the Two Yuans and Liu as Yuan Shang's generals Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang, without stating how the two were related. Romance, Ch. 32 §13Records, Wei 1 §80Records, Wei 6 §62
Killing Cen Bi: In Chapter 32 of the Romance, Lü Kuang cuts down Yuan Tan's general Cen Bi. In the record of Lü Kuang in the Records, neither Cen Bi nor any fighting by Lü Kuang appears. Romance, Ch. 32 §19Records, Wei 1 §80Records, Wei 6 §62
Yuan Tan's seals: In Chapter 32 of the Romance, the two Lüs, as soon as they receive the generals' seals that Yuan Tan secretly sent, take them to Cao Cao and report. The Biographies of Dong, the Two Yuans and Liu in the Records say only that Yuan Tan secretly had generals' seals carved and gave them to the two men and that Taizu (Cao Cao) knew of Yuan Tan's deceit, without stating what the two did with the seals. Romance, Ch. 32 §30–31Records, Wei 6 §62–63
The surrender of Ma Yan and Zhang Yi: In Chapter 32 of the Romance, Ma Yan and Zhang Yi surrender after being persuaded by the two Lüs, whom Cao Cao sends. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Yuan Shang's generals Ma Yan, Zhang Yi and others surrender on the battlefield, and nothing is said of Lü Kuang winning them over. Romance, Ch. 32 §44Records, Wei 1 §83
The Hu Pass: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang falsely surrender to Gao Gan and lead him into an ambush. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, when Gao Gan held the mouth of the Hu Pass, Cao Cao sent Yue Jin and Li Dian to attack him, and in the 11th year of Jian'an (206) Cao Cao personally besieged the Hu Pass for three months and took it; Lü Kuang does not appear. Romance, Ch. 33 §26–28Records, Wei 1 §93–94
Death: In Chapter 35 of the Romance, Lü Kuang marches on Xinye and dies pierced by Zhao Yun's spear. The Records do not record Lü Kuang's deeds or death after he was enfeoffed as a full marquis. Romance, Ch. 35 §32 · 35Records, Wei 1 §80Records, Wei 6 §62
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 total394 / 1000Rank 654 of 996 · Top 66%Romance total406 / 1000Rank 482 of 1,113 · Top 44%
Romance adaptation index+12Romance total − Records total
- LEA4548+3
- STR4050+10
- INT4040±0
- POL3532−3
- CHA4238−4
- VIR3232±0
- ADP5550−5
- SCH3131±0
- DIP3850+12
- DIS3635−1
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct record — estimated from the record of his being a general of Yuan ShangWei 1 §80
NCut down Cen Bi within a few bouts, but fell dead at a single thrust of Zhao Yun's spearCh. 32 §19Ch. 35 §32
8 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from the record of his leading his followers to garrison YangpingWei 1 §80
NWith Lü Xiang, led the vanguard of thirty thousand troops and reached LiyangCh. 32 §13
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §80
NNo direct record — estimated from the record of his carrying out a ruse of false surrenderCh. 33 §27
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §80
NNo direct record — estimated from his deeds as a military commanderCh. 32 §29
RNo direct record — estimated from the record of his surrendering at the head of his followersWei 1 §80
NNo direct record — estimated from the record of his enfeoffment as a full marquisCh. 32 §29
RTurned against Yuan Shang with Lü Xiang and surrendered to TaizuWei 1 §80Wei 6 §62
NHeeding Yuan Tan's words, dismounted, abandoned Yuan Shang and surrenderedCh. 32 §27Ch. 32 §28
RLeft Yuan Shang during the strife between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, went over to Taizu and became a full marquisWei 1 §80Wei 6 §62
NAfter surrendering to Yuan Tan, went to Cao Cao and was enfeoffed as a full marquisCh. 32 §28Ch. 32 §29
RNo direct record — estimated from his deeds as a military commanderWei 1 §80
NNo direct record — estimated from his deeds as a military commanderCh. 32 §29
RNo direct record — estimated from his deedsWei 1 §80
NNo direct record — estimated from his deedsCh. 32 §29
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 (3)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Family
| Siblings | Lü Xiang Romance |
|---|
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.