Zhao Guang 趙廣
| Occupation | RNGeneral · General of the Standard | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Changshan Commandery Zhending County Unverified | |
| Cause of death | RKilled in battle Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R1 |
Profile
Zhao Guang was the second son of Zhao Yun, a general of Shu. He has no biography of his own in the Records; in Chen Shou's main text a single line about him remains at the end of the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Biographies of Guan, Zhang, Ma, Huang and Zhao (Records of Shu 6). His elder brother Zhao Tong succeeded their father, and Zhao Guang, as a General of the Standard, followed Jiang Wei to Tazhong and was killed on the battlefield. Chen Shou's main text does not record the year of his death, and the assessment at the end of the volume does not mention him either. Records, Shu 6 §42 · 44
Of the Romance's 120 chapters, he appears only in Chapter 97, and no chapter has his name in its title. The Romance portrays him as coming with his elder brother Zhao Tong to Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong to announce the death of their father Zhao Yun, and the Later Sovereign, recalling Zhao Yun's past merits, makes Zhao Tong Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and Zhao Guang a General of the Standard and has them guard the tomb. Romance, Ch. 97 §3–4 · 7
In the Records
Zhao Guang's father, Zhao Yun, styled Zilong, was a man of Zhending County in the State of Changshan. In the 1st year of Jianxing (223) he became Central Protector of the Army and General Who Conquers the South, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongchang Village, and was transferred to General Who Guards the East. In the 6th year of Jianxing (228), during Zhuge Liang's campaign, he and Deng Zhi held off Cao Zhen's main army but fared badly at Ji Valley, and after the army withdrew he was demoted to General Who Guards the Army. He died in the 7th year of Jianxing (229) and was posthumously given the title Marquis Shunping. Records, Shu 6 §39–41
In Chen Shou's main text, Zhao Guang's name appears only in one line at the end of the Biography of Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun's son Zhao Tong succeeded him, rose to Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and acted as supervisor of the army (lingjun). The second son, Zhao Guang, a General of the Standard, followed Jiang Wei to Tazhong and was killed on the battlefield. Chen Shou's main text does not record Zhao Guang's courtesy name, the year of his death or the enemy he fought. Records, Shu 6 §42 · 38–42
According to the Biography of Jiang Wei, in the 5th year of Jingyao (262) Jiang Wei led his host out to Houhe, was defeated by Deng Ai, and returned to garrison Tazhong. In the 6th year of Jingyao (263), when Deng Ai was about to enter Tazhong, Shu only then sent Liao Hua to Tazhong to aid Jiang Wei, and a month or so later Jiang Wei, crushed by Deng Ai, withdrew to garrison Yinping. Chen Shou's main text does not make clear in which of these battles Zhao Guang died. Records, Shu 14 §43–45
In his assessment at the end of the volume, Chen Shou said only that Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were strong, fierce, vigorous and brave and together served as claws and teeth, and did not discuss Zhao Guang. Records, Shu 6 §44
In the Romance
In Chapter 97 of the Romance, in the 9th month, in autumn, of the 6th year of Jianxing of Shu-Han (228), after Cao Xiu, Commander of Wei, is crushingly defeated by Lu Xun of Eastern Wu at Shiting, Eastern Wu sends an envoy to report this and to ask that troops be raised to attack Wei. Zhuge Liang, having received the letter sent on by the Later Sovereign, gathers his generals at Hanzhong to discuss setting out on campaign, when a great wind rises from the northeast corner and snaps the pine tree in front of the hall; he casts a divination and says that it portends the loss of a great general. Romance, Ch. 97 §1 · 3–4
In the midst of the drinking, word comes that Zhao Tong, the eldest son of Zhao Yun, General Who Guards the South, and his second son Zhao Guang have come to see the Chancellor, and Zhuge Liang, greatly startled, flings his cup to the ground, crying, 'Zilong is gone!' The two sons come in, bow and weep, and report that their father's illness grew grave at the third watch of the previous night and he died. Zhuge Liang stamps his feet and weeps, and sends the two sons to Chengdu to see the sovereign and announce the death. Romance, Ch. 97 §4–5
The Later Sovereign wails aloud, saying that when he was young he would have died amid the chaos of battle had it not been for Zilong, posthumously confers on Zhao Yun the rank of Grand General and the posthumous title Marquis Shunping, and has him buried east of Mount Jinping at Chengdu. Recalling Zhao Yun's past merits, he also makes Zhao Tong Gentleman of the Tiger Guard and Zhao Guang a General of the Standard and has them guard the tomb forthwith, and the two give thanks and depart. Zhao Guang's name does not appear again in the Romance after this. Romance, Ch. 97 §5 · 7
Where the Romance differs
Announcing their father's death: In Chapter 97 of the Romance, after news of the battle of Shiting arrives in the 6th year of Jianxing (228), Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang come to Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong and announce that Zhao Yun has died of illness. The Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records says only that Zhao Yun died in the 7th year of Jianxing (229), and contains nothing about his two sons announcing his death. Romance, Ch. 97 §1 · 4Records, Shu 6 §41
General of the Standard: In Chapter 97 of the Romance, the Later Sovereign, recalling Zhao Yun's past merits, makes Zhao Guang a General of the Standard and has him guard the tomb. The Records state only that Zhao Guang was a General of the Standard, and record neither when he took that post nor that he guarded the tomb. Romance, Ch. 97 §7Records, Shu 6 §42
Death: In the Romance, Zhao Guang does not appear after Chapter 97 and his death is not recorded. The Records state that he followed Jiang Wei to Tazhong and was killed on the battlefield. Romance, Ch. 97 §7Records, Shu 6 §42
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.
- LEA4040±0
- STR4540−5
- INT3538+3
- POL3335+2
- CHA3538+3
- VIR5052+2
- ADP3540+5
- SCH3333±0
- DIP3335+2
- DIS3335+2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
No ability differs by 10 or more — the Romance portrays this person much as the Records do.
10 similar abilities — show evidence
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 · Novel & History · Romance ch. 97 「镇南将军赵云长子赵统、次子赵广，来见丞相」 · Q124477021 · 「雲子統嗣…次子廣」
Family
| Parents | Zhao Yun Novel & History |
|---|---|
| Siblings | Zhao Tong Novel & History |
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.