RHesitated at Fu County, had his vanguard broken and was badly defeated at MianzhuShu 5 §61Shu 13 §10
NDirected both wings, defeated Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan twice and pursued them for over twenty liCh. 117 §36Ch. 117 §37
Zhuge Zhan 諸葛瞻
| Occupation | RGeneral · General of the Guards NGeneral · General Who Protects and Guards the Marching Army | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | R227 N? Unverified | Native place | Langya Commandery Yangdu County Unverified |
| Died | R263 N(same) Unverified | Place of death | RNMianzhu County |
| Cause of death | RKilled in battle NSuicide Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R23 |
Profile
Zhuge Zhan, courtesy name Siyuan, was the son of Zhuge Liang and inherited his father's rank. He married a princess, and after serving as Palace Attendant and Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat he became acting Protector-General and General of the Guards in the 4th year of Jingyao (261), handling the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat together with Dong Jue. Records, Shu 5 §43 · 59–60
In the winter of the 6th year of Jingyao (263), when Deng Ai of Wei came in by a byroad from Yinping, he led the commanderies' forces out to resist him, but withdrew from Fu County to Mianzhu, was badly defeated and died on the battlefield. He was then thirty-seven, and his eldest son Zhuge Shang died with him. Records, Shu 5 §60–61
In his biography Chen Shou wrote that because the people of Shu longed for Zhuge Liang they cherished his son, so that 'his fine reputation and overflowing praise exceeded the reality'. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 105 as Zhuge Liang's chief mourner and appears in 3 of its 120 chapters, but his name is in no chapter title. In Chapter 117 he went out to Mianzhu to fight Deng Ai and died by cutting his own throat. Records, Shu 5 §59–60Romance, Ch. 105 §24Romance, Ch. 117 §44
In the Records
Zhuge Zhan, courtesy name Siyuan, was the son of Zhuge Liang. In the 12th year of Jianxing (234), when Zhuge Liang had gone out to Wugong, he wrote to his elder brother Zhuge Jin: 'Zhan is now eight years old, clever and lovable. But I am uneasy that he has matured too early, and I fear he will not become a vessel of great weight.' Zhuge Zhan inherited Zhuge Liang's rank. Records, Shu 5 §43 · 59
At seventeen he married a princess and was made Commandant of Cavalry; the following year he became General of the Household of the Feathered Forest, and after several transfers he became Colonel of Archers Who Shoot at a Sound, Palace Attendant and Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, with the additional title of General Military Adviser. Zhuge Zhan excelled at calligraphy and painting and had a strong memory, and the people of Shu, longing for Zhuge Liang, all cherished his talent and quickness. Whenever the court carried out a good policy or a fine deed, even if Zhuge Zhan had not proposed or initiated it, the common people told one another, 'This is the work of Marquis Ge.' Chen Shou therefore wrote that his fine reputation and overflowing praise exceeded the reality. Records, Shu 5 §59–60
When the Grand Tutor of Wu, Zhuge Ke, having defeated the Wei army, was about to raise a great army, Zhang Ni wrote to Zhuge Zhan, who was then Palace Attendant. Zhuge Zhan was Zhuge Liang's son and Zhuge Ke's cousin. Zhang Ni said that for the Grand Tutor to leave the young sovereign and tread on enemy ground was probably not a good plan, and asked who would speak his mind fully if the young lord did not offer loyal advice to the Grand Tutor. In the end Zhuge Ke and his clan were exterminated because of this affair. Records, Shu 13 §58–61
In the 4th year of Jingyao (261) Zhuge Zhan became acting Protector-General and General of the Guards, handling the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat together with Dong Jue, General-in-Chief Who Supports the State and Marquis of Nanxiang. When the Protector-General Zhuge Zhan first took charge of court affairs, Liao Hua wanted to visit him together with Zong Yu, but Zong Yu refused to go, saying, 'Why should we seek anything from these young fellows and go knocking at their gate?' Chen Shou wrote that after Zhuge Zhan, Dong Jue and Fan Jian took charge of government, Jiang Wei was always campaigning abroad and the eunuch Huang Hao secretly manipulated power, but they all merely shielded him and none could correct him. Records, Shu 5 §60 · 64Records, Shu 15 §21–22
In the winter of the 6th year of Jingyao (263), Deng Ai, General Who Conquers the West of Wei, came in by a byroad from Yinping along the Jinggu road. Zhuge Zhan led the various armies to Fu County and halted there. The Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat Huang Chong repeatedly urged him to hurry forward and seize the strongholds so that the enemy could not enter the plain, even shedding tears, but Zhuge Zhan hesitated and did not accept his advice. When his vanguard was broken, Zhuge Zhan withdrew to Mianzhu, drew up his ranks and awaited Deng Ai. Records, Shu 5 §60–61Records, Shu 13 §10Records, Wei 28 §71
Deng Ai sent a letter to tempt him, saying, 'If you surrender, I will surely memorialize to make you King of Langya', and Zhuge Zhan in anger beheaded Deng Ai's envoy. Deng Ai sent his son Deng Zhong out on the right and his Major Shi Zuan on the left; the two fared badly, came back and said the enemy could not be attacked. When Deng Ai angrily moved to behead them, they went back and fought again, crushing the enemy and taking the heads of Zhuge Zhan, the Master of Writing Zhang Zun and others. Zhuge Zhan was then thirty-seven. His eldest son Zhuge Shang died with him, and Huang Chong and Li Hui's nephew Li Qiu also died fighting at Mianzhu. Records, Shu 5 §61Records, Wei 28 §72Records, Shu 13 §10 · 18
When the whole host scattered, Deng Ai drove straight to Chengdu, and the Later Sovereign (Liu Shan) asked to surrender. Jiang Wei and the others at Jiange, hearing that Zhuge Zhan had been defeated, went east into Ba. Zhong Hui of Wei, on reaching Hancheng, wrote to Jiang Wan's son Jiang Bin and called Jiang Bin and Zhuge Siyuan 'men of my own kind'. Zhuge Zhan's second son Zhuge Jing, together with Zhuge Pan's son Zhuge Xian and others, was moved to Hedong in the 1st year of Xianxi (264). Records, Shu 5 §61Records, Wei 28 §72 · 114Records, Shu 14 §14
In the Romance
In Chapter 105 of the Romance, when Zhuge Liang's coffin entered Chengdu and was laid in the Chancellor's residence, his son Zhuge Zhan kept mourning as chief mourner. Romance, Ch. 105 §24
In Chapter 117, when Deng Ai's troops reached Fucheng, Xi Zheng advised the Later Sovereign (Liu Shan) to summon the son of the Marquis Wu to discuss a plan for repelling the enemy. At this point the Romance gives Zhuge Zhan's background. His courtesy name was Siyuan; his mother, Lady Huang, was the daughter of Huang Chengyan, and though very ugly in appearance she was versed in astronomy and geography and in books of strategy and occult arts, helped much with Zhuge Liang's learning, and on her deathbed exhorted her son only to loyalty and filial piety. Zhuge Zhan was clever from childhood, married the Later Sovereign's daughter and became Commandant-Escort, inherited his father's rank of Marquis of Wuxiang, and in the 4th year of Jingyao became General Who Protects and Guards the Marching Army, but when Huang Hao wielded power he stayed away, pleading illness. Romance, Ch. 117 §27–28
When the Later Sovereign summoned him with three edicts in succession and tearfully begged him, 'For your late father's sake, save my life', Zhuge Zhan said he would fight to the death if all the troops of Chengdu were given to him, and he received seventy thousand officers and men. When his nineteen-year-old eldest son Zhuge Shang volunteered to lead the vanguard, he was overjoyed and made him the vanguard. Romance, Ch. 117 §28–30
On the battlefield, Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan saw Zhuge Kongming commanding troops in the Shu ranks and fled back, but the figure seated on the carriage was a wooden statue of Zhuge Liang. When the two came out again, Zhuge Shang drove them back, and Zhuge Zhan, with the troops of both wings, struck through the Wei ranks dozens of times and pursued them for more than twenty li. When Deng Ai sent a letter offering to memorialize to have him made King of Langya if he came over, Zhuge Zhan tore up the letter, beheaded the envoy and sent the head back to the Wei camp. Romance, Ch. 117 §35–39
When Deng Ai was defeated and fled, Zhuge Zhan pursued him but was badly defeated by ambushes that burst out from both sides, and withdrew into Mianzhu, which the Wei army surrounded as tightly as an iron bucket. Zhuge Zhan sent Peng He with a letter to Eastern Wu to ask for help. When no relief came, he left his son Zhuge Shang and the Master of Writing Zhang Zun to hold the city and went out to fight himself, opening three gates, but was surrounded; struck by an arrow, he fell from his horse, cried, 'My strength is spent. I will repay the state with my death', and drew his sword and cut his own throat. Zhuge Shang too went out after him and died fighting, and Deng Ai, moved by their loyalty, buried father and son together. Romance, Ch. 117 §40–41 · 43–46
In Chapter 118, the Later Sovereign, hearing that Deng Ai had taken Mianzhu and that Zhuge Zhan and his son were already dead, was greatly alarmed and called together his civil and military officials to deliberate. Romance, Ch. 118 §1
Where the Romance differs
His mother Lady Huang: Chapter 117 of the Romance identifies Zhuge Zhan's mother as the daughter of Huang Chengyan and describes her talents and last instructions at length. The Records' biography of Zhuge Zhan has no record of his mother. Romance, Ch. 117 §27–28Records, Shu 5 §58–61
Offices: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, he married the Later Sovereign's daughter and became Commandant-Escort, and in the 4th year of Jingyao he became General Who Protects and Guards the Marching Army. In the Records, at seventeen he married a princess and became Commandant of Cavalry, then passed through the posts of General of the Household of the Feathered Forest, Colonel of Archers Who Shoot at a Sound, Palace Attendant and Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, received the additional title of General Military Adviser, and in the 4th year of Jingyao (261) became acting Protector-General and General of the Guards, handling the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat together with Dong Jue. Romance, Ch. 117 §28Records, Shu 5 §59–60
Relations with Huang Hao: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, Zhuge Zhan stayed away, pleading illness, when Huang Hao wielded power. In the Records, Chen Shou wrote that after Zhuge Zhan, Dong Jue and Fan Jian took charge of government, Huang Hao manipulated power, but they all merely shielded him and none could correct him. Romance, Ch. 117 §28Records, Shu 5 §64
Hesitation at Fu County: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, Zhuge Zhan, summoned by the Later Sovereign (Liu Shan), went out with seventy thousand troops and fought Deng Ai at once. In the Records, he led the various armies and halted at Fu County, hesitating even when Huang Chong tearfully urged him to hurry and seize the strongholds, and when his vanguard was broken he withdrew to Mianzhu. Romance, Ch. 117 §29 · 35Records, Shu 5 §61Records, Shu 13 §10
The first battle and the wooden statue: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan fled at the sight of a wooden statue of Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Zhan and his son defeated the Wei army twice. In the Records' biography of Deng Ai, Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan fared badly in their first fight and came back, but when Deng Ai moved to behead them they fought again, crushed the enemy and beheaded Zhuge Zhan. The wooden statue is not in Chen Shou's main text. Romance, Ch. 117 §35–37Records, Wei 28 §72
The appeal to Wu for help: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, Zhuge Zhan sent Peng He to ask Sun Xiu, the ruler of Wu, for relief. The Records' Biographies of the Three Successor Rulers state only that in the 10th month, winter, of the 6th year of Yong'an (263), when Shu reported Wei's invasion, Wu sent Ding Feng and others to relieve Shu but called them off on news of Liu Shan's surrender; there is no mention of Zhuge Zhan sending anyone. Romance, Ch. 117 §41Records, Wu 3 §43–44
His death: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, Zhuge Zhan, struck by an arrow and fallen from his horse, cut his own throat. In the Records' biography of Zhuge Zhan he was badly defeated and died on the battlefield, and the biography of Deng Ai states that Deng Zhong and Shi Zuan took the heads of Zhuge Zhan, the Master of Writing Zhang Zun and others. Romance, Ch. 117 §44Records, Shu 5 §61Records, Wei 28 §72
Zhuge Shang and the burial: In Chapter 117 of the Romance, the nineteen-year-old Zhuge Shang distinguished himself as vanguard, went out and died fighting after his father's death, and Deng Ai buried father and son together. The Records has only one line saying that his eldest son Zhuge Shang died with Zhuge Zhan, and gives neither his age nor any burial. Romance, Ch. 117 §30 · 44–46Records, Shu 5 §61
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 total458 / 1000Rank 342 of 996 · Top 35%Romance total538 / 1000Rank 60 of 1,113 · Top 6%
Romance adaptation index+80Romance total − Records total
- LEA3566+31
- STR4060+20
- INT3240+8
- POL4040±0
- CHA7055−15
- VIR6692+26
- ADP3050+20
- SCH7045−25
- DIP4040±0
- DIS3550+15
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RDespite the offer of the kingdom of Langya, beheaded Deng Ai's envoy and died fightingShu 5 §61
NTore up the letter and beheaded the envoy; when he killed himself, a poem praised his integrityCh. 117 §39Ch. 117 §44Ch. 117 §46
RExcelled at calligraphy and painting and had a strong memoryShu 5 §59
NNo direct record — only the record that he was clever from childhoodCh. 117 §28
RNo direct record — estimated from the record of his death on the battlefieldShu 5 §61
NCharged left and right within the encirclement, killing several hundredCh. 117 §43
RHesitated and did not advance as the enemy approachedShu 13 §10
NStayed away, pleading illness, when Huang Hao wielded powerCh. 117 §28
RThe people of Shu cherished him and credited every good deed to Marquis GeShu 5 §59Shu 5 §60
NNo direct record — only the record of Xi Zheng recommending him as the son of the Marquis WuCh. 117 §27
RNever accepted Huang Chong's advice even when urged with tearsShu 13 §10
NMade the nineteen-year-old Zhuge Shang his vanguardCh. 117 §30
3 similar abilities — show evidence
RDid not accept Huang Chong's advice to seize the strongholds firstShu 13 §10
NPursued Deng Ai, fell into an ambush and withdrew to MianzhuCh. 117 §40Ch. 117 §41
RHandled the Imperial Secretariat's affairs but only shielded Huang Hao and could not correct himShu 5 §60Shu 5 §64
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as General Who Protects and Guards the Marching ArmyCh. 117 §28
RNo direct record — estimated from the record of his handling the Imperial Secretariat's affairsShu 5 §60
NNo direct record — only the record of his asking the Later Sovereign to let him take the fieldCh. 117 §29
Special — talents Records +25 · Romance +0
-
Calligraphy
RMaster +25 Recorded as excelling at calligraphy and paintingShu 5 §59
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 →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Records · Records vol. 35 「為行都護衛將軍」
Family
| Parents | Zhuge Liang Novel & History, Lady Huang Romance |
|---|---|
| Children | Zhuge Jing(諸葛京) Records, Zhuge Shang Novel & History |
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.
Related events (2)
- Conquest of Shu by Wei 263 · Command
- Zhuge Zhan Dies in Battle at Mianzhu 263 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).
Items owned or made (1)
- Silunche · Device · 263 · Romance
Ownership and authorship assigned by 3KDEX from source sentences — not yet reviewed (unverified).