RDid not bow to the arrogant Deng Zhi and did not call on Zhuge ZhanShu 15 §20Shu 15 §22
NNo direct record — estimated from his fulfilment of his missionCh. 105 §31
Zong Yu 宗預
| Occupation | RGeneral · General-in-Chief Who Guards the Army NOfficial · Army Adviser | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | R188 Unverified | Native place | Nanyang Commandery Anzhong County |
| Died | R264 Unverified | Place of death | |
| Cause of death | RIllness Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R11 |
Profile
Zong Yu, courtesy name Deyan, was a man of Anzhong County in Nanyang Commandery. During the Jian'an era he followed Zhang Fei into Shu, and at the beginning of Jianxing he became Registrar to the Chancellor Zhuge Liang. After Zhuge Liang's death he went to Wu as an envoy and answered Sun Quan's questions without yielding, winning Sun Quan's affection; later he went to Wu as an envoy again. Records, Shu 15 §18–20
Later, as General of the Rear, he became Area Commander of Yong'an, and he rose to General-in-Chief Who Conquers the West and General-in-Chief Who Guards the Army. In the spring of the 1st year of Xianxi (264) he was being moved to Luoyang together with Liao Hua when he died of illness on the way. Records, Shu 15 §21 · 25
In his assessment Chen Shou, who wrote the Records, said that 'Zong Yu withstood the sternness of Sun Quan,' and that he, together with Deng Zhi and Zhang Yi, was worthy of praise. In the Romance he appears once, in Chapter 105, as the envoy sent to Eastern Wu to announce Zhuge Liang's death; he appears in 1 of the 120 chapters, and his name is in no chapter title. Records, Shu 15 §85Romance, Ch. 105 §29
In the Records
Zong Yu, courtesy name Deyan, was a man of Anzhong County in Nanyang Commandery. During the Jian'an era he followed Zhang Fei into Shu. At the beginning of Jianxing the Chancellor Zhuge Liang made him Registrar, and he was promoted to Army Adviser and General of the Household of the Right. Records, Shu 15 §18
When Zhuge Liang died in the 12th year of Jianxing (234), Wu feared that Wei might take advantage of Shu's weakness to seize it, and increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand men. Chen Shou wrote that its intention was on the one hand to provide relief, and on the other to use the occasion to carve up the territory. Hearing of this, Shu also strengthened the garrison at Yong'an to guard against the unexpected. Records, Shu 5 §38Records, Shu 15 §18
When Zong Yu went to Wu as an envoy under orders, Sun Quan asked him why, when east and west were like one family, the west had strengthened the garrison at Baidi. Zong Yu replied that the east's strengthening of the garrison at Baqiu and the west's strengthening of the garrison at Baidi were both what circumstances called for, and neither was a matter for one side to question the other. Sun Quan laughed heartily and, commending his unbending forthrightness, became very fond of him and treated him well; the respect he received was second only to that given Deng Zhi and Fei Yi. Zong Yu was promoted to Palace Attendant and then transferred to Master of Writing. Records, Shu 15 §19
In the 10th year of Yanxi (247) Zong Yu became Colonel of Garrison Cavalry. At that time the General of Chariots and Cavalry Deng Zhi came back from Jiangzhou to attend court and said to him, 'The rites say that at sixty one no longer serves in the army, yet you have only just received troops. Why is that?' Zong Yu replied, 'You are seventy and have not handed back your troops; why should I, at sixty, not accept them?' Deng Zhi was arrogant by nature, and everyone from the General-in-Chief Fei Yi down avoided him and humbled themselves before him, but Zong Yu alone did not bow to him. Records, Shu 15 §20
When Zong Yu again went east as an envoy to Wu, Sun Quan took his hand and wept as they parted, saying, 'You have always carried out your mission to bind the friendship of our two states; now you are advanced in years and I too am old and failing, and I fear we will not see each other again.' Sun Quan gave him a hu of large pearls. On his return Zong Yu was promoted to General of the Rear and became Area Commander of Yong'an, where he was appointed General-in-Chief Who Conquers the West and granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Records, Shu 15 §20–21
In the 14th year of Yanxi (251), when the Colonel Fan Jian went to Wu as an envoy, Sun Quan was gravely ill and could not receive him in person. Sun Quan asked Zhuge Ke how Fan Jian compared with Zong Yu, and Zhuge Ke replied that in talent and insight he did not match Zong Yu, but in refinement of character he surpassed him. Records, Shu 5 §63–64
In the 1st year of Jingyao (258) Zong Yu was recalled to Chengdu because of illness, and later became General-in-Chief Who Guards the Army and concurrently Inspector of Yan Province. At that time the Protector-General Zhuge Zhan had just begun to take charge of court affairs, and Liao Hua came to Zong Yu and proposed that they call on Zhuge Zhan together. Zong Yu said, 'We are past seventy, and what we have taken beyond our due is already too much; all we lack is death. Why should we seek anything from the young and fuss about calling at their gates?' In the end he did not go. Records, Shu 15 §21–22
Liao Hua's office and rank were equal to Zhang Yi's and above Zong Yu's. In the spring of the 1st year of Xianxi (264) Liao Hua and Zong Yu were moved to Luoyang together, and they died of illness on the way. Records, Shu 15 §24–25
In his assessment Chen Shou said that Deng Zhi was firm, upright, straightforward and clear-minded, that Zhang Yi stood up to Jiang Wei's sharp drive, and that Zong Yu withstood Sun Quan's sternness, so that all of them were worthy of praise. Records, Shu 15 §85
In the Romance
In Chapter 105 of the Romance, after Zhuge Liang's death, when Liu Shan, the Later Sovereign, has returned to Chengdu, a report comes in that Eastern Wu has had Quan Cong lead several tens of thousands of troops to camp at the border crossing of Baqiu. Jiang Wan proposes that Wang Ping and Zhang Ni lead troops to camp at Yong'an, and that someone be sent to Eastern Wu to announce the death and observe its movements. Romance, Ch. 105 §28
When Liu Shan asks for a man of eloquence, someone steps forward and says he wishes to go; the Romance introduces him as a man of Anzhong in Nanyang, surname Zong, given name Yu, courtesy name Deyan, holding the offices of Army Adviser and General of the Household of the Right. Zong Yu goes straight to Jinling to see Sun Quan, the Lord of Wu, and finds everyone around Sun Quan dressed in white. Romance, Ch. 105 §29
Sun Quan changes color and asks why, when Wu and Shu have already become one family, Shu has strengthened the garrison at Baidi; Zong Yu replies that the east's adding to the garrison at Baqiu and the west's strengthening of the garrison at Baidi are both what circumstances call for, and neither is a matter for one side to question the other. Sun Quan laughs and says, 'You are not inferior to Deng Zhi,' and tells him that he increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand men only to provide relief, fearing that the men of Wei would take advantage of the mourning to seize Shu. Romance, Ch. 105 §30–31
When Zong Yu says that the Son of Heaven has sent him to announce the death because the Chancellor has just passed away, Sun Quan breaks a gold-tipped arrow and swears that if he betrays the alliance they made earlier, his descendants will be wiped out, and he has an envoy take funeral offerings into Xichuan to perform the rites. Zong Yu returns to Chengdu with the Wu envoy and reports all this, and Liu Shan, greatly pleased, rewards him generously. This is the only chapter of the Romance in which Zong Yu appears. Romance, Ch. 105 §31–32
Where the Romance differs
Exchange with Sun Quan: Chapter 105 of the Romance and the Biography of Zong Yu in the Records give nearly the same words for Sun Quan's question about the garrison at Baidi and Zong Yu's reply. In the Romance Sun Quan laughs and says, 'You are not inferior to Deng Zhi.' The Records say that Sun Quan laughed heartily and, commending his unbending forthrightness, became very fond of him, and that the respect Zong Yu received was second only to that given Deng Zhi and Fei Yi. Romance, Ch. 105 §30Records, Shu 15 §19
The purpose of the Baqiu reinforcement: In Chapter 105 of the Romance, Sun Quan says that he only wanted to provide relief, fearing that Wei would take advantage of the mourning to seize Shu, and had no other intention. In the Records, Chen Shou writes that Wu's reinforcement was on the one hand meant to provide relief and on the other meant to use the occasion to carve up the territory. Romance, Ch. 105 §31Records, Shu 15 §18
The commanders at Baqiu and Yong'an: In Chapter 105 of the Romance, Quan Cong camps at Baqiu with several tens of thousands of troops, and Shu, on Jiang Wan's recommendation, stations Wang Ping and Zhang Ni at Yong'an. The Biography of Zong Yu says only that Wu increased the garrison at Baqiu by ten thousand men and that Shu also strengthened the garrison at Yong'an, without naming any commanders. Romance, Ch. 105 §28Records, Shu 15 §18
The oath of the broken arrow: In Chapter 105 of the Romance, Sun Quan breaks a gold-tipped arrow, swears not to betray the alliance, and has an envoy send funeral offerings. The Biography of Zong Yu has no such oath and says only that Sun Quan was fond of Zong Yu and treated him well. Romance, Ch. 105 §31Records, Shu 15 §19
The second mission: In the Romance Zong Yu appears only on the single mission of Chapter 105. In the Records, after the 10th year of Yanxi (247) he went to Wu as an envoy again, and Sun Quan took his hand and wept as they parted and gave him a hu of large pearls. Romance, Ch. 105 §32Records, Shu 15 §20–21
The exchange with Deng Zhi: In Chapter 105 of the Romance, Deng Zhi's name comes up only in Sun Quan's words. In the Records, when Deng Zhi mocked Zong Yu for receiving troops at sixty, Zong Yu retorted that Deng Zhi had not handed back his troops even at seventy. Romance, Ch. 105 §30Records, Shu 15 §20
Later years and death: In the Romance Zong Yu does not appear after Chapter 105, and his death is not recorded. In the Records he became Area Commander of Yong'an and General-in-Chief Who Conquers the West and General-in-Chief Who Guards the Army, declined to call on Zhuge Zhan, and in the spring of the 1st year of Xianxi (264) died of illness on the way while being moved to Luoyang. Romance, Ch. 105 §32Records, Shu 15 §21–22 · 25
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 total532 / 1000Rank 176 of 996 · Top 18%Romance total461 / 1000Rank 191 of 1,113 · Top 18%
Romance adaptation index−71Romance total − Records total
- LEA4835−13
- STR3531−4
- INT5852−6
- POL4540−5
- CHA5845−13
- VIR6652−14
- ADP6048−12
- SCH4040±0
- DIP8280−2
- DIS4038−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RNo direct record — estimated from his posts as Area Commander of Yong'an and General-in-Chief Who Conquers the WestShu 15 §21
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as a civil Army AdviserCh. 105 §29
RSun Quan was fond of him and treated him well, and gave him pearls with tears at partingShu 15 §19Shu 15 §21
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 105 §32
RSaid he had already taken more than his due and sought nothing from the powerfulShu 15 §22
NNo direct record — estimated from how he handled Sun Quan's challengeCh. 105 §30
6 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerShu 15 §21
NNo direct record — estimated from his status as a civil officialCh. 105 §29
RPraised for his talent and insight, and explained the reinforcement as what circumstances requiredShu 5 §64Shu 15 §19
NOrdered to probe Wu's true intentions, he grasped them and reported backCh. 105 §29Ch. 105 §32
RNo direct record — estimated from his duties as Palace Attendant and Master of WritingShu 15 §19
NNo direct record — estimated from his posts as Army Adviser and General of the Household of the RightCh. 105 §29
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Registrar and Master of WritingShu 15 §18
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 105 §29
RSaid to have withstood Sun Quan's sternness, and his esteem was second only to Deng Zhi and Fei YiShu 15 §19Shu 15 §20Shu 15 §85
NTold he was not inferior to Deng Zhi, and obtained Sun Quan's oathCh. 105 §30Ch. 105 §31
RNo direct record — estimated from his careerShu 15 §18
NNo direct record — estimated from his careerCh. 105 §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 (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Records · Records vol. 45 「丞相亮以為主簿」