Ma Liang
Encyclopedia
Ma Liang style name
Jichang (季常), sometimes known as Baimei (白眉; "white brows"), was an advisor to the warlord Liu Bei
during the late Han Dynasty
and early Three Kingdoms
era of Chinese history
.
. Ma Liang was well-known in his hometown for his ability. He joined Liu Bei as an aide when he came to the small town of Xinye in the early 3rd century. During this time Ma Liang became good friends with Zhuge Liang
and the two swore an oath of brothership. It was also at this time he made Zhuge Liang to accept his younger brother, Ma Su
as his student. When Liu Bei left Jing Province (荆州, present day Hubei and Hunan) to conquer Shu
in 215, Ma Liang was left in the province as an advisor to the military general, Guan Yu
. After the conquest was complete, Ma Liang was assigned to the department of the General of the Left (左將軍掾).
Like Zhuge Liang, Ma Liang was an advocate for maintenance of the alliance with Wu
bordering Liu Bei's territories to the east. He was sent to Wu as diplomat and envoy on numerous occasions and is said to have gained the respect of Sun Quan
, ruler of Eastern Wu. After Liu Bei declared himself emperor in 222, Ma Liang was made Palace Attendant. He accompanied the Shu expedition against Wu the following year. Ma Liang was sent as envoy to Wuling to seek allies among the barbarians of the Five Streams (五溪蠻夷) against Wu. The mission was successful, but when Liu Bei was disastrously defeated at the Battle of Yiling, Ma Liang was killed in the midst of battle as well.
His son was made Chief Commandant of Cavalry (騎都尉). His younger brother Ma Su
continued his career in the Shu army.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Jichang (季常), sometimes known as Baimei (白眉; "white brows"), was an advisor to the warlord Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and early Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
era of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Biography
Ma was the fourth born of five sons in Yicheng, near Xiangyang on the Middle Yangtze RiverYangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
. Ma Liang was well-known in his hometown for his ability. He joined Liu Bei as an aide when he came to the small town of Xinye in the early 3rd century. During this time Ma Liang became good friends with Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
and the two swore an oath of brothership. It was also at this time he made Zhuge Liang to accept his younger brother, Ma Su
Ma Su
Ma Su was a military general and strategist of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the younger brother of Ma Liang. Ma Su had conspicuous talent in military theories and was admired by the Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang...
as his student. When Liu Bei left Jing Province (荆州, present day Hubei and Hunan) to conquer Shu
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
in 215, Ma Liang was left in the province as an advisor to the military general, Guan Yu
Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
. After the conquest was complete, Ma Liang was assigned to the department of the General of the Left (左將軍掾).
Like Zhuge Liang, Ma Liang was an advocate for maintenance of the alliance with Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
bordering Liu Bei's territories to the east. He was sent to Wu as diplomat and envoy on numerous occasions and is said to have gained the respect of Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, ruler of Eastern Wu. After Liu Bei declared himself emperor in 222, Ma Liang was made Palace Attendant. He accompanied the Shu expedition against Wu the following year. Ma Liang was sent as envoy to Wuling to seek allies among the barbarians of the Five Streams (五溪蠻夷) against Wu. The mission was successful, but when Liu Bei was disastrously defeated at the Battle of Yiling, Ma Liang was killed in the midst of battle as well.
His son was made Chief Commandant of Cavalry (騎都尉). His younger brother Ma Su
Ma Su
Ma Su was a military general and strategist of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the younger brother of Ma Liang. Ma Su had conspicuous talent in military theories and was admired by the Shu chancellor Zhuge Liang...
continued his career in the Shu army.