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Zhang Fei (Three Kingdoms)
Encyclopedia
Zhang Fei was a military general of the state of Shu Han
during the Three Kingdoms
era of Chinese history
.
, Hebei
). In 184, he and Guan Yu
joined Liu Bei
's militia to assist the government in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion
, which broke out towards the end of the Han Dynasty. His relationship with Liu Bei and Guan Yu was so close that they treated each other like brothers. Since then, Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei on most of his early exploits.
In 194, Liu Bei succeeded Tao Qian as governor of Xu Province. The following year, Liu Bei led his army to counter an invasion force from Yuan Shu
, and he left Zhang Fei in charge of Xiapi
, capital of Xu Province. Zhang Fei had a quarrel with Cao Bao and he killed the latter in anger. As Cao Bao had been in service for a long time, his death caused much turmoil within the community. Some of Cao Bao's colleagues defected to Lü Bu
, who was taking shelter under Liu Bei at that time, and Lü Bu used the opportunity to seize control of Xu Province.
Zhang Fei managed to escape from Xiapi and join Liu Bei and Guan Yu, but they came under attack by the combined forces of Lü Bu and Yuan Shu, and were forced to temporarily join Cao Cao
. Zhang Fei was appointed "General of the Household" (中郎將).
In 199, Liu Bei took over Xu Province from Che Zhou, the governor appointed by Cao Cao after the Battle of Xiapi
. The following year, Cao Cao attacked Xu Province and defeated Liu Bei, forcing Liu to take shelter under Yuan Shao
. Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei to Runan after leaving Yuan Shao, but they were defeated by Cao Cao again and sought shelter under Liu Biao
, governor of Jing Province. Liu Biao put Liu Bei in charge of Xinye.
. Cao Cao's army caught up with them at Changban, Dangyang, after pursuing them for a day and a night. Zhang Fei led 20 horsemen to act as the rearguard and cover Liu Bei's escape. When they had all crossed the river, Zhang Fei ordered the bridges to be destroyed. He held his position at the opposite bank and shouted at the incoming enemy, "I'm Zhang Yide ("Yide" was Zhang Fei's style name
). Come and fight me to the death!" No one dared to approach him and Zhang Fei successfully bought time for Liu Bei and his men to escape safely.
and appointed Zhang Fei as Administrator of Yidu
and "General Who Subdues Barbarians", and granted him the title of "Marquis of Xinting". Zhang Fei was later relocated to Nan Commandery.
In 211, Liu Bei led an expedition force to Yi Province
on the invitation of the governor Liu Zhang
, leaving behind Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei to guard Jing Province. During that time, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun stopped Lady Sun
from bringing Liu Bei's young son, Liu Shan
, with her back to Sun Quan's territory. The following year, Liu Bei and Liu Zhang turned hostile and war broke out between them. In 213, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang led separate forces from Jing Province to reinforce Liu Bei.
Along the way, Zhang Fei arrived at Jiangzhou, which was defended by Liu Zhang's general Yan Yan
. Zhang Fei defeated and captured Yan Yan in battle. Yan Yan condemned Zhang Fei for invading Yi Province and showed no fear in the face of death. Zhang Fei was deeply impressed and he spared Yan Yan's life and treated him like a guest. Zhang Fei's army proceeded to break through Liu Zhang's defenses and eventually reached Chengdu
, where he rendezvoused with Liu Bei. Liu Zhang surrendered and yielded Yi Province to Liu Bei. Liu Bei rewarded Zhang Fei with 500 jin
of gold, 1000 jin of silver, 5000 strings of coins and 1000 rolls of silk, in addition to appointing him Administrator of Baxi.
led an army to attack Baxi at the northeast of Yi Province, in an attempt to force its people to evacuate and relocate to Hanzhong
. Zhang Fei led an army to resist Zhang He and both sides held their positions for more than 50 days. Later, Zhang Fei directed about 10,000 troops through an alternative route to intercept and ambush Zhang He from a direction the latter neglected. Zhang He was defeated and escaped on foot with a few dozen men through a narrow path back to Nanzheng.
In the winter of 217, Liu Bei personally mobilized to wrestle Hanzhong from Cao Cao. He sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao
and Wu Lan to attack Wudu Commandery, which was guarded by Cao Hong
. They attempted to trick Cao Hong into believing that they were planning to attack his rear route, but Cao Xiu
saw through the ruse. Wu Lan was killed while Zhang Fei retreated with Ma Chao. When Liu Bei finally annexed Hanzhong two years later, many people thought that Liu Bei would appoint Zhang Fei as Area Commander of the region, but Wei Yan
was chosen instead. Liu Bei's decision disappointed Zhang Fei and surprised many others. Zhang Fei was appointed "General of the Right" (右將軍) instead.
of Shu Han
", Liu Bei appointed Zhang Fei as "General of Chariots and Cavalry" (車騎將軍) and "Director of Retainers" (司隸校尉), and granted him the title of "Marquis of Xi" (西鄉侯). In the same year, he started a campaign against Sun Quan
to avenge Guan Yu
's death and the loss of Jing Province.
Zhang Fei responded to Liu Bei's call and prepared his army to rendezvous with Liu at Jiangzhou. However, he was murdered by his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da at Linjiang. The two men then defected to Eastern Wu, bringing Zhang Fei's severed head along with them. Zhang Fei was posthumously granted the title of "Marquis Huan" (桓侯). His body was buried in Langzhong
while his head was buried at Yunyang
. A Zhang Fei Shrine and a Zhang Fei Temple
were later built at these locations respectively.
is written as 翼德 in Chinese instead of 益德. In the first chapter, at the Oath of the Peach Garden
, he became sworn brothers
with Liu Bei and Guan Yu, and was the youngest of the three. He also became one of the Five Tiger Generals
of Shu in a later chapter.
Zhang Fei was also described to be an alcoholic, and his obsession with wine caused his judgement to be affected from time to time. For example, once in a drunken rage, he thrashed an arrogant and corrupt inspector who attempted to extort bribes from Liu Bei. On another occasion, he beat up Cao Bao when Cao refused to drink. Cao Bao later plotted with Lü Bu
to take over Xiapi
and Zhang Fei lost the city as he was drunk and unable to fight back.
Zhang Fei's most heroic moment in the novel was at the Battle of Changban
, where he held off a large group of enemy troops alone. While waiting at the Changban Bridge, he ordered his men to attach logs to their horses and run around in the forest behind him, churning up dust so as to create an illusion that there was an ambush inside. Zhang Fei spotted Zhao Yun
approaching with the infant Liu Shan
and promised to cover Zhao's escape. When Cao Cao
's troops arrived, Zhang Fei stood on the bridge alone, glared and pointed his spear, shouting, "I'm Zhang Yide of Yan
. Anyone dares to come and fight me to the death?" Zhang Fei's thunderous voice instilled fear in them and scared Xiahou Jie to death. As Zhang Fei expected, the enemy feared an ambush after seeing the dust in the forest behind him and retreated.
Throughout the novel, Zhang Fei was shown as an exceedingly loyal and formidable warrior, but also a short-tempered man, who often got into trouble more often when he was not on the battlefield. Zhang Fei's impulsive and reckless nature was demonstrated in one incident at Gucheng. Guan Yu was forced to surrender to Cao Cao after being separated from Liu Bei at the battle of Xu Province. He left Cao Cao after learning of Liu Bei's whereabouts and rushed to reunite with Liu. When Zhang Fei met Guan Yu, he refused to believe that Guan did not renounce his loyalty to Liu Bei, and fought with Guan without giving the latter any chance to explain himself. The misunderstanding was eventually resolved after the brief fight and the three sworn brothers were reunited.
There was greater drama in Zhang Fei's death in the novel. Zhang Fei was deeply grieved after hearing that Guan Yu had been executed on Sun Quan
's order and he swore to avenge his sworn brother. He ordered his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da to prepare mourning attire for his troops within three days, but they failed to meet the deadline. He was enraged and he beat them up in anger and threatened to have them executed. Fan Qiang and Zhang Da decided to assassinate Zhang Fei and defect to Sun Quan's side. They approached him while he was asleep and saw that his eyes were open even though he was snoring loudly. They hastily plunged a dagger into Zhang Fei and cut off his head before fleeing to Sun Quan's territory with his head.
Liu Bei fainted in shock when he heard of Zhang Fei's death and was greatly saddened, which hardened his decision to attack Sun Quan. Sun Quan attempted to appease Liu Bei and he had Fan Qiang and Zhang Da bound and sent to Liu. Zhang Fei's son, Zhang Bao, personally executed his father's murderers.
stage as a hualian. In one particular famous scene, The Swaying Reeds, Zhang Fei ambushes and humiliates Zhou Yu
before setting him free.
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...
during the 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...
.
Early career
Zhang Fei was originally a wealthy butcher from Zhuo Commandery (present-day ZhuozhouZhuozhou
Zhuozhou is a county-level city with 628,000 inhabitants in Hebei province of China. It is administered by Baoding prefecture. Zhuozhou has 3 subdistricts, 6 towns, 5 townships, and 1 development zone.-Administrative Divisions:Subdistricts:...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
). In 184, he and 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...
joined 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...
's militia to assist the government in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
, which broke out towards the end of the Han Dynasty. His relationship with Liu Bei and Guan Yu was so close that they treated each other like brothers. Since then, Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei on most of his early exploits.
In 194, Liu Bei succeeded Tao Qian as governor of Xu Province. The following year, Liu Bei led his army to counter an invasion force from Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the imperial court in 189. He was said to be a younger cousin of the warlord Yuan Shao, but was actually Yuan Shao's younger half-brother...
, and he left Zhang Fei in charge of Xiapi
Pizhou
Pizhou City is a county-level city in northern Jiangsu province, China. As of 2006 it had a population of 163,000. Administratively, Pizhou is under the jurisdiction of the larger city of Xuzhou.-History:...
, capital of Xu Province. Zhang Fei had a quarrel with Cao Bao and he killed the latter in anger. As Cao Bao had been in service for a long time, his death caused much turmoil within the community. Some of Cao Bao's colleagues defected to Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
, who was taking shelter under Liu Bei at that time, and Lü Bu used the opportunity to seize control of Xu Province.
Zhang Fei managed to escape from Xiapi and join Liu Bei and Guan Yu, but they came under attack by the combined forces of Lü Bu and Yuan Shu, and were forced to temporarily join Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
. Zhang Fei was appointed "General of the Household" (中郎將).
In 199, Liu Bei took over Xu Province from Che Zhou, the governor appointed by Cao Cao after the Battle of Xiapi
Battle of Xiapi
The Battle of Xiapi was a battle fought by the forces of Lü Bu against the allied armies of Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 198 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
. The following year, Cao Cao attacked Xu Province and defeated Liu Bei, forcing Liu to take shelter under Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
. Zhang Fei followed Liu Bei to Runan after leaving Yuan Shao, but they were defeated by Cao Cao again and sought shelter under Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
, governor of Jing Province. Liu Biao put Liu Bei in charge of Xinye.
Battle of Changban
In 208, following the death of Liu Biao, Cao Cao launched a southern campaign to attack Jing Province. Liu Bei abandoned Xinye and led his followers, including both his troops and civilians, on an exodus towards XiakouHankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
. Cao Cao's army caught up with them at Changban, Dangyang, after pursuing them for a day and a night. Zhang Fei led 20 horsemen to act as the rearguard and cover Liu Bei's escape. When they had all crossed the river, Zhang Fei ordered the bridges to be destroyed. He held his position at the opposite bank and shouted at the incoming enemy, "I'm Zhang Yide ("Yide" was Zhang Fei's style name
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...
). Come and fight me to the death!" No one dared to approach him and Zhang Fei successfully bought time for Liu Bei and his men to escape safely.
Efforts in establishing Shu Han
Liu Bei took control of southern Jing Province after the Battle of Red CliffsBattle of Red Cliffs
The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. It was fought in the winter of 208/9 AD between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan...
and appointed Zhang Fei as Administrator of Yidu
Yidu, Hubei
Yidu is a county-level city in Hubei, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Yichang....
and "General Who Subdues Barbarians", and granted him the title of "Marquis of Xinting". Zhang Fei was later relocated to Nan Commandery.
In 211, Liu Bei led an expedition force to Yi Province
Sichuan basin
The Sichuan Basin is a lowland region in southwestern China. Despite its historical name, it is not only synonymous to Sichuan province, comprising its central and eastern portions as well as part of Chongqing Municipality...
on the invitation of the governor Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
, leaving behind Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei to guard Jing Province. During that time, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun stopped Lady Sun
Lady Sun
Lady Sun, known as Sun Shangxiang in Chinese opera and contemporary culture, was a noble lady in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was a daughter of Sun Jian and younger sister of the warlords Sun Ce and Sun Quan, who laid the foundation for the state of...
from bringing Liu Bei's young son, Liu Shan
Liu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
, with her back to Sun Quan's territory. The following year, Liu Bei and Liu Zhang turned hostile and war broke out between them. In 213, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang led separate forces from Jing Province to reinforce Liu Bei.
Along the way, Zhang Fei arrived at Jiangzhou, which was defended by Liu Zhang's general Yan Yan
Yan Yan
Yan Yan was a general of Shu Han during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Yan began his career as a general serving under the warlord Liu Zhang of Yi Province.-In fiction:...
. Zhang Fei defeated and captured Yan Yan in battle. Yan Yan condemned Zhang Fei for invading Yi Province and showed no fear in the face of death. Zhang Fei was deeply impressed and he spared Yan Yan's life and treated him like a guest. Zhang Fei's army proceeded to break through Liu Zhang's defenses and eventually reached Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, where he rendezvoused with Liu Bei. Liu Zhang surrendered and yielded Yi Province to Liu Bei. Liu Bei rewarded Zhang Fei with 500 jin
Catty
The catty , symbol 斤, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries in some wet markets, street markets, and shops. Related units include the picul, equal to 100 catties, and the tael, which is of a catty. A stone is a...
of gold, 1000 jin of silver, 5000 strings of coins and 1000 rolls of silk, in addition to appointing him Administrator of Baxi.
Hanzhong Campaign
In 215, Cao Cao's general Zhang HeZhang He
Zhang He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He continued serving the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period until his death....
led an army to attack Baxi at the northeast of Yi Province, in an attempt to force its people to evacuate and relocate to Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
. Zhang Fei led an army to resist Zhang He and both sides held their positions for more than 50 days. Later, Zhang Fei directed about 10,000 troops through an alternative route to intercept and ambush Zhang He from a direction the latter neglected. Zhang He was defeated and escaped on foot with a few dozen men through a narrow path back to Nanzheng.
In the winter of 217, Liu Bei personally mobilized to wrestle Hanzhong from Cao Cao. He sent Zhang Fei, Ma Chao
Ma Chao
Ma Chao was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill...
and Wu Lan to attack Wudu Commandery, which was guarded by Cao Hong
Cao Hong
Cao Hong was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his career during the late Han Dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao, who was also his cousin.-Early career:...
. They attempted to trick Cao Hong into believing that they were planning to attack his rear route, but Cao Xiu
Cao Xiu
Cao Xiu was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. A distant nephew of Cao Cao, Cao Xiu was given special attention by the former, who once asserted him befitting...
saw through the ruse. Wu Lan was killed while Zhang Fei retreated with Ma Chao. When Liu Bei finally annexed Hanzhong two years later, many people thought that Liu Bei would appoint Zhang Fei as Area Commander of the region, but Wei Yan
Wei Yan
Wei Yan was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He became a soldier of Liu Bei when the latter fled Jing Province and seek protection from the eastern warlord, Sun Quan, in 208. In 211, Wei had climbed up the ranks and become a general in Liu Bei's...
was chosen instead. Liu Bei's decision disappointed Zhang Fei and surprised many others. Zhang Fei was appointed "General of the Right" (右將軍) instead.
Death
In 221 after declaring himself "EmperorEmperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
of Shu Han
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...
", Liu Bei appointed Zhang Fei as "General of Chariots and Cavalry" (車騎將軍) and "Director of Retainers" (司隸校尉), and granted him the title of "Marquis of Xi" (西鄉侯). In the same year, he started a campaign against 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....
to avenge 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...
's death and the loss of Jing Province.
Zhang Fei responded to Liu Bei's call and prepared his army to rendezvous with Liu at Jiangzhou. However, he was murdered by his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da at Linjiang. The two men then defected to Eastern Wu, bringing Zhang Fei's severed head along with them. Zhang Fei was posthumously granted the title of "Marquis Huan" (桓侯). His body was buried in Langzhong
Langzhong
Langzhong is a 2300 year old city located in Nanchong, Sichuan province.The town's perimeter is 1.5 km². In 1986 the State Council named it a famous and historical town.-Transport:*China National Highway 212...
while his head was buried at Yunyang
Yunyang County
Yunyang County is a county of Chongqing Municipality in China. It is a poor and mountainous region. There is little sign of the coal mining which makes its neighbor Fengjie County to the east relatively prosperous. The main crops are corn and rapeseed...
. A Zhang Fei Shrine and a Zhang Fei Temple
Zhang Fei Temple
The Zhang Fei Temple was constructed to honor General Zhang Fei, a Chinese military leader from the Three Kingdoms Period. According to legend, the gold used to finance the construction of the temple was fished out of the Yangtze River, along with the severed head of the general, who had been...
were later built at these locations respectively.
Family
- Spouses:
- Lady Xiahou (夏侯氏), niece of Xiahou YuanXiahou YuanXiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
. When she was about 13 or 14 years old, she was captured by Zhang Fei while out gathering firewood. Zhang Fei married her and they had a daughter, who became Empress Jing'ai of Shu.
- Lady Xiahou (夏侯氏), niece of Xiahou Yuan
- Sons:
- Zhang Bao, died at a young age
- Zhang Shao (張紹), served as a Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat in Shu, accompanied Liu Shan to LuoyangLuoyangLuoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
after the fall of Shu
- Daughters:
- Empress Jing'aiEmpress Zhang (Liu Shan, former)Empress Zhang , personal name unknown, formally known as Empress Jing'ai was an empress of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was the daughter of Zhang Fei and his wife Lady Xiahou, and the first wife of Liu Shan, the second emperor of Shu Han...
, born to Lady Xiahou, married Liu ShanLiu ShanLiu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan... - Empress ZhangEmpress Zhang (Liu Shan, later)Empress Zhang, personal name unknown, was an empress of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was the daughter of Zhang Fei and his wife Lady Xiahou, and the second wife of Liu Shan, the second emperor of Shu Han. Liu Shan's first wife was her sister, and after her...
, married Liu Shan after the death of Empress Jing'ai, accompanied Liu Shan to Luoyang after the fall of Shu
- Empress Jing'ai
- Grandsons:
- Zhang ZunZhang ZunZhang Zun was a minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Zhang Zun was the son of Zhang Bao . Zhang Zun along with Zhuge Zhan were both to defend Mianzhu Pass after the Cao Wei general Deng Ai led a campaign to conquer Shu Han...
, son of Zhang Bao, served as Imperial Secretary in Shu, killed in action at Mianzhu Pass during the Conquest of Shu by WeiConquest of Shu by WeiThe conquest of Shu by Wei was a military campaign launched by the state of Cao Wei against its rival Shu Han in 263 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The campaign culminated in the fall of Shu and the tripartite equilibrium maintained in China for over 40 years since the end of...
- Zhang Zun
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel, Zhang Fei's style nameChinese 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...
is written as 翼德 in Chinese instead of 益德. In the first chapter, at the Oath of the Peach Garden
Oath of the Peach Garden
The Oath of the Peach Garden was a fictional event in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this event, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took an oath of fraternity in a ceremony amid peach blossom trees, and became sworn brothers from then on. Their goal in taking the...
, he became sworn brothers
Blood brother
Blood brother can refer to one of two things: two males related by birth, or two or more men not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where the blood of each man is mingled together...
with Liu Bei and Guan Yu, and was the youngest of the three. He also became one of the Five Tiger Generals
Five Tiger Generals
The Five Tiger Generals is a popular appellation in Chinese culture for any five military generals serving under a ruler. This term is used in literature texts, plays and popular culture. In the historical context, "Five Tiger Generals" usually refers to the five best military generals serving...
of Shu in a later chapter.
Zhang Fei was also described to be an alcoholic, and his obsession with wine caused his judgement to be affected from time to time. For example, once in a drunken rage, he thrashed an arrogant and corrupt inspector who attempted to extort bribes from Liu Bei. On another occasion, he beat up Cao Bao when Cao refused to drink. Cao Bao later plotted with Lü Bu
Lü Bu
Lü Bu was a military general and later a minor warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was highly-skilled in horse-riding and archery, and was thus nicknamed "Flying General"...
to take over Xiapi
Pizhou
Pizhou City is a county-level city in northern Jiangsu province, China. As of 2006 it had a population of 163,000. Administratively, Pizhou is under the jurisdiction of the larger city of Xuzhou.-History:...
and Zhang Fei lost the city as he was drunk and unable to fight back.
Zhang Fei's most heroic moment in the novel was at the Battle of Changban
Battle of Changban
The Battle of Changban was a battle fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei in 208 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, where he held off a large group of enemy troops alone. While waiting at the Changban Bridge, he ordered his men to attach logs to their horses and run around in the forest behind him, churning up dust so as to create an illusion that there was an ambush inside. Zhang Fei spotted Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...
approaching with the infant Liu Shan
Liu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
and promised to cover Zhao's escape. When Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
's troops arrived, Zhang Fei stood on the bridge alone, glared and pointed his spear, shouting, "I'm Zhang Yide of Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
. Anyone dares to come and fight me to the death?" Zhang Fei's thunderous voice instilled fear in them and scared Xiahou Jie to death. As Zhang Fei expected, the enemy feared an ambush after seeing the dust in the forest behind him and retreated.
Throughout the novel, Zhang Fei was shown as an exceedingly loyal and formidable warrior, but also a short-tempered man, who often got into trouble more often when he was not on the battlefield. Zhang Fei's impulsive and reckless nature was demonstrated in one incident at Gucheng. Guan Yu was forced to surrender to Cao Cao after being separated from Liu Bei at the battle of Xu Province. He left Cao Cao after learning of Liu Bei's whereabouts and rushed to reunite with Liu. When Zhang Fei met Guan Yu, he refused to believe that Guan did not renounce his loyalty to Liu Bei, and fought with Guan without giving the latter any chance to explain himself. The misunderstanding was eventually resolved after the brief fight and the three sworn brothers were reunited.
There was greater drama in Zhang Fei's death in the novel. Zhang Fei was deeply grieved after hearing that Guan Yu had been executed on 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....
's order and he swore to avenge his sworn brother. He ordered his subordinates Fan Qiang and Zhang Da to prepare mourning attire for his troops within three days, but they failed to meet the deadline. He was enraged and he beat them up in anger and threatened to have them executed. Fan Qiang and Zhang Da decided to assassinate Zhang Fei and defect to Sun Quan's side. They approached him while he was asleep and saw that his eyes were open even though he was snoring loudly. They hastily plunged a dagger into Zhang Fei and cut off his head before fleeing to Sun Quan's territory with his head.
Liu Bei fainted in shock when he heard of Zhang Fei's death and was greatly saddened, which hardened his decision to attack Sun Quan. Sun Quan attempted to appease Liu Bei and he had Fan Qiang and Zhang Da bound and sent to Liu. Zhang Fei's son, Zhang Bao, personally executed his father's murderers.
Other appearances
Zhang Fei also appears on the KunquKunqu
Kunqu , also known as Kunju , Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area...
stage as a hualian. In one particular famous scene, The Swaying Reeds, Zhang Fei ambushes and humiliates Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu was a military general and strategist who served his close friend, the warlord Sun Ce, during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
before setting him free.
Modern references
- Zhang Fei is featured as a playable character in all installments of Koei's Dynasty WarriorsDynasty Warriorsis a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
video game series, as well as Warriors OrochiWarriors Orochi, is a PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 hack and slash video game developed by Koei and Omega Force. It is a crossover of two of Koei's popular video game series, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors...
, a crossover between Dynasty Warriors and Samurai WarriorsSamurai Warriorsis the first title in the series of video games created by Koei's Omega Force team based loosely around the Sengoku period of Japanese history and it is a spinoff of the Dynasty Warriors series...
. He also appears in other video games produced by Koei, such as Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms (video game series), or Sangokushi in Japanese, is a series of turn-based tactical role-playing simulation grand strategy wargames produced by Koei. Originating from Japan in 1985, eleven installments of the game have been published in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and North America to date.-Overview:The games are...
, Dynasty Tactics and Kessen IIKessen IIis a strategy game loosely based on the Three Kingdoms period of China. It is the sequel to Kessen in name only; both Kessen and the later sequel Kessen III are based on events in Japan....
. Other non-Koei titles that he is featured in include Clash of Kingdoms, Three Kingdoms: Fate of the DragonThree Kingdoms: Fate of the DragonThe Three Kingdoms: Fate of the Dragon is a video game developed by Overmax Studios in 2001 for the PC. It is based on the historical background of the epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms....
and Destiny of an EmperorDestiny of an Emperoris a strategy role-playing game by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was originally released in Japan in , with an English language localization released for the North American market in ....
.
- In the collectible card game Magic: The GatheringMagic: The GatheringMagic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
there is a card named "Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior" in the Portal Three KingdomsPortal Three KingdomsPortal Three Kingdoms is the third Magic: The Gathering expansion of the Portal block, and the third starter level set. Like the other expansions in the Portal block, Portal: Three Kingdoms is designed for beginners to Magic. The setting is heavily based on the Chinese historical novel Romance of...
set.
- Zhang Fei appears as a brutal, but shrewd warrior of immense power in The Ravages of TimeThe Ravages of TimeThe Ravages of Time is an on-going Hong Kong manhua series created by Chan Mou. It re-tells the events in the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history, with the story largely revolving around the many exploits of a young Sima Yi.The series is known for exercising a large...
, a manhuaManhuaManhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...
series by Chan MouChan MouChan Mou is a comic artist. His first comic ever self-written and self-produced Unhuman , based on the Three Kingdoms period and released in 1996, had won him numerous awards and recognitions.His pen name Chan Mou...
. He is therein also depicted as the artist of the Peach Garden Style of painting.
- In Koihime MusōKoihime Musois a Japanese adult visual novel and strategy game based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was developed by BaseSon, and was first released on January 26, 2007, for the PC as two DVD-ROMs, followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008, containing an extra CD-ROM...
, Zhang Fei is portrayed as a young female character who was given the real name "Rinrin".
- The KuomintangKuomintangThe Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
general Zhang FakuiZhang FakuiZhang Fakui was a Chinese Nationalist general who fought against northern warlords, the Imperial Japanese Army and Chinese Communist forces in his military career. He served as commander-in-chief the 8th Army Group and commander-in-chief of NRA ground force before retire in Hong Kong in...
was nicknamed "Zhang Fei".