Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Sha Moke (died 222 AD), was a tribal chieftain of the Wuling Wuling (武陵) Man (蛮 – southern tribes) during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Known for his fierce appearance, featuring piercing blue eyes and red hair resembling a deity or beast, and his exceptional martial skill wielding a spiked iron mace and iron-headed bow, Sha Moke commanded great awe and respect among the indigenous tribes of southern China.
In 221 AD, as Liu Bei launched his massive retaliatory campaign against Eastern Wu to avenge the loss of Jing Province and the execution of Guan Yu, Sha Moke led thousands of tribal warriors to join the Shu Han forces. His fierce tribal troops played a formidable vanguard role during the early stages of the Battle of Yiling, terrifying the Wu forces with their unconventional weapons and fierce assault tactics. However, in 222 AD, when Eastern Wu’s Grand Marshal Lu Xun launched a devastating nighttime fire attack that annihilated the interconnected Shu encampments, Sha Moke’s forces were completely routed. Surrounded and overwhelmed during the chaotic retreat, Sha Moke was killed in action by the Wu general Zhou Tai, bringing a dramatic end to his martial career.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sha Moke is vividly introduced in Chapter 82 as a terrifying and peerless warrior from the Five Commanderies of Wuling. Described as having a visage like a running horse, blue eyes, and red hair, he rides into battle brandishing a heavy spiked iron mace and shooting deadly arrows with an iron bow. When Liu Bei seeks foreign alliances to bolster his expedition against Eastern Wu, Liu Bei dispatches messenger Ma Liang to secure the support of the tribal king.
Sha Moke’s martial prowess shines brilliantly in Chapter 83 and Chapter 84, where his tribal warriors smash through Wu defenses and send enemy generals fleeing in panic. During the climax of the Battle of Yiling, when Lu Xun unleashes his devastating fire attack, Sha Moke tries desperately to rally his scattered men. Blinded by night and fire, he is intercepted and slain in battle by Wu veteran general Zhou Tai, serving as one of the most prominent casualties of Shu’s catastrophic defeat.
Notable Quotes & Famous Sayings
- “I lead the warriors of the southern tribes to offer my life in service of the Han emperor; woe to any Wu dog who stands in my path!” — Sha Moke rallying his tribesmen before charging into battle at Yiling.
Sha Moke (沙摩柯) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Joining Liu Bei’s Campaign
Responding to Ma Liang’s diplomatic mission, tribal chieftain Sha Moke leads tens of thousands of fierce Wuling warriors to ally with Liu Bei against Eastern Wu.
Smashing Wu Defenses at Yiling
Sha Moke leads his vanguard tribesmen in brutal assaults against Eastern Wu positions, killing enemy officers and striking terror into the hearts of Wu troops.
Killed by Zhou Tai in the Fire Attack
Caught in Lu Xun’s catastrophic nocturnal fire attack, Sha Moke attempts to break through the encirclement but is cut down in battle by Wu general Zhou Tai.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Sha Moke on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Ma Liang (马良, Mã Lương) — The Shu Han diplomat who successfully negotiated the alliance between the Wuling tribes and Liu Bei in 221 AD.
- Feng Xi (冯习, Phùng Tập) — A Shu Han commander who served alongside Sha Moke as a vanguard leader during the Battle of Yiling.
- Wu Ban (吴班, Ngô Ban) — A Shu Han general who coordinated with Sha Moke’s tribal forces during the initial stages of the Yiling campaign.
Enemies
- Lu Xun (陆逊, Lục Tốn) — The Eastern Wu Grand Marshal whose strategic fire attack at the Battle of Yiling in 222 AD led to the destruction of Sha Moke’s forces.
- Zhou Tai (周泰, Chu Thái) — The Eastern Wu general who intercepted and killed Sha Moke during the chaotic retreat following the fire attack at Yiling in 222 AD.
- Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) — The ruler of Eastern Wu, whose conflict with Liu Bei over Jing Province prompted Sha Moke to join the war against his state.
Other
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) — The emperor of Shu Han, whom Sha Moke served as a tribal ally during the retaliatory campaign against Eastern Wu in 221 AD.
In Novel
Chapter 82
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha): As Liu Bei prepares his campaign against Eastern Wu, Wu’s spies report that Shu is advancing with its own army together with several tens of thousands of troops under the Nanman king Sha Moke. His forces form part of Liu Bei’s attempt to strengthen the army with southern allies and attack Wu through the western approaches.
Chapter 83
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha): Sha Moke appears as a fierce Nanman king with a blood-red face, prominent blue-green eyes, an iron spiked club, and two bows. During the fighting near Yiling, the sick Wu commander Gan Ning rides out and encounters Sha Moke’s barbarian force. Gan Ning refuses a direct engagement and flees, but Sha Moke shoots him in the head with an arrow; Gan Ning rides on with the arrow wound and later dies. Sha Moke then continues fighting the Wu forces and becomes one of Liu Bei’s most dangerous auxiliary commanders.
Chapter 84
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha): After Lu Xun’s fire attack destroys Liu Bei’s encampments, Sha Moke retreats with the collapsing Shu army. He escapes the main battlefield alone and encounters Zhou Tai. The two fight for more than twenty rounds, but Sha Moke is eventually defeated and killed by Zhou Tai. His death occurs during the complete collapse of Liu Bei’s Yiling expedition.
Chapter 85
In History
Summary
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha) was a historical leader of the Wuxi Man peoples associated with the Wuling region. He allied with Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) during the Shu campaign against Eastern Wu.
- His historical biography is extremely short. The Sanguozhi records him primarily in connection with Liu Bei’s 222 AD campaign and his death at Yiling.
Year: 221 AD
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha) became associated with the Shu side after Liu Bei launched his campaign against Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) to avenge Guan Yu’s death.
Year: 222 AD
- Ma Liang (马良, Mã Lương) was sent to Wuling to recruit and reassure the Wuxi Man peoples. Their leaders accepted Shu appointments and titles, and Sha Moke joined Liu Bei’s coalition.
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha) fought for Liu Bei at Yiling. After Lu Xun (陆逊, Lục Tốn) defeated the Shu army through a major fire attack, Sha Moke was among the commanders killed.
Historical Reputation
- Later literature gives Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha) a much more elaborate warrior persona, including a dramatic duel and the killing of Gan Ning. These details should be treated as novelistic embellishment rather than secure historical evidence.
Historical Record
- Sha Moke (沙摩柯, Sa Ma Kha) was a real historical leader, not a purely fictional creation. The historical record confirms his alliance with Liu Bei and his death in the Yiling campaign, but preserves little additional biographical information.