Ma Zhong (Wu)

Biography & Historical Record

Ma Zhong (died 252 AD), whose original family name was Pang, was a military officer and general serving the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. He originally bore the surname Pang, but was adopted by the Ma family, changing his name to Ma Zhong. He rose to prominence under the command of Lü Meng and Sun Quan during the military campaigns to reclaim Jing Province. Ma Zhong is most historically and literarily famous for capturing the legendary Shu Han general Guan Yu, along with his son Guan Ping and commander Zhao Lei, at Maicheng in 219 AD. Following this major feat, he continued to serve Wu faithfully, participating in campaigns against minority rebellions, border skirmishes against Cao Wei, and maintaining regional defense stability until his death in 252 AD.

Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Ma Zhong is introduced as a skilled and cunning subordinate commander under Fan Shijie and Pan Zhang. He plays a pivotal role in Chapter 73 and Chapter 74 by setting up the ambush at Zhangxiang that successfully captures Guan Yu, who had retreated to Maicheng. Later in the novel, during the Battle of Yiling in Chapter 83, Ma Zhong achieves another notable kill by shooting and fatally wounding the fierce Shu general Huang Zhong with an arrow during a skirmish, cementing his reputation as a deadly archer and formidable tactical officer.

Ma Zhong (馬忠) — Historical & Literary Timeline

Key Relationships

Family

• Pang family (庞氏, Bàng thị) — His original biological family before he was adopted and took the surname Ma.
• Ma family (马氏, Mã thị) — His adoptive family, from whom he took his current surname.

Friends

• Pan Zhang (潘璋, Phan Chương) — His superior officer in Eastern Wu; Ma Zhong served under him during the 219 AD campaign to reclaim Jing Province and the capture of Guan Yu.
• Lü Meng (吕蒙, Lữ Mông) — The grand strategist of Eastern Wu who commanded the campaign to seize Jing Province, under whom Ma Zhong served.

Enemies

• Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) — The legendary Shu Han general whom Ma Zhong ambushed and captured at Zhangxiang in 219 AD.
• Guan Ping (关平, Quan Bình) — The son of Guan Yu, captured alongside his father by Ma Zhong’s forces in 219 AD.
• Zhao Lei (赵累, Triệu Lũy) — A commander under Guan Yu who was captured by Ma Zhong during the 219 AD ambush.
• Huang Zhong (黄忠, Hoàng Trung) — A veteran Shu Han general whom Ma Zhong fatally wounded with an arrow during the Battle of Yiling in 222 AD.
• Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) — The Emperor of Shu Han, whose forces Ma Zhong opposed during the campaigns for Jing Province and the Battle of Yiling.

Other

• Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) — The founding ruler of Eastern Wu to whom Ma Zhong remained a loyal officer throughout his career until his death in 252 AD.