Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Zhuge Liang (181–234 AD), courtesy name Kongming, was a legendary statesman, military strategist, engineer, inventor, and Chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished strategists of Chinese history, he was known by the moniker “Sleeping Dragon” (*Crouching Dragon*). Born in Yangdu of Langye Commandery, Zhuge Liang lost his parents in his youth and moved to Jing Province, where he lived a reclusive life in Longzhong, dedicating his time to scholarship, observing state affairs, and cultivating deep friendships with brilliant intellectuals like Pang Tong, Xu Shu, Shi Tao, and Cui Zhouping.
In 207 AD, during Liu Bei’s desperate struggle for survival, the warlord made the legendary “Three Visits to the Cottage” (*San gu mao lu*) to Longzhong to enlist Zhuge Liang’s services. Moved by Liu Bei’s sincerity, Zhuge Liang presented his master with the visionary *Longzhong Plan*, outlining a master strategy to divide the empire into three parts, secure Jing and Yi Provinces, forge alliances with Eastern Wu, and eventually restore the Han dynasty. From that moment onward, Zhuge Liang became the supreme brain trust of Liu Bei’s regime. He orchestrated stunning initial victories at Bowangpo and Chibi (Red Cliffs), engineered the conquest of Yi Province, governed Hanzhong, and following Liu Bei’s death, served as regent to Emperor Liu Shan. He loyally administered Shu Han, pacified the southern tribes under Meng Huo without bloodshed, and launched five ambitious Northern Expeditions against Cao Wei. Despite his peerless intellect, Heaven did not grant him enough time; exhausted by relentless overwork and military stress, Zhuge Liang passed away at the age of 53 during the Battle of Wuzhang Plains in 234 AD. His legacy of absolute loyalty, statecraft, and intellectual brilliance remains immortalized across Chinese culture.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s epic historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang is portrayed as a master of both military strategy and supernatural Daoist arts—capable of summoning favorable winds at Red Cliffs, predicting astronomical fortunes, and deploying miraculous stone mazes (*shilin*). His narrative anchors the entire middle and latter sections of the novel from Chapter 38 through Chapter 104. Major novelistic highlights include his brilliant tongue-in-cheek diplomatic mission to Eastern Wu, the borrowing of arrows with straw boats, the Empty City Strategy (*Kongcheng Ji*), and his tearful final days at Wuzhang Plains where he performed a Seven-Star Ritual to prolong his life.
Notable Quotes & Famous Sayings
- “Entrusted with tasks of great mortal importance during times of despair, I shall dedicate my utmost strength and remain loyal unto death!” — Zhuge Liang’s famous *Chu Shi Biao* (Memorial on Expelling the Northern Army).
- “A dead Zhuge frightens away a living Sima!” — The famous proverb arising from his posthumous stratagem at Wuzhang Plains.
- “If I do not enter hell to save this realm, who will?” — Zhuge Liang’s expression of supreme duty to Shu Han.
Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮) — Historical & Literary Timeline
The Three Visits to the Cottage & Longzhong Plan
Liu Bei visits Zhuge Liang’s thatched cottage three times; Zhuge Liang presents the Longzhong Plan and formally enters Liu Bei’s service.
Diplomatic Mission to Wu & Battle of Red Cliffs
Travels to Eastern Wu to forge an anti-Cao Cao alliance, brilliantly outwitting Wu scholars, borrowing 100,000 arrows with straw boats, and assisting Zhou Yu in executing the fire attack.
The Southern Campaign
Personally leads an expedition into the southern barbarian lands, capturing and releasing Meng Huo seven times to win the enduring loyalty of the southern tribes.
The Northern Expeditions
Launches five major military campaigns against Cao Wei, engaging in a legendary intellectual chess match against Sima Yi.
Passing at Wuzhang Plains
Passes away from illness at Wuzhang Plains during his final campaign against Sima Yi, leaving behind elaborate posthumous plans to secure Shu’s retreat.
Key Relationships
Family
- Yueying (黄月英, Hoàng Nguyệt Anh) — Wife and intellectual companion, noted for her wisdom and support during his reclusive years in Longzhong.
- Zhuge Zhan (诸葛瞻, Gia Cát Chiêm) — Son who served Shu Han as a general and official, eventually dying in battle against Deng Ai.
- Zhuge Qiao (诸葛乔, Gia Cát Kiều) — Adopted son, the biological son of his brother Zhuge Jin, who served in the Shu military.
- Zhuge Jin (诸葛瑾, Gia Cát Cẩn) — Elder brother who served as a high-ranking official and diplomat for Eastern Wu, representing the divided loyalties of the Zhuge family.
Friends
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) — His sovereign and master; their partnership began with the Three Visits and defined the foundation of the Shu Han state.
- Pang Tong (庞统, Bàng Thống) — A brilliant strategist and peer who served alongside him as a key advisor to Liu Bei.
- Jiang Wei (姜维, Khương Duy) — His protégé and successor who inherited his military mantle and continued the Northern Expeditions after his death in 234 AD.
- Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) — A trusted general who frequently served under his direct command during the conquest of Yi Province and other campaigns.
- Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) and Zhang Fei (张飞, Trương Phi) — Sworn brothers of Liu Bei who worked in close coordination with him to establish the Shu Han regime.
Enemies
- Sima Yi (司马懿, Tư Mã Ý) — His primary strategic rival during the Northern Expeditions (228–234 AD), culminating in their final standoff at Wuzhang Plains.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) — The northern warlord whose expansionist ambitions were the primary target of the Longzhong Plan and the alliance at the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 AD.
- Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du) — An Eastern Wu commander who, despite their temporary alliance against Cao Cao, engaged in intense intellectual rivalry and friction regarding the control of Jing Province.
Other
- Liu Shan (刘禅, Lưu Thiện) — The second emperor of Shu Han, whom Zhuge Liang served as regent and loyal advisor following the death of Liu Bei.
- Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) — The southern tribal leader whom Zhuge Liang captured and released seven times during the 225 AD Southern Campaign to secure the loyalty of the region.
In Novel
Chapter 37
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Renowned scholar and master strategist known as ‘The Hidden Dragon’, courtesy name Kongming (孔明), who resided in seclusion at Longzhong until Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) made Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage to recruit him.
Chapter 38
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Delivered the Longzhong Strategic Plan to divide the empire into three sovereign realms, formally entering Liu Bei’s (刘备, Lưu Bị) service as chief military counselor.
Chapter 39
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Directed his inaugural battle at Bowang Slope, routing Xiahou Dun’s (夏侯惇, Hạ Hầu Đôn) army with a coordinated fire ambush.
Chapter 40
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Defeated Cao Ren’s (曹仁, Tào Nhân) army with fire and water at Xinye, guiding civilian refugees safely across the river.
Chapter 42
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Traveled to Jiangxia and Eastern Wu to forge the grand Shu-Wu anti-Cao Cao alliance.
Chapter 43
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Engaged in the historic rhetorical debate with Wu’s civil scholars in Chaisang, silencing all opposition.
Chapter 44
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Provoked Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du) into resolving for war by reciting Cao Zhi’s Bronze Sparrow Terrace Ode.
Chapter 45
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Saw through Zhou Yu’s (周瑜, Chu Du) stratagems and Jiang Gan’s (蒋干, Tưởng Cán) deceived mission.
Chapter 46
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Acquired over one hundred thousand arrows in a single night by deploying straw-covered boats through morning fog along the Yangtze.
Chapter 48
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Assisted Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du) in anticipating Cao Cao’s (曹操, Tào Tháo) naval deployments at Red Cliffs.
Chapter 49
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Erected the Seven Star Altar at South Screen Mountain to pray for the southeasterly gale and directed the allied pursuit.
Chapter 50
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Stationed Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ) at Huarong Trail, calculating that Guan Yu’s sense of honor would spare Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) while securing the four southern commanderies for Liu Bei.
Chapter 51
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Seized Nanjun, Jingzhou, and Xiangyang from Cao Ren through strategic preemptive maneuvers.
Chapter 54
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Provided three silk-bag stratagems to Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) to secure Liu Bei’s (刘备, Lưu Bị) marriage in Wu.
Chapter 55
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Thwarted Zhou Yu’s (周瑜, Chu Du) pursuit, famously mocking him with the phrase ‘Zhou Yu’s clever plan cost him both his master’s sister and his soldiers’.
Chapter 56
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Frustrated Zhou Yu’s (周瑜, Chu Du) campaign to take the Riverlands, driving Zhou Yu to utter exasperation.
Chapter 57
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Mourned Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du) at Chaisang and recruited Pang Tong (庞统, Bàng Thống) to Liu Bei’s service.
Chapter 63
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Marched through the Riverlands following the death of Pang Tong, deploying the Eight Trigrams Formation.
Chapter 64
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Captured riverland champion Zhang Ren (张任, Trương Nhiệm) at the Golden Wild Goose Bridge.
Chapter 65
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Secured the defection of Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu) and accepted Liu Zhang’s (刘璋, Lưu Chương) surrender of Chengdu.
Chapter 71
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Directed strategic deployments during the Hanzhong campaign, securing the conquest of Mount Dingjun.
Chapter 72
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Outmaneuvered Cao Cao’s (曹操, Tào Tháo) armies in Hanzhong, forcing Cao Cao’s complete retreat.
Chapter 73
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Drafted the imperial petition elevating Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) to King of Hanzhong.
Chapter 80
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Urged Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) to ascend the imperial throne of Shu Han to preserve the Han dynastic lineage.
Chapter 85
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Received Liu Bei’s (刘备, Lưu Bị) deathbed entrustment at Baidicheng, assuming supreme regency over Shu Han and pacifying Cao Wei’s five-pronged invasion without moving a single soldier.
Chapter 86
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Restored the grand diplomatic alliance with Eastern Wu through envoy Deng Zhi (邓芝, Đặng Chi).
Chapter 87
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Launched the southern Nanman expedition, capturing tribal champion Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) for the first time.
Chapter 88
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Captured and released Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) three times along the Lu River barriers.
Chapter 89
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Overcame the four poisonous springs and captured Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch) four more times.
Chapter 90
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Defeated King Mulu’s (木鹿大王, Mộc Lộc Đại Vương) beast armies and burned King Wutugu’s (兀突骨, Ngột Đột Cốt) rattan-armored warriors in Hutao Valley, releasing Meng Huo for the seventh time to win the permanent loyalty of the southern tribes.
Chapter 91
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Submitted the renowned Memorial on the Case for War and launched the first Northern Expedition.
Chapter 92
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Captured Nan’an, Tianshui, and Anding commanderies through psychological stratagems.
Chapter 93
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Recruited Jiang Wei (姜维, Khương Duy) in Tianshui and famously scolded the elderly Wei minister Wang Lang (王朗, Vương Lãng) to death on horseback.
Chapter 94
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Defeated Qiang tribal forces at Xiping with snow traps.
Chapter 95
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Played the zither atop open city gates during the famous Empty Fort Stratagem to turn away Sima Yi’s (司马懿, Tư Mã Ý) fifteen-thousand-man host at Xicheng.
Chapter 96
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Executed his beloved disciple Ma Su with tears for the loss of Jieting, demoting himself three ranks.
Chapter 97
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Submitted the Second Memorial on the Case for War and launched the second Northern Expedition.
Chapter 98
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Captured Chencang and slew Wei vanguard commander Wang Shuang.
Chapter 99
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Outmaneuvered Sima Yi (司马懿, Tư Mã Ý) and Guo Huai (郭淮, Quách Hoài) during the third Northern Expedition.
Chapter 100
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Humiliated Sima Yi (司马懿, Tư Mã Ý) in battle array duels and lured Zhang He (张郃, Trương Cáp) into the fatal ambush at Mumen Gorge.
Chapter 101
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Disguised himself as a divine apparition at Lucheng to harvest Wei grain crops.
Chapter 102
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Invented and deployed the wooden oxen and flowing horses mechanical transports.
Chapter 103
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Trapped Sima Yi (司马懿, Tư Mã Ý) in Shangfang Valley, sent women’s clothing to mock Sima Yi’s refusal to fight, and conducted the star prayer ritual to extend his lifespan.
Chapter 104
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Entrusted his military arts to Jiang Wei (姜维, Khương Duy) and passed away on Wuzhang Plains in 234 AD; his carved wooden effigy terrified Sima Yi into retreat, inspiring the proverb ‘a dead Zhuge scares away a living Sima’.
Chapter 105
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Left behind a secret silk pouch that enabled Ma Dai to decapitate the mutinous general Wei Yan.
In History
Summary
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng), courtesy name Kongming, was the chief adviser and later regent of Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) and Liu Shan (刘禅, Lưu Thiện).
Year: 207 AD
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) entered Liu Bei’s service after the famous consultations traditionally known as the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.
Year: 221 AD
- After Liu Bei founded Shu Han, Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) became Chancellor and was entrusted with major political and military responsibilities.
Year: 227 AD
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) launched his first northern expedition and submitted the famous memorial later known as the Chu Shi Biao.
Year: 234 AD
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) died at Wuzhang Plains during his fifth northern expedition.
Historical Record
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) was a real historical statesman and military commander. The novel greatly magnifies his supernatural wisdom, inventions, and tactical achievements.
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