Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮 was the Chancellor of Shu-Han and husband of the Lady Huang. He was often depicted wearing a robe and carrying a fan of crane feathers. Zhuge Liang was considered to be the greatest tactician of his time; his name is synonymous with wisdom in Chinese culture, today. However, most of the legend surrounding his wisdom is based on fiction. In history he showed his wisdom mainly as a politician, rather than a strategist.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Zhuge Liang was born in Yangdu county in Langya commandery (present-day Yinan county, Shandong province) into a influential family as the second son of Zhuge Gui out of three brothers. Both his sisters were married into notable families with numerous relations in the area. For more information on his ancestors, see Zhuge Jin's article.
Zhuge Liang became orphaned at an early age; his mother died when he was three years old, and his father, Zhuge Gui, died when he was about 12.[1] Zhuge Liang and his younger brother, Zhuge Jun, went to Yuzhang commandery to be raised by their cousin-uncle, Zhuge Xuan, who was also the Grand Administrator of Yuzhang. Zhuge Liang went to Jing province after Zhuge Xuan died.[2] Zhuge Liang was said to live in a place called Longzhong in Deng county, Nanyang commandery, which was 20 li west from Xiangyang city.[3]
While in the province, Zhuge Liang farmed in the fields, living a simple peasant life but also travelling in the area to study. He constantly sang songs describing higher ambitions[2] and compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi out loud. Few took him seriously and only his friends, Cui Zhouping and Xu Shu, endorsed the comparison.[4] While travelling around with Xu Shu, he met Meng Jian and Shi Tao, and they also travelled together. Zhuge Liang told his companions, "Gentlemen, when you serve in posts, you shall be commandery administrators or inspectors." When the trio asked Zhuge Liang what he would do in the future, Zhuge Liang only laughed and remained silent about it. When Meng Jian intended to go back north, Zhuge Liang tried to persuade him to stay, saying, "China has many talented grandees! You are traveling to study, why must you go back to your hometown?" But Meng Jian returned regardless.[5][n 1]
As Zhuge Liang's friendship with Liu Bei grew closer, Liu Bei's generals, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, voiced their discontent. Liu Bei told them, "Me having Kongming is like a fish having water! I hope you gentlemen shall not talk again of this." Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stopped airing their discontent afterwards.
Some believed that Zhuge Liang did not choose to serve Wei because he felt he would just be another footnote compared to more capable men.[n 2]
Family[]
- Ancestor: Zhuge Feng (諸葛豐), served as Director of Retainers during the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han
- Father: Zhuge Gui (諸葛珪), served as Assistant in Taishan commandery during the late Han Dynasty
- Uncle: Zhuge Xuan (諸葛玄), served as Administrator of Yuzhang, joined Liu Biao later. Raised Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Jun.
- Cousins:
- Zhuge Dan, served Wei, killed after his defeat
- Spouse: Lady Huang, daughter of Huang Chengyan. Huang Chengyan married the younger sister of Lady Cai, who was married to Liu Biao.
- Sons:
- Zhuge Zhan, served Shu, killed in action
- Zhuge Huai (諸葛懷), lived as a commoner
- Adopted children:
- Zhuge Qiao, son of Zhuge Jin, adopted by Zhuge Liang, served Shu, died at a young age
- Grandsons:
- Zhuge Pan (諸葛攀), son of Zhuge Qiao, returned to Eastern Wu to continue the Zhuge family line there after Zhuge Ke's death
- Zhuge Shang, oldest son of Zhuge Zhan, killed in action with his father during the Conquest of Shu by Wei
- Zhuge Jing (諸葛京), second son of Zhuge Zhan, moved to Hedong in 264 with Zhuge Pan's son Zhuge Xian (諸葛顯), served the Jin dynasty
- Zhuge Zhi (諸葛質), youngest son of Zhuge Zhan
Brothers
- Zhuge Jin (older brother)
- Zhuge Jun (younger brother)
Notes[]
- ↑ Your servant Songzhi believes that with the Weilue's words, it said Zhuge Liang was being calculating for Gongwei, which is suitable, but if it said it was also his own words, it can be said to not reach Gongwei's heart. Master Lao said that to know others is wise, and knowing oneself is enlightened. In all, if someone is virtuous and perceptive, then they certainly possess them both wiseness and enlightenment. With Zhuge Liang's discernment, how could he not self-examine destiny? When he was sighing while waiting for opportunity, his emotions were displayed in vocalizations, his ambition being innate, and he already had determined such in his beginning. If he was able to travel freely throughout the Central Plains, galloping with the radiance of a dragon, how could its many scholars be able to sink and bury him down? 臣松之以為魏略此言，謂諸葛亮為公威計者可也，若謂兼為己言，可謂未達其心矣。老氏稱知人者智，自知者明，凡在賢達之流，固必兼而有焉。以諸葛之鑒識，豈不能自審其分乎？夫其高吟俟時，情見乎言，志氣所存，旣已定於其始矣。若使游步中華，騁其龍光，豈夫多士所能沈翳哉！
- ↑ Pei Songzhi said, "If Zhuge Liang pledged loyalty to the Wei dynasty and exhibited his capabilities, then he would honestly not be Chen Changwen and Sima Zhongda's match in capability, and moreover, to other scholars! 委質魏氏，展其器能，誠非陳長文、司馬仲達所能頡頏，而況於餘哉！
Fact vs. Fiction[]
Historically…
- …Zhuge Liang played only a small role in the Battle of Chibi.
- …at Chibi, Zhuge Liang did not change the winds to make the fire attack succeed.
- …at Chibi, Zhuge Liang did not use the 'arrow-borrowing' trick (Sun Quan did, but not during Chibi).
- …Zhuge Liang did not have a rivalry with Zhou Yu.
- …Zhou Yu's final words were not about Zhuge Liang.
- …Zhuge Liang did not attend Zhou Yu's funeral.
- …was not given authority by Liu Bei to kill Liu Shan.
- …his strongest points were political administration and his ability to draw battle plans. Situational strategy was in fact his weakness.
References[]
- ↑ “Father of ... Zhuge Liang... Zhuge Gui became Assistant in Taishan commandery, but died about 193”
de Crespigny. "Zhuge Gui" in A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms - ↑ 2.0 2.1 SGZ: Biography of Zhuge Liang 諸葛亮字孔明，琅邪陽都人也。漢司隷校尉諸葛豐後也。父珪，字君貢，漢末為太山郡丞。亮早孤，從父玄為袁術所署豫章太守，玄將亮及亮弟均之官。會漢朝更選朱皓代玄。玄素與荊州牧劉表有舊，往依之。玄卒，亮躬耕隴畒，好為梁父吟。
- ↑ 《漢晉春秋》 亮家于南陽之鄧縣，在襄陽城西二十里，號曰隆中。
- ↑ SGZ: Biography of Zhuge Liang 身長八尺，每自比於管仲、樂毅，時人莫之許也。惟博陵崔州平、潁川徐庶元直與亮友善，謂為信然。
- ↑ 《魏略》 亮在荊州，以建安初與潁川石廣元、徐元直、汝南孟公威等俱游學，三人務於精熟，而亮獨觀其大略。每晨夜從容，常抱膝長嘯，而謂三人曰：「卿諸人仕進可至郡守刺史也。」三人問其所志，亮但笑而不言。後公威思鄉里，欲北歸，亮謂之曰：「中國饒士大夫，遨游何必故鄉邪！」
Sources[]
- Chen Shou 陳壽 (233–297). Sanguo zhi 三國志 “Records of the Three Kingdoms”, with official commentary compiled by Pei Songzhi 裴松之 (372-451).
- de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23 - 220 AD). Leiden: BRILL, 2007.