Dates You Should Know: The Three Kingdoms

November 26, 2019 Joel Balkovec

The Hero Guan Yu crosses five passes and slays six generals, a famous scene from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. A Mural from the Summer Palace, Beijing. Via Wikipedia.

The 14th-century Romance of the Three Kingdoms is one of the most important works of Chinese literature. It begins with some of my favourite words in all of the things I’ve ever read:

Detailing the turbulent events of the second and third centuries in China, the novel depicts some of the best-known characters and events in Chinese history: the rise and fall of the tyrant Dong Zhuo, the love affair between matchless warrior Lü Bu (whom, thanks to Dynasty Warriors, I’m told you should not pursue) and the great beauty Diaochan, the exploits of the valiant and loyal Guan Yu - who would come to be venerated as a war god in later generations, the rivalry between the two master strategists Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi, Zhao Yun single-handedly tearing through an enemy army with a baby strapped to his back, the climactic battle of Red Cliffs, won by a daring fire attack (as depicted in John Woo’s epic movie Red Cliff) and the eventual reunification of China after decades of division and war.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms has inspired generations of readers and, most importantly, provides the basis for the absolutely awesome Dynasty Warriors series of video games, which retells the story. Just with more lasers, explosions and miniskirts (along with the much more grounded-in-reality, miniskirt-lacking Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy games).

The history behind the Romance of the Three Kingdoms brings us to one last Date You Should Know: December 11 AD 220, the abdication of the last Han Emperor and the division of China into the Three Kingdoms.

Long United, Must Divide

Cao Cao, Sun Quan and Liu Bei, the three Major rulers in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as depicted in Koei’s ROmance of the Three Kingdoms XII. VIa Koei Wiki.

The formal establishment of the Three Kingdoms was a long time coming. The prestige and power of the ruling Imperial dynasty had been in steady decline since the 180s, following a long, chaotic period of rebellion, political turmoil, murder and civil war. The fall of central Imperial authority led to the rise of numerous local warlords and governors running their territories as functionally independent kingdoms. By the 210s, Cao Cao’s attempted conquest of the lands south of the Yangtze failed with his decisive defeat at Red Cliffs. This lead to the political situation in China consolidating into territories held by three major players: Cao Cao himself, Sun Quan and Liu Bei, though the Emperor was still nominally the ruler of China.

Cao Cao died in March 220, having established control over north-central China, the traditional heartland of the Han dynasty and exerting control over the Imperial court. He was succeeded by his son Cao Pi (the C is pronounced like Ts; get your mind out of the gutter), who used his inherited power and influence to force the Emperor to abdicate in December 220, declaring himself Emperor of Wei. In response to this, Sun Quan and Liu Bei asserted independence from Cao Pi’s rule, proclaiming themselves Emperors of Wu and Shu, respectively.

With the land divided into three, China settled into a long, bloody stalemate.

Long Divided, Must Unite

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Joel,” you say. “Which kingdom won?”

The answer, of course is, “None of the above.”

The territorial changes in China before and during the Three Kingdoms. Via Wikipedia.

Liu Bei died in 223, and was succeeded by his generally poorly-regarded son Liu Shan. The Shu Prime Minister, Zhuge Liang, died in 234 during the last of his ultimately futile attempts to push north into Wei.

In 249, the Wei Prime Minister was overthrown by the members of the Sima family, who established themselves as the power behind the throne of Wei. From there, Wei capitalised on the lack of strong leadership in Shu to invade, leading to Liu Shan’s surrender and Wei’s conquest of Shu.

Ultimately, the last Emperor of Wei was overthrown by yet another member of the Sima family, Sima Yan, who established himself as the first Emperor of Jin. The armies of Jin conquered Wu in 280, bringing about the reunification of China after a century of war.

China reunified under the Jin Dynasty in AD 280. It didn’t last. Via Wikipedia.

Unfortunately, the members of the Jin Imperial family almost immediately began fighting among themselves.

And we end right back where we started.

Joel Balkovec

Joel Balkovec has an MA in Classics, so he knows a thing or two about history. When he’s not professionally writing at Algonquin, he’s writing family-friendly Fantasy stories at home as J.B. Norman. Visit his website at www.realmgard.com.