Shu Han
People grouped by the state they served. Contenders are not a court: Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, Lü Bu, and others who never founded one of the three kingdoms.
Liu Bei
Founding emperor of Shu Han. He claimed imperial Han kinship, gathered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, took Jing and Yi with Zhuge Liang’s counsel, and died at Baidi after the defeat at Yiling.
unknown–220BothGuan Yu
Liu Bei’s principal general, later worshipped as a god. The Records give Yan Liang’s death, the defense of Jing, and the fatal northern campaign. Warming wine, the five passes, and Huarong Road are the novel.
unknown–221BothZhang Fei
A principal general of Liu Bei, remembered for courage and a violent temper. The stand on the bridge at Changban is historical. The shout that snaps the bridge is the novel. His own officers killed him in 221.
181–234BothZhuge Liang
Chancellor of Shu Han. The Longzhong plan, the regency, the southern campaign, and the northern expeditions are historical. The empty fort, the borrowed arrows, and the east wind are the novel.
unknown–229BothZhao Yun
A Shu general. Protecting the infant Liu Shan at Changban is in the Records; seven charges through the army are the novel. At Hanzhong he bluffed Cao Cao out of an open camp. His reputation is steadiness.
unknown–220BothHuang Zhong
First served Liu Biao, then joined Liu Bei. Killing Xiahou Yuan at Dingjun Mountain turned the Hanzhong war. The legendary archery is the novel.
176–222BothMa Chao
Son of Ma Teng. He fought Cao Cao at Tong Pass, failed, and later joined Liu Bei. The revenge massacre is mostly the novel.
unknown–234BothWei Yan
Liu Bei made him keeper of Hanzhong. He wanted a surprise march on Chang’an by the Ziwu valley. Zhuge Liang refused. After Zhuge’s death he was killed in the quarrel with Yang Yi. The rebellious bone is the novel.
179–214BothPang Tong
From Xiangyang, paired with Zhuge Liang as the Fledgling Phoenix. He planned Liu Bei’s entry into Shu and was killed by an arrow at Luo in 214. Offering Cao Cao the chain plot is the novel’s mix-up.
176–220RecordsFa Zheng
Liu Zhang’s adviser who brought Liu Bei into Shu. At Hanzhong he urged the strike on Xiahou Yuan. Zhuge Liang later said Yiling would not have been lost if Fa Zheng had lived.
202–264BothJiang Wei
From Tianshui. He defected to Shu on Zhuge Liang’s first northern expedition and led later campaigns. After Chengdu fell he tried to use Zhong Hui to restore Shu and was killed. “Nine campaigns” is the novel’s round number.
207–271BothLiu Shan
Liu Bei’s son, childhood name Adou. He became emperor in 223 and reigned forty-one years. In the early years Zhuge Liang decided policy. In 263 Deng Ai reached Chengdu and Liu Shan surrendered. Jin enfeoffed him as Duke of Anle. He died in Luoyang in 271.
unknownBothLady Huang
In the novel, Zhuge Liang’s wife, named Huang Yueying. Chen Shou does not name Zhuge Liang’s wife. Pei quotes the Xiangyang ji: Zhuge Liang married a daughter of Huang Chengyan, ugly and very able. The name Huang Yueying is later.
unknownBothLady Sun
Sun Quan’s younger sister, married to Liu Bei in the Jian’an years. Chen Shou does not record her personal name. “Sun Shangxiang” is the novel’s name. She later returned to Wu. Pei quotes Zhao Yun’s separate biography: she tried to take Liu Shan to Jiangdong, and Zhao Yun stopped her.
190–228BothMa Su
From Yicheng in Xiangyang, Ma Liang’s younger brother. Zhuge Liang valued his talk. In 228 he held Jieting, disobeyed the plan, and was beaten by Zhang He. Zhuge Liang executed him and demoted himself three degrees. Ma Su was thirty-nine.
unknown–248BothWang Ping
From Dangqu in Baxi. He served Cao Cao and joined Liu Bei during the Hanzhong war. At Jieting he warned Ma Su not to camp on the hill. Ma Su refused. Wang Ping later became Shu’s principal commander in Hanzhong. He died of illness in 248.
unknown–264BothLiao Hua
From Xiangyang. He followed Guan Yu, escaped after Jing fell, and rejoined Liu Bei. At the end of Shu he was a senior general of the right. After the surrender in 264 he was moved toward Luoyang and died of illness on the road.
unknown–235BothYang Yi
From Xiangyang. Zhuge Liang’s chief clerk, in charge of plans, grain, and army business. After Zhuge Liang’s death he brought the army home and had Wei Yan killed. Passed over as regent, he complained, was banished, and killed himself.
unknown–253BothFei Yi
From Jiangxia. A Shu minister, skilled in diplomacy with Wu. After Jiang Wan he led the government and restrained Jiang Wei’s campaigns. At the new-year assembly of 253 the Wei defector Guo Xun stabbed him to death.
unknown–246RecordsDong Yun
From Zhijiang in Nanjun, son of Dong He. As palace attendant he kept the rules of the inner court. Liu Shan’s wish to enlarge the harem and Huang Hao’s wish to meddle both failed while Dong Yun lived. He died of illness in 246.
unknown–234BothLi Yan
From Nanyang. With Zhuge Liang he received Liu Bei’s testament. He later took the name Li Ping and was stationed at Yong’an. In 231 he failed the grain supply, lied about the army, and Zhuge Liang reduced him to commoner status. In 234, hearing that Zhuge Liang had died, he sickened and died.
201–270BothQiao Zhou
From Xichong in Baxi. A scholar of Shu who rose to household counselor. His Essay on the Rival State argued against endless war. In 263 he pressed Liu Shan to surrender. He held office under Jin and died of illness in 270.