List of fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The following is a list of fictitious stories from the Chinese novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". The Three Kingdoms era is known as a famous period in Chinese history from which many famous people and stories originate. Many novels have been written about the period, the most important being Romance of Three Kingdoms (三国演义), which is considered a classic of Chinese literature. This novel is known as one of the Four Great Classical Novels. Although "Romance of Three Kingdoms" is a novel, due to its widespread popularity, many people falsely believe it to be the real history of the Three Kingdoms period, and some historians use it to investigate the period's history regardless of factual basis. Since it was written as a popular novel meant to entertain, many of the stories in the novel are fictitious or were made based on tales or historical incidents from other periods. What follows is an incomplete list of the more important fictitious stories.

Oath of the Peach Garden (桃园三结义)

The story follows three protagonists, Liu Bei (刘备), Guan Yu (关羽) and Zhang Fei (张飞), who become sworn brothers in a peach garden. However, no historical texts give mention to these three men becoming sworn brothers. Rather, their relationship has been described to be "as good as brothers".

Love Story between Lü Bu and Diao Chan

The character Diao Chan in the novel is likely a fictional character. According to historical records, Lü Bu did have relations with a maid of Dong Zhuo's. However, there is no evidence that this person's name was Diaochan. In fact, it is extremely unlikely that it was, because "Diào" was not, and is not, commonly used as a Chinese family name. "Diàochán" likely referred to the sable (diào) tails and jade decorations in the shape of cicadas (chán), which at the time adorned the hats of high-level officials.

Battle of Hulao Pass

Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fought with Lü Bu (吕布) in this story, called SanYingZhanLüBu(三英战吕布, lit. "Three Heroes fight Lü Bu"). This is a fictitious battle that gives Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fame throughout the country, since Lü Bu was well known as the strongest warrior. However, Gongsun Zan(公孙瓒) whom Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were under the service of, did not participate in the punitive expedition against Dong Zhuo(董卓), whom Lü Bu served.

Guan Yu's Escape

This story, called GuoWuGuanZhanLiuJiang (过五关斩六将), describes Guan Yu's escape from Cao Cao (曹操) to find Liu Bei, in which he kills six generals as he crosses five passes in his flight. However, as the five passes described are distanced far away from each other and Guan Yu historically had gone directly south to reach Liu Bei, this episode was most likely fiction, and the five generals never existed.

Huarong Road (华容道)

In the novel, after the Battle of Red Cliffs (赤壁之战), there is a story named HuaRong Road(华容道) which features Cao Cao taking flight to the north after losing the aforementioned battle. In the process of fleeing Cao Cao is said to come across Guan Yu, who then allowed him to pass in order to repay his debt for having been taken into Cao Cao's army in the past. Historically, the person who actually came to intercept Cao Cao is Liu Bei, who was late and had no choice but to let Cao Cao run away.

Guan Yu meets Lu Su

In the novel, Guan Yu is said to have gone to meet Lu Su (鲁肃), who served Sun Quan (孙权), the king of Wu (吴). However, according to the historical record of Wu Shu (吴书) in "Records of Three Kingdoms"(三国志), it was Lu Su who went to meet Guan Yu by himself.

Three visits

Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), a highly prominent figure both in history and in the novel, served Liu Bei. In the novel, it is said that Zhuge Liang agreed to serve Liu Bei after he went to visit Zhuge Liang three times. However, according to what one of the most recognized Chinese historians, Professor Yi Zhongtian (易中天), wrote in his book Yi Zhong Tian Pin San Guo (易中天品三国), this story is not true. Historically, it is Zhuge Liang who visited Liu Bei and introduced himself.

Borrowing of arrows

According to Professor Yi Zhongtian, the story of borrowing arrows during the Battle of Red Cliffs never happened. This story actually happened during another dynasty several hundreds of years later than the Three Kingdoms era. Furthermore, Zhuge Liang had never accompanied the allied forces of Shu (蜀) and Wu(吴), making it impossible for him to have met Zhou Yu (周瑜).

hu against Nanman

In the novel, there is a famous battle between Shu and the Nanman (南蛮), which were rebel tribes in southwestern China. In this battle, Zhuge Liang is said to have captured and released Meng Huo (孟获), leader of Nanman, seven times. However, there are no records of this battle in any historical sources.

Zhuge Liang against Zhou Yu

In this episode, Zhou Yu becomes severely frustrated by Zhuge Liang to the point of death. However, the two had never actually met each other historically and Zhou Yu had actually died because of excessive exhaustion.

References

* [http://www.guoxue.com/shibu/24shi/sangzz/sgzz_054.htm Wu Shu(吴书)of Three Kingdoms Zhi(三国志)]
* [http://book.kanunu.cn/html/2006/0511/3851_16.html Yi Zhong Tian Pin San Guo(易中天品三国)]