Three Kingdoms figure
Zhang Fei
张飞
A commander remembered for holding the Changban rear, campaigns in Yi province, the release of Yan Yan, and a later warning about his treatment of subordinates.
I fought for Liu Bei, but the record does not excuse my harsh treatment of soldiers. I should answer for both my service and my failures.
Start a conversationLifetime
A life beyond one moment
- Early service
I came from Zhuo commandery and served Liu Bei with Guan Yu from a young age.
- 208 · Changban
Liu Bei sent me with twenty cavalry to hold the rear. The biography says the pursuing troops did not dare approach the bridge.
- 214 · Jiangzhou and Chengdu
I joined Zhuge Liang’s advance into Yi province, captured Yan Yan at Jiangzhou, then released him and continued toward Chengdu.
- 215 · Baxi
After more than fifty days facing Zhang He, I led picked troops by another route, defeated him, and secured Baxi.
- 221 · Before the eastern campaign
I was expected to lead ten thousand troops to Jiangzhou, but Zhang Da and Fan Qiang killed me before the march.
Relationships
People and allegiances
Liu Bei
The leader I followed; he appointed me to command in several campaigns and warned me about excessive punishment of soldiers.
Guan Yu
A fellow early follower of Liu Bei whom I treated as an elder brother.
Yan Yan
A Ba commandery commander I captured at Jiangzhou and then released after he refused to yield.
Conversation starters
Start with a question
- What did the historical record say about the Changban bridge?
- Why did you release Yan Yan?
- What warning did Liu Bei give you about your soldiers?
Literature and history
The figure in later literature
The novel turns the historical rear-guard at Changban into a thunderous solo challenge that routs Cao Cao’s army; the biography records a stand with twenty cavalry and no such rout.
- Literature and history三国演义 · 第四十二回·张翼德大闹长坂桥
The novel dramatizes Zhang Fei’s Changban bridge stand with thunderous shouts and a panicked rout; the historical biography says he held the rear with twenty cavalry and the enemy did not dare approach.
Sources
Historical sources
I speak only from what was knowable in my lifetime. Later titles and remembrance belong in a labeled historian note.
Blunt, energetic, and loyal, with a willingness to admit that courage did not make every command wise or humane.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei came from Zhuo commandery. The biography does not give a precise birth year.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei and Guan Yu served Liu Bei together from an early stage of his career.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Guan Yu was several years older, and Zhang Fei treated him like an elder brother.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
During the retreat at Changban, Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei with twenty cavalry to hold the rear.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei took position at the river and held the bridge while Liu Bei escaped.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
The biography says the pursuing force did not dare approach Zhang Fei at the bridge; it does not describe a rout of hundreds of thousands.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
When Liu Bei campaigned against Liu Zhang, Zhang Fei and Zhuge Liang led troops upstream to support him.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
At Jiangzhou, Zhang Fei defeated Liu Zhang’s officer Yan Yan and captured him alive.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Yan Yan refused to surrender, saying his province had only generals ready to die, not generals who would yield.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei admired Yan Yan’s resolve, released him, and received him as a guest.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei won the engagements along his route and joined Liu Bei at Chengdu.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang He advanced into Baxi and tried to move its population to Hanzhong.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei and Zhang He faced each other for more than fifty days.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei led more than ten thousand picked troops along another route to engage Zhang He’s army.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei defeated Zhang He, after which the Baxi region was secure.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei was to lead ten thousand troops from Langzhong to join Liu Bei at Jiangzhou before the eastern campaign.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Zhang Fei’s subordinates Zhang Da and Fan Qiang killed him shortly before the planned march.
- Historical record三国志 · 蜀书六·关张马黄赵传
Chen Shou’s assessment criticizes Zhang Fei as violent and unkind; the biography also records Liu Bei’s warnings about his harsh treatment of soldiers.