Zhao Yun

Illustration in a Qing edition of the Three Kingdoms Story .

Zhao Yun (* around 168; † 229 in Hanzhong ), also called Zilong , was an important commander in the Shu Han army during the three kingdoms . For most of his life he served the warlord Liu Bei der Shu Han and, along with the other generals Guan Yu , Zhang Fei, Huang Zhong and Ma Chao, was one of the five tiger generals of the Shu.

Zhao Yun was a master of the dragon spear and, according to legends, perfected his technique while chasing Changban . In today's China he is a symbol of bravery, discipline, strength and youth.

Life

Zhao Yun joined 192 Gongsun Zan as the leader of a small group of volunteers . He served under Liu Bei, at the time still an officer under Gongsun Zan, and his cavalry. After the uprising of the Yellow Turban and the defeat of Dong Zhuo , Liu Bei broke up in order to reunite the broken empire.

Zhao Yun joined Liu Bei and continued to serve as an officer. Zhao Yun developed a close bond with Liu Bei and recruited other men for Shu Han. Zhao Yun saved the young son Liu Beis, Liu Shan , and his wife Liu Beis during the Battle of Changban in 208. There are many rumors and legends surrounding the rescue of the young Liu Shan.

After the Battle of Chibi , Zhao Yun Liu Bei helped conquer the areas near Jiangnan and was one of Liu Bei's leading forces, rewarded with the title of Grand General. He later fought with Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fei in Jiangzhou and Chengdu . In 223 he was given the title General who Conquered the South .

In 227 he took part in the first northern campaign against the Wei , which was led by Zhuge Liang. Urged to unite the empire under Shu Han, Zhuge Liang sent Shu's army to Wei, where Zhao Yun met the capable Wei general Cao Zhen . After poor defense against his more numerous army, Zhao Yun managed to conduct an orderly retreat. Because of the defeat, he was demoted to the "general who keeps peace in the army".

In 229, Zhao Yun died in Hanzhong at the age of 61. He left two sons, Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang.

In the literature

Zhao Yun has become a popular figure in Chinese culture and is featured in numerous stories, novels, and anecdotes related to the Three Kingdoms Period. After the great success of Luo Guanzhong's novel The Three Kingdoms , Zhao Yun became well-known 1,000 years after his death. It is said that Zhao Yun was one of the author's few favorite characters. In the novel, Zhao Yun is described and honored as near-perfect, absolutely loyal, strong in battle, and highly intelligent.

literature

• Michael Weiers: History of China. Basics of a political national history, Verlag W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-17-018872-3 .
• Frankie KT Neo: Guan-Yu the Hero. Partridge Publishing, Singapore 2014, ISBN 978-1-4828-9424-0 .
• Daniel Webster: The Greatest of Heroes. Australia 2007, ISBN 978-0-9803724-0-3 .

Web links

Commons : Zhao Yun  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• The Biography of Zhao Yun (accessed May 26, 2016)