Liu Zhang (劉璋) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Liu Zhang as an administrator, ruler, and warlord. This record brings together 7 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Liu Zhang	劉璋	Liú Zhāng
Surname	Liu	劉	Liú
Personal name	Liu Zhang	劉璋	Liú Zhāng
Given	Zhang	璋	Zhāng

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0110

Roles

Administrator
Ruler
Warlord

Life and dates

Death

Status: died
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0110

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 璋卒 · Western Year: AD 220
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0110
Source Date: Text: 璋才非人雄 · Western Year: AD 214
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0124

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Liu Xun (劉循)
Kinship Term: eldest son / 長子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father · Subject Birth Order: 1
Parent of Liu Chan (劉闡)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father

Kinship Role: sons · Count: 2
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0116

Career and standing

Status: domain-seized · Action: suffered · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0124

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: actor · Action: followed Pang Xi's memorial to keep Liu Xun in the west · Other Person Id: Pang Xi (龐羲) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 璋時從羲啟留循 · Western Year: AD 214
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0115

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: foolish and weak yet preserved good words; like Duke Xiang of Song and King Yan of Xu; not a lord without the Way · Provenance: Mode: named-source-report · Source Person Id: Zhang Fan (張璠)
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0125
Assessment: talents not those of a hero; loss of domain was natural, not misfortune · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0124

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 31Volume 31: Book of Shu 1: Biographies of the Two Governor Lius · 7 passages

Open chapter

璋卒，南中豪率雍闓據益郡反，附於吳。 When Liu Zhang died, the southern magnate Yong Kai seized Yi commandery in revolt and pledged himself to Wu.

權復以璋子闡為益州刺史，處交、益界首。 Sun Quan then appointed Liu Zhang’s son Liu Chan inspector of Yizhou and posted him on the Jiao–Yi frontier.

初，璋長子循妻，龐羲女也。 Earlier, Liu Zhang’s eldest son Liu Xun had married a daughter of Pang Xi.

先主定蜀，羲為左將軍司馬，璋時從羲啟留循，先主以為奉車中郎將。 After Liu Bei conquered Shu, Pang Xi served as major to the general of the left. Liu Zhang at that time followed Pang Xi's petition to keep Liu Xun, and Liu Bei then commissioned Liu Xun as gentleman of the household for the chariot.

是以璋二子之後，分在吳、蜀。 Thus the two sons of Liu Zhang afterward lived out their lives apart, one in Wu and one in Shu.

璋才非人雄，而據土亂世，負乘致寇，自然之理，其見奪取，非不幸也。 Liu Zhang was no champion of men, yet he clutched a rich province in an age of chaos—a lesser man in a high carriage invites robbers by nature. That he lost his domain was less misfortune than inevitability.

〈張璠曰：劉璋愚弱而守善言，斯亦宋襄公、徐偃王之徒，未為無道之主也。〈Zhang Fan remarks: “Liu Zhang was dull and pliant yet clung to fine phrases—much like Duke Xiang of Song or King Yan of Xu; he hardly ranks among the truly lawless rulers.”