Three Kingdoms History: Officer Names

General under Gao Ding. Captured by Shu forces.

Emperor Huan of the Han. Destroyed the Liang family, but empowered the eunuchs.

* In Chinese the name of the emperor comes before the use of the word emperor hence Huan (the name) Di (emperor).

Emperor Ling of Han (AD 156–189). Ruled through the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

* In Chinese the name of the emperor comes before the use of the word emperor hence Ling (the name) Di (emperor).

Emperor Shao of Han (AD 189). Deposed and poisoned by Dong Zhuo.

Son of Emperor Ling. Reigned AD 189–220. Forced to abdicate by Cao Pi.

* In Chinese the name of the emperor comes before the use of the word emperor hence Xian (the name) Di (emperor). In this case, Emperor Xian also has a style name attached to his normal name, therefore if you were addressing him as emperor you would say Xian Di, if you knew his name and were close you may use Liu Xie, or if you wanted his style name you’d call him Liu Bohe.

Wife of Cao Cao and mother of Cao Pi. Made empress dowager when Cao Pi became emperor.

Second daughter of Cao Cao. Emperor Xian’s empress after death of Empress Fu.

* Also known as Empress Cao, Empress Xianmu (獻穆皇后) and Duchess Shanyang.

Wife of Emperor Xian. From Langya. Daughter of Fu Wan. Executed by Cao Cao.

* Commonly referenced simply as ‘Empress Fu’.

Concubine and later Empress of Liu Bei. She was a native of Pei.

One of Cao Pi’s wives, said to have spread doubts about Cao Rui’s birth.

Emperor Shao’s mother. He Jin’s half-sister. Died of grief or through suicide.

Consort and later Empress of Liu Bei. From Chenliu. Wu Yi’s sister.

* Empress Mu (穆皇后) is her traditional name. Informally, you will find her referenced as Empress Wu (吳皇后).

Daughter of Zhang Qi. Empress to Cao Fang. Ordered executed by Sima Shi.

Zhang Fei’s daughter. Empress Zhang married to Liu Shan. Zhang Xingcai in Koei games.

* ‘Empress Zhang’ or ‘Lady Zhang’ in the novel and other historic sources, she has been given a fictional personality by Koei under the name ‘Zhang Xingcai’ or simply ‘Xing Cai’. Both names refer to the same person, but the story given her in Koei games is fictional. I’ve recorded this as the English translation presents itself (so, Huanghou Zhang (empress Zhang) and Xing1cai3 as her given name)

Formerly Yuan Xi’s wife. Later married to Cao Pi. Became Empress.

* Empress Zhen is frequently called Zhen Ji, as she is named by Koei. Referenced elsewhere as Zhen Luo (甄洛) or Empress Wenzhao (文昭皇后). I’ve recorded this as Huang2hou4 Zhen1 (Empress Zhen), with Ji1 as her given name. To say her name as Koei suggests, use Zhen (surname) and Ji1 (given name) together.

Served Shu. Son of Fa Zheng.

Grandfather of Fa Zheng. Held high civil rank. Read the five classics at a young age.

Served Liu Zhang then Liu Bei. Was integral to the foundation of Shu.

Appointed a prefect of Luoyang when Cao Cao moved the capital to Xuchang.

Served Dong Zhuo as Lord of Wannian. Killed by Li Jue.

Secretary under Kongming then Jiang Wei. Went with Liu Shan when Shu fell.

One of the Eight Paragons of Jiangxia. From Bohai.

Served Liu Yao. Died after Sun Ce shouted at him in battle.

One of the Eight Paragons of Jiangxia. From Runan.

A famous officer from Henei, he served Wang Kuang. Killed by Lü Bu.

Served Shu. Son of Fei Yi, and his heir. Older brother to Fei Gong.

Served Shu. Son of Fei Yi. Younger brother of Fei Cheng.

Served Liu Zhang, but surrendered to Liu Bei. Made a secretary in Cheng Du.

Officer of Wei. Reached rank of Grand Commander, but died in battle.

Shu official. Took over affairs of state after Jiang Wan’s death.

Served the Shanyue. Later submitted to Wei, and rebelled against Sun Quan.

Jin officer under Sima Yan. Opposed Yang Hu’s proposal to attack Wu.

Father of Yuan Shu’s wife.

Vassal of Yuan Shao. Supported Yuan Shang as Shao’s successor.

* Also seen him called Peng Ji in c. H. Brewitt-Taylor translation of the novel and Pang Ji in the ZZTJ.

Served Yuan Shang. Punished for intoxication. Betrayed to Wei. Killed by Shen Pei.

Officer of Shu. Died fighting at the battle of Yiling.

One of the Ten Regular Attendants. An agent of Zhang Jue of the Yellow Scarves.

Chair of the Secretariat, he opposed Sima Shi’s invasion of Wu.

Fu Tong’s son serving Shu. Captured Li Peng and Wang Zhen. Died in battle.

Persuaded by Lü Meng to betray Guan Yu. Killed by Guan Xing after trying to return ...

Central military advisor for the Shu forces. Died during the battle of Yiling.

* Called Fu Rong by SGZ.

The first of three noble emperors, the San Huang, in Chinese mythology.

Advised Liu Cong to surrender.

* Sometimes appears as ‘Fu Xuan’ in Brewitt-Taylor translations.