Zhuge Jin

Historical Record

Zhuge Jin, styled Ziyu, was a native of Yangdu in Langya and an important strategist and general of Eastern Wu. In his early years he was already renowned for his learning and virtue. In the fourth year of Jian'an (199 CE), when Sun Ce campaigned against Liu Xun, Grand Administrator of Lujiang, Zhuge Jin was already in attendance at his side. After Sun Ce died, Zhuge Jin, together with Lu Su and others, became a guest of Sun Quan, devising plans for Sun Quan to recruit men of distinction, pacify the Shanyue, and campaign against those who would not obey orders^[1].

During the contest between Sun Quan and Liu Bei over Jing Province, Zhuge Jin played an important role. When Liu Bei marched east against Wu, Sun Quan sought peace, and Zhuge Jin wrote to Liu Bei, urging him to weigh the relative importance of matters and to put the larger situation first, and not to fall out with Eastern Wu over his grudge for Guan Yu^[2]. Although at the time someone secretly reported that Zhuge Jin was privately in communication with Liu Bei, Sun Quan trusted him deeply, declaring, "Ziyu and I have a vow of life and death that will not change; Ziyu will no more betray me than I will betray Ziyu," showing his trust in Zhuge Jin^[2].

In the first year of Huangwu (222 CE), Zhuge Jin was promoted to General of the Left, Director at Gong'an, granted the staff of office, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Wanling. When Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang, and others besieged Zhu Ran at Jiangling, Zhuge Jin led a great army to the rescue. His nature was broad and unhurried, relying on reason and planning; though he lacked the art of meeting sudden contingencies, in the end, when the spring waters rose, he coordinated with Pan Zhang and other units to force Cao Zhen and the others to withdraw, preserving the army and the frontier^[2].

In the fifth year of Jiahe (236 CE), Sun Quan campaigned north and ordered Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin to attack Xiangyang. In this campaign, Zhuge Jin once grew anxious because military intelligence had leaked, but Lu Xun responded calmly and ultimately withdrew successfully, seizing the chance to raid Jiangxia, Anlu, and other places^[3].

After Sun Quan proclaimed himself Emperor, Zhuge Jin was appointed General-in-Chief and Protector-General of the Left, concurrently Governor of Yu Province. He was sincere and prudent in conduct; after his wife died he did not remarry, and though he had a favored concubine, he did not raise the son she bore. His son Zhuge Ke was illustrious in talent and fame, but Zhuge Jin often worried that he was "not a son to protect the family," sensing that he would bring disaster upon the clan^[4]. In the fourth year of Chiwu (241 CE), Zhuge Jin died, aged sixty-eight. Before his death he left instructions to be buried plainly, in a plain coffin and in ordinary seasonal clothes, everything kept simple^[4].

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Jin's image is given literary elaboration on the basis of historical fact, especially highlighting his identity as the elder brother of Zhuge Liang, and several episodes unfold from this. He first appears when Sun Quan was recruiting worthy men, and Lu Su recommended Zhuge Jin to Sun Quan, calling him "broadly learned and of many talents, serving his mother with utmost filial piety"^[5].

In the novel, Zhuge Jin several times went to Shu Han as an Eastern Wu envoy, attempting to persuade Liu Bei or Guan Yu to return Jing Province. Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhuge Jin once met with Zhuge Liang and tried to persuade Zhuge Liang to leave Liu Bei and turn to Eastern Wu, but Zhuge Liang instead urged him to submit to Liu Bei; the brothers each served his own lord, and the conflict between personal affection and the greater cause is embodied here^[6].

When Liu Bei attacked Eastern Wu to avenge Guan Yu, Zhuge Jin was again sent as an envoy to Shu Han. He set out the advantages and disadvantages to Liu Bei and tried to persuade him to halt his troops, pointing out that Liu Bei should make restoring the House of Han his priority rather than attacking an ally for a private grudge. However, Liu Bei, burning with rage over Guan Yu's death, would not heed the advice and even threatened to behead Zhuge Jin^[7].

The novel also depicts Zhuge Jin, during the period when Guan Yu guarded Jing Province, going on Sun Quan's orders to propose a marriage, wishing to betroth Sun Quan's son to Guan Yu's daughter. However, Guan Yu flew into a rage at this, refused the match in fierce terms, and wished to behead Zhuge Jin, only being stopped by Guan Ping^[8].

In addition, the novel uses Zhuge Jin's own words to foreshadow the end of his son Zhuge Ke. Zhuge Jin once lamented that Zhuge Ke was "not a lord to protect the family," hinting at Zhuge Ke's eventual tragic fate, which accords with the historical record^[9].

Key Relationships

* Sun Quan (serves): Zhuge Jin was Sun Quan's trusted strategist and an important general, deeply trusted by Sun Quan. Sun Quan once said, "Ziyu and I have a vow of life and death that will not change," expressing the deep bond of lord and minister between them^[2].
* Zhuge Liang (brother_of): Zhuge Jin was the elder brother of Zhuge Liang; the brothers each served his own lord, opposed in political stance yet still bound by personal affection. The novel several times depicts scenes of the brothers meeting, full of the conflict between emotion and reason^[6].
* Zhuge Ke (parent_of): Zhuge Jin's son Zhuge Ke was brimming with talent, yet Zhuge Jin was full of worry about his future, considering him "not a son to protect the family"^[4].
* Guan Yu (fights_in): In the contest between Eastern Wu and Shu Han over Jing Province, Zhuge Jin negotiated with Guan Yu many times, trying to persuade him to return Jing Province or to bring about a marriage alliance, but all to no avail, and he was even nearly beheaded by Guan Yu^[8].
* Sima Yi (fights_in): In the novel, Zhuge Jin was once ordered to hold Jiangling to resist the advance of Sima Yi^[10] (novel-only).

Iconic Scenes

* Sun Quan's vow of trust: When Liu Bei marched east against Wu, someone secretly reported that Zhuge Jin was privately in league with Liu Bei, yet Sun Quan firmly believed in Zhuge Jin's loyalty and spoke the moving words, "Ziyu and I have a vow of life and death that will not change," displaying the deep trust between lord and minister^[2].
* Calm response in the Xiangyang campaign: In the attack on Xiangyang in the fifth year of Jiahe, Zhuge Jin grew anxious because military intelligence had leaked, but Lu Xun showed extraordinary composure, steadying the army's morale through such means as planting beans and shooting games, and ultimately withdrawing successfully, displaying the difference in character and the tacit cooperation between Zhuge Jin and Lu Xun^[11].
* Conflict between brotherly affection and the greater cause: Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhuge Jin, on Zhou Yu's orders, urged Zhuge Liang to submit to Eastern Wu, but Zhuge Liang instead urged him to submit to Liu Bei; the brothers each set out the greater cause but failed to persuade the other, embodying the dilemma between personal affection and political stance in a chaotic age^[6].
* Guan Yu's refusal of the marriage: Zhuge Jin, on Sun Quan's orders, went to Jing Province to propose a marriage to Guan Yu, wishing to win Guan Yu's daughter for Sun Quan's son, but was met with Guan Yu's stern refusal, "How could my tiger daughter be married to a dog's son?" and was nearly killed; this episode vividly displays Guan Yu's arrogance and Zhuge Jin's helplessness^[8].
* Persuading Liu Bei to halt his troops: When Liu Bei attacked Eastern Wu to avenge Guan Yu, Zhuge Jin went as an envoy to Shu Han, trying to persuade Liu Bei to put the larger situation first and abandon his private grudge, but Liu Bei, in uncontrollable rage, would not heed the advice and even threatened to behead Zhuge Jin, highlighting Liu Bei's resolve for vengeance and Zhuge Jin's loyal courage^[7].
* Foretelling Zhuge Ke's end: In his lifetime, Zhuge Jin was full of worry about the future of his son Zhuge Ke, considering him "not a son to protect the family"; this prediction was ultimately borne out after Zhuge Ke was killed by Sun Jun, adding a tragic color to the figure^[9].