Qiao Zhou

Historical Record

Qiao Zhou, courtesy name Yunnan, was a man of Shu Commandery. During the Jianxing era, when the Chancellor Zhuge Liang also held the post of Governor of Yi Province, he appointed Qiao Zhou as Officer for Encouraging Learning^[1]. When Zhuge Liang died, Qiao Zhou, on hearing the news, immediately set out; although an edict had forbidden it, his swift travel allowed him to arrive and offer condolences. After the General-in-Chief Jiang Wan succeeded as Inspector, he transferred Qiao Zhou to Officer in Charge of Learning, putting him in overall charge of scholarly affairs throughout the province. When the Latter Lord Liu Shan established his heir apparent, Qiao Zhou was appointed Aide; later he was transferred to Household Steward. Because the Latter Lord Liu Shan was at the time much given to outings and sightseeing and to expanding his music and entertainments, Qiao Zhou submitted a memorial of remonstrance^[2].

In the later years of Shu Han, military campaigns were frequent and the common people were impoverished. Qiao Zhou discussed the advantages and disadvantages of this with the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Chen Zhi, and afterward withdrew to compose a work titled the Treatise on a Rival State to set forth his views^[2]. In the fifth year of Jingyao, a great tree in the palace snapped of its own accord without cause. Qiao Zhou, deeply troubled and with no one to confide in, wrote on a pillar the prophetic words "Numerous and great, awaited and gathered, complete and conferred—how could it be restored?", hinting that Shu Han would fall to Wei^[3].

In the summer of the second year of Xianxi, Wei launched a great invasion of Shu Han, with the General Who Conquers the West Deng Ai, the General Who Guards the West Zhong Hui, and others advancing along multiple routes. Shu Han dispatched generals such as Zhang Yi and Liao Hua to resist. After Deng Ai defeated Zhuge Zhan at Mianzhu, the Shu Han court adopted the counsel of the Imperial Household Grandee Qiao Zhou and surrendered to Deng Ai^[4]. At the time some ministers doubted whether Deng Ai would accept the surrender, but Qiao Zhou overruled all dissent, arguing that Wei, in order to unify the realm, would surely accept the surrender and treat them with propriety. He even declared that if Wei did not grant territory to enfeoff Liu Shan, he would go in person to the capital and argue the case on the strength of ancient principle^[5].

After Shu Han fell, Sima Zhao, the Prince Wen of Jin, in recognition of Qiao Zhou's "merit in preserving the state," enfeoffed him as Marquis of Yangcheng Village and issued an edict summoning him to office. On the road to Hanzhong, Qiao Zhou fell ill and could go no farther^[6]. In the third year of Taishi, he was conveyed by carriage to Luoyang; too ill to rise and take office, he was appointed on the spot as Cavalry Commandant. Qiao Zhou pleaded that he had received his enfeoffment without merit and asked to return his fief and rank, but this was not permitted. In the autumn of the sixth year of Taishi, he was appointed Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, but being gravely ill he could not take up the post, and he died that winter^[7]. Qiao Zhou was a prolific author throughout his life, with more than a hundred pieces including the Models of Law, the Treatise on the Five Classics, and the Examination of Ancient History^[7].

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Qiao Zhou is portrayed as a Grand Astrologer well-versed in astronomy who repeatedly foretold the affairs of the age; his words and deeds often carry a mysterious aura, and he repeatedly remonstrated with his sovereign, though his counsel was usually not heeded. He first appears when Liu Bei moves to seize Yi Province. When Liu Zhang's officials advised surrender, Qiao Zhou urged Liu Zhang to comply with the will of Heaven and yield Yi Province to Liu Bei, declaring, "Observing the heavens by night, I see the host of stars gathered over Shu Commandery, with one great star bright as the radiant moon—this is the sign of an emperor"^[8]. This differs from his historical image as one who encouraged learning and composed writings; here the novel endows him with far more of the prophet's character.

After Liu Bei was proclaimed King of Hanzhong, Cao Pi usurped the Han and set himself up as emperor. Kongming, together with Xu Jing and Qiao Zhou, deliberated on establishing Liu Bei as emperor. Once again Qiao Zhou cited celestial portents as proof, saying, "Of late there have been auspicious winds and felicitous clouds; in the northwest corner of Chengdu a yellow vapor several tens of zhang high rises piercing the sky; and the imperial star appears in the divisions of Bi, Wei, and Mao, blazing bright as the moon—this precisely answers that the King of Hanzhong should ascend the imperial throne"^[9], further reinforcing his role as a reader of celestial signs.

During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, Qiao Zhou repeatedly sought to dissuade him on the grounds that the heavens were unfavorable. For instance, as Zhuge Liang prepared for his first Northern Expedition, Qiao Zhou submitted a memorial saying, "Observing the heavens by night, the flourishing vapor of the north is at its height and the stars shine twice as bright—this cannot yet be attempted," and bluntly asked Kongming, "You deeply understand astronomy; why force the matter?"^[10]. Kongming replied, "The Way of Heaven changes and is never constant; how can one cling rigidly to it?" and paid him no heed. Three years later, when Zhuge Liang again sent forth his troops, Qiao Zhou once more sought to dissuade him with omens such as "tens of thousands of birds flew in from the south and plunged dead into the Han River," "the Kui star treads upon the division of Taibai, the flourishing vapor lies in the north, unfavorable for attacking Wei," and "a cypress tree wept by night"; yet Kongming still pressed on with the Northern Expedition^[11]. These episodes have no clear basis in the histories; they are the novel's artistic elaboration, meant to highlight Zhuge Liang's tragic-hero image of "doing what he knew could not be done" and Qiao Zhou's caution and his grasp of the times.

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Qiao Zhou's urging of surrender at the fall of Shu Han accords in the main with the historical record, but his foresight is given greater emphasis. When Deng Ai's troops reached the city walls and some ministers wished to flee to Nanzhong while others wished to defect to Eastern Wu, Qiao Zhou overruled all dissent, pointing out that "since antiquity there has never been one who became Son of Heaven while taking refuge in another state," and prophesied that Wei could swallow Wu but Wu could not swallow Wei. He urged Liu Shan to surrender to Wei so as to preserve the ancestral temples and the common people^[12]. This echoes the historical record of his statement that "if Wei does not grant territory to enfeoff Your Majesty, I, Zhou, request to go in person to the capital and argue it on the strength of ancient principle"^[5], displaying his far-reaching political foresight.

Key Relationships

* Liu Shan: Qiao Zhou was a subject of Liu Shan, having served as Household Steward and other posts^[1], and he repeatedly offered him remonstrance. In the final days of Shu Han, he strongly advocated that Liu Shan surrender to Wei in order to preserve the ancestral temples and altars of state^[4]. In the novel, he is moreover an important counselor at Liu Shan's side, repeatedly foretelling celestial signs and remonstrating with both Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang.
* Zhuge Liang: Qiao Zhou served under Zhuge Liang as Officer for Encouraging Learning^[1]. In the novel, he repeatedly sought to dissuade Zhuge Liang during the Northern Expeditions on the grounds that the heavens were unfavorable, but Zhuge Liang did not accept his counsel^[10].
* Du Qiong: Du Qiong was Qiao Zhou's teacher. Qiao Zhou consulted Du Qiong on astronomy and numerology, and drawing inspiration from his words, went on to derive the prophecy that Shu Han would fall to Wei^[3].
* Jiang Wan: After Zhuge Liang died, Jiang Wan took charge as Inspector and appointed Qiao Zhou as Officer in Charge of Learning, with overall command of the province's scholars^[1].
* Chen Zhi: Qiao Zhou discussed with the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Chen Zhi the harm of frequent campaigns and the impoverishment of the people, and composed the Treatise on a Rival State^[2].
* Jiang Wei: In the novel, Qiao Zhou composed the Treatise on a Rival State and sent it to Jiang Wei, urging him to halt his Northern Expeditions so as to avert peril to the state^[13] (unique to the novel).
* The Wei-Jin regime: For his merit in urging surrender, Qiao Zhou was enfeoffed by Sima Zhao, the Prince Wen of Jin, as Marquis of Yangcheng Village^[6].

Signature Scenes

* Urging Liu Zhang to surrender to Liu Bei: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Liu Bei attacked Yi Province, Qiao Zhou urged Liu Zhang to comply with the will of Heaven and yield Yi Province to Liu Bei, on the grounds that "observing the heavens by night, I see the host of stars gathered over Shu Commandery"^[8].
* Urging Liu Bei to become emperor: After Liu Bei was proclaimed King of Hanzhong and Cao Pi usurped the Han to set himself up as emperor, Qiao Zhou urged Liu Bei to take the imperial throne and continue the Han line, citing celestial signs such as "the imperial star appears in the divisions of Bi, Wei, and Mao, blazing bright as the moon"^[9].
* Composing the Treatise on a Rival State: In the later years of Shu Han, with campaigns frequent and the people impoverished, Qiao Zhou, after discussing the advantages and disadvantages with the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Chen Zhi, composed the Treatise on a Rival State to set forth his views^[2]. In the novel, he moreover sent this treatise to Jiang Wei, urging him to halt his Northern Expeditions^[13].
* The prophecy written on the pillar: In the fifth year of Jingyao, when a great tree in the palace snapped without cause, Qiao Zhou, deeply troubled, wrote on a pillar the prophetic words "Numerous and great, awaited and gathered, complete and conferred—how could it be restored?", foretelling the fall of Shu Han^[3].
* Strongly advocating surrender to Wei: When the Wei army reached the city walls, Qiao Zhou overruled all dissent and urged the Latter Lord Liu Shan to surrender to Wei, arguing that "Wei will surely grant territory to enfeoff Your Majesty, so that above you may guard the ancestral temples and below you may keep the common people in peace," ultimately bringing about the surrender of Shu Han^[4],^[5],^[12].
* Gravely ill, conveyed to Luoyang: After the fall of Shu Han, Qiao Zhou was enfeoffed for his merit and summoned to office. Though gravely ill, he was conveyed by carriage to Luoyang, where he at last died^[7].