Ju Fu

Historical Record

Ju Fu, courtesy name Zhong, was a native of Hanchang County in Baxi Commandery, Yi Province. Renowned for his valor and his generosity, he won repeated military merit in the Shu Han regime. Ju Fu's achievements and rank were second only to those of Wang Ping, his fellow commandery-man, and his standing was eminent. He rose at last to General of the Left and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dangqu. According to the Records of the States South of Mount Hua, later ages often spoke of Ju Fu together with Wang Ping, and along with the later Zhang Yi and Liao Hua they were hailed as the pillars of Shu Han, giving rise to the saying "Before there were Wang and Ju, after there were Zhang and Liao"—ample evidence of his important place and influence in Shu Han history^[1]. Ju Fu's life was a portrait of devotion to Shu Han and repeated military merit; his valor and virtue are clearly recorded in the histories, making him one of the important military generals of late Shu Han.

In the Novel

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Ju Fu any separate literary portrayal. Under Luo Guanzhong's brush, the name Ju Fu does not appear directly, and his deeds are not depicted in detail. This forms a sharp contrast with the historical account that he "was second to Wang Ping in achievement, rank, and title, rose to General of the Left, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dangqu"^[1]. The Romance dwells more on the heroic figures of Shu Han's early and middle periods, devoting relatively little ink to its later generals, and Ju Fu belongs to this class of figures "overlooked" by the Romance. There is therefore no way to verify Ju Fu's image, character, or specific battlefield performance in the Romance; he is entirely an absent character there. Readers cannot learn from the Romance of his valor on the battlefield or his interactions with the principal figures, leaving his presence in the literary work all but nil.

Key Relationships

Ju Fu played an important role in the Shu Han regime, his key relationships manifesting chiefly in the following:

* The Shu Han regime (serves): Ju Fu was an important general of Shu Han who rendered great service to its founding and consolidation. He rose to General of the Left and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dangqu, forming an important part of Shu Han's late military strength^[1].
* Wang Ping (fellow commandery-man and colleague): Ju Fu and Wang Ping were both natives of Hanchang in Baxi Commandery, and Ju Fu's achievements and rank were second only to Wang Ping's^[1]. As fellow townsmen and colleagues, the two served Shu Han together, and their names were often mentioned in tandem by later ages, showing their similar standing and influence within Shu Han's military establishment.
* Zhang Yi and Liao Hua (successors): In the Records of the States South of Mount Hua, Ju Fu and Wang Ping are spoken of together as "before there were Wang and Ju," set alongside the later Zhang Yi and Liao Hua as "after there were Zhang and Liao"^[1]. This indicates that Ju Fu held a place linking the earlier and later generations in Shu Han military history: he and Wang Ping represented the military pillars of Shu Han's middle period, while Zhang Yi and Liao Hua represented its later defenders.

Defining Scenes

Since there is no depiction of Ju Fu in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, his defining scenes derive chiefly from the records and inferences of the historical material:

* Repeated military merit, eminent in achievement and renown: The histories record that Ju Fu "had repeated military merit, his achievements and rank second to Wang Ping's"^[1]. Although the specific battle details are not recorded, one may imagine scenes of his valiant slaying of the enemy and his repeated remarkable feats on the battlefield. These merits were the basis for his attaining the ranks of General of the Left and Marquis of Dangqu, and the key to his name being handed down through the ages.
* Spoken of together with Wang Ping, praised by later ages: Ju Fu and Wang Ping were together hailed by later ages as "before there were Wang and Ju," set alongside Zhang Yi and Liao Hua^[1]. This appraisal itself constitutes a defining scene, representing Ju Fu's place and influence in Shu Han history and posterity's affirmation of his contributions. Though not a specific event, this scene encapsulates the highest honor and historical standing of Ju Fu's life.
* Rising to General of the Left, enfeoffed as Marquis of Dangqu: Ju Fu finally attained the high office of General of the Left and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dangqu^[1]. This marks one of the highest achievements attainable by a general, and the ultimate reward for his lifelong devotion to Shu Han. This scene symbolizes the pinnacle of his military career and the best proof of his loyal, brave, and generous character.