Historical Record
The Mother of Jiang Xu appears chiefly in the record of the Records of the Three Kingdoms. She was the mother of Jiang Xu and the aunt of Yang Fu. After Ma Chao rebelled against Cao Cao and occupied Jicheng, Yang Fu requested leave on account of his wife's death and took the chance to go to Licheng to visit his elder cousin Jiang Xu. At Jiang Xu's household, seeing the Mother of Jiang Xu and Jiang Xu himself, Yang Fu, with grief and indignation, recounted the tragic fall of Jicheng and the killing of the commandery's administrator, and denounced Ma Chao's conduct of betraying his father, rebelling against his lord, and cruelly killing the provincial general, holding it to be the disgrace of all the gentry of Liang Province. He demanded of Jiang Xu why he held troops yet harbored no intent to punish the traitor. When the Mother of Jiang Xu heard Yang Fu's account, she displayed great righteous indignation. She readily assented and instructed Jiang Xu to follow Yang Fu's plan and join in punishing Ma Chao. With the support of the Mother of Jiang Xu, Jiang Xu, Yang Fu, and the others secretly allied, joining with fellow townsmen Jiang Yin, Zhao Ang, Yin Feng, Yao Qiong, Kong Xin, Li Jun, and Wang Ling, as well as men of Wudu, jointly pledging to punish Ma Chao. They also sent Jiang Xu's cousin Jiang Mo to Jicheng to make contact with Yue, and won the support of Liang Kuan of Anding Commandery, Zhao Qu and Pang Gong of Nan'an Commandery, and others. In the ninth month of 212 CE, Jiang Xu and Yang Fu raised troops at Lucheng. On learning of this, Ma Chao personally led his troops out to strike. At this point, Zhao Qu, Liang Kuan, and others seized the chance to disarm Yue, shut the gates of Jicheng, and intended to kill Ma Chao's wife and children. Ma Chao turned to attack Licheng and captured the Mother of Jiang Xu. Facing Ma Chao, the Mother of Jiang Xu showed no fear at all, but sternly rebuked Ma Chao as "a rebellious son who betrayed his father, a vicious brute who killed his lord," and demanded why he did not die early and yet dared to show his face to others. Enraged at her words, Ma Chao thereupon killed the Mother of Jiang Xu. Yang Fu fought Ma Chao and suffered five wounds, and seven of his clan brothers also perished as a result. In the end, Ma Chao was defeated and fled south to Zhang Lu.
In the Novel
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the image of the Mother of Jiang Xu is further developed and reinforced, and her age is explicitly set at eighty-two. In the novel, when Yang Fu visited Jiang Xu, he first entered the inner quarters to pay his respects to his aunt, the Mother of Jiang Xu, and tearfully recounted the tragic experience of the fall of Jicheng and the killing of the commandery's administrator, as well as Ma Chao's crimes of betraying his lord and wantonly killing the innocent. Yang Fu wept bitterly before the Mother of Jiang Xu, even "weeping until blood flowed," in order to rouse her righteous indignation. After hearing Yang Fu's lament, the Mother of Jiang Xu immediately summoned Jiang Xu inside and sternly rebuked him for failing to defend Wei Kang (called "Wei the Commissioner" in the novel), holding this too to be Jiang Xu's fault. She also demanded of Yang Fu why, having already surrendered to Ma Chao and eaten his salary, he now wished to raise troops to punish him. Yang Fu explained that his feigned surrender was to preserve his life so that he might avenge his former lord. When Jiang Xu expressed his dread of Ma Chao's valor, the Mother of Jiang Xu firmly declared that Ma Chao was "brave but without strategy, and easy to plot against." She further emphasized the importance of loyalty and righteousness, saying to Jiang Xu, "If you do not plan early, what are you waiting for? Who does not die? To die for loyalty and righteousness is to die in the right place. Do not think of me. If you do not heed Yishan's [Yang Fu's] words, I will die first, to cut off your hesitation." This dialogue greatly highlights the image of the Mother of Jiang Xu as one who deeply grasps the great cause and lays down her life for righteousness; she even compelled him with her own death, prompting Jiang Xu to make up his mind to punish Ma Chao together with Yang Fu. The novel's portrayal of the Mother of Jiang Xu not only retains her rebuke of Ma Chao and her urging of Jiang Xu as recorded in history but, through detailed depiction, makes her a paragon of women with a strong moral sense and spirit of sacrifice.
Key Relationships
* Jiang Xu (parent_of): The Mother of Jiang Xu was Jiang Xu's mother. In both history and the novel, she exerted a key influence on Jiang Xu's decisions, prompting him to take part in the campaign to punish Ma Chao.
* Ma Chao (dies_in): The Mother of Jiang Xu was finally killed by Ma Chao. Before being killed, she sternly rebuked Ma Chao, displaying her fierce, unyielding character.
* Yang Fu (kin_of): The Mother of Jiang Xu was Yang Fu's aunt. When Yang Fu launched the plan to punish Ma Chao, he gained the firm support and encouragement of the Mother of Jiang Xu, whose instruction was an important factor in bringing about the alliance between Jiang Xu and Yang Fu.
Signature Scenes
* Rebuking Ma Chao: After the Mother of Jiang Xu was captured by Ma Chao, facing the enemy who had killed her own son, she showed no fear at all, but sternly rebuked Ma Chao as "a rebellious son who betrayed his father, a vicious brute who killed his lord," and demanded why he did not die early and yet dared to show his face. This scene fully displays the fierce loyalty and righteousness of the Mother of Jiang Xu and became a signature moment of her character.
* Urging on Jiang Xu: After Yang Fu tearfully recounted Ma Chao's crimes, the Mother of Jiang Xu summoned Jiang Xu, not only sternly rebuking him for failing to fulfill his loyalty but also urging him on with "to die for loyalty and righteousness is to die in the right place," even compelling him with "I will die first, to cut off your hesitation," prompting Jiang Xu to resolve to punish Ma Chao. This scene is especially prominent in the novel, profoundly shaping her image as one who deeply grasps the great cause and lays down her life for righteousness (novel only).
Relationships
3 relationships
Family2
Other1
Lines
- 史 ch.25 §16→ Ma Chao
「汝背父之逆子，殺君之桀賊，天地豈乆容汝，而不早死，敢以面目視人乎！」
Chapters2 回 ▸
- 史ch.25
- 演ch.64
Relationship timeline3 条 ▸
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- I am Jiang Xu’s mother. Though advanced in years, I never dared use my age as an excuse to let things slide. Yang Fu was
Life events1 ▸
- 0213-01-01 · LuchengYang Fu Raises Troops Against Ma Chao· Killed in action