Ding Feng

Historical Record

As for this man Ding Feng, there is no clear record of him in the official histories. Neither the *Records of the Three Kingdoms* nor other relevant historical sources mention Ding Feng's life and deeds, his offices, his military achievements, or his family background. This suggests that, in the true course of history, Ding Feng may not have been a prominent figure, and may even have been merely a character invented by literary works such as *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* for the sake of the plot. We therefore cannot obtain any reliable information about Ding Feng from biographical materials, and his real existence in history is open to doubt. [no biographical material]

In the Novel

In the literary world of Luo Guanzhong's *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Ding Feng, as a general of Eastern Wu, is portrayed as an important figure who responded to Shu Han's plea for aid during a particular period. His first and only appearance is in Chapter 117 of the novel. At that time, the Shu Han general Zhuge Zhan was facing the Wei army's siege at Chengdu; the situation was perilous, and he dispatched Peng He to Eastern Wu to seek aid. The Wu ruler Sun Xiu, upon receiving the plea for help, deliberated with his ministers and decided to send troops to assist.^[1]

Against this backdrop, Sun Xiu appointed the veteran general Ding Feng as commander-in-chief, while Ding Feng (the younger), together with Sun Yi, was appointed deputy general, leading an army of fifty thousand to relieve Shu Han. Having received his commission, Ding Feng deployed his forces: he ordered Ding Feng (the younger) and Sun Yi to lead twenty thousand troops toward Mianzhong, while he himself led thirty thousand troops toward Shouchun. By thus splitting his forces into three routes, Eastern Wu sought to tie down Wei in order to relieve Shu Han.^[1] Ding Feng's role in the novel is chiefly that of Ding Feng (the elder)'s deputy general, carrying out specific military tasks, reflecting Eastern Wu's active response to Shu Han's crisis. However, the novel does not further describe in detail Ding Feng's specific performance or fate in this operation; his image is relatively flat, serving mainly to advance the grand narrative of the Wu-Shu alliance against Cao Wei. Since the histories make no mention of this man Ding Feng, his appearance in the novel is entirely a matter of literary creation.

Key Relationships

Ding Feng's most important relationship in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* is with the commander-in-chief Ding Feng (the elder). As Ding Feng (the elder)'s deputy general, he obeyed his orders and together carried out the military task of relieving Shu Han.^[1] This superior-subordinate relationship is his only clearly defined personal interaction in the novel. Ding Feng (the elder), as a veteran general of Eastern Wu, had rich combat experience and a high standing in the novel, and Ding Feng, as his deputy, embodies obedience to and cooperation with his commander. In addition, Ding Feng acted together with another deputy general, Sun Yi, the two leading twenty thousand troops toward Mianzhong, forming a temporary military partnership.^[1] (unique to the novel)

Signature Scenes

Ding Feng's signature scene in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* is concentrated in the military operation in which he was ordered into the field to relieve Shu Han. When Shu Han faced the Wei army's siege and Zhuge Zhan sent a messenger to Eastern Wu to seek rescue, the Wu ruler Sun Xiu decided to send reinforcements. In this important military deployment, Ding Feng was appointed deputy general and, together with Ding Feng (the elder) and Sun Yi, led fifty thousand troops to the rescue.^[1] Specifically, after Ding Feng (the elder) received his commission and set out, he distributed his forces, ordering Ding Feng and Sun Yi to lead twenty thousand troops toward Mianzhong, while Ding Feng (the elder) himself led thirty thousand troops toward Shouchun.^[1] This scene is the only military operation in which Ding Feng clearly takes part in the novel, displaying his identity as a general of Eastern Wu and the role he played against the historical backdrop of the Wu-Shu alliance opposing Cao Wei. Although his subsequent performance is not depicted in detail, this order and deployment for the campaign constitutes the most central and only "shining moment" of Ding Feng in the novel. (unique to the novel)