Historical Record
There is very little historical record of Fu Tong; the official history, the Records of the Three Kingdoms, contains no independent biography of him, nor does any verifiable detailed account of him survive in other figures' biographies. Thus, on the historiographical plane, Fu Tong's life, origins, offices, and specific achievements all lack any clear record. He seems never to have played an important role on the historical stage, so that his presence in the official histories is all but negligible. This stands in sharp contrast to his image in literary works.
In the Novel
In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Fu Tong's image is markedly developed, becoming a loyal and valiant, unyielding general of Shu Han. He first appears when Liu Bei's troops are defeated at the Battle of Xiaoting; at the critical juncture when the Shu Han army faces life or death, Fu Tong displays his loyalty and sense of duty. When Liu Bei is pursued by the Wu army and beset on all sides, Guan Xing advises Liu Bei to flee swiftly to Baidicheng and asks who is willing to bring up the rear. At this point Fu Tong steps forward and declares with feeling: "I am willing to meet it with my life!" This scene establishes Fu Tong's image as a man of loyal heroism in the novel. He is ordered to bring up the rear, and together with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao escorts Liu Bei in breaking out. However, the Wu army's pursuit is unstoppable, with Zhu Ran and Lu Xun leading great forces to close in from different directions, making Liu Bei's plight ever more dire. While bringing up the rear, Fu Tong is surrounded on all sides by Ding Feng's contingent of the Wu army. Ding Feng urges him to surrender, claiming that Liu Bei has already been captured and pointing out that Fu Tong is now "out of strength and isolated." Faced with the enemy's threats and inducements, Fu Tong shows his unbending mettle, loudly rebuking him: "I am a general of Han—how could I be willing to surrender to a Wu dog!" He then levels his spear and spurs his horse, leading the Shu troops in a desperate fight to the death, battling the Wu army for over a hundred bouts; finally, outnumbered, he is unable to break out. In the end Fu Tong heaves a long sigh, "I am finished now!" and, vomiting blood, dies heroically amid the Wu army. This episode of Fu Tong's is celebrated by later generations with poems in the novel, further reinforcing his heroic image of unyielding loyalty. Through this series of episodes, the novel successfully shapes a loyal subject of Shu Han who gives his life for his country and faces death without flinching, filling the gap in the historical sources and endowing him with deep literary significance.
Key Relationships
* Shu Han: Fu Tong is a general of Shu Han, devoting both his loyalty and his life to the Shu Han regime. At the moment of Liu Bei's great defeat at the Battle of Xiaoting, he protects his lord to the death, displaying his utter loyalty to Shu Han.
* Liu Bei: Fu Tong is a loyal subordinate of Liu Bei; in Liu Bei's hour of peril, he volunteers to bring up the rear, buying Liu Bei a chance to escape at the cost of his own life. His relationship with Liu Bei is a typical ruler-minister relationship, and Fu Tong shows extremely high loyalty to Liu Bei.
* Guan Xing, Zhang Bao: During Liu Bei's retreat, Fu Tong, together with Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, is responsible for protecting Liu Bei. Guan Xing in front, Zhang Bao in the middle, and Fu Tong in the rear, the three jointly take on the task of protecting their lord (novel only).
* Ding Feng, Zhu Ran, Lu Xun: These are Fu Tong's chief opponents on the battlefield. While bringing up the rear, Fu Tong fights fiercely against the Wu army led by Ding Feng and finally dies amid the Wu army. Zhu Ran and Lu Xun are the Wu commanders pursuing Liu Bei and Fu Tong on the battlefield, (novel only).
Signature Scenes
* Bringing Up the Rear at the Battle of Xiaoting, Protecting His Lord to the Death: When Liu Bei is greatly defeated at the Battle of Xiaoting and pursued by the Wu army to a hopeless extremity, Fu Tong steps forward and pledges himself to Liu Bei: "I am willing to meet it with my life!" He resolutely takes on the task of bringing up the rear, buying precious time for Liu Bei's retreat. This scene is the concentrated embodiment of Fu Tong's loyal and valiant image and his best-known act in the novel.
* Rebuking Ding Feng, Refusing to Surrender Though It Means Death: When Fu Tong is surrounded by Ding Feng's contingent of the Wu army and Ding Feng urges him to surrender, Fu Tong righteously rebukes him: "I am a general of Han—how could I be willing to surrender to a Wu dog!" He then fights desperately to the death until, vomiting blood, he dies heroically. This scene fully displays Fu Tong's heroic spirit of unyielding loyalty and his readiness to meet death, becoming the signature portrayal of his character and winning him the praise of later generations (novel only).
Relationships
0 relationships
无
Quotes
3 recorded lines · 2 featured
「臣願以死當之！」
This line shows Fu Tong's loyalty and courage and his willingness to die for his country, shaping his image as a loyal minister.
「吾乃漢將，安肯降吳狗乎！」
This line reveals Fu Tong's unyielding integrity, choosing death over submission, and is highly distinctive.
Chapters1 回 ▸
- 演ch.84
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- The mountain winds carried the smoke of burning fires, and the roads were filled with soldiers fleeing in panic. I had b