Zu Bi

Historical Record

As for the historical record of Zu Bi, there is no clear mention of him in the Records of the Three Kingdoms or other official histories. His life, deeds, official posts, and specific role in historical events are therefore absent from any verifiable historical biographical material. This means that, from a strict historical standpoint, Zu Bi is not a figure attestable by the histories.

In the Novel

In Chapter 80 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zu Bi appears as Keeper of the Imperial Seal, portrayed as a loyal and unyielding subject of the Han house ^c:2887. At that time, Cao Pi had already usurped the Han throne and set himself up, and Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, was forced to abdicate. At this critical moment, Cao Wei ministers such as Hua Xin and Wang Lang pressed Emperor Xian of Han to hand over the imperial seal. Faced with Cao Hong's order to demand the seal, Zu Bi stepped forward and sternly rebuked him: "The imperial seal is the treasure of the Son of Heaven—how dare you demand it without leave!" ^c:2887 This act was a direct resistance to the usurping conduct of the Cao Wei faction. Cao Hong thereupon ordered the soldiers to drag him out and behead him, and in the course of being killed Zu Bi "cursed without ceasing until he died" ^c:2887. Through this episode, the novel does its utmost to render Zu Bi's unwavering loyalty and his heroic spirit of facing death without fear, making him the only loyal subject who dared openly to resist and pay for it with his life at the moment of the Han house's collapse. His image stands in sharp contrast to those ministers who flattered and abetted the wicked, highlighting the tragic and stirring color of his being "the one man in all the court who would not bend." The novel's depiction of Zu Bi aims, through his loyal and steadfast act, to further set off the tragic plight of Emperor Xian of Han and to condemn the illegitimacy of Cao Wei's usurpation of the Han.

Key Relationships

* Liu Xie (Emperor Xian of Han): As Keeper of the Imperial Seal, Zu Bi served Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, directly ^c:2887. At the critical moment when Emperor Xian of Han was forced to abdicate, Zu Bi stepped forward and defended to the death the imperial seal, the symbol of the Han house, embodying his absolute loyalty to Liu Xie and the Han house. Such loyalty was especially precious in the circumstances of the time, and made him one of the few loyal subjects beside Emperor Xian of Han who dared to resist (novel only).
* Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, Hua Xin, Wang Lang: These figures represent the power of the Cao Wei faction in the novel and were the chief instigators pressing Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate. Zu Bi's relationship with them was one of direct opposition. Cao Hong directly ordered the demand for the seal and finally had Zu Bi executed ^c:2887. Hua Xin and Wang Lang fanned the flames from the side, urging Emperor Xian of Han to submit. Zu Bi's loyal and steadfast act was precisely a forceful retort against these usurpers (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

Zu Bi's most iconic scene is undoubtedly his act, at the abdication ceremony of Emperor Xian of Han, of refusing to the death to hand over the imperial seal in the face of the Cao Wei ministers' pressure ^c:2887.

In Chapter 80 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Pi usurped the Han, and Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, was forced to abdicate. When Hua Xin, Wang Lang, and others coerced and cajoled, demanding that Emperor Xian of Han hand over the imperial seal, the emperor wept bitterly yet was powerless to resist. At this point Cao Hong and Cao Xiu drew their swords and loudly demanded the Keeper of the Imperial Seal. Zu Bi answered the call and stepped forward; faced with Cao Hong's order, he was utterly unafraid and sternly rebuked him: "The imperial seal is the treasure of the Son of Heaven—how dare you demand it without leave!" ^c:2887 This single cry of indignation, against the backdrop of a whole court of officials already submitted, was especially shocking. It was not only a direct refutation of Cao Hong but a solemn protest against the usurping conduct of the entire Cao Wei faction. Enraged and humiliated, Cao Hong ordered Zu Bi dragged out and beheaded. Even on the way to the execution ground, Zu Bi still "cursed without ceasing until he died" ^c:2887.

This scene fully displays Zu Bi's loyal and unyielding character. With the great edifice of the Han house about to topple and the assembled ministers all turned traitor, he, by his own strength, held fast to a subject's duty and defended the dignity of the Han house with his life. His act is a typical portrayal of the loyal subject of the Han house in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and became the key basis for later generations' assessment of him as "the one man in all the court who would not bend." Although this scene has no record in the histories, its artistic power in the novel made the image of Zu Bi take deep root in people's hearts, becoming a symbol of loyalty and righteousness (novel only).