Lady Zhurong

Historical Record

As for Lady Zhurong, there is no clear record in the official Records of the Three Kingdoms or its related historical material. In the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, no mention is made of Meng Huo having a wife, still less any record of his wife taking part in military action. Lady Zhurong as a figure is therefore absent at the level of the historical material; all her deeds and characterization were conferred by later literary invention.

In the Novel

Lady Zhurong is a legendary female character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. She is the wife of the Nanman chieftain Meng Huo, said to be a descendant of the fire god Zhurong ^c:2890. In Chapter 90 of the novel, when Zhuge Liang led his army on the southern campaign and Meng Huo, defeated time and again, fell into dire straits, Lady Zhurong stepped forth. With the line "Since you are a man, how can you be so witless?" ^c:2890 she rebuked Meng Huo's incompetence, displaying her conceited and battle-skilled nature and sharp tongue. She was deft with flying daggers, hitting her mark every time; gripping a long ten-foot-eight standard-spear and riding a curly-maned Red Hare horse, she led the clan's fierce generals and fifty thousand cave troops out to battle the Shu army ^c:2890.

Lady Zhurong's martial skill was formidable. In her clash with the Shu general Zhang Ni, she first feigned defeat to lure Zhang Ni into pursuit, then wounded and captured him with a flying dagger. Next, Ma Zhong, who came to the rescue, was taken alive by her when his mount stumbled ^c:2890. Her appearance for a time reversed the decline of the Nanman army and put the Shu army on the back foot. However, under Zhuge Liang's stratagem, Lady Zhurong was in the end captured alive by Ma Dai. Even so, Zhuge Liang, mindful that Meng Huo had been captured and released seven times, was unwilling to kill his wife and finally set Lady Zhurong free. Lady Zhurong's image in Romance of the Three Kingdoms is that of a valiant female general rare in classical fiction, adding a vivid stroke to the tale of the southern campaign; but her deeds have no record in the historical material and belong to literary invention found only in the novel.

Key Relationships

* Meng Huo (spouse_of): Lady Zhurong is the wife of the Nanman chieftain Meng Huo ^c:2890. In the novel she has both the affection of a wife toward Meng Huo and the reproach of one wishing he would do better—especially when Meng Huo was repeatedly defeated, she rebuked him to his face: "Since you are a man, how can you be so witless?" ^c:2890 (novel only).
* Zhang Ni (fights_in): Lady Zhurong had a fierce clash with the Shu general Zhang Ni. By a feigned-defeat stratagem, she wounded and captured Zhang Ni alive with a flying dagger ^c:2890 (novel only).
* Ma Zhong (fights_in): After capturing Zhang Ni alive, Lady Zhurong then fought Ma Zhong, who came to the rescue, and successfully took him captive ^c:2890 (novel only).

Iconic Scenes

Lady Zhurong's most iconic scene is none other than the segment of her first appearance, in which she captures Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong in one stroke ^c:2890. At that time, Meng Huo was panic-stricken because the Shu troops had crossed the river; Lady Zhurong came forth laughing from behind a screen and, with the line "Since you are a man, how can you be so witless?" ^c:2890, displayed her extraordinary mettle. With five flying daggers tucked at her back, gripping a long ten-foot-eight standard-spear and riding a curly-maned Red Hare horse, she led her troops out to battle. In her clash with Zhang Ni, after only a few bouts she wheeled her horse and fled, luring Zhang Ni into pursuit; then a flying dagger fell from the air and struck Zhang Ni's left arm, tumbling him from his horse to be captured. Next, Ma Zhong came to the rescue and was likewise taken alive when his mount stumbled. This string of victories fully displayed Lady Zhurong's superb martial skill and surpassing daring, and established her image as a valiant female general in Romance of the Three Kingdoms ^c:2890 (novel only).