The Records of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese official history compiled by Chen Shou in the late 3rd century. It covers the end of the Han dynasty and the histories of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu through the reunification of China under the Western Jin. The work has 65 volumes divided into the Book of Wei, Book of Shu, and Book of Wu, and is organized mainly as biographies.
Chen Shou drew on earlier official histories of Wei and Wu and collected surviving materials for Shu, which had no comparable official history. In the 5th century, Pei Songzhi added extensive annotations that preserved alternative accounts, quoted lost works, and commented on discrepancies in the text. The Records and Pei's annotations are major sources for the political and military history of the late Han and Three Kingdoms periods.
The work also supplied much of the historical framework for the 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Large portions have been translated into English, but no complete unabridged English translation has been published.
Origin and structure The Book of Han and Records of the Three Kingdoms join the original Han-era universal history Records of the Grand Historian to constitute the first three entries in the Twenty-Four Histories canon, with each work cementing the new genre's literary and historiographical qualities as established by Sima Qian. The Records of the Three Kingdoms consist of 65 fascicles divided into three books—one per eponymous kingdom—totaling around 360,000 Chinese characters in length. The Book of Wei, Book of Shu, and Book of Wu receive 30 fascicles, 15 fascicles, and 20 fascicles respectively. Each fascicle is organised in the form of one or more biographies.
The author Chen Shou was born in present-day Nanchong, Sichuan, then in the state of Shu Han. After the Conquest of Shu by Wei in 263, he became an official historian under the government of the Jin dynasty, and created a history of the Three Kingdoms period. After the Conquest of Wu by Jin in 280, his work received the acclaim of senior minister Zhang Hua.
Prior to the Jin dynasty, both the states of Cao Wei and Wu had already composed their own official histories: the Book of Wei by Wang Chen, Xun Yi, and Ruan Ji; and the Book of Wu by Wei Zhao, Hua He, Xue Ying, Zhou Zhao (), and Liang Guang (). Additionally, Yu Huan had completed his privately compiled history of Wei, the Weilüe. Chen Shou used these texts as the foundation of the Records of the Three Kingdoms. However, since the state of Shu lacked an official history bureau, the Book of Shu in the Records was composed by Chen Shou himself based on his earlier personal notes about events in Shu and other primary sources he collected, such as his previously compiled writings of Zhuge Liang.
The Records of the Three Kingdoms used the year 220 CE—when the last emperor of the Han dynasty was forced to abdicate to Cao Pi—as the year in which the Wei dynasty was established. The Records refer to the rulers of Wei as 'Emperors' and those of Shu and Wu as 'Lords' or by their personal names.
Dates Due to the biographical rather than primarily annalistic arrangement of the work, assigning dates to the historical content is both imprecise and non-trivial. Certain fascicles contain background information about their subjects' forebears which date back centuries before the main record. For example, the biography of Liu Yan begins with discussing his ancestor Liu Yu's enfeoffment at Jingling (present-day Tianmen, Hubei) in around 85 CE.Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 31. The first event to receive detailed description throughout the work is the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184. Many biographies make passing mention of the event, but more concrete information such as correspondence and troop movements during the uprising can be found in fragmentary form in at least four fascicles: the biographies of Cheng Yu,Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 14. Yu Jin,Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 17. Liu Bei,Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 32. and Sun Jian.Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 46.
The three books in the Records of the Three Kingdoms end at different dates, with the main section of the Book of Wei ending with the abdication of Cao Huan in February 266, the Book of Shu ending with the death of Liu Shan in 271, and the Book of Wu ending with the death of Sun Hao in 284.Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 28.
One abstract regarding the chronology is translated as follows:
Contents
Book of Wei () # Title Translation Notes Annals of Emperor Wu Cao Cao Annals of Emperor Wen Cao Pi Annals of Emperor Ming Cao Rui Annals of the three young emperors Cao Fang, Cao Mao, Cao Huan Biographies of empresses and concubines Lady Bian, Lady Zhen, Guo Nüwang, Empress Mao, Empress Guo Biographies of Dong, the two Yuans, and Liu Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao Biographies of Lü Bu and Zang Hong Zhang Miao, Chen Deng Biographies of the two Gongsuns, Tao, and the four Zhangs Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian, Zhang Yang, Gongsun Du, Zhang Yan, Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu Biographies of the Xiahous and Caos Xiahou Dun, Han Hao, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Chun, Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen, Cao Shuang, Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Xuan Biographies of Xun Yu, Xun You, and Jia Xu Biographies of Yuan, Zhang, Liang, Guo, Tian, Wang, Bing, and Guan Yuan Huan, Zhang Fan, Zhang Cheng, Liang Mao, Guo Yuan, Tian Chou, Wang Xiu, Bing Yuan, Guan Ning Biographies of Cui, Mao, Xu, He, Xing, and Sima Cui Yan, Mao Jie, Xu Yi, He Kui, Xing Yong, Bao Xun, Sima Zhi Biographies of Zhong Yao, Hua Xin, and Wang Lang Zhong Yu, Wang Su Biographies of Cheng, Dong, Guo, Liu, Jiang, and Liu Cheng Yu, Cheng Xiao, Guo Jia, Dong Zhao, Liu Ye, Jiang Ji, Liu Fang Biographies of Liu, Sima, Liang, Zhang, Wen, and Jia Liu Fu, Liu Jing, Sima Lang, Liang Xi, Zhang Ji (Derong), Zhang Ji (Jingzhong), Wen Hui, Jia Kui Biographies of Ren, Su, Du, Zheng, and Cang Ren Jun, Su Ze, Du Ji, Zheng Hun, Cang Ci Biographies of Zhang, Yue, Yu, Zhang, and Xu Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, Zhang He, Xu Huang Biographies of the two Lis, Zang, Wen, Lü, Xu, Dian, the two Pangs, and Yan Li Dian, Li Tong, Zang Ba, Wen Ping, Lü Qian, Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Pang De, Pang Yu, Yan Wen Biographies of the princes of Rencheng, Chen, and Xiao Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, Cao Xiong Biographies of nobles in Emperors Wu and Wen's time Cao Ang, Cao Shuo, Cao Chong, Cao Ju (Prince of Pengcheng), Cao Yu, Cao Lin (Prince of Pei), Cao Gun, Cao Xuan, Cao Jun (Prince of Chenliu), Cao Ju (Prince of Fanyang), Cao Gan, Cao Zishang, Cao Biao, Cao Ziqin, Cao Zicheng, Cao Zizheng, Cao Zijing, Cao Jun (Duke of Fan), Cao Ziji, Cao Hui, Cao Mao (Prince of Laoling), Cao Xie, Cao Rui (Prince of Beihai), Cao Jian, Cao Lin (Prince of Donghai), Cao Li, Cao Yong, Cao Gong, Cao Yan Biographies of Wang, Wei, and the two Lius Wang Can, Wei Ji, Liu Yi, Liu Shao, Fu Gu Biographies of Huan, the two Chens, Xu, Wei, and Lu Huan Jie, Chen Qun, Chen Tai, Chen Jiao, Xu Xuan, Wei Zhen, Lu Yu Biographies of He, Chang, Yang, Du, Zhao, and Pei He Qia, Chang Lin, Yang Jun, Du Xi, Zhao Yan, Pei Qian Biographies of Han, Cui, Gao, Sun, and Wang Han Ji, Cui Lin, Gao Rou, Sun Li, Wang Guan Biographies of Xin Pi, Yang Fu, and Gaotang Long Biographies of Man, Tian, Qian, and Guo Man Chong, Tian Yu, Qian Zhao, Guo Huai Biographies of Xu, Hu, and the two Wangs Xu Miao, Hu Zhi, Wang Chang, Wang Ji Biographies of Wang, Guanqiu, Zhuge, Deng and Zhong Wang Ling, Guanqiu Jian, Zhuge Dan, Deng Ai, Zhong Hui Biographies of fangshi and artisans Hua Tuo, Du Kui, Zhu Jianping, Zhou Xuan, Guan Lu Biographies of the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Dongyi Wuhuan, Xianbei, Buyeo, Goguryeo, Okjeo, Yilou, Yemaek, Samhan, Wa (Wajinden); and a long footnote at the end containing the chapter on the Xirong, or 'Peoples of the West' from the Weilüe, or "Brief Account of the Wei Dynasty", composed by Yu Huan in the second third of the 3rd century CE.
Book of Shu () # Title Translation Notes Biographies of the two Governor Lius Liu Yan, Liu Zhang Biography of the Former Lord Liu Bei Biography of the Later Lord Liu Shan Biographies of concubines and sons of the two Lords Lady Gan, Empress Wu, Empress Zhang (former), Empress Zhang (later), Liu Yong, Liu Li, Liu Xuan Biography of Zhuge Liang Zhuge Qiao, Zhuge Zhan, Dong Jue Biographies of Guan, Zhang, Ma, Huang, and Zhao Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng Biographies of Xu, Mi, Sun, Jian, Yi, and Qin Xu Jing, Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, Sun Qian, Jian Yong, Yi Ji, Qin Mi Biographies of Dong, Liu, Ma, Chen, Dong, and Lü Dong He, Liu Ba, Ma Liang, Ma Su, Chen Zhen, Dong Yun, Chen Zhi, Huang Hao, Lü Yi Biographies of Liu, Peng, Liao, Li, Liu, Wei, and Yang Liu Feng, Peng Yang, Liao Li, Li Yan, Liu Yan, Wei Yan, Yang Yi Biographies of Huo, Wang, Xiang, Zhang, Yang, and Fei Huo Jun, Huo Yi, Wang Lian, Xiang Lang, Xiang Chong, Zhang Yi, Yang Hong, Fei Shi Biographies of Du, Zhou, Du, Xu, Meng, Lai, Yin, Li, Qiao, and Xi Du Wei, Zhou Qun, Zhang Yu, Du Qiong, Xu Ci, Hu Qian, Meng Guang, Lai Min, Yin Mo, Li Zhuan, Qiao Zhou, Xi Zheng Biographies of Huang, Li, Lü, Ma, Wang, and Zhang Huang Quan, Li Hui, Lü Kai, Ma Zhong, Wang Ping, Zhang Ni Biographies of Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Jiang Wei Biographies of Deng, Zhang, Zong, and Yang Deng Zhi, Zhang Yi, Zong Yu, Liao Hua, Yang Xi
Book of Wu () # Title Translation Notes Biographies of Sun Who Destroys Barbarians, and Sun Who Attacks Rebels Sun Jian, Sun Ce Biography of the Lord of Wu Sun Quan Biographies of the three heirs Sun Liang, Sun Xiu, Sun Hao Biographies of Liu Yao, Taishi Ci, and Shi Xie Ze Rong, Liu Ji Biographies of concubines and ladies Lady Wu, Wu Jing, Lady Xie, Lady Xu, Bu Lianshi, Empress Dayi, Empress Jinghuai, Empress Pan, Quan Huijie, Empress Zhu, Empress Dowager He, Teng Fanglan Biographies of nobles Sun Jing, Sun Yu, Sun Jiao, Sun Huan, Sun Ben, Sun Fu, Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, Sun Shao, Sun Huan Biographies of Zhang, Gu, Zhuge, and Bu Zhang Zhao, Zhang Cheng, Zhang Xiu, Gu Yong, Gu Shao, Gu Tan, Gu Cheng, Zhuge Jin, Bu Zhi Biographies of Zhang, Yan, Cheng, Kan, and Xue Zhang Hong, Yan Jun, Cheng Bing, Kan Ze, Xue Zong Biographies of Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lü Meng Biographies of Cheng, Huang, Han, Jiang, Zhou, Chen, Dong, Gan, Ling, Xu, Pan, and Ding Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, Xu Sheng, Pan Zhang, Ding Feng Biographies of Zhu Zhi, Zhu Ran, Lü Fan, and Zhu Huan Shi Ji, Zhu Yi Biographies of Yu, Lu, Zhang, Luo, Lu, Wu, and Zhu Yu Fan, Lu Ji, Zhang Wen, Luo Tong, Lu Mao, Wu Can, Zhu Ju Biography of Lu Xun Lu Kang Biographies of the five sons of the Lord of Wu Sun Deng, Sun Lü, Sun He, Sun Ba, Sun Fen Biographies of He, Quan, Lü, Zhou, and Zhongli He Qi, Quan Cong, Lü Dai, Zhou Fang, Zhongli Mu Biographies of Pan Jun and Lu Kai Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong Biographies of Wu Fan, Liu Dun, and Zhao Da Biographies of Zhuge, Teng, the two Suns, and Puyang Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Sun Jun, Sun Chen, Puyang Xing Biographies of Wang, Lou, He, Wei, and Hua Wang Fan, Lou Xuan, He Shao, Wei Zhao, Hua He
Annotations
During the fifth century, the Liu Song dynasty historian Pei Songzhi (372–451) extensively annotated Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms using a variety of other sources, augmenting the text to twice the length of the original. This work, completed in 429, became one of the official histories of the Three Kingdoms period, under the title Sanguozhi zhu (, zhu meaning "notes"). Bibliographical records indicate that up until Pei's own Liu Song dynasty, Chen Shou's three books had circulated individually rather than as a single work.