| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 贾充, 賈充, Jiǎ Chōng |
| Nickname | Grand Tutor of Jin |
| Other name | Giả Sung |
| Courtesy name | 公闾, 公閭, Gōnglǘ, Gong Lu, tự Công Lư |
| INFORMATION | |
| Born | 217 |
| Birth Place | Xiangling County, Hedong Commandery (河东郡襄陵县; huyện Tương Lăng, quận Hà Đông) |
| Died | 282 |
| Death Reason | Died of illness and natural causes (282 AD) |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Jin |
| Battles | Battle of Shouchun, Conquest of Shu |
Biography & Historical Record
Jia Chong (217–282 AD), courtesy name Gonglu, was a prominent politician and military general of the Cao Wei and Western Jin dynasties during the Three Kingdoms period. Born in Xiangling, Pingyang Commandery (in modern-day Shanxi), he was the son of the Wei official Jia Kui. Jia Chong began his official career during the turbulent politics of Cao Wei under the regency of the Sima clan. Known for his cold pragmatism, political cunning, and unscrupulous maneuvering, he became a core confidant and key strategist for Sima Zhao.
During the coup against the regency and the suppression of Guo Xun and Zhuge Dan, Jia Chong served as a crucial political operator. In 260 AD, when the young Wei emperor Cao Mao made a desperate, armed attempt to overthrow Sima Zhao’s dictatorial control, Jia Chong ordered his subordinate Cheng Ji to spearhead the attack, resulting in the regicidal assassination of Emperor Cao Mao right outside the palace gates. This shocking event cemented Jia Chong’s reputation as a ruthlessly loyal instrument of the Sima family’s rise to absolute power. He subsequently played a major role in planning the conquest of Shu-Han in 263 AD under Zhong Hui and Deng Ai. Following Sima Yan’s establishment of the Western Jin dynasty in 265 AD, Jia Chong attained supreme political and military office, orchestrating laws, handling foreign relations with Eastern Wu, and navigating dangerous court intrigues involving his ambitious wife Guo Huai and his daughter Jia Nanfeng. Jia Chong passed away in 282 AD at the age of sixty-six.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Jia Chong is depicted as a sinister, calculating, and opportunistic plotter who acts as the primary architect of the Sima family’s usurpation of the Han-Wei mandate. In Chapter 113 and Chapter 114, he assists Sima Zhao in manipulating court politics, eliminating political dissidents, and engineering military campaigns. His most notorious role occurs in Chapter 114, where Emperor Cao Mao leads a desperate band of loyalists out of the palace to confront Sima Zhao. As the palace guards hesitate to strike the divine emperor, Jia Chong shouts his infamous command to Cheng Ji: “The Sima family feeds and raises you for a moment like this! Why hesitate? Kill him!” This pivotal order directly triggers the regicide that strips away the final legal facade of Wei’s legitimacy.
Later in the novel, Jia Chong advocates for the northern punitive expeditions and assists in consolidating the foundations of the emerging Jin dynasty, embodying the archetype of the treacherous, ruthless statesman who serves whichever master secures his ambition.
Notable Quotes & Famous Sayings
- “The Sima family raises and maintains you precisely for a moment such as this! Why hesitate? Kill him!” — Jia Chong ordering Cheng Ji to assassinate the reigning emperor Cao Mao.
- “A true state minister must look beyond empty morality and secure the mandate of power before others seize it.” — Jia Chong urging Sima Zhao to accelerate his seizure of the throne.
Jia Chong (賈充) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Suppressing Zhuge Dan’s Rebellion
Jia Chong advises Sima Zhao during the military campaign to crush Zhuge Dan’s rebellion at Shouchun, helping secure total dominance over the Wei military apparatus.
The Assassination of Emperor Cao Mao
When Emperor Cao Mao leads a desperate sword-wielding charge against Sima Zhao, Jia Chong commands his officer Cheng Ji to slaughter the emperor on the streets of Xuchang/Luoyang, committing regicide.
Planning the Conquest of Shu
Jia Chong participates in the grand strategic council under Sima Zhao to launch the three-pronged invasion of Shu-Han led by Deng Ai and Zhong Hui.
Establishing the Jin Dynasty
Following Sima Yan’s abdication decree from the last Wei ruler, Jia Chong acts as a principal ceremonial official and political advisor facilitating the birth of the Western Jin dynasty.
Death of Jia Chong
Jia Chong passes away at the age of sixty-six amidst a period of extreme political maneuvering involving his notorious daughter Jia Nanfeng.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Jia Chong on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Jia Kui (贾逵, Giả Quỳ) — Father; a distinguished official and military commander under Cao Cao and Cao Pi who laid the foundation for the family’s prominence in Cao Wei.
- Guo Huai (郭槐, Quách Hòe) — Second wife; known for her domineering personality and significant influence over court politics and family affairs.
- Jia Nanfeng (贾南风, Giả Nam Phong) — Eldest daughter; she became a notorious Empress of the Western Jin dynasty, known for her political interference and role in the War of the Eight Princes.
Friends
- Sima Zhao (司马昭, Tư Mã Chiêu) — Primary patron and leader; Jia Chong served as his core confidant and strategist, facilitating the Sima family’s consolidation of power.
- Sima Yan (司马炎, Tư Mã Viêm) — First Emperor of Western Jin; Jia Chong served as a high-ranking official and advisor under his reign, assisting in the transition from Wei to Jin.
- Zhong Hui (钟会, Chung Hội) — Military colleague; worked alongside Jia Chong during the strategic planning for the conquest of Shu-Han in 263 AD.
- Deng Ai (邓艾, Đặng Ngải) — Military colleague; served as a key general in the conquest of Shu-Han, which was orchestrated by the administration Jia Chong supported.
Enemies
- Cao Mao (曹髦, Tào Mao) — Fourth Emperor of Cao Wei; he attempted to overthrow Sima Zhao’s regency in 260 AD and was killed by Jia Chong’s subordinate, Cheng Ji, under Jia Chong’s orders.
- Cheng Ji (成济, Thành Tế) — Subordinate officer; he carried out the regicide of Cao Mao on Jia Chong’s command and was later executed by the Sima clan as a scapegoat for the crime.
- Zhuge Dan (诸葛诞, Gia Cát Đản) — Wei general; led a rebellion at Shouchun in 257 AD which Jia Chong helped suppress while serving Sima Zhao.
Other
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 111
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung): Jia Chong serves as Sima Zhao's trusted subordinate and is sent to Huainan under the pretext of inspecting and encouraging the troops. He meets Zhuge Dan and deliberately tests his attitude toward the growing power of the Sima family. Zhuge Dan angrily rejects the suggestion that Sima Zhao should replace the Wei dynasty. Jia Chong returns to Sima Zhao and reports that Zhuge Dan has become a serious political threat, helping set the stage for the campaign against him.
Chapter 114
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung): When Emperor Cao Mao leaves the palace with several hundred guards to confront Sima Zhao, Jia Chong arrives in military dress with several thousand armored palace troops, accompanied by Cheng Ji and Cheng Cui. When the soldiers hesitate after recognizing the emperor, Jia Chong orders Cheng Ji to carry out Sima Zhao's command. Cheng Ji kills Cao Mao. Wang Jing then denounces Jia Chong for regicide, and Jia Chong has him arrested. Afterward, Jia Chong joins other officials in encouraging Sima Zhao to accept greater power, while Sima Zhao refuses to take the throne at that moment.
Chapter 115
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung): When Sima Zhao considers how to deal with Jiang Wei's continued campaigns from Tianshui and the Tianshan region, Jia Chong proposes sending a capable assassin to kill Jiang Wei and avoid the cost of a major military campaign. His proposal is rejected in favor of a full invasion of Shu using Deng Ai and Zhong Hui. Jia Chong's advice therefore directly influences the discussion that leads to the Wei decision to conquer Shu.
Chapter 118
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung): After Deng Ai's memorial causes Sima Zhao to move against both Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, Jia Chong is ordered to lead thirty thousand troops through Xie Valley while Sima Zhao personally advances toward Chang'an. Jia Chong also suspects that Zhong Hui may harbor rebellious intentions and secretly warns Sima Zhao. This places him among the senior figures who recognize the danger posed by Zhong Hui before the final crisis in Chengdu.
Chapter 119
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung): After the deaths of Zhong Hui, Jiang Wei, Deng Ai, and other commanders, Jia Chong reaches Chengdu first. He posts notices to calm the population, after which order is restored. He leaves Wei Guan to hold Chengdu and oversees the transfer of Liu Shan and the former Shu court to Luoyang. Later, when Cao Huan is pressured to surrender the Wei throne to Sima Yan, Jia Chong advises Cao Huan to follow the precedent of Emperor Xian's abdication and orders the construction of the abdication altar. At the ceremony, Jia Chong stands beside Sima Yan and formally announces the end of Wei and Sima Yan's accession as emperor of Jin.
Chapter 120
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung): When Sima Yan considers conquering Wu, Jia Chong joins Xun Xu and Feng Dan in arguing against an immediate invasion. Later, when Wu launches pressure along the Jingzhou frontier, Jia Chong advises Sima Yan to have Yang Hu defend the frontier while waiting for an internal crisis in Wu. During the later court debate over the final invasion, Jia Chong again represents the cautious faction, opposing an immediate war while other ministers advocate the opportunity to destroy Wu.
In History
Summary
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung), courtesy name Gonglü, was a powerful Wei and Jin statesman closely associated with the Sima clan.
Year: 260 AD
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung) was involved in the suppression of Emperor Cao Mao's attempted challenge to Sima Zhao's power; his subordinate Cheng Ji killed the emperor.
Year: 265 AD
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung) became a leading official of the newly established Jin dynasty.
Historical Record
- Jia Chong (贾充, Giả Sung) was a real historical statesman. His reputation is strongly connected with the fall of the Wei imperial house and the rise of Jin.
Gallery
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