| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 木鹿大王, 木鹿大王, Mùlù Dàwáng |
| Other name | Mộc Lộc Đại Vương |
| INFORMATION | |
| Died | 225 |
| Death Reason | Novel only: thrown from his white elephant and trampled to death when Zhuge Liang’s fire-breathing wooden beasts panic his wild animals (Ch.90). No historical death. |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Nanman (Meng Huo coalition) — novel only |
| Battles | Bana Cave beast battle vs Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and Zhuge Liang (Ch.90) — novel only |
Here is the exhaustive biography of King Mulu (木鹿大王, Mộc Lộc Đại Vương) (? – 225, novel), also called Mulu Dawang, the fictional sorcerer-lord of Bana Cave (八纳洞 / 八納洞) in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He has no historical existence.
Historical Status
King Mulu does not appear in the Sanguozhi, Huayang Guozhi, or other early Nanman notices. Like King Duosi (朵思大王, Đóa Tư Đại Vương), Jinhuan Sanjie (金环三结, Kim Hoàn Tam Kết), Dongtuna, Ahui Nan, and Wutugu, he is a pure invention of Luo Guanzhong’s novel, created to heighten the exotic and magical atmosphere of Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng)’s southern campaign of 225.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Ch. 90 — Summons from Bana Cave: After repeated captures of Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch), his brother-in-law Dailai Dongzhu (带来洞主, Đái Lai Động Chủ) recommends seeking aid from King Mulu of Bana Cave. Mulu is described as a master of sorcery who rides a white elephant, can summon wind and rain, and is always accompanied by tigers, leopards, wolves, venomous snakes and scorpions; he commands thirty thousand “divine soldiers.” Meng Huo sends gifts and a letter; Mulu arrives mounted on his elephant, wearing gold-and-pearl ornaments and carrying two great swords, and promises to avenge the Nanman king.
Ch. 90 — First clash: Mulu’s beasts and storms drive back Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) and Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên).
Ch. 90 — Fire beasts and death: Zhuge Liang prepares wooden mechanical beasts that belch fire and smoke. When the armies meet again, Mulu shakes his bell and chants; the wild animals charge—only to panic at the sight and smell of the fire-breathing contraptions. Chaos engulfs the Nanman ranks. Mulu is thrown from his elephant and trampled to death in the stampede. With their sorcerer-king dead, Shu overruns the cave and captures Meng Huo once more.
History vs novel: Entirely novelistic — no historical Bana Cave sorcerer-king, beast army, or death under an elephant.
King Mulu (木鹿大王, Mộc Lộc Đại Vương) — Literary Timeline
225 AD — Summoned to Aid Meng Huo
Sorcerer of Bana Cave (Ch.90)
Recommended by Dailai Dongzhu after Meng Huo’s repeated captures. Arrives with elephant, wild beasts and thirty thousand troops; promises vengeance.
225 AD — First Victory
Storms and Beasts Drive Back Shu
Initially drives back Zhao Yun and Wei Yan with storms and beasts.
225 AD — Final Defeat
Death beneath His Own Elephant
Zhuge Liang’s fire-breathing wooden animals panic the real beasts; Mulu falls from his elephant and is trampled to death. No historical counterpart.
Historical Note
King Mulu is a pure novelistic invention. No contemporary source mentions a Nanman sorcerer-king of Bana Cave who commanded storms and wild animals. The episode—recruitment, magical powers, fire-beast counter-measure, and death under his own elephant—exists solely as a spectacular mid-point obstacle in Zhuge Liang’s southern campaign and to prepare later confrontations (e.g. Wutugu and rattan armour). In popular culture he remains the archetypal Nanman “beast-master.”
For overview notes, see King Mulu on Wikipedia (stub; treat novel Ch.90 as primary).
Key Relationships
Family
- No father, mother, spouse, or children are named in the novel (fictional Nanman sorcerer-king). Kin unrecorded — do not invent.
Friends
- Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch): Nanman king who enlists Mulu’s sorcery to halt Shu’s invasion (Ch.90).
- Dailai Dongzhu (带来洞主, Đái Lai Động Chủ): Brother-in-law of Meng Huo who travels to Bana Cave to recruit King Mulu.
Enemies
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Builds mechanical fire-breathing beasts that panic Mulu’s animals and decide the battle.
- Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân): Shu commander driven back in the first clash; present when Mulu’s army collapses.
- Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên): Shu vanguard general facing Mulu’s beasts and storms (Ch.90).
Other
- Bana Cave (八纳洞): Novel stronghold of King Mulu; site of the beast-army battle.
- White elephant / wild beasts / divine soldiers: Literary arsenal of Mulu’s first victory and fatal stampede.
- Wutugu / rattan armour arc: Later Nanman spectacle in the same southern campaign; Mulu’s death clears the stage for it (plain text — no dedicated post yet).
- History: No attested Nanman king Mulu — all bonds above are novel-only.
In Novel
Chapter 90
- King Mulu (木鹿大王, Mộc Lộc Đại Vương): Recruited by Dailai Dongzhu (带来洞主, Đái Lai Động Chủ) to aid Meng Huo (孟获, Mạnh Hoạch); rides a white elephant with beasts and storms; first drives back Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) and Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên); then Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng)’s fire-breathing wooden beasts panic the animals; Mulu falls and is trampled to death. History: no such person.
In History
Summary
- King Mulu (木鹿大王, Mộc Lộc Đại Vương) is entirely fictional; absent from Sanguozhi and early Nanman notices.
Historical Record
- No SGZ / Huayang Guozhi entry. Novel Ch.90 only. Literary Nanman sorcerer-king of Bana Cave; distinguish from King Duosi, Wutugu, and the Three Cave Marshals.
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