| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 刘繇, 劉繇, Liú Yáo |
| Other name | Lưu Dao, Chính Lễ |
| Courtesy name | 正礼, 正禮, Zhènglǐ, Zheng Li, tự Chính Lễ |
| INFORMATION | |
| Born | c. 156/157 |
| Birth Place | Mouping County, Donglai Commandery (东莱郡牟平县; huyện Mưu Bình, quận Đông Lai) |
| Died | 197/198 |
| Death Reason | Died of illness in Yuzhang after defeating Ze Rong (笮融, Trách Dung), aged forty-two (197/198); not killed in battle by Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách) |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Han → Inspector/Governor of Yang (anti–Yuan Shu / anti–Sun Ce) |
| Battles | Expulsion of Wu Jing & Sun Ben (Danyang); Sun Ce’s Yang campaign (Niuzhu, Moling, Qu’e, 195); defeat of Ze Rong (Yuzhang) |
Here is the exhaustive biography of Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao), courtesy name Zhengli (正礼, Chính Lễ) (c. 156/157 – 197/198), Inspector (later Governor) of Yang Province and younger brother of Liu Dai (刘岱, Lưu Đại), incorporating historical records and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Biography & Historical Record
Liu Yao was a native of Mouping, Donglai (Qing Province), from an imperial-clan line (uncle Liu Chong had been Grand Commandant; elder brother Liu Dai was Inspector of Yan). Recommended as Xiaolian at nineteen after helping his father suppress bandits, he rose to Gentleman of the Palace and in 194 was appointed Inspector of Yang. Because Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật) already held Shouchun, Liu Yao seated his government south of the Yangtze at Qu’e. He expelled Yuan Shu’s appointees Wu Jing (吴景, Ngô Cảnh) and Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bí) from Danyang.
When Yuan Shu sent Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách) against him (195), Liu Yao ordered Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh), Fan Neng (樊能, Phàn Năng), and others to hold the crossings; they were defeated. He under-used fellow Donglai native Taishi Ci (太史慈, Thái Sử Từ)—keeping him to scouting partly from fear of criticism by adviser Xu Shao (许劭, Hứa Thiệu). After successive defeats Liu Yao fled south; he later defeated the rogue Ze Rong (笮融, Trách Dung) in Yuzhang but died of illness shortly afterwards (197/198) aged forty-two (East Asian reckoning). Sons later received favourable treatment under Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền)’s Wu.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Early Yang arc / Ch. 11–15: Novel Liu Yao first lends Taishi Ci toward aiding Liu Bei and Kong Rong, then repeatedly refuses to give Taishi Ci overall command despite defeats by Sun Ce. At Niuzhu he joins Ze Rong for a final assault; Yu Mi (于糜, Vu Mi) and Fan Neng are slain and the army collapses—not Yu Fan (虞翻, Ngu Phiên), who belongs to a later Wu scholarly career. Liu Yao flees toward Yuzhang / Liu Biao’s orbit and dies soon after. The novel makes failure to recognise Taishi Ci the moral cause of Yang’s fall to Jiangdong.
Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao) — Historical & Literary Timeline
194 AD — Inspector of Yang
Seat at Qu’e
Appointed Inspector; moves south of the Yangtze because Yuan Shu holds Shouchun. Expels Wu Jing and Sun Ben from Danyang.
195 AD — War with Sun Ce
Niuzhu, Moling, Qu’e
Sun Ce crosses the river. Liu Yao under-uses Taishi Ci; Zhang Ying / Fan Neng lines break. Novel: Yu Mi and Fan Neng die at Niuzhu.
196–197 AD — Yuzhang
Defeat of Ze Rong
Flees south; destroys Ze Rong’s rogue force in Yuzhang, then falls ill.
197/198 AD — Death
Illness in the south
Dies of illness aged forty-two. Sons later favoured under Sun Quan’s Wu. History and novel agree on illness after flight, not a battlefield death to Sun Ce.
Historical Note
Liu Yao was a respectable imperial-clan administrator who never fully controlled Yang and was overrun by young Sun Ce. History records under-use of Taishi Ci; the novel heightens it into a talent-recognition parable. Qu’e, Wu Jing / Sun Ben expulsion, and Ze Rong’s end are shared historical bones.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Liu Yao on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Liu Chong (刘宠, Lưu Sủng): Uncle. Grand Commandant of the Eastern Han (historical).
- Liu Dai (刘岱, Lưu Đại): Elder brother. Inspector of Yan; slain by Qing Yellow Turbans (192, history).
- Liu Ji (刘基, Lưu Cơ): Eldest son. Later eminent Wu minister; married into Sun Quan’s house.
- Liu Shuo (刘铄, Lưu Thước) / Liu Shang (刘尚, Lưu Thượng): Sons who received favourable treatment under Wu (historical; limited novel colour).
Friends
- Taishi Ci (太史慈, Thái Sử Từ): Fellow Donglai warrior; under-used as scout rather than field commander—central failure of Liu Yao’s Yang defence (history and novel).
- Zhang Ying (张英, Trương Anh): Holds river crossings / Niuzhu for Liu Yao against Sun Ce.
- Fan Neng (樊能, Phàn Năng): Senior commander; novel: slain at Niuzhu with Yu Mi.
- Yu Mi (于糜, Vu Mi): Officer at Niuzhu (novel death with Fan Neng). Correction: not Yu Fan (虞翻)—wrong Friends entry removed.
- Xu Shao (许劭, Hứa Thiệu): Adviser whose criticism Liu Yao feared when withholding full command from Taishi Ci.
Enemies
- Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách): Conquers Yang / Jiangdong (195+); Niuzhu, Moling, Qu’e fall under his campaign.
- Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật): Southern warlord who sends Sun Ce against Liu Yao.
- Ze Rong (笮融, Trách Dung): Temporary ally then rogue; destroyed by Liu Yao in Yuzhang before Liu Yao’s illness death.
- Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du): Novel: Sun Ce’s comrade storming Yang strongholds.
Other
- Wu Jing (吴景, Ngô Cảnh): Yuan Shu–aligned Danyang figure expelled by Liu Yao; later Sun family uncle/ally context.
- Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bí): Expelled with Wu Jing from Danyang; Sun-clan officer in the same Yang contest.
- Qu’e seat: Liu Yao’s Yang headquarters south of the Yangtze after Shouchun stayed under Yuan Shu—strategic geography of his whole tenure.
- Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền): Later Wu ruler who favoured Liu Yao’s sons; not Liu Yao’s wartime ally.
In Novel
Chapter 11–15
- Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao): Inspector of Yang at Qu’e; under-uses Taishi Ci (太史慈, Thái Sử Từ) despite defeats by Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách) sent from Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật). Adviser Xu Shao (许劭, Hứa Thiệu) colours his caution.
- Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao): At Niuzhu joins Ze Rong (笮融, Trách Dung); Yu Mi (于糜, Vu Mi) and Fan Neng (樊能, Phàn Năng) are slain—not Yu Fan. Flees south; later destroys Ze Rong in Yuzhang and dies of illness.
In History
Summary
- Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Dao), courtesy Zhengli (正礼, Chính Lễ), Donglai imperial-clan official; Inspector of Yang (194); seated at Qu’e; expelled Wu Jing (吴景, Ngô Cảnh) and Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bí); overrun by Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách); died of illness after defeating Ze Rong (笮融, Trách Dung) (197/198).
Year: 194 AD
- Appointed Inspector of Yang; cannot hold Shouchun against Yuan Shu; establishes Qu’e south of the Yangtze.
Year: 195 AD
- Sun Ce’s crossing defeats Zhang Ying / Fan Neng lines. Taishi Ci under-used (scout roles). Liu Yao flees south.
Year: 197/198 AD
- Defeats Ze Rong in Yuzhang; dies of illness. Sons later favoured under Sun Quan’s Wu.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi Book of Wu, Biography of Liu Yao; Pei annotations; cross-check with Sun Ce / Taishi Ci biographies. Novel heightens talent-failure theme and Niuzhu deaths of Yu Mi / Fan Neng.
Gallery
COMMENTS (0)