| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 马承, 馬承, Mǎ Chéng |
| Nickname | Marquis of Wei (斄乡侯) |
| Other name | Mã Thừa |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Liangzhou / Yi Province (凉州 / 益州) |
| Death Reason | Unknown — not recorded in surviving chronicles |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Shu Han (蜀汉, Thục Hán) |
| Battles |
|
Biography & Historical Record
Ma Cheng (马承, Mã Thừa) was the son and principal heir of Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu), General Who Pacifies the West and Marquis of Wei (斄乡侯). Born after Ma Chao’s turbulent Liangzhou campaigns and flight through Zhang Lu‘s (张鲁, Trương Lỗ) Hanzhong domain, Ma Cheng survived the slaughter that claimed his half-brother Ma Qiu (马秋, Mã Thu) when Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) conquered Hanzhong in 215 AD. Ma Chao had joined Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) in Chengdu in 214 AD; his northern family line was nearly extinguished, but Ma Cheng remained in Shu and inherited his father’s marquisate when Ma Chao died in 222 AD.
Shu registers list Ma Cheng as a civil and military officer of the second generation — the legitimate continuator of the Ma name after Ma Chao’s early death at only forty-seven sui. His cousin Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại) remained the more visible field commander, while Ma Cheng held the hereditary title and administrative duties tied to the Wei marquisate.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapters 64–65: Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu) defects to Liu Bei after fleeing Zhang Lu — the novel dramatizes Ma Chao’s battles and reconciliation with Liu Bei but does not name Ma Cheng. Chapter 91: Ma Chao’s death is reported among Shu’s mourning rolls — Ma Cheng’s inheritance belongs to historical notices after the novel’s Ma Chao arc ends.
Ma Cheng (马承) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Youth in Shu
Raised in Chengdu after Ma Chao entered Liu Bei’s service — spared the Hanzhong hostage crisis that killed Ma Qiu.
Northern line destroyed
Cao Cao orders Zhang Lu to execute Ma Qiu — Ma Cheng becomes the primary surviving son in Shu.
Inherits Wei marquisate
Succeeds Ma Chao as Marquis of Wei (斄乡侯) upon his father’s death.
Shu service
Continues in Shu Han civil and military registers as Ma Chao’s titled heir.
Key Relationships
Family
- Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu): Father — Liangzhou general who served Liu Bei and died 222 AD.
- Ma Qiu (马秋, Mã Thu): Half-brother — executed at Hanzhong in 215 AD under Cao Cao’s orders.
- Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại): Cousin — Shu’s field commander who outlived Ma Chao by decades.
- Lady Ma (马氏, Mã thị): Sister — attested daughter of Ma Chao.
- Ma Teng (马腾, Mã Đằng): Grandfather — western lord whose house produced Ma Chao’s fame.
Friends
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) and Shu Han (蜀汉, Thục Hán): Sovereign and state that sheltered Ma Cheng after Ma Chao’s defection.
- Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đại): Kinsman and fellow Shu officer of the Ma lineage.
Enemies
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Conqueror of Hanzhong who ordered the execution of Ma Cheng’s half-brother Ma Qiu to break Ma Chao’s northern kin.
Other
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ): Hanzhong warlord who carried out Ma Qiu’s execution after surrendering to Cao Cao.
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Chancellor during Ma Cheng’s inheritance — Shu administration that confirmed the marquisate succession.
In Novel
Chapters 64–65
- Ma Cheng (马承, Mã Thừa): Not named when Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu) flees Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ) and joins Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) — the son belongs to post-novel Shu genealogies.
Chapter 91
- Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu): Death reported in Shu's mourning — historical tradition places Ma Cheng inheriting the Wei marquisate immediately after, though the heir is not dramatized.
In History
Summary
- Ma Cheng (马承, Mã Thừa), son of Ma Chao, inherited the Marquisate of Wei (斄乡侯) in 222 AD and served Shu Han.
Year: 215 AD
- Half-brother Ma Qiu executed at Hanzhong — Ma Cheng remains the principal surviving heir in Shu.
Year: 222 AD
- Succeeds Ma Chao as Marquis of Wei upon his father's death at forty-seven sui.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi, Shu 36 (马超传): Ma Chao's biography — death date and marquisate succession to Ma Cheng.
- Related notices on Ma Dai and the Ma clan of Fufeng in Pei Songzhi's annotations.
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