| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 马平, 馬平, Mǎ Píng |
| Nickname | Magistrate of Langan |
| Other name | Mã Tỉnh |
| Courtesy name | 叔硕, 叔碩, Shūshuò, Shushuo, tự Thúc Thạc |
| INFORMATION | |
| Death Reason | Natural causes |
| FAMILY | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Eastern Han Dynasty |
Biography & Historical Record
Ma Ping (马平, Mã Tỉnh), courtesy name Shushuo (叔硕), was an Eastern Han magistrate and the biological father of the Liang Province warlord Ma Teng (马腾, Mã Đằng) and grandfather of Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu). Hailing from Maoling County, Right Fufeng Commandery (present-day Xingping, Shaanxi Province), he was a direct descendant of General Who Pacifies the Waves Ma Yuan (Ma Yuan, 马援), the famous Han commander who secured the southern frontiers. Though belonging to a distinguished lineage, by Ma Ping’s time the family had fallen into severe poverty, losing their ancestral lands in the capital region.
Seeking a livelihood, Ma Ping migrated west to Liang Province, where his noble pedigree earned him the post of Magistrate of Langan (兰干长) in Hanyang Commandery. However, he was later dismissed from office due to political disputes, leaving him destitute in the harsh Northwest borderlands. Unable to afford the journey back to Fufeng, he settled among the Qiang tribal communities in Liang Province and married a Qiang woman. Their son, Ma Teng, grew up cutting firewood to support his impoverished parents before rising to military prominence. Ma Ping’s Qiang marriage established the deep kin ties with the northwestern tribes that later formed the core of Ma Teng and Ma Chao’s regional authority.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 10 (Gathering Arms, Ma Teng Rises for the Emperor; Avenging a Father, Cao Cao Campaigns Against Xu Province): When Ma Teng (马腾, Mã Đằng) enters the narrative as Governor of Xiliang alongside Han Sui (韩遂, Hàn Toại), his ancestral lineage is invoked, tracing back to Ma Yuan (马援, Mã Viện) and Ma Ping (马平, Mã Tỉnh). The novel highlights how Ma Ping’s tenure as Magistrate of Langan and his subsequent migration to Liang Province laid the foundation for the Ma family’s martial dynasty along the Northwest frontier.
Ma Ping (马平) — Historical & Literary Timeline
2nd Century AD
Magistrate of Langan
Serves as Magistrate of Langan in Hanyang Commandery before being dismissed from his official post.
2nd Century AD
Life Among the Qiang
Settles in Liang Province due to poverty and marries a Qiang woman, establishing deep tribal ties.
2nd Century AD
Birth of Ma Teng
Fathers Ma Teng in Liang Province, instilling in him pride in their ancestor Ma Yuan despite their poverty.
190s AD / Ch. 10
Ancestral Legacy
His descendants Ma Teng and Ma Chao emerge as dominant warlords of the Northwest during the Three Kingdoms era.
See Sanguozhi 36 (Biography of Ma Chao) and Ma Teng.
Key Relationships
Family
- Son Ma Teng (马腾, Mã Đằng): Warlord of Xiliang and General Who Guards the West.
- Wife Lady Qiang (羌氏, Khương thị): Mother of Ma Teng, hailing from a local Qiang tribe.
- Grandson Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu): One of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu Han.
- Grandson Ma Dai (马岱, Mã Đái): General of Shu Han who executed Wei Yan.
- Ancestor Ma Yuan (马援, Mã Viện): General Who Pacifies the Waves during the Eastern Han dynasty.
Friends
- Gentry scholars and frontier magistrates of Hanyang and Fufeng commanderies.
Enemies
- Corrupt court officials whose factional charges caused Ma Ping’s dismissal from office.
Other
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Chancellor of Han who later fought Ma Ping’s descendants in the Northwest campaigns.
In Novel
Chapter 10
- Ma Ping (马平, Mã Tỉnh): Mentioned through the familial heritage of Ma Teng (马腾, Mã Đằng) as he leads Xiliang forces toward Chang'an. The narrative traces Ma Teng's descent through Ma Ping to Ma Yuan (马援, Mã Viện), establishing the noble yet frontier-tested background of the Ma clan.
In History
Summary
- Ma Ping (马平, Mã Tỉnh) was an Eastern Han official who served as Magistrate of Langan before losing his post and marrying a Qiang woman in Liang Province, fathering the warlord Ma Teng.
Year: 2nd Century AD
- Sanguozhi 36 records Ma Ping's service in Hanyang Commandery, his poverty-driven move among the Qiang tribes, and his marriage that produced Ma Teng.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi 36 (Shu Book 6, Biography of Ma Chao); Dianyue (典略). Chen Shou notes Ma Ping's dismissal from office and his role in linking Ma Yuan's lineage to the Liang Province warlords.
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