| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 于诠, 于詮, Yú Quán |
| Other name | Vu Thuyên |
| INFORMATION | |
| Died | 258 |
| Death Reason | Killed in battle and committed suicide by fighting to the death at Shouchun (寿春; Thọ Xuân) (258 AD) |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Eastern Wu |
| Battles | Siege of Shouchun |
Biography & Historical Record
Yu Quan (died 258 AD), whose name is also written as Yu Quan (于詮), was a military officer of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. Serving under the Wu regime, he was known for his steadfast loyalty, strict sense of duty, and martial integrity. In 258 AD, during the regency of Sun Chen, the Wei general Zhuge Dan revolted at Shouchun against the Sima clan and requested reinforcements from Eastern Wu. Yu Quan participated as part of the Wu relief army commanded by Zhu Yi and Wen Dan to rescue Shouchun. However, due to effective blockades and counter-strategies by the Wei forces under Sima Zhao, the Wu army failed to break through. When Shouchun eventually fell and the relief mission collapsed, Yu Quan refused to surrender to the enemy, famously choosing to die for his integrity rather than face the dishonor of captivity.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yu Quan is featured prominently in Chapter 112 during the dramatic campaigns surrounding the rebellion of Zhuge Dan at Shouchun. When the besieged city falls to Sima Zhao and the surrounding Wu relief forces are completely routed, Yu Quan finds himself trapped and pressured to surrender. Remaining true to his code of honor, he refuses to yield to the enemy, utters his famous final declaration, removes his helmet and armor, and plunges into the thick of the enemy ranks to fight heroically to the death.
Yu Quan (于詮) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Relief Expedition to Shouchun
Yu Quan joins the Eastern Wu forces dispatched under Zhu Yi to rescue Zhuge Dan at Shouchun, engaging in fierce skirmishes against the encircling armies of Cao Wei.
Heroic Last Stand and Death
Following the defeat of the relief force and the fall of Shouchun, Yu Quan refuses to surrender, declaiming his duty to his lord, removing his helmet, and charging into enemy lines to die in battle.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Yu Quan on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Zhu Yi (朱异, Chu Dị) — An Eastern Wu general who commanded the relief expedition to Shouchun in 258 AD, under whom Yu Quan served during the campaign.
- Wen Dan (文钦, Văn Khâm) — A general of the relief force who fought alongside Yu Quan to assist the rebellion at Shouchun before the mission ultimately failed.
- Zhuge Dan (诸葛诞, Gia Cát Đản) — A Wei general whose rebellion against the Sima clan prompted the request for Wu reinforcements, leading to Yu Quan’s final military engagement.
Enemies
- Sima Zhao (司马昭, Tư Mã Chiêu) — The regent of Cao Wei who orchestrated the successful blockade and siege of Shouchun in 258 AD, ultimately leading to the defeat of the Wu relief forces and Yu Quan’s death.
Other
- Sun Chen (孙綝, Tôn Lâm) — The regent of Eastern Wu who authorized the military expedition to Shouchun in 258 AD, serving as the de facto ruler to whom Yu Quan owed his ultimate allegiance.
In Novel
Chapter 108
- Yu Quan (于诠, Vu Thuyên): Yu Quan serves Wu during the battle of Dongxing. When the Wei army attacks the fortifications, Yu Quan fights in the defensive action and then joins Ding Feng's counterattack. He is killed in the fighting during the successful defense against Wei. His death is part of the cost Wu pays even though Ding Feng's strategy ultimately destroys the invading Wei force.
In History
Summary
- Yu Quan (于诠, Vu Thuyên) was an Eastern Wu military officer remembered for his conduct during the failed relief of Shouchun in the rebellion of Zhuge Dan.
- His historical importance comes primarily from the account of his final stand rather than from a long independent biography.
Year: 257–258 AD — The Shouchun Campaign
- When Zhuge Dan rebelled against Wei, Wu dispatched forces to aid him. Yu Quan was among the Wu commanders involved in the attempt to relieve the besieged city.
- After the Wei forces broke the resistance inside Shouchun and the Wu army's position became untenable, many commanders surrendered.
Final Stand
- According to the historical account, Yu Quan refused to accept the outcome passively. He expressed the view that a man entrusted by his ruler to save an ally should not simply submit after failing to accomplish the mission.
- He therefore removed his helmet and charged into the enemy formation, where he was killed.
Historical Significance
- Yu Quan became an example in the historical narrative of loyalty to one's commander and willingness to die rather than surrender after a failed military mission.
Historical Record
- Yu Quan was a historical figure. His death is specifically recorded in the account of Zhuge Dan's rebellion in the Records of the Three Kingdoms.
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