| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 俞涉, 俞涉, Yú Shè |
| Other name | Du Thiệp |
| INFORMATION | |
| Died | 190 |
| Death Reason | Killed in battle by Hua Xiong |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Yuan Shu |
| Battles | Battle of Sishui Pass |
Biography & Historical Record
Yu She is a fictional officer appearing in Luo Guanzhong’s classic 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In strict historical reality, Yu She does not appear in Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) or Pei Songzhi’s commentary. He is a character created by Luo Guanzhong to serve as a dramatic foil during the Battle of Sishui Pass, establishing the terrifying martial prowess of Dong Zhuo’s general Hua Xiong before Guan Yu famously slays him.
In Chapter 5 of the novel, Yu She serves as a general under Yuan Shu, the Governor of Nanyang and one of the prominent warlords joining the eighteen-warlord coalition against the tyrannical prime minister Dong Zhuo in 190 AD. When the coalition army encamps outside Sishui Pass, Dong Zhuo’s grand general Hua Xiong rides out to challenge the allied commanders to single combat. Hearing Hua Xiong’s fierce provocative taunts, Yuan Shu boasts to the allied council, ‘I have a brave officer named Yu She who can slay Hua Xiong!’ Yu She eagerly accepts the command, mounts his warhorse, and sallies out with his weapon to engage Hua Xiong outside the pass.
However, Yu She’s duel with Hua Xiong proves tragically brief. In fewer than three bouts of combat, Hua Xiong overpowers Yu She and cleaves him off his horse, slaying him instantly in front of the assembled forces. Moments later, a scout rides back into the coalition headquarters to report, ‘Yu She has engaged Hua Xiong and was slain in less than three bouts!’ Yu She’s swift death shocks the allied warlords, including supreme commander Yuan Shao, demonstrating that Hua Xiong is no ordinary opponent and setting the stage for Pan Feng’s subsequent defeat and Guan Yu’s legendary feat of slaying Hua Xiong while the wine remains warm.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yu She’s narrative role occurs in Chapter 5 during the Grand Coalition’s campaign against Dong Zhuo at Sishui Pass. Volunteered by his lord Yuan Shu to duel Dong Zhuo’s champion Hua Xiong, Yu She rides out to fight but is slain in under three passes. His rapid demise serves as a narrative device to build immense tension and highlight Hua Xiong’s dangerous martial strength prior to Guan Yu’s duel.
Yu She (俞涉) — Literary Timeline
Volunteering for Single Combat
Volunteered by his lord Yuan Shu during the allied council at Sishui Pass to ride out and fight Dong Zhuo’s vanguard general Hua Xiong.
Duel with Hua Xiong and Death
Sallies out from the coalition encampment to duel Hua Xiong outside Sishui Pass; slain in fewer than three bouts of combat.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Yu She on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật): Served as a general under his command; Yuan Shu volunteered him to face Hua Xiong during the 190 AD campaign.
- Yuan Shao (袁绍, Viên Thiệu): Served as the supreme commander of the coalition forces that Yu She fought for at Sishui Pass in 190 AD.
- Pan Feng (潘凤, Phan Phụng): A fellow officer within the coalition forces who attempted to challenge Hua Xiong shortly after Yu She was killed.
Enemies
- Hua Xiong (华雄, Hoa Hùng): Dong Zhuo’s general who killed Yu She in under three bouts during the Battle of Sishui Pass in 190 AD.
- Dong Zhuo (董卓, Đổng Trác): The tyrannical prime minister and primary antagonist against whom Yu She and the coalition forces campaigned.
Other
- No information
Appearance
In Novel
Chapter 5
- Yu She (俞涉, Du Thiệp): Vanguard officer under Kong Zhou in the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition at Sishui Pass. He volunteers to duel Hua Xiong before Guan Yu's famous intervention and is slain in only a few bouts — the first of several challengers whose deaths establish Hua Xiong's terror and set up Guan Yu's wine-cup oath and single-combat victory.
In History
Summary
- Yu She (俞涉, Du Thiệp) is a minor warrior associated with the novel's account of the coalition against Dong Zhuo.
Historical Record
- In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yu She serves under Yuan Shu and challenges Hua Xiong at Sishui Pass, where he is quickly killed.
- This dramatic encounter is part of the novel's literary battle narrative and should not automatically be treated as historical fact.
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