| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 笮融, 笮融, Zé Róng |
| Other name | Sạ Dung |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Danyang Commandery, Yang Province (扬州丹杨郡; quận Đan Dương, Dương Châu) |
| Died | 195 |
| Death Reason | Killed by local mountain inhabitants and bandits after fleeing into the hills of Lingyang |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Tao Qian, Liu Yao, Independent Warlord |
| Battles | Defense of Xuzhou, Campaign against Liu Yao |
Biography & Historical Record
Ze Rong (historically transliterated as Ze Rong or She Jian in Western and Vietnamese scholarship, 笮融), was a prominent warlord, transport commander, and historical Buddhist patron during the late Eastern Han dynasty. Hailing from Danyang Commandery (modern-day Anhui Province), Ze Rong is documented in Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi – Book of Wu, Biography of Liu Yao) and Fan Ye’s Book of Later Han (Hou Han Shu). He remains one of the most paradoxical figures of the Three Kingdoms period: on one hand, he was a foundational patron of Chinese Buddhism who constructed grand temples, forged massive gilded Buddha statues, and hosted the earliest recorded public Buddha’s Birthday celebrations in China; on the other hand, he was a ruthless, predatory opportunist who repeatedly betrayed and assassinated his benevolent hosts to plunder their wealth and seize their territories.
Around 193 AD, Ze Rong led thousands of his Danyang followers to submit to Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province. Tao Qian appointed him as overseer of grain transport across Guangling, Xiapi, and Pengcheng commanderies. Exploiting his position, Ze Rong embezzled massive amounts of tax revenues and grain supplies. Instead of squandering his fortune purely on personal luxury, he devoted immense resources to erecting grand Buddhist infrastructure in Xiapi. He constructed a sprawling temple complex capable of housing over 3,000 monks and devotees, cast a monumental gilded bronze Buddha statue draped in silk robes, and built a magnificent nine-story bronze pagoda. During the annual Buddha’s Birthday festival, Ze Rong hosted lavish vegetarian banquets along riverbanks stretching several miles, distributing free food and wine to tens of thousands of refugees and pilgrims, thereby spearheading the spread of early Buddhism into the Central Plains.
When Cao Cao launched his devastating invasion of Xu Province in 193–194 AD to avenge his father, Ze Rong fled south with over ten thousand soldiers, followers, and refugees. Seeking refuge in Guangling Commandery, he was warmly received by Grand Administrator Zhao Yu, who hosted elaborate banquets in his honor. Driven by insatiable greed for Guangling’s wealth, Ze Rong ambushed and assassinated Zhao Yu during a feast, unleashing his troops to plunder the commandery before fleeing further south. Continuing his southward flight, Ze Rong submitted to Liu Yao, the Governor of Yang Province, who dispatched him to assist Zhou Hao, the Grand Administrator of Yuzhang Commandery. Once again, when Zhou Hao welcomed him with open arms, Ze Rong plotted his host’s murder, assassinating Zhou Hao to seize control of Yuzhang’s military forces.
Ze Rong’s atrocious streak of treachery enraged the regional warlords. Outraged by the murder of Zhou Hao, Liu Yao personally mobilized an elite cavalry army and marched against Yuzhang. In the ensuing clash, Ze Rong’s forces were utterly routed by Liu Yao’s disciplined troops. Terrified for his life, Ze Rong fled into the dense, precipitous mountains of Lingyang County. However, the local mountain inhabitants and bandits, abhorring his cruelty and notorious betrayals, hunted him down in the wilderness, decapitated him, and presented his head to Liu Yao to avenge the murdered ministers. Historical commentators noted the bizarre tragedy of his life: a man who funded eternal monuments to Buddhist mercy, yet met a gruesome death due to his own relentless wickedness and karma.
Famous Quotes & Historical Sayings
In the historical records of Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi – Book of Wu), historian Chen Shou remarked on Ze Rong’s monstrous duplicity and ultimate fate: ‘Ze Rong was ruthless and treacherous by nature, turning like a venomous serpent against the very benefactors who harbored him, such as Zhao Yu and Zhou Hao. Yet paradoxically, this violent man revered the compassionate Buddha, using plundered riches to cast golden statues and raise nine-story pagodas. His gruesome death in the deep mountain wilderness was direct karmic retribution; even the Buddha’s mercy could not shield such an unrighteous villain from justice.’
Ze Rong (笮融) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Overseeing Grain Transport & Grand Buddhist Patronage
Appointed grain transport commander by Tao Qian in Xu Province; embezzled regional tax revenues to construct a grand temple complex, a nine-story bronze pagoda, and a golden Buddha statue in Xiapi, hosting China’s earliest recorded public Buddha’s Birthday festivals.
Murdering Zhao Yu at Guangling
Flees south with thousands of followers during Cao Cao’s invasion of Xu Province; welcomed as a guest by Zhao Yu at Guangling, whom he treacheously assassinates during a banquet to plunder the commandery.
Murdering Zhou Hao & Defeat at Yuzhang
Submits to Liu Yao and is sent to reinforce Yuzhang; assassinates Grand Administrator Zhou Hao to seize his troops; subsequently routed by an enraged Liu Yao in battle.
Killed by Mountain Inhabitants in Lingyang
Flees into the rugged mountain forests of Lingyang after his army collapses; hunted down and slain by local inhabitants and bandits, who send his head to Liu Yao.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Ze Rong, She Jian on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- No information
Enemies
- Zhao Yu (赵昱, Triệu Dục): Grand Administrator of Guangling who warmly received Ze Rong as a guest during his flight south in 193–194 AD, only to be treacherously ambushed and assassinated by Ze Rong during a banquet so his commandery could be plundered.
- Zhou Hao (朱皓, Chu Hạo): Grand Administrator of Yuzhang who welcomed Ze Rong with open arms in 195 AD, but was murdered by Ze Rong in a treacherous bid to seize control of Yuzhang’s military forces.
- Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Do): Governor of Yang Province who initially accepted Ze Rong’s submission; outraged by Ze Rong’s murder of Zhou Hao, Liu Yao led an army against him in 195 AD, decisively routing Ze Rong’s troops and driving him to his death in the Lingyang mountains.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Warlord whose devastating invasion of Xu Province in 193–194 AD forced Ze Rong to abandon his base in Xiapi and flee southward with his followers.
Other
- Tao Qian (陶谦, Đào Khiêm): Governor of Xu Province who appointed Ze Rong as overseer of regional grain transport across Guangling, Xiapi, and Pengcheng, inadvertently providing the tax revenues and grain Ze Rong embezzled to construct grand Buddhist temples and statues.
In Novel
Chapter 57
- Ze Rong, She Jian (笮融, Sạ Dung): Ze Rong is described as a former subordinate of Tao Qian who had control over transport supplies and used them for his own purposes, including religious construction. He later follows Liu Yao and fights Sun Ce. After Liu Yao's defeat, Ze Rong flees with him and seeks refuge with Liu Biao. His appearance is brief but places him among the shifting warlords and local commanders of the lower Yangtze.
In History
Summary
- Ze Rong (笮融, Sạ Dung) was a late Eastern Han warlord and religious patron active in the Jianghuai region.
Religious Patronage
- Ze Rong became notable for his large-scale promotion of Buddhism and the construction of religious facilities.
- Historical accounts associate him with the building of a major Buddhist temple and the production of a large image of the Buddha, making him one of the earliest prominent Buddhist patrons recorded in Chinese history.
Military and Political Activity
- He operated amid the conflicts among regional warlords and controlled forces in the Pengcheng and surrounding areas.
- His political alliances shifted as the balance of power changed, eventually bringing him into conflict with other local authorities.
Death
- Ze Rong was eventually defeated and killed after fleeing from the forces pursuing him.
- Classification: Historical.
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