Summary it yourself
The "Taoyuan Brothers" between Liu, Guan and Zhang is probably the most familiar one among the Three Kingdoms stories. The first 85 chapters of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", from "The Peach Garden" to Liu Bei's entrustment, about two-thirds of the chapters are about the story of Liu, Guan, and Zhang's sworn alliance to conquer the world. Today, Taozhuang, southwest of Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province, is Zhang Fei's hometown according to the "Zhuo County County Chronicle", which is also the place where Liu, Guan, and Zhang became sworn brothers. Zhuozhou City expanded its opening to the outside world and used Zhang Fei's hometown to make a big fuss. It impressively launched the "Taoyuan Hometown" brand, attracting many Chinese and foreign tourists and merchants.
Jingzhou also has a deep relationship with the "Taoyuan Brothers". Because Jingzhou is the base for the Liu Bei Group to practice the oath of "Taoyuan Brothers", Jingzhou is closely connected with the careers and destiny of Liu, Guan, and Zhang. Because Liu Bei's group gained Jingzhou, it developed its ambitions and became the world's leader with Cao and Sun. However, because of the loss of Jingzhou, the "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" oath was not fulfilled, and the three brothers died as a result. If Zhuozhou is the place where the "Taoyuan friendship" begins, then Jingzhou is the place where the "Taoyuan friendship" comes to an end, and it is also the most important place where the "Taoyuan complex" of Liu, Guan and Zhang is reflected.
The "Taoyuan sworn friendship" from Zhuozhou to Jingzhou shows the basic trajectory of Liu, Guan, and Zhang Yi's marriage to the Han Dynasty, and shows their sincere and deep friendship that will last until death. It has become a favorite story widely circulated among Chinese people at home and abroad. People are all familiar with the story of "Brotherhood in the Taoyuan". As for its ins and outs, perhaps not everyone can answer them one by one. This article attempts to briefly talk about it from this perspective.
There is no classic book about the sworn relationship, but it is based on historical facts
Historically, the relationship between Liu, Guan, and Zhang was unusual. They are "righteous as kings and ministers" and "benevolent as brothers". This is clearly recorded in historical records.
"Three Kingdoms·Shu·Biography of Guan Yu" begins with the historical fact that Guan Yu fled to Zhuo County to gather with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei to start a rebellion, and also records that Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei "sleep together" Bed, Enruo Brothers" intimate relationship. Guan and Zhang followed Liu Bei from Zhuozhou to explore the world. They "did not avoid hardships and dangers" and were like brothers in private. However, in public, Guan and Zhang abided by court etiquette and "served by Liu Bei's side all day long". The distinction between master and slave was very clear. Guan Yu detained Cao Ying, and Cao Cao treated him favorably. He originally wanted to impress Guan Yu and keep him by his side, but Guan Yu firmly stated that he would return to Liu Bei, saying, "I swear to death by ***, don't break it." Liu, Guan The special relationship and feelings between Zhang and Zhang, who are "kind as brothers" and "swear to death", are reflected in many aspects, especially in the process of Wu and Shu fighting for Jingzhou. The close relationship between them as brothers is also recorded in the biography of Zhang Fei and the biography of Wei Chen Huaye.
Although historical records describe the very close relationship between Liu, Guan, and Zhang as "enruo brothers", there is no record of them officially becoming brothers. When they gathered to revolt in Zhuozhou, the word "Taoyuan" was not mentioned in the history books. It can be seen that the "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" was created by later generations. This creation is not pure fiction, but is based on historical facts. To believe that the story of "Sister-in-Charge in the Peach Garden" is purely a fiction of the novelist is not a correct conclusion of historical materialism; to think that the story of "Sister-in-Chief in the Peach Garden" is true may be because of too much faith in the novelist's writing style.
The reason why people firmly believe in the story of "Brotherhood in Taoyuan" may also be related to Zhang Fei's hometown in Zhuozhou. Zhang Fei's hometown is called Taozhuang, which was indeed his residence in the Han Dynasty. It is a large and complete village with a common name of "Zhang Feidian". In the early Republic of China, it was renamed "Zhongyi Store". In the village there are stone tablets such as "Zhang Fei Well", "Inscription on the Ancient Well of Zhang Huanhou of the Han Dynasty", and "Hometown of Zhang Huanhou of the Han Dynasty". Zhang Fei's hometown is called Taozhuang. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" writes that Liu, Guan and Zhang's "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" took place in Zhang Fei's back Taoyuan where the peach blossoms were in full bloom. After all the vicissitudes of life, "human and material evidence" seems to be there, which makes People can't help but not believe it.
In addition, some people believe that there may really be a "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" in history, but historians have not been able to record it. The omission of historical facts in history books has always been inevitable, but has the story of "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" really been omitted in history books? This can only be doubted as a family theory, and it is no longer possible to verify it.
The novel is not original and has been circulated before.
The historical novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" writes about "the friendship in the Taoyuan", which was not imagined by Luo Guanzhong based on historical facts. Before the book "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was written, the story of "Sister-in-law in the Taoyuan" had been circulated.
Many scholars originally believed that the story of "Sworship in the Taoyuan" was first seen in "Three Kingdoms". "Three Kingdoms Zhi Ping Hua" was published in the Zhizhi period of the Yuan Dynasty, that is, 1321-1323 AD. This is the earliest version of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" currently seen - the preface of Hongzhi Jiayin in the Ming Dynasty in 1494 AD, and the Jiajing Renwu in 1522 AD. "The Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is at least more than a hundred years earlier. The "Three Kingdoms Zhi Ping Hua" written in the Yuan Dynasty is divided into three volumes, upper middle and lower, with a total of more than 80,000 words. The text begins with "The Peach Garden Betrothal" and ends with Zhuge Liang's death from illness. The beginning and end of the story of the Three Kingdoms has been roughly summarized.
In the late 1950s, some scholars conducted research and proposed that the story of "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" had been widely known at least 50 years before the publication of "Pinghua". Because the plays of Guan Hanqing, a great playwright of the Yuan Dynasty who lived in the mid-13th century, mentioned this plot more than once.
In Guan Hanqing's drama "Single Sword Club", it is said that Liu, Guan and Zhang became sworn brothers in the peach garden, killing white horses to sacrifice to heaven and black cattle to sacrifice to earth. Later, around the 14th century, the unknown author also created a special drama called "The Peach Garden of Friendship".
Pinghua and Zaju, which reflected the story of the Three Kingdoms in the Yuan Dynasty, originated from historical books such as "Three Kingdoms" and folk oral literature. The story of the Three Kingdoms has been circulating among the people for a long time, and it began to be circulated as early as the end of the Three Kingdoms. The unofficial histories and miscellaneous records of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, as well as the poetry creations of the Tang and Song Dynasties, all reflect the stories of the characters of the Three Kingdoms. "Pinghua" is the basis for the speaking artists. The speaking artists tell the stories of the Three Kingdoms, and most of the content other than historical narratives is enriched by folklore. In the Song Dynasty, there were artists specializing in three-part stories, and there was a "Pinghua" book that told the story of the Three Kingdoms, but unfortunately it did not survive. Analyzing from the perspective of folklore, perhaps the story of "Brotherhood in Taoyuan" has been circulated as early as the Yuan Dynasty.
The story of "Sworn Brothers in the Taoyuan" told in "Pinghua" and Zaju in the Yuan Dynasty all have plots of slaughtering white horses and black oxen in Taoyuan to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. In the first chapter of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "A Banquet in the Peach Garden to Speak of the Three Sworn Brothers," it is also written that the three of them "prepared a black ox and a white horse sacrifice in the Peach Garden, etc." and burned incense and became sworn brothers with different surnames. Why use a white horse to worship the sky and a black ox to worship the earth? Why did you choose to marry in Taoyuan? This is all related to the ancient custom of setting up alliance oaths. White horses and black oxen were very revered in the eyes of the ancients. They were used to sacrifice heaven and earth to show the sanctity and solemnity of alliances and oaths. The main reason why we chose to form a sworn alliance in Taoyuan was because the ancients usually made a vow to kill animals in a special sacrificial forest. Taoyuan is a peach grove. Animals are killed in the Taoyuan to make oaths, and the Taoyuan plays the role of a sacrificial forest. Japanese scholars who study "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" believe that the slaughter of white horses and black oxen to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth was originally a Mongolian custom that was later spread to the Han people. The Han people have always had a special liking for peach trees. It has been a custom of our Han people since ancient times to regard them as auspicious objects that ward off evil spirits. Marriage in Taoyuan may also have the meaning of warding off evil spirits.
Since the "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" has a strong folklore color, there are many versions of the storyline of Liu, Guan and Zhang getting together to form a sworn brotherhood. Some people say that when Guan Yu traveled eastward to Zhuozhou, Zhang Fei was selling meat in the state. Zhang Fei only sold meat until noon. In the afternoon, he hung the unsold meat in a well and covered it with a large stone weighing 500 kilograms. He said that the meat would be given to anyone who could lift the stone. Just then Guan Yu came, lifted the stone as light as a bullet, took the meat and left. Zhang Fei chased after him, and the two began to fight. The two sides were of equal physical strength and were inseparable. Liu Bei happened to be selling straw sandals as he passed by and stopped them. The three of them got together to talk and agreed, so they formed an alliance in Taoyuan. In the alliance, there are also some different legends to determine who is the boss, such as announcing the birthday, climbing a tree, and in the end Liu Bei was smarter, so Liu Bei naturally became the eldest brother.
When "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" describes the gathering of Liu, Guan, and Zhang, it abandons some of the above-mentioned legends and highlights the background of the times. "Li Shu", as the purpose of sworn friendship, makes "Taoyuan sworn brotherhood" a qualitative sublimation based on the legend. It is undoubtedly in line with the character characteristics of the characters and the long historical tradition of our nation's righteousness.
China, a land of civilization, has a long history of righteousness.
Righteousness is a unique cultural quality of our nation and a significant national characteristic of China, a country of etiquette and righteousness. The story of "Brotherhood in the Taoyuan" is rooted in the deep soil of our national culture and is deeply imprinted on our nation's traditional morals.
Our ancestors have always advocated righteousness and regard righteousness as one of the basic moral principles that regulate people's thoughts and behaviors. The ancients explained "righteousness" and connected it with "yi". The so-called "righteousness is also suitable." "Book of Rites: Doctrine of the Mean". Han Yu's "Yuan Dao" further explains: "What is done appropriately is called righteousness." This means that righteousness generally refers to all righteous behaviors. It includes good characters and virtues such as honoring promises, keeping promises, supporting the weak, acting bravely when one sees justice, and being loyal to the country and nation. This kind of justice was not invented by Confucianism, but is inherent in our nation.
In "Historical Records·Biographies of Knights", Sima Qian affectionately praised some chivalrous people in the pre-Qin Dynasty, and wrote about their commendable chivalrous behaviors such as sacrificing themselves for others and showing kindness without seeking repayment. It is still fascinating to read today. move. In the history of our country, there are many loyal and courageous people who have gone through fire and water for the benefit of the country and nation, risking life and death without hesitation. They all reflect the temperament and character of our nation. Of course, both the chivalrous men of the pre-Qin Dynasty and the loyal ministers of the past dynasties inevitably have the limitations of the times and history. They cannot be fully absorbed and affirmed today, but righteousness is an act of justice and a kind of justice. Excellent moral character should be vigorously promoted at all times.
Precisely because the story of "Brotherhood in the Taoyuan" reflects our nation's unique quality of righteousness, it can arouse people's enthusiasm, gain people's appreciation, and has been widely spread for a long time. Liu, Guan, and Zhang's sworn oath, "Work together to rescue the poor and help the people in danger; report to the country, and protect the common people." These sixteen words will never become obsolete. The influence of "Taoyuan sworn friendship" is often imitated by future generations. When Mr. Sun Yat-sen recruited the Revolutionary Party, he organized everyone to burn incense and swear an oath in front of the altar of Guan Sheng Emperor and to aspire to revolution. See "The Biography of Chinese Immortals" cited in "Chinese and Foreign Magazine", Volume 21, Issue 4.
Now, we do not advocate the form of sworn friendship, and we are opposed to any unjust behavior that harms society in the name of sworn friendship. However, in terms of the positive meaning of righteousness, whether it is for the country or the people or for individuals, All actions have important value and should still be vigorously advocated under the new historical conditions.