[ Yellow Scarves commander. Served with He Yi and He Man. Executed by Cao Cao.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Huang Shao
Simplified Chinese: 黄邵
Birthplace: Unknown
Name Notes: In the novel, Sanguo yanyi, the Chinese characters used for Huang Shao’s name are huang2 shao4 黃劭. In Sanguozhi, the Chinese characters are huang2 shao4 黃邵. We have chosen to use the historic rendering.
Rank and Titles
Yellow Scarves Commander
Family and Relationships
Fact vs. Fiction
Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction
- There is no historic mention of Huang Shao having been captured by Li Dian. He is simply mentioned as having been executed as a result of the battle. [SGZ: 1]
- Died in February AD 196, not AD 195. [ZZTJ: 62]
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 12
Sanguozhi: Wei 1
Zizhi tongjian: 62
Biography
Huang Shao was a Yellow Scarves commander from Yu province. In AD 196 he operated with He Yi and He Man, also the Runan and Yingzhuan commanderies in Yu province (1). In February AD 196 Cao Cao led a punitive expedition against them. They were defeated and Huang Shao and He Man were both executed. He Yi surrendered with what remained of his force. (2)
(1): Earlier in He Yi’s career his band of Yellow Scarves aided Yuan Shu and also operated in association with Sun Jian (a subordinate of Yuan Shu). Though there is no historic mention of Huang Shao and He Man having served along with him at this point it is possible given the fact they all hailed from Yu province.
(2): Zizhi tongjian 62, translation de Crespigny, Rafe, To Establish Peace I. Sanguozhi: Wei 1, biography of Cao Cao, translation by Adrian Loder.
In the novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Huang Shao served as the commander of He Yi and He Man. Describing a fictional event, after He Yi advanced and issued a challenge only to be defeated by Cao Hong, Li Dian immediately dashed forward into the midst of the Yellow Scarves and laid hands on Huang Shao whom he carried off captive. Cao Cao’s troops then set on and scattered the rebels. The spoil of treasure and food was immense. Later, after receiving He Yi from Xu Chu, both Huang Shao and He Yi were executed. (3)
(3): In the novel this battle takes place in AD 195.