Three Kingdoms History: Zhang Fei

Sworn brother of Liu Bei and Guan Yu. Second of the Five Tiger Generals.

Officer Details

Wade-Giles: Chang Fei (I-tê)
Simplified Chinese: 张飞 (益德)
Pronunciation: Zhang¹ Fei¹ (Yi⁴de²)  
Cantonese (Yale): Jeung Fei (Yik-dak)
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Zoeng Fei (Jik-dak)
Min-Nan: Thio Hui (Ek-tek)

Birthplace: Zhou County, Zhou
(Presently Zhouzhou City in He Bei Province)

Name Notes: Sanguozhi records Zhang Fei’s style as 益 (yi4: ‘benefit’ or ‘increase’) rather than 翼 (yi4: ‘wing’), as used in the novel, games, and most literature.

Rank and Titles

General of the Gentlemen of the Household; Grand Administrator of Yidu, General Who Subdues the Caitiffs, Marquis of Xinting; General of the Left (AD 219); General of the Chariots and Cavalry, Colonel Director of the Retainers, Marquis of Xixiang (AD 221); Marquis of Yueheng (posthumous)

Family and Relationships

Zhang Bao (Son); Empress Zhang (Daughter); Liu Bei ƒ, Guan Yu ƒ (Sworn Brothers)

Fact vs. Fiction

Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction

• The Peach Tree Garden oath did not actually take place but Sanguozhi states that Liu, Guan and Zhang ‘slept in the same bed and were as close as brothers.’
• Zhang Fei did not whip the court official when drunk in Anxi. It was Liu Bei, and he was not drunk. [SGZ: Liu Bei]
• Zhang Fei did not kill Cao Bao for drinking, they had a ‘falling out’. Cao Bao was not special to Lü Bu, but his death caused riots in the city. Yuan Shu corresponded with Lü Bu and it was Xu Dan that opened the gates. [ZZTJ: 62]
• Never shouted at Xiahou Jie, causing his death.
• Historically, Zhang Fei was a skilled military leader and more intelligent than the novel portrays.

Literary Appearances

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 1, 2, 5-7, 11-22, 24, 25, 28, 31, 34-43, 45, 49-53, 55-57, 60, 61, 63-65, 69-73, 76-78, 80, 81, 83, 85, 120

Sanguozhi: Shu 6

Popular Quotation

Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Chapter: 5
In a challenge to Lü Bu, Zhang Fei said, “Stay, O twice bastard! I, Zhang Fei of Yan, await you!”
[“三姓家奴休走！燕人張飛在此！”]

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• Zhang Fei’s Temple
  55 km from Wanxian and 64 km from Fengjie, Yunyang County serves as home to Zhang Fei’s Temple. …