Cultural Interpretation of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"

Author: Guo Ruilin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Therefore, the "loyalty" here primarily refers to loyalty to the Yan Liu realm and the Liu family's kingdom. Specifically, it means loyalty to Emperor Xian of Han and the later Shu Han regime. Those who remain loyal to the Liu clan and uphold the Yan Liu family's interests are loyal ministers and righteous men; conversely, those who betray the clan are traitors and rebellious ministers. Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Cao Pi are regarded as treacherous ministers and rebellious villains precisely because they disregarded imperial authority, arbitrarily deposed emperors, and manipulated the sovereign like a plaything, using the emperor to command the feudal lords. Once Dong Zhuo seized control of the court, he ignored the objections of ministers, deposed the young emperor and installed Prince Chenliu as emperor, and later even killed the young emperor and the empress. He also unilaterally decided to move the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an. Although Cao Cao did not arbitrarily depose emperors, he used the emperor to command the feudal lords, oppressed the sovereign, acted arrogantly, killed the imperial uncle Dong Cheng and the imperial father Fu Wan, poisoned the imperial princes, and forced Emperor Xian to proclaim himself as the Duke of Wei and the King of Wei. He even openly declared that he would only act like the Duke Wen of Zhou, implying that his son Cao Pi would usurp the Yan Liu realm and overthrow the dynasty. Cao Pi surpassed his father in using the position of a subject to pressure the sovereign and acting arrogantly. He impatiently usurped the Han throne just one year after ascending the throne, degrading Emperor Xian to the Duke of Shanyang. On the surface, it appeared to be a voluntary abdication like Yao and Shun, but in reality, it was a rebellious act by treacherous villains. The actions of Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Cao Pi completely violated the principles of being a loyal minister in the feudal era. They were acts of betraying and murdering the sovereign, not only deserving of public scorn but also deserving of divine retribution. As a result, the novel depicts Dong Zhuo's funeral being marked by divine anger—three consecutive storms of lightning, reducing his remains to nothing. Cao Cao was plagued by chronic migraines throughout his life and was even haunted by the spirits of the wronged after his death. Cao Pi, meanwhile, faced immediate retribution—when he was proclaimed emperor, he was struck by a fierce wind and sudden rain, and after ruling for only seven years, he fell ill and died at the young age of forty. In the author's view, all these events were divine retribution for the unloyal.
Where there are treacherous ministers and rebellious villains, there must also be loyal ministers and righteous men. To oppose Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao, and Cao Pi's disloyal acts, countless loyal ministers and righteous men risked their lives to fight for the preservation of the Han dynasty and the continuation of its legacy, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty to the Han. Ding Guan, the Minister of State, dared to strike Dong Zhuo with an elephant tusk scepter to protest his arbitrary deposition of the emperor, though he was killed, he "never ceased shouting until his death, his expression unchanged" (Chapter 4). Wu Fu, the Commandant of the Imperial Guard, was filled with righteous indignation upon witnessing Dong Zhuo's murder of the emperor and his consort, so he concealed a dagger and attempted to assassinate Dong Zhuo. Although the attempt failed, his spirit remained indomitable.