The Battle of Bowang (博望之戰), more famously known as the Battle of Bowang Slope (博望坡之戰), was a battle fought near Fangcheng, Henan between the forces of Cao Cao and Liu Bei during the Three Kingdoms period in China. It is popularly remembered as famous strategian Zhuge Liang's first battle, although that is only a fabrication carried by the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Events Roman law bans female gladiators Deaths Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon (martyred) Perpetua (martyred) Felicitas (martyred) Yuan Shao, Chinese warlord Categories: 202 ... Henan (Chinese: 河南; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Liu. ... For other uses, see Cao Cao (disambiguation). ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Liu. ... Xiahou Dun (? – 220) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ... Combatants Yellow Turbans Han Dynasty Commanders Zhang Jiao Zhang Bao Zhang Liang He Jin Huangfu Song Lu Zhi Zhu Jun Dong Zhuo Cao Cao Strength 360,000 Various Casualties Unknown Unknown The Yellow Turban Rebellion, sometimes also translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: ) was a... Combatants Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition Dong Zhuo Commanders Yuan Shao Dong Zhuo The Campaign against Dong Zhuo (董卓討伐戰) in 190 was initiated by a coalition of regional officials hoping to end Chancellor Dong Zhuos influence in the ailing Han court in China. ... The Battle of Jie Bridge (Chinese: 界橋之戰, pinyin: Jièqiáo zhi zhàn) was a military engagement fought between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan in 191, at the beginning of the civil wars in China leading up to the fall of the Han Dynasty. ... Combatants Zhang Xiu Cao Cao Commanders Zhang Xiu Cao Cao The Battle of Wancheng (宛城之戰) was a historical battle fought in the later years of the Han Dynasty between the warlords Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu in 197. ... Combatants Cao Cao, Liu Bei Lü Bu Commanders Cao Cao, Liu Bei Lü Bu The Battle of Xiapi (下邳之戰) occurred in the winter of 198 between the forces of Lü Bu against the forces of Liu Bei and Cao Cao in the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of China. ... Combatants Yuan Shao Gongsun Zan Heishan bandits Commanders Yuan Shao Gongsun Zan† Zhang Yan The Battle of Yijing (易京之戰) took part shortly before the fall of the Han Empire in China, which began the era known as the Three Kingdoms. ... The Battle of Guandu (官渡之戰) was a battle in Chinese history. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Cao Cao Ma Chao Commanders Cao Cao Ma Chao Strength  ? 100,000 Casualties  ?  ? {{{notes}}} The Battle of Tong Gate (潼關之戰) was a battle between Ma Chao and the warlord Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms Era in China. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Cao Wei Shu Han Commanders Xiahou Yuan† Liu Bei The Battle of Mount Dingjun (定軍山之戰) took place in year 219, during the Three Kingdoms period of China. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Between 225 and 230, the Kingdom of Shu (a Chinese state that existed during the Three Kingdoms period) undertook a military campaign in its southern territories after incidents of rebellion by local governors (Zhu Bao, Gao Ding and Yong Kai) and intrusions by the Nanman (southern barbarians). Nanman was located... The Northern Expeditions (北伐) were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A.D. 228 to 234. ... The Battle of Jieting was a battle fought during the First Northern Expedition led by Zhuge Liang. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ... Combatants Shu Han Cao Wei Commanders Zhuge Liang† Yang Yi, Fei Yi Sima Yi Strength 100,000 200,000 The Battle of Wuzhang Plains (五丈原之戰) is a famous standoff between the kingdoms of Wei and Shu in 234 A.D. during the Three Kingdoms period of China. ... Henan (Chinese: 河南; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. ... For other uses, see Cao Cao (disambiguation). ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Liu. ... The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ... Zhuge Liang (181 - 234) was one of the greatest Chinese strategist of the Three Kingdoms era, as well as a statesman, engineer, scholar, and inventor. ... An illustration of the book Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Traditional Chinese: , Simplified Chinese: , pinyin: sānguó yÇŽnyì), written by Luó Guànzhōng in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based upon events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty, and the...

Background

Liu Bei originally sought refuge under Yuan Shao, but after Yuan's defeat at the Battle of Guandu, Liu Bei went to Jingzhou to seek a position under Liu Biao. Liu Biao initially welcomed him and stationed him in Xinye, but Liu Bei's virtue soon attracted many competent men to his camp and made Liu Biao suspicious. Thus Liu Biao sent Liu Bei to Bowang, near Jingzhou's northern frontiers, to defend against Cao Cao. Yuan Shao (? – 202) was a major warlord occupying the north of ancient China during the massive civil war towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era. ... The Battle of Guandu (官渡之戰) was a battle in Chinese history. ... Jingzhou (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Jīngzhōu) is a city in the Hubei province of the Peoples Republic of China, on the banks of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang). ... Liú Biǎo (劉表 142 – 208) was the governor of the Jing province in China towards the end of the Han Dynasty. ... Xinye (Chinese: ; Wade-Giles: Hsin-yeh) is one of the counties of Nanyang that lies in the southwest of Henan province in central China. ...

Cao Cao, at the time, was engaged in battles against Yuan Shao's remnant forces, namely his sons Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang. To counter Liu Bei's manoeuvre, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun, Li Dian, and Yu Jin south to attack Liu Bei. Yuán Tán (Chinese: ; pinyin: yuán tán) (173 – 205) was the eldest son of the warlord Yuan Shao and served as a military commander under his father during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. ... Yuán Xī (Chinese: ; pinyin: yuán xī) (176 – 207) was the second son of the warlord Yuán Shào and a military general under his father during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. ... Yuan Shang the third son of Yuan Shao. ... Xiahou Dun (? – 220) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... Li Dian was a renowned scholarly general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... Yu Jin (? – 220) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. ...

The battle

During the battle, Liu Bei suddenly burned his camp and retreated to the south. Xiahou Dun gave chase, but Li Dian warned against it, saying "The bandits retreat for no reason, I suspect there is an ambush. The paths to the south are narrow and the bushes are thick there. Do not give chase." Xiahou Dun ignored the caution, but left Li Dian behind to guard the camp while the rest of the army followed Liu Bei's retreating armies. As predicted by Li Dian, Xiahou Dun's men were ambushed and they were utterly defeated. Li Dian's regiment came to rescue them, and Liu Bei retreated after seeing Li Dian's reinforcements.

In the battle, Zhao Yun captured Xiahou Lan (夏侯蘭), who shared Zhao Yun's hometown. Zhao Yun asked Liu Bei to spare him, and recommended him to become an army judge. Zhao Yun (168-229) was an important commander of the civil wars of the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period of China. ...

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the novel by Luo Guanzhong, the credit for this victory went to Zhuge Liang, as Zhuge Liang's intelligence is exemplified soon after Zhuge became Liu Bei's strategist. The battle in the novel also took place in 208 instead of 202. Luo Guanzhong (Traditional Chinese: 羅貫中, Wade Giles: Lo Kuan-chung) was a 14th century Chinese author attributed with writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms and editing Outlaws of the Marsh, two of the most revered adventure epics in Chinese literature. ... hello my name is marco u ...

After Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei sang nothing but praises for Zhuge Liang, drawing the ire of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who thought Zhuge Liang was nothing more than a bookworm. So when Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun with an overwhelming hundred thousand men to attack Xinye, Zhang Fei suggested that Zhuge Liang can go repel the enemy by himself. Guan Yu (關羽) (162–219) was a military general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. ... In the Romance of Three Kingdoms, Zhāng Fēi (張飛)(168?-222 AD), courtesy name Yìdé (翼德), was first a butcher, than an officer of the Kingdom of Shu and the second member of the Five Tiger Generals. ... Xinye (Chinese: ; Wade-Giles: Hsin-yeh) is one of the counties of Nanyang that lies in the southwest of Henan province in central China. ...

Zhuge Liang understood the tension between himself, a newly appointed strategist, and the established warriors of Liu Bei's camp, such as Zhang Fei and Guan Yu; and was worried that they would not follow his commands easily. Thus, he asked Liu Bei for his sword and seal, the symbols of a supreme commander, and announced that anyone who disobeys his orders shall be executed. He went ahead to describe the battle plan: Guan Yu would lead 1000 men to ambush on a hill left of Bowang, and Zhang Fei to lead another 1000 men to lay ambush in a forest to the right of Bowang. Both were to burn the enemy's supplies when they see the fires to the south; Guan Ping and Liu Feng were charged with the task of setting fire to Bowang Slope once the enemy approaches; and Zhao Yun were to serve as vanguard with the orders "not to win, only lose"; Liu Bei himself would be backup. Zhuge Liang also told Liu Bei to prepare for victory celebrations. In the Romance of Three Kingdoms, Zhāng Fēi (張飛)(168?-222 AD), courtesy name Yìdé (翼德), was first a butcher, than an officer of the Kingdom of Shu and the second member of the Five Tiger Generals. ... Guan Ping (? – 219) was the first son of the 3rd century Chinese military general Guan Yu and elder brother of Guan Xing. ... In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, Liu Feng was the adopted son of Liu Bei, founder of the Kingdom of Shu. ...

When Xiahou Dun came to Bowang, he picked out half of the elite troops as vanguard, while the rest guarded the supplies. Zhao Yun came to battle Xiahou Dun, and lost again and again. Xiahou Dun led the pursuit, but subordinate general Han Hao warned him against ambushes, to which Xiahou Dun replied "Seeing the enemy as weak as such, even if they had ambushes on ten sides, what have I to fear?" Chasing deeper into the valley, Liu Bei came to attack Xiahou Dun, but soon retreated as well. Laughingly, Xiahou Dun said to Han Hao, "so this is the ambush you were talking about!", and pressed toward Xinye. Han Hao an officer of the Three Kingdoms Period that served under Cao Cao. ...

When giving chase, Yu Jin and Li Dian came to a narrow point, and a worried Li Dian told Yu Jin, "One who underestimates the enemies would certainly meet defeat. The terrain here is difficult, what if the enemies use fire here?" Yu Jin understood, and rode ahead to tell Xiahou Dun while Li Dian tries to stop his men. When Xiahou Dun realized the danger and tried to turn back, his surroundings were already raging with fire. The heavy winds picked up the fire, and helped the fire spread. The panicked armies of Cao Cao were stumbling on each other while Zhao Yun turned around to attack them. Xiahou Dun had to flee through the fire and smoke.

Han Hao and Xiahou Lan attempted to save the burning supplies, but they encountered Zhang Fei, who killed Xiahou Lan in one round. Han Hao fled, and so did Li Dian and Yu Jin. In the next morning, Xiahou Dun collected his surviving men and retreated to Xuchang. Xuchang (Simplified Chinese: 许昌; Traditional Chinese: 許昌; pinyin: Xǔchāng), with a population of over 4 million people, is a city in Henan Province, China. ...

After this episode, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei gave Zhuge Liang their full respect and never doubted him again. In Xuchang, Xiahou Dun tied himself up to see Cao Cao, wanting a punishment by death for his defeat. Cao Cao released him, and rewarded Li Dian and Yu Jin for their foresight.

Cultural references

The Battle of Bowang served as the basis for many skits for the different sects of Chinese operas; for example, it is featured in the Cantonese opera and the zaju (雜劇). 19th century Chinese opera Chinese opera costumes Chinese opera is a popular form of drama in China. ... Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern Chinas Cantonese culture. ...

Recently, the battle is featured in many Three Kingdoms-themed video games such as Warriors of Fate, Sangokushi Eiketsuden, Sangokushi Koumeiden, Sangokushi Sousouden, and Dynasty Warriors 4. In Warriors of Fate and Sangokushi Koumeiden, the latter of which follows Zhuge Liang's life, the Battle of Bowang is the games' very first stage. Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a cultural phenomenon. ... Warriors of the Fate start screen. ... Sangokushi Koumeiden (三國志孔明伝) is the second game of Sangokushi Eiketsuden tactical role-playing series published by Koei. ... Sangokushi Sousouden (三國志曹操伝) is the third game of Sangokushi Eiketsuden tactical role-playing series published by Koei. ... Dynasty Warriors (or 真・三國無双:Shin Sangoku Musou in Japan) is a series of video games created by Koei based loosely around the Romance of the Three Kingdoms epic, and is a spinoff series of ROTK ( Sangokushi ) The games in this series are as follows: Dynasty...

The ancient battlefield is now designated a county-level heritage (县级重点文物), where a stone monument commemorates this battle. Broken halberds and ashes of grains were discovered here, and were archaeologically determined to be from the Three Kingdoms period.

References

• Chen, Shou. Sanguo Zhi. with annotations by Pei Songzhi
• Luo, Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
• Sima, Guang. Zizhi Tongjian.
• http://www.fangcheng.gov.cn/lyzn/bwp.htm