Romance of the Three Kingdoms (commonly referred to as “Three Kingdoms”) is one of the four great classical novels of China. It not only represents a remarkable achievement in the realm of literary art but also has had a profound influence on the culture of East Asian countries.
One of the greatest accomplishments is that the author Luo Guanzhong vividly depicted characters with distinctly representative personality traits: a resourceful Zhuge Liang, a Liu Bei who appears benevolent and compassionate but is internally complex and profound, and a Guan Yu who is fiercely loyal yet also very arrogant…
Interestingly, later generations have always been curious about whether the author’s portrayal of gallant or villainous figures in the novel resembles their real-life counterparts, and even if there are discrepancies, those differences are often accepted.
This phenomenon also applies to the character Zhang Fei.
In the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Fei is the least favored among the three brothers due to his hot-tempered nature.
Despite his significant contributions to the Shu Han cause, being a renowned hero of the Three Kingdoms and praised by later generations, Zhang Fei is often seen as a quintessential example of a hot-headed, impulsive, and reckless character (“hot-tempered like Zhang Fei”). This impression is clearly shaped by the enormous influence of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
When archaeologists discovered and excavated a tomb identified as Zhang Fei’s in Sichuan Province, China, the artifacts found within the tomb astonished them.
First, the artifacts in the tomb demonstrate Zhang Fei’s remarkable calligraphy skills and scholarly achievements.
Specifically, experts uncovered numerous calligraphic works here. Previous historical studies had some artifacts that were replicas of Zhang Fei’s handwriting, but compared to the original works found in the tomb, these artifacts naturally do not reflect the true essence of his writing style.
The tomb also contains a stone tablet carved by Zhang Fei himself, showcasing that his calligraphy was exceptionally unique, both powerful and decisive, with an aura that is hard to match. Experts even assess that very few people from the Three Kingdoms period possessed calligraphy skills comparable to Zhang Fei’s!
Zhang Fei’s Tomb. (Photo: NetEase).
This analysis suggests that the real-life Zhang Fei was not a crude and reckless individual; his calligraphy skills may reflect his exceptional intellectual talents. In ancient society, those who could write beautifully were regarded as highly cultured, as anyone who practiced calligraphy understood the difficulties of ancient script.
The second surprise is his non-ordinary family background.
The inscription in Zhang Fei’s tomb also provides an overview of his life. According to records, Zhang Fei came from a relatively affluent family and had the opportunity to read and practice calligraphy from a young age.
When Liu Bei raised his army, Zhang Fei used his wealth to join Liu Bei’s cause, indicating that he possessed certain political acumen.
Thus, unlike the image of a reckless, brash hero from a humble background depicted in literary works, the real Zhang Fei was a talented individual with vision.
When experts revealed this historical truth, many expressed that they had been “deceived” by artistic works for too long. Clearly, these archaeological discoveries have played a significant role in understanding the complex reality of historical truths.
