Musashi Miyamoto

Miyamoto Musashi is known to be one of the most famous Samurai warriors. He was born in 1584, in a village located in Japan called Miyamoto. He was a descendent from the Fujiwara clan who were heavily known during the Heian time period.

He was an orphan at the age of seven, and was cared for by his uncle who is a priest. His father, Munisai Hirato, was also a warrior himself. Miyamoto Masashi did not have a very close relationship with his father, and at age seven, he was left in the care of his uncle who was a priest.
Musashi’s father was a warrior and soon followed in his footsteps by studying kenjutsu from an early age. At the age of 13, he experienced his first combat with a fellow swordsman named Arima Kigei, who Musashi had invited to a battle challenge.

These challenges were not just for the sake of battling of each other but for the primary purpose of who is the most superior at the school. Despite the young age Musashi, Kigei took on the challenge and was sorely defeated. Musashi struck him repeatedly with a stick that ended up killing him. This challenge helped Musashi to gain a sense of popularity and respect from his fellow peers.

During Musashi’s early life he learned how handle his famous musashi  katana with one hand instead of the standard two-handed grip. This allowed him the capability to handle two swords at the same time. At the age of 16, he decided that it was time to seek enlightenment through the way of the sword. He began his passageway by leaving home to go for his Musha-Shugyo which is known as warrior pilgrimage.

It is a long time samurai tradition, where a warrior travels all over, fights in duels to help with developing his skills, build his strength, and build up the value of the school that he had previously attended.

During the Musha-Shugyo period, Musashi was completely committed to it and denied himself basic luxuries such as bathing, marriage, and not cutting his hair. Throughout his battles he continued to remain undefeated. During his later years of his life, he gained personality qualities such as patience, humility than he was during his younger years.

He spent time devoting himself to other types of arts that were practiced by other samurais such as the art of Niten Ichi-Ryu kenjutsu. He wrote and published many works on the topic, along with the way of the sword. His works were causes Heiho Sanjugokajo translated as the
35 Articles on the Art of Swordsmanship which focuses on the principles, combat techniques and philosophy of Niten Ich-Ryu. The second was the Go Rin No Sho which is a Book of Five Rings and is known to be one of the most famous works focused on martial arts.

The Go Rin No Sho is focused on five sections which each named after the Japanese elements. Musashi also mastered other unrelated arts such as calligraphy, ink painting, wood sculpture, and metalworking. It is found that he is also known as Kensei, sword-saint. and is the most famous samurai in Japanese history.

Ma Chao

Ma Chao was born in Maoling, Fufeng Prefecture (northeastern Xingping now, Shaanxi), half Han Chinese descent and half-Qiang, Ma Teng, and Qiang's mother. His father was one of the many warlords who emerged in the late Han Dynasty, and was appointed "General Who Conquers the West" by the imperial court.
Ma Chao was ordered by his father to follow Yao Zhong, Ma Chao ordered his troops at the Battle of the River Fen (Pingyang) in AD 202. In this battle, the combined forces under the command of Ma Chao and Yao Zhong victory against the generals and Guo Yuan Yuan Shang.
Director of followers, to attack Guo Yuan and Gao Gan in Pingyang. In the next battle, Ma hit by an arrow in the leg. But she wrapped her legs with a bag and the battle continues. He managed to defeat the enemy, while his subordinates to kill Pang De Guo Yuan. When Cao Cao became chancellor and then, he wants Ma to serve in the capital but Ma refuses.

At that time, Ma Teng has a difference of opinion with Han Sui, "General Who Controls the West", and he left the Province of Liang to work in the capital. Ma Teng was appointed as "Minister of Guards" by Cao Cao, and the whole family moved to Ye. Stay in the province of Ma Chao Liang, and appointed "Lieutenant General" and ordered to take command of his troops. He also received the title of "Marquis of Duting"

In 210 AD, Ma Teng Cao Cao summoned to the capital of the Han dynasty (at the time), Xuchang. Ma Teng Ma Chao led an army in the West, however. For the time being, there is peace between Ma Chao restless and Cao Cao. In the year 211, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Yuan Zhong Yao and to lead troops to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. They will pass along the road Liang Province, and Ma Chao suspect that Cao was planning to attack him. He's at peace with Han Sui and contact Yang Qiu, Li Kan, Cheng Yi, and others. They form a force of about 100,000 strong to attack Cao Cao at Tong Pass.

Cao Hong back to Luo Yang and report to Cao Cao. Cao Cao's troops prepare to attack and seize back from Ma Chao Tong Pass. Before the battle, Cao Cao out to negotiate with Ma and Han Sui. Ma thought highly of him and secretly plans to capture Cao. However, he was afraid to move when guards Cao, Xu Chu, glared at him. Cao then puts Ma family, including Ma Teng (Ma Chao's father) death for alleged rebellion against the emperor.
Hearing the death of his father, Ma Chao, Cao increasingly upset with the action. Cao then attack Ma Chao at Tong Pass and can be defeated by Ma Chao's army, Battle of Tong Pass
In 211, Ma deploy troops to fight against Cao Cao to revenge his father and brothers, who was murdered on the orders of Cao. With the support of Han Sui, brothers of the oath of his father, Ma attacked Chang'an and conquers it with ease, after which he advanced to the direction of Tong Pass. Cao Cao was surprised and he sent Xu Huang and Cao Hong led 10,000 troops to block, issued an order for them to refrain from engaging the enemy and survive for 10 days. However, on the ninth day, Cao Hong could not bear the insults and taunts of Ma and his men, and led out to attack Ma without asking permission first. Xu Huang came to help Cao Hong, but both are not suitable for Ma, and loss of Tong Pass.

Cao Cao personally led the army to retake the Tong Pass. In the next battle, many of the best generals, such as Zhang He and Yu Jin, was defeated by Ma himself. Cao escape and he cut his beard and red robes thrown over flee to avoid identified by Ma's troops before rescued by Cao Hong and Xiahou Yuan. Cao Cao then led his troops across the river to cut off supply lines Ma, but Ma anticipate the attack and lying in ambush. Cao escaped again under escort Xu Chu, a man the strength of Hercules. Ma and Xu was involved in a long duel, and none of them managed to beat his opponent. The fight stopped when Cao ordered the retreat. Back at camp, Xu Cao praised as a mighty warrior who's right, who fought the ability befitted his nickname "Tiger Craze".
In the days that followed, Ma led his men to interfere with Cao troops and give them the opportunity to set up camps. Cao know it's hard to beat a brave general like Ma, so he accepted a strategy adviser Jia Xu to sow discord between Ma and Han Sui, and turn them against one another. Ma fell to execute the plan and he became suspicious of the Han. Finally, as tensions mounted, Ma faced with Han and Han tried to kill him but managed to escape under the protection of his men. Han defected to Cao Cao Cao and his troops took the opportunity to launch an attack. Ma defeated and fled with men who are still alive to join with Zhang Lu.

Ma led the troops from the western tribes to attack the prefecture in Longxi and handed him all prefectures, except for Jicheng Ma print. Victory in the Battle of Jicheng and kill Wei Kang, Inspector Liang Province, and occupied the city. He declared himself "Who General conquest of the West" and the provincial government took over Bing and control of military affairs in the province of Liang.

deputy Wei Kang, Yang Fu, Jiang Xu, Liang Kuan, Zhao Qu and others, are not happy with Ma Chao, and tried to expel him from Ji.
Although Ma Chao able to ward off attacks on officers Ji led by Cao Cao (especially Xiahou Yuan), he was finally forced out of town by some former followers Wei Kang. Yang and Jiang Licheng and rebelled at Ma in Jicheng to suppress the rebellion but failed. Meanwhile, Liang and Zhao Jicheng and Ma's close the gate denied entry. Fighting against rebels in Li (AD 213), Ma Chao firmly defeated and forced to live with the ruler of Hanzhong, Zhang Lu. He has been shut out of the city itself by the rebels.

Ma was not happy with Zhang Lu because she felt that Zhang was not able or ambitious enough to make great achievements. He asked Zhang to the troops to attack the provincial rut from time to time, but never succeeded. At Battle Mountain Qi (AD 214), Xiahou Yuan defeated Ma Chao.

Zhang never thought of marrying his daughter to Ma, but Shang Wang, one of Zhang's followers, opposed the idea, saying that Ma's bold but not inhumane and can not be trusted. Another follower Zhang suggested. That Ma will not love the people around him. Ma regretted that caused the death of family members. Families with hundreds of members, sharing all the same fate in a single day. Now that there are only two of us to give greetings to each other "?
Because the past was embarrassing Ma, Zhang Became suspicious of Ma's loyalty to uterus, and he Had to oversee and send Yang Bai Ma. After feeling that the province of Liang's not easy to conquer and that Zhang Lu does not believe him, Ma led his men out of Hanzhong to live with people around Wudu.

Zhang Fei and Ma Chao duel at Jiameng Pass
Jiameng Battle Pass is a fictional battle in the Story of the Three Kingdoms. Ma Chao fled after the defeat in the Battle of Tong Pass and joined the warlord Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Zhang Ma later assigned to lead the troops to strengthen Liu Yi Zhang in the Province, which was attacked by Liu Bei. Ma's first meeting with Liu Bei's forces are in Jiameng Pass. Zhang Fei he was involved in two long duel, with neither of them emerged the winner. For fear that they might get hurt, Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang consulted and they agreed that Ma would be a valuable ally, given the ability to fight, if he submitted to Liu. Liu Li Hui then send to persuade Ma to join, while using the tricks to make Liu Zhang put distrust to Ma. Ma ponder the situation and finally decided to pledge allegiance to Liu Bei. He became one of the Five Tiger General of Shu Han later.

Services under Liu Bei
When Ma heard that Liu Bei had surrounded Liu Zhang in Chengdu, he killed Yang Bai to prove his loyalty and deliver a secret letter to Liu Bei, asking to join him. Liu Bei was delighted and he sent Li Hui to take Ma to Chengdu. Liu Zhang and Liu Bei occupied surrender Yi Province. Liu Bei Ma picked as "The General Who would calm the West" and put him in charge of Linju. Ma was later promoted to "General of the Left" when Liu Bei declared himself the "King of Hanzhong." In 221, Ma was appointed "General of the Agile Cavalry" and Governor Liang, and received the title of "Marquis of LIXIANG"

During the campaign Hanzhong, Ma follow to attack Zhang Fei Cao Hong in Wudu. Ma and Zhang tried to trick Cao Hong to believe that they were planning to attack the route back, but Cao Xiu to see through the ruse and advised Cao Hong to launch a counterattack. Ma and Zhang defeated and forced to retreat. As a consequence of the defeat of Ma, the people in turning their allegiance to Cao Hong and kill Wu Lan, one of the subordinate Ma and Zhang.


When Peng Yang was appointed governor of Jiangyang and was about to leave Chengdu for the win, he visited the Ma and said, "If you are responsible for external affairs and I was responsible for internal affairs, the state will not be difficult. To calm the" Ma Peng interpret the statement as: " If you are outside Chengdu rebel and I helped you in, this country is not difficult to conquer. " Therefore, Ma quietly reported "treasonous speech" to the chancellor of Zhuge Liang Peng and Peng was executed for plotting rebellion.
In short, the primary concern after joining Ma Shu Han is to strengthen its position in the state by getting rid of Peng Yang, Zhuge Liang did not like it.

After Liu Bei made himself emperor and established the kingdom of Shu Han, Ma Chao was entrusted to keep the defense Yan Ping Pass (North Shu) from attack Kebineng (Qiang Chieftains), and attack the kingdom of Wei. Ma Chao died at the age of 47 years to 222 AD Before his death, he wrote a letter to Liu Bei, "Most of my extended family of 200 people were killed by Cao Cao. Only my younger cousin Ma Dai left. Let him continue the family line. I entrust him to you, Your Honor. That's all I'm saying.

Ma given the posthumous title of nobility "Marquis of Wei" and the title passed down by his son, Ma Cheng. Ma's daughter later married Liu Bei's son Liu Li, Prince of Anping. When Ma crossed over to Liu Bei, he left his concubine (surnamed Dong) and son (named Ma Qiu) in the domain of Zhang Lu. After Zhang's surrender to Cao Cao, Cao served Dong Pu and Ma Yan Qiu to Zhang. Zhang Qiu Ma kill personally.

Three major differences between Ma in the novel and in history that actually is:

1. In this novel, Cao Cao found That Ma Teng was planning installments with others, Including Liu Bei and Dong Cheng, "to kill uterus, so he decided to get rid of Ma Teng.

2. He lure Ma Teng and her children to Luoyang and have killed Them. Ma Chao was furious and vowed to Revenge his father and brother, so he led a Rebellion against Cao Cao.

3. In actual history, Ma Chao's family were the resource persons Executed by Cao Cao after Ma started the Rebellion.

4. In the novel, Ma Chao described as "Courageous, but Could not." However, in actual history, said Ma Ying comparable with Bu, Peng Yue and Han Xin from the early Han Dynasty.

5. In the novel, Ma Died up to 225, three years after his death in actual history.


Difference Between Fact and Fiction General
1. Ma Chao may not participate in the attack on Li Jue Ma Teng. If he fought in this campaign, he did not kill or capture Mr. Wang Fang Li Meng.

2. Ma Chao Ma Teng commanded troops in the Battle of the River Fen (AD 202), the battle is not mentioned in the story of the Three Kingdoms.

3. Ma Chao did not kill TDI around Tong Li Tong Pass.
Contrary to the novel, Ma Teng, Chao's father, died after Ma Chao rebelled against Cao Cao.

4. Ma Chao had fought in major battles with Zhong Yao.
historical sources do not mention Ma Chao duel with Yu Jin, Cao Hong, Zhang He, or Li Tong. Ma Chao is also not come close to killing Cao Cao at Tong.
Xu Chu, Cao Cao's bodyguard, not a duel with Ma Chao (historical).

5. Ma Chao is not cut off your left hand Han Sui (historical).

6. While praising Ma Chao, Chao Ma Ying Bu like, not Lu Bu.
It is not clear whether Ma Chao duel with Yang Fu in Licheng. Yang Fu wounded several times in battle.

7. Ma Chao had dueled with Zhang Fei in Jiameng Pass or fighting with the army of Liu Bei (historical).

8. Xiping Ma Chao does not maintain or prevent the invasion of Shu Xianbei. In fact, Kebineng, Xianbei king, is the enemy of Wei, and never in the history of war with Shu.

Some are saying about Ma Chao;

1. "Pride Ma Chao and his ability was too high causes the destruction of his entire clan What a pity!. If he can give up to pursue fame and glory and to refrain from competing with others, he will not save themselves from disaster?" (Chen Shou).

2. "If a young horse is not dead, I will not be able to have the location of the grave!" (Cao Cao)

3. "Mengqi are experts in both civil and military affairs He is fierce and mighty. And a hero in his time. He is comparable to the Qing and Peng Yue. He can. Compete with Yide, but not as good as the never sijanggut unrivaled." (Zhuge Liang).

4. "Dozens of generals in the Guanzhong may not united among themselves, only Han Sui and Ma Chao are the ones most powerful .." (Xun Yu).

5. "(Ma) Chao has the courage, but humanity does not, he knows loyalty but he can not be trusted in a relationship that requires an interdependence." (Wang Shang).

6. "(Ma) Chao has the courage Han Xin and Lu Bu, and he has support from the community Qiang and Rong. If we retreat now and do not reinforce the station's defense here, we lose all the prefectures in Longxi." (The Fu)

7. "(Ma) Chao strong but cruel, he is morally weak and susceptible to temptation and trickery." (The Fu)

8. "A child does not serve that would betray his own father, and a ruthless underling who tried to kill his master." (Ms. Yang Fu).

9. "If someone can not love his own family, how he loves someone else?" (Followers of Zhang Lu)

10. "(Ma Chao) stood up, forming alliances, start a rebellion in Three Qin, conquered the river and Tong Pass (He) rebelled. On the court, regardless of whether his followers agree or disagree with him. (In doing so, she) gives an opportunity for the enemy to sow discord (between him and his men), resulting in the destruction of his family and the force (him) against the moral and ethical. and finally had to rely on the Dragon and Phoenix. "(Xi Yang)

11. "Ma Chao betrayed his father;. (This is) an example of extreme cruelty" (Sun Sheng)

12. "A real tiger of a general." (Liu Bei)

Source : http://aggas2nd.blogspot.com

Zhao Yun

Zhao Yun (Zilong) was said to be about 6’ 2’’ in height. Zhao Yun held office in his hometown county of Changshan until in AD 191 at the age of 23 he decided to serve as an officer under Gongsun Zan in preference to Yuan Shao who was also a powerful warlord near his home region (he decided to serve Gongsun Zan because he believed him to be more righteous). He met Liu Bei while under Gongsun Zan’s command. Liu Bei respected Zhao Yun. Yun led Liu Bei’s cavalry unit when Liu Bei was sent by Zan to aid Tian Kai against Yuan Shao. Zhao Yun later left Gongsun Zan’s forces, as he was unimpressed by his attitude, to attend his elder brother’s funeral.

After about 6 years of absence during which time his activities were unknown, Zhao Yun reappeared in AD 200 where, in the city of Ye, he met Liu Bei when the latter was on the run after having been defeated by Cao Cao. Zhao Yun recruited a small band of men for Liu Bei to command.
In AD 207, Xiahou Dun attacked Liu Bei at Bowang. Zhao Yun competed in the battle and managed to capture and recruit the enemy general, Xiahou Lan.
In AD 208 Cao Cao assembled an army and marched south to take Jingzhou. Liu Cong, younger son of Liu Biao and the then leader of Jing, yielded. Liu Bei was forced to flee and headed towards Jiangling. Cao Cao sent 5000 elite light armoured cavalry after Liu Bei. Liu Bei was caught up with and routed at Changban. He then deserted his family and infantry and fled with Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and the cavalry. A short time afterwards, Zhao Yun turned back into the enemy’s location and managed to locate Liu Bei’s wife and son and safely escorted them back to Liu Bei. He was rewarded with the rank of ‘General of the Standard’. (It is interesting that the daughters were captured by the enemy whereas the wife and son escaped. I surmise that is likely that the daughters would have initially been together with the wife and son. I would say this because it seems unlikely that the mother would have been with her son yet apart from her two daughters. I would think the mother would allow none of her children to escape her sight. I therefore believe that the enemy captured the entire family first and that is when the daughters were separated from the mother and son. I believe then that Zhao Yun arrived on the scene and attacked the enemy contingent holding the wife and son. I am making another logical assumption that Zhao Yun would not have saved the mother and son while simply leaving the daughters behind. My overall conclusion therefore is that Zhao Yun did indeed encounter enemy troops when he rescued the wife and son. There is no proof that he did encounter enemy troops or not, however the above is my view.)
After the battle of Chi Bi, Cao Cao was forced to withdraw the bulk of his forces from most of Jingzhou. Zhao Yun played an important role in capturing the four southern districts of Jingzhou for Liu Bei. Zhao Yun was thus given the post of ‘Governor of Guiyang’.
Before Liu Bei left for Yi province, he moved Zhao Yun to Gong’an. He instructed Zhao Yun to discipline the servants of Lady Sun, whom were causing trouble among the locals. Zhao Yun succeeded in his mission and Liu Bei left Gong’an in Zhao Yun’s hands when he departed to Yizhou.
In AD 212 Liu Bei ordered Zhuge Liang to bring reinforcements to aid his conquest of Yizhou. Zhuge Liang brought Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei with him and headed towards Jiangzhou. After they all conquered Jiangzhou (Yan Yan’s territory), the three generals split apart. Zhao Yun led his own contingent of troops along the more southern route and conquered Jiangyang and Jianwei on his path to Chengdu. (Zhao Yun is one of only three men to be mentioned by name as part of the reinforcements and thus his role was clearly major). Zhao Yun was given the rank of ‘General of the Flying Army’ after Yizhou was fully conquered.
At this time, Liu Bei’s advisers were keen on handing the people’s houses to Liu Bei’s generals. Zhao Yun begged to differ and presented a sound argument to Liu Bei which was accepted.
In AD 219 during Liu Bei’s attack on Han Zhong, after Huang Zhong defeated Xiahou Yuan, Cao Cao amassed a large army to retake Han Zhong. Zhao Yun, at 51 years of age, was alongside Huang Zhong to defend against this threat. Huang Zhong took his own troops and most of Zhao Yun’s in an attempt to raid Cao Cao’s supplies. When Huang Zhong did not return by the specified time, Zhao Yun took his few remaining troops to investigate. After a short time he ran into the frontline of Cao Cao’s main force. Zhao Yun fought for a short time, but being vastly outnumbered was eventually encircled. After having forced his way through Cao Cao’s army, Zhao Yun decided to turn back to rescue his subordinate officer, Zhang Zhu, who had fallen behind. Retreating back to camp Zhao Yun was tailed closely by Cao Cao’s main force. The size of the enemy force convinced Zhao Yun that it was impossible to hold out for long by shutting the gates. He therefore devised the strategy of opening the gates and silencing any noise. Cao Cao’s army, fearful of an ambush, retreated. Zhao Yun proceeded to surprise Cao’s army from behind with arrows. As a result of this feat, Zhao Yun was nicknamed as ‘General of Tiger Valour’ by the army from then on. (It is important to note that this was not an official rank given by Liu Bei but rather a nickname bestowed on Zhao Yun by the Shu army. This is a clear sign that Zhao Yun was deeply respected by his men. His ability therefore must have been beyond the average general. Most generals are not on record for this kind of honour.)
In AD 222, Zhao Yun objected to Liu Bei’s campaign against Wu. Zhao Yun was therefore not directly used in the ensuing conflict. He was instead given charge of Jiangzhou (a local territory that Yan Yan previously controlled).
After Liu Bei’s death, Zhao Yun was promoted to ‘General Who Guards the East’ and was moved to Ba (a territory located in the east close to Wu) to defend against the possibility of a Wu invasion since relations were rocky at the time.
In AD 228 during Zhuge Liang’s famous northern campaign to take Mei, Zhao Yun was a chosen to act as a decoy. To the end he was given a small force and instructed to confront a much more powerful enemy army led by the famous Wei commander, Cao Zhen. Zhao Yun realised he was outmanned and decided to pull back. Zhao Yun himself guarded the rear during the retreat, thus protecting his men and saving supplies at risk to himself. Zhuge Liang, offered to reward him and his men for their performance but Zhao Yun declined the honour and insisted that since it was a defeat, rewards should not be given. Zhuge Liang admired his integrity.
Zhao Yun died in AD 229 at the age of about 61.
Personal Conclusion: In my opinion it would be clear that Zhao Yun’s accomplishments were not only the mark of a very capable general but also that of a hero. His rank was low throughout his career, however his achievements and his roles were major. There is definite proof that Zhao Yun was used in major positions in every campaign upon joining Liu Bei in AD 200. His low rank is therefore a point of confusion. I read in Han Dang’s SGZ bio that his (Dang’s) rank was low due to his generosity in giving other generals his captive soldiers. Apparently rank was partially calculated according to how many enemy soldiers the general and his soldiers captured during the various battles. Han Dang gave his captive enemy soldiers to other generals and hence they advanced much quicker in rank than he did. It is possible that a similar situation applied to Zhao Yun. This is just speculation however Zhao Yun’s selfless nature would support this.

Source : Kongming.net

Honjo Masamune

One of the greatest swordsmiths in Japan is Masamune Okazaki. Masamune is almost legendary in Japan. Most of his work was done during the 13th and 14th century. Most Japanese and historians may agree that Masamune has lived in the Sagami province. His most famous works are the tachi swords and tanto daggers. His works are recognized as the best creations that an award called Masamune prize is given as recognition to top swordsmiths for creating exceptional swords.

Masamune had learned the art of swordsmithing from Shintogo Kunimitu. He often produced blades with a straight temper line. His swords can be distinguished by clear grey lines called chikei and lines that resemble when lightning strike called kinsuji.

Masamune is known to be the most famous Japanese sword maker of all times. The swords of Masamune have a solid reputation for superior quality and beauty. He is considered to be responsible to bring perfection to the art of “nie” where martensitic crystals are embedded in pearlite matrix believed to resemble stars in the night sky.

Masamune swords

Just like in music there are such classics as Bach and Beethoven, Japanese sword-making exist some names that are associated with exquisite perfection and art. Masamune is definitely one of them. His swords are famous for quality and originality and are considered as an example of that fine art of sword-making. What is most amazing is that at 13th century there weren’t any sophisticated forging tools and steel used for sword-making was as a rule impure. Nevertheless, many sword-makers today can’t compete with Masamune swords when it comes to elegance, nie (martensitic crystals in pearlite) and what’s most important - quality.

Legends of Masamune

It is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction on legends of Masamune. The sword of Masamune was said to cut ten thousand Mongol necks, mails, and helmets without suffering any dent during the Mongol invasion of Japanese shoguns in the 13th century.

Legend also has it that his sword can easily cut a blade of grass blown by the wind but the leaf restores its original shape as it travels away. While other stories tell that when a samurai warrior sways a sword created by this well known Japanese sword maker at nightfall, the Masamune sword shines like a lone star in moonless night sky.

Famous Masamune blades

Perhaps the most popular swords created by Masamune are the Honjo Masamune. It became the symbol of the Tokugawa shogunate and is highly regarded as one of the finest Japanese swords to be ever created. It was declared as a national treasure in 1939.

The name of the sword was coined after General Honjo Shigenage who won the sword in a battle. He took possession of the sword from Umanisuke and actually split Shigenaga’s helm with the blade. In the turn of events, Shinenaga survived and took the swords as prize after killing Umanosuke. He managed to keep the sword but had to sell it due to being low on money. Toyotomi Hidetsugu the nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi bought the sword and passed the blade on to his uncle who would later pass it down to future shoguns including Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa Yorinobu, and Tokugawa Ietsuna. Ietsuna was the last of the Tokogawa shoguns. The blade then remained in his family. The sword was soon passed down through the line until World War II. It was when Tokugawa Iemasa surrendered the sword to a police station along with fourteen others. These swords were then passed on to members of the 7th cavalry in 1946. After these events, the swords were missing as the location of the Honjo Masamune remains unknown today.

The sword smith signed one of the few Masamune including the Fudo Masamune. In 1601, it was purchased by Toyotomi Hidetsugu in 1601 and passed down through the Owari Tokugawa. Its designs as a tanto sword shows grooves on one side and a dragon engraved on the part of the blade. It also features an engraving of the Buddha deity Fudo Myo-o, the source of the sword’s name.

Hocho Masmaune refers to the three different tanto blades. The three swords are quite unusual for having wide bodies. In fact, they closely resemble kitchen knives more than daggers. One of these blades is currently displayed at the Tokugawa Art Museum.

There are several but a few Masamune blades found outside of Japan. After World War II, the government of Japan offered a Masamune to President Harry Truman as a show of solidarity and peace between the two countries. This sword is currently on display at the Truman Presidential Library.

Hanzo Hattori

Hattori Hanzo (1542-23 December 1596), also known by the name Hattori Masanari, is a leading sala a ninja in the history of Japan. He often appeared in the manga and novel fiction, portrayed dressed all in black and has a remarkable ability to ninjutsu. Ranging from science lighten the body, diving, went underground to camouflage themselves in darkness. Ironically, in various historical encyclopedia, Hanzo rarely written or well-known as a ninja. To be sure, he served Tokugawa Ieyasu was recorded with very loyal. Top cleverness in arranging tactics, he earned the nickname Oni-Hanzo (Devil Hanzo).

Hattori Hanzo Early Life
In the legend, Hattori Hanzo was recorded as a superhuman ninja warrior. Narrated Hanzo has kemamuan to eliminate self-perfect. He also mastered the use of rope to catch the enemy properly. The ability of psychokinesis and psychomancy was reputedly controlled by Hanzo, allowing it to predict the opponent''s tactics and strength accurately. In addition to a ninja, he is also known as high-capable swordsman, a composer well versed in telling tactic used spears. Hattori Hanzo began studying martial arts at age 8 years at Mount Kurama and at age 12 managed to become a ninja. At the age of 18 years, successfully reaching Hanzo ninja master position. His father, namely Yasunaga, serving as the leader Kuyoyasu Matsudaira clan of Mikawa, Ieyasu Tokugawa''s grandfather as well. Although born and raised in Mikawa province, he often returned to Iga as the home of the Hattori family who has the power as a community leader in the province of Iga ninja.

Hanzo and Ieyasu Tokugawa
The relationship between Hanzo and Ieyasu Tokugawa, the shogun of Japan, began when 26-year-old Hanzo. While living in Mikawa, he challenged Hanzo to hold his breath underwater and even strangle Hanzo neck with a piece of cloth. Hanzo faced with the challenge calmly and finally he came out a winner. Ieyasu''s pale and panting out of breath to ask about how long a ninja could stay underwater, which was answered by Hanzo, "One or two days, depending on demand monitoring view." To prove it, he again dived into the water until a few hours duration until Ieyasu worried and started calling his name. Hanzo come to the surface without any signs of running out of breath and gave a short sword that had been there at the waist Ieyasu. Ieyasu immediately fascinated with the ability Hanzo and his men made it a mainstay at once his best friend.

Tokugawa Ieyasu then establish a central government that lasted 300 years, lasted for 15 years, generations of offspring. The success could not be separated from the ability of Ieyasu in lobbying many talented soldier. He employs many people with different backgrounds in an attempt to collect science and knowledge. Ieyasu also much helped by the ninja clan, especially Hanzo. During the Warring States Period, the ninja is an important agent in the collection of information and fast execution. Although many daimyo who hire ninja but no daimyo Ieyasu smart as a way of piki and cleverness liked the ninja. One of the success and proof of loyalty is when Hanzo on Ieyasu Ieyasu kiss insurgency intent on Nobunaga in Honno-ji temple. Hanzo asks his master to come to Iga, returned to Mikawa with the help of Iga and Koga ninja and attacked the soldiers who defected. Ieyasu also agree with the proposal Hanzo. After collecting about 300 ninja, Hanzo Honno-ji attack while hidden in Mikawa, Ieyasu. Hanzo rewarded with the success of employing all the ninja who helped in the fighting.

Then in 1590, when Ieyasu lived in Edo, the ninja is given a residence in Edo castle west wing. The area was named Hanzo-Cho, and one of the gates of the palace named Hanzo-mon (Gate Hanzo). When the Battle of Winter and Summer Battle of Osaka which happened in the years 1614-1615, became the greatest battle that ever happened in Japan. In war, the ninja''s heyday reach where they are very big role in maintaining the leadership and send information. When Sanada Yukimura, one of the leading generals of Toyotomi busy preparing tactics in the court of Osaka, Ieyasu sent a letter containing the offer of arrows 100,000 koku of rice. Ieyasu also ordered the ninja disguised as a ronin and entered the Osaka castle to gather information. Their ability to disguise finally make the Toyotomi clan missed a lot of valuable information, which led to his downfall at the Battle of Winter and the Battle of Summer.

The Death of Hanzo Hattori
Hattori Hanzo died in 1596 at the age of 55 years. Some say Hattori died because of illness, but there is also a believer that Hattori was killed in a battle by a ninja named Fuma Kotaro. Hattori power handed down to his son Masanari 18-year-old when his father died. Unfortunately he did not master ninjutsu and negligent in allowing lead Iga ninja clan considers inappropriate Masanari menwarisi big name Hanzo and cause disunity. The ninja who rebelled Masanari urged to step down from the leadership. The number of rebel ninjas are not recorded clearly but the historians recorded the uprising as one of the biggest revolt in the history of Japan. In the year 1605, Iga clan split into 4 sections and each led by a samurai-based low. Iga has never again reached such glory that never achieved Hanzo.

History of the Ninja

Black-clad figures with muffled faces skitter through a courtyard, swarming over walls like spiders and running lightly across rooftops, quick as cats.
An unsuspecting samurai sleeps peacefully as these shadows permanently silence his body guards. The bedroom door slides open without a sound, an up-raised blade glints in the moonlight, and...
This is the ninja of the movies and comic books, the stealthy assassin in black robes with magical abilities in the arts of concealment and murder.
This wraith-like being is very compelling, to be sure. But what is the historical reality behind the popular culture icon of the Ninja?

Origins of the Ninja:

 

It is difficult to pin down the emergence of the first ninja, more properly called shinobi. After all, people around the world have always used spies and assassins.
Japanese folklore states that the ninja descended from a demon that was half man and half crow. However, it seems more likely that the ninja slowly evolved as an opposing force to their upper-class contemporaries, the samurai, in early feudal Japan.
Most sources indicate that the skills that became ninjutsu, the ninja's art of stealth, began to develop between 600-900 A.D. Prince Shotoku, (574-622), is said to have employed Otomono Sahito as a shinobi spy.

Mainland Influences on the Early Ninja:

 

By the year 850, the Tang Dynasty in China was in decline. It would fall in 907, plunging China into 50 years of chaos; the collapse prompted some Tang generals to escape over the sea to Japan.
These commanders brought new battle tactics and philosophies of war with them.
Chinese monks also began to arrive in Japan in the 1020s, bringing new medicines and fighting philosophies of their own. Many of the ideas originated in India, and made their way across Tibet and China before turning up in Japan.
The monks taught their methods to Japan's warrior-monks, or yamabushi, as well as to members of the first ninja clans.

The First Known Ninja School:

 

For a century or more, the blend of Chinese and native tactics that would become ninjutsu developed as a counter-culture, without rules.
It was first formalized by Daisuke Togakure and Kain Doshi.
Daisuke had been a samurai, but he was on the losing side in a regional battle. He lost his lands and his samurai title.
In 1162, Daisuke was wandering the mountains of southwest Honshu when he met Kain Doshi, a Chinese warrior-monk. Daisuke renounced his bushido code, and together the two developed a new theory of guerrilla warfare called ninjutsu.
Daisuke's descendants created the first ninja ryu, or school, the Togakureryu.

Ninjutsu versus Bushido:

 

Ninjutsu developed as an opposing force to the samurai code of bushido.
Samurai valued loyalty and honor above all else.
Going into battle, a samurai would select a single opponent, announce his challenge, list his family pedigree, and then attack. Samurai wore bright colors on their armor to announce their clan identity.
Bushido was very noble, but it couldn't always get the job done.
That is where ninjutsu came in: the ninja code valued accomplishing a mission by whatever means necessary. Sneak attacks, poison, seduction and spying were all shameful to the samurai, but fair play by the rules of the ninja.

Who Were the Ninja?:

 

Some of the ninja leaders, or jonin, were disgraced samurai like Daisuke Togakure. They had lost in battle or had been renounced by their daimyo, but fled rather than committing seppuku.
Most ordinary ninja were not from the nobility, though. They were villagers and farmers, who learned to fight by any means necessary for their own self-preservation.
The most famous ninja strongholds were the Iga and Koga Provinces.
Women also served in ninja combat. Female ninja, or kunoichi, infiltrated enemy castles in the guise of dancers, concubines or servants. They were successful spies, and sometimes acted as assassins as well.

Samurai Use of the Ninja:

 

The samurai lords could not always prevail in open warfare, but they were constrained by bushido. So, they often hired ninja to do their dirty work.
Secrets could be spied out, opponents assassinated, or misinformation planted... without sullying a samurai's honor.
This system also transferred wealth to the lower classes, as ninja were paid handsomely for their work.
Of course, a samurai's enemies could also hire ninja. As a result, the samurai needed, despised, and feared the ninja, in equal measure.
The ninja "high man," or jonin, gave orders to the chunin, "middle man," who passed them on to the genin, ordinary ninja.

Ninja Clothing, Tools and Weapons:

 

In modern movies and comic books, ninjas are portrayed in all-black clothing, with only their eyes showing.
This costume, however, comes from the kabuki theater.
Actual ninjas wore navy blue for night operations. Usually, however, they dressed to blend in with their targets - as any sensible espionage agent would do.
Ninja tools and weapons included: shinobigatana, medium-length swords; the bo and naginata, war staves and pikes; and martial arts like karate.
Ninja also developed special equipment like the shuko, an iron hand-crampon used for climbing, and the tessen, a sharpened metal fan.

Ninja Techniques:

 

Ninjutsu is practical; if a tactic is effective, then it is acceptable.
The Eight Methods taught in many ryu were: Body skills, karate, spear fighting, staff fighting, blade-throwing, use of fire and water, fortification and strategy, and concealment.
Many ninja weapons were modified from farm sickles, saws for wood cutting, pruning shears, etc. If discovered, these items would not give away a ninja's identity.
Among the ninja were expert poisoners. Poison was added to food, or applied to a dart or blade.
Some ninja disguised themselves as flute-playing mystics. The sturdy flute could be used as a club or blow-dart tube.

The Rise and Fall of the Ninja:

 

The ninja came into their own during the tumultuous era between 1336 and 1600. In an atmosphere of constant war, ninja skills were essential for all sides.

The Nanbukucho Wars (1336-1392)

 

For more than 50 years in the 14th century, Japan had two separate imperial courts, which fought for control of the country.
The Northern Court was controlled by the shoguns. The Southern Court belonged to Emperor Go-Daigo, who wanted to rule in his own right.
Ninja played an important role on both sides in this struggle, infiltrating castles as spies, and even burning down the South's Hachiman-yama Fortress.
The Northern Court eventually won, and the puppet-Emperor system was retained.

The Onin War (1467-1477)

 

About 70 years later, the Onin War broke out. Ninja featured heavily in this conflict, as well.
The war began as a succession fight within the ruling Ashikaga clan, but soon devolved into a nation-wide civil war.
Although the Onin War ended after 10 years, it ushered in a century of turmoil called the Sengoku Jidai, or "Warring States Period" (though it was actually samurai clans fighting, rather than states).
Ninja served a number of purposes during the Sengoku Period (1467-1568). They acted as kancho (spies), koran (agitators), teisatsu (scouts), and kisho (surprise attackers). They were most effective in castle sieges, infiltrating and distracting the defenders inside while the main besieging army attacked from outside.

Destruction of the Ninja Bases (1581)

 

The ninja were an important tool during the Sengoku Period, but a destabilizing influence. When war-lord Oda Nobunaga emerged as the strongest daimyo and began to reunite Japan (1551-1582), he saw the ninja strongholds at Iga and Koga as a threat.
Nobunaga's lightning-quick attack on Iga forced the ninja to fight open battles; they were defeated and scattered to nearby provinces or the mountains of Kii.
While their power-base was destroyed, the ninja did not vanish entirely. Some went into the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who later became shogun in 1603.
The much-reduced ninja continued to serve both sides in struggles. In one famous incident from 1600, a ninja sneaked through a group of Tokugawa's defenders at Hataya castle, and planted the flag of the besieging army high on the front gate!

Edo and the End

 

The Edo Period (1603-1868) brought stability and peace to Japan, bringing the ninja story to a close. Ninja skills and legends survived, though, and were embellished to enliven the movies, games and comic books of today.


Source : asianhistory.about.com

Romance of The Three Kingdom

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in 280.
The story (part historical, part legend, and part myth) chronicles the lives of feudal lords and their retainers, who tried to replace the dwindling Han Dynasty or restore it. While the novel actually follows literally hundreds of characters, the focus is mainly on the three power blocs that emerged from the remnants of the Han Dynasty, and would eventually form the three states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The novel deals with the plots, personal and army battles, intrigues, and struggles of these states to achieve dominance for almost 100 years. This novel also gives readers a sense of how the Chinese view their history in a cyclical lense. The famous opening lines of the novel summarize this view: It is a general truism of this world that anything long divided will surely unite, and anything long united will surely divide (話說天下大勢，分久必合，合久必分).
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is acclaimed as one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature; it has a total of 800,000 words and nearly a thousand dramatic characters (mostly historical) in 120 chapters. The novel is among the most beloved works of literature in East Asia, and it is arguably the most widely read historical novel in late imperial and modern China.

^{The Story} 

Yellow Turban Rebellion

 

In the final years of the Han Dynasty, incompetent eunuchs deceive the emperor and persecute good officials, and the government becomes extremely corrupt on all levels, leading to widespread deterioration of the empire. During the reign of the penultimate Han sovereign, Emperor Ling, the Yellow Turban Rebellion breaks out under the leadership of Zhang Jue (a.k.a. Zhang Jiao).
The rebellion is barely suppressed by troops under the command of He Jin, General-in-Chief of the imperial armies. Fearing his growing power, the eunuchs led by Zhang Rang lure He Jin into the palace and murder him. He Jin's stunned guards, led by Yuan Shao, respond by charging into the palace to kill all eunuchs for revenge, which turns into indiscriminate slaughter. In the ensuing chaos, the child Emperor Shao and the Prince of Chenliu disappear from the palace.

Dong Zhuo's reign of terror

 

The missing emperor and prince are found later by soldiers of the warlord Dong Zhuo, who proceeds to seize control of the capital city Luoyang under the pretext of protecting the emperor. Dong later deposes Emperor Shao and replaces him with the Prince of Chenliu, who becomes known as Emperor Xian. Dong usurps state power and starts a reign of terror in which innocents are persecuted and the common people suffer. Wu Fu and Cao Cao attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo but both fail.
Cao Cao manages to escape and issues an imperial edict in the emperor's name to all regional warlords and governors, calling them to rise up against Dong Zhuo. Under Yuan Shao's leadership, eighteen warlords form a coalition force in a campaign against Dong Zhuo, but undermined by poor leadership and conflict of interest, they only manage to drive Dong from Luoyang to Chang'an. Dong Zhuo is eventually betrayed and killed by his foster son Lü Bu in a dispute over the beautiful maiden Diaochan.

Conflict among the various warlords and nobles

 

In the meantime, the empire is already disintegrating into civil war. Sun Jian finds the Imperial Seal and keeps it secretly for himself, further weakening royal authority. Without a strong central government, warlords begin to rise and fight each other for land, plunging China into a state of anarchy. In the north, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan are at war, and in the south, Sun Jian and Liu Biao. Many others, even those without title or land, such as Cao Cao and Liu Bei, are also starting to build up power.
Cao Cao rescues Emperor Xian from Dong Zhuo's followers and establishes the new imperial court in Xuchang. Cao Cao proceeds to defeat his rivals such as Lü Bu, Yuan Shu and Zhang Xiu before scoring a tactical victory over Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu despite being vastly outnumbered. Through his conquests, Cao unites the Central Plains and northern China under his rule, and the lands he controlled would serve as the foundation for the state of Cao Wei in the future.

Sun Ce builds a dynasty in Jiangdong

 

Meanwhile, an ambush had violently concluded Sun Jian's life in a war with Liu Biao, fulfilling Sun's own rash oath to heaven. His eldest son Sun Ce delivers the Imperial Seal as a tribute to the rising royal pretender, Yuan Shu of Huainan, in exchange for reinforcements. Sun secures himself a state in the rich riverlands of Jiangdong, on which the state of Eastern Wu will eventually be founded. Tragically, Sun Ce also dies at the pinnacle of his career from illness under stress of his terrifying encounter with the ghost of Yu Ji, a venerable magician whom he had falsely accused and executed in jealousy. However, his younger brother Sun Quan, who succeeds him, proves to be a capable and charismatic ruler. Sun, assisted by skilled advisors Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao, inspires hidden talents such as Lu Su to join his service, and builds up a strong military force.

Liu Bei's ambition

 

Liu Bei recruiting Zhuge Liang, from Visiting the Thatched Hut Three Times, a Ming Dynasty painting by Dai Jin (1388-1462).

Liu Bei, along with his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, swear allegiance to the Han Dynasty in the famous Oath of the Peach Garden and pledge to do their best for the country. However, their goals and ambitions are not realized until the later part of the novel. Liu is not recognized for his efforts in quelling the Yellow Turban Rebellion and is merely appointed as a junior magistrate. They join Gongsun Zan and participate in the campaign against Dong Zhuo. Liu Bei becomes the governor of Xu Province after Tao Qian passes on the post to him. Liu loses the province when Lü Bu seizes control of it with the help of a defector and he joins Cao Cao in defeating Lü at the Battle of Xiapi. While Cao Cao subtly reveals his intention to usurp state power, Liu Bei is officially recognised by Emperor Xian as the Imperial Uncle and seen as a saviour to help the emperor deal with Cao.
Liu Bei leaves Cao Cao eventually and seizes Xu Province from Cao's newly appointed governor Che Zhou. In retaliation, Cao attacks Xu Province and defeats Liu, forcing Liu to seek refuge under Yuan Shao for a brief period of time. Liu finds a new base in Runan after leaving Yuan but is defeated by Cao Cao's forces once again. He retreats to Jing Province to join Liu Biao and is placed in charge of Xinye. At Xinye, Liu recruits the genius strategist Zhuge Liang personally and builds up his forces.

Battle of Red Cliffs

 

Main article: Battle of Red Cliffs

Cao Cao declares himself chancellor and leads his troops to attack southern China after uniting the north. He is defeated twice at Xinye by Liu Bei's forces but Liu loses the city as well. Liu leads his men and the civilians of Xinye on an exodus southwards and they arrive at Jiangxia (present-day Yunmeng County, Hubei) where Liu establishes a foothold against Cao Cao.
To resist Cao Cao, Liu Bei sends Zhuge Liang to persuade Sun Quan to form an alliance. Zhuge succeeds in his diplomatic mission and remains in Jiangdong as a temporary advisor to Sun Quan. Sun places Zhou Yu in command of the armies of Jiangdong (Eastern Wu) in preparation for an upcoming war with Cao Cao. Zhou feels that Zhuge will become a future threat to Eastern Wu and he tries to kill Zhuge on a few occasions but he fails and decides to co-operate with Zhuge for the time being. Cao Cao is defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs by the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei and he is forced to retreat north.

Traditional site of the Red Cliff

Sun Quan and Liu Bei begin vying for control of Jing Province after their victory and Liu seizes the province from Cao Cao after following Zhuge Liang's strategy. Sun Quan is unhappy and sends emissaries to ask Liu Bei for Jing Province, but Liu dismisses the envoys each time with different excuses. Sun uses some strategies proposed by Zhou Yu to take the land, of which the most famous is the "Beauty Scheme." Sun intends to lure Liu Bei to Jiangdong to marry his sister Lady Sun and hold Liu hostage to exchange his freedom for Jing Province, but the plot fails and the newly-wed couple return home safely. Zhou Yu tries to take Jing Province repeatedly but his plans are foiled three times by Zhuge Liang.

Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province

 

After Zhou Yu's death, relations between Liu Bei and Sun Quan gradually deteriorate but not to the point of open conflict. In accordance with Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan, Liu Bei leads his troops into Yi Province in the west and takes over the land from the incompetent noble Liu Zhang. By then, Liu Bei rules a vast area of land from Jing Province to Yi Province in the west, which will serve as the foundation for the future state of Shu Han. He proclaims himself "King of Hanzhong" after his victory over Cao Cao in the Hanzhong Campaign.
At the same time, Cao has also been granted the title of "King of Wei" by the emperor and Sun Quan became known as the "Duke of Wu". In the east, Sun Quan and Cao Cao's forces clash at the Battle of Ruxukou and Battle of Xiaoyao Ford with victories and defeats for both sides. The situation among the three major powers reaches a stalemate after this until Cao Cao's death.

Death of Guan Yu

 

Meanwhile, Sun Quan plots to take Jing Province after tiring of Liu Bei's repeated refusals to hand the land over. He makes peace with Cao Cao and becomes a vassal of Cao with the title of "King of Wu". Guan Yu, who is in charge of Jing Province, leads his troops to attack Cao Ren in the Battle of Fancheng. Sun Quan sends Lü Meng to lead his troops to seize Jing Province while Guan is away, as part of his secret agreement with Cao Cao. Guan is caught off guard and loses Jing Province before he realizes it. He retreats to Maicheng, where he is heavily surrounded by Sun Quan's forces, while his army gradually shrinks in size as many of his troops desert or surrender to the enemy. In desperation, Guan attempts to break out of the siege but fails and is captured in an ambush. He is executed on Sun Quan's orders after refusing to renounce his loyalty to Liu Bei.
Shortly after Guan Yu's death, Cao Cao dies of a brain tumor and his son Cao Pi usurps the throne, effectively ending the Han Dynasty and Cao renames his new dynasty "Cao Wei". In response, Liu Bei proclaims himself emperor, to carry on the bloodline of the Han Dynasty. While Liu Bei is planning to avenge Guan Yu, his other sworn brother Zhang Fei is assassinated in his sleep by his subordinates, who have defected to Sun Quan.

Battle of Xiaoting

 

As Liu Bei leads a large army to attack Sun Quan to avenge Guan Yu, Sun attempts to appease Liu by offering him the return of Jing Province. Liu's advisers, including Zhuge Liang, urge him to accept Sun's tokens of peace, but Liu persists in vengeance. After initial victories, a series of strategic mistakes due to the impetuosity of Liu leads to the cataclysmic defeat of Shu Han in the Battle of Xiaoting. Lu Xun, the commander of Sun Quan's forces, refrains from pursuing the retreating Shu Han troops after encountering Zhuge Liang's Stone Sentinel Maze.

An artist's impression of Zhuge Liang holding his trademark feather fan.

Liu Bei dies in Baidicheng from illness shortly after his defeat. In a moving final conversation between Liu on his deathbed and Zhuge Liang, Liu grants Zhuge the authority to take the throne if his successor Liu Shan proves to be an inept ruler. Zhuge refuses and swears that he will remain faithful to the trust Liu Bei had placed in him.

Zhuge Liang's campaigns

 

After Liu Bei's death, as advised by Sima Yi, Cao Pi induces several forces, including Sun Quan, turncoat Shu general Meng Da, Meng Huo of the Nanman and the Qiang tribes, to attack Shu Han, in coordination with a Cao Wei army. Zhuge Liang manages to send the five armies retreating without any bloodshed. An envoy from Shu Han named Deng Zhi subsequently persuades Sun Quan to renew the former alliance with Shu Han. Zhuge Liang personally leads a southern campaign against the Nanman barbarian king Meng Huo. Meng is defeated and captured seven times, but Zhuge releases him each time and allows him to come back for another battle, in order to win Meng over. The seventh time, Meng refuses to leave and decides to swear allegiance to Shu Han forever.
After pacifying the south, Zhuge Liang leads the Shu Han army on five military expeditions to attack Cao Wei in order to restore the Han Dynasty. However, Zhuge's days are numbered as he had been suffering from chronic tuberculosis all along, and his condition worsens under stress from the campaigns. His last significant victory over Cao Wei is probably the defection of Jiang Wei, a promising young general who is well-versed in military strategy. Zhuge Liang dies of illness at the Battle of Wuzhang Plains while leading a stalemate battle against his nemesis, the Cao Wei commander Sima Yi. Before his death, Zhuge orders his trusted generals to build a statue of himself and use it to scare away the enemy in order to buy time for the Shu Han army to retreat safely.

End of the Three Kingdoms

 

The long years of battle between Shu Han and Cao Wei sees many changes in the ruling Cao family in Cao Wei. The influence of the Caos weakens after the death of Cao Rui and the state power of Cao Wei eventually falls into the hands of the Sima clan, headed by Sima Yi's sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao.
In Shu Han, Jiang Wei inherits Zhuge Liang's legacy and continues to lead another nine campaigns against Cao Wei for a bitter three decades, but he fails to achieve any significant success. Moreover, the ruler of Shu Han, Liu Shan, is incompetent and places faith in treacherous officials, further leading to the decline of the kingdom. Shu Han is eventually conquered by Cao Wei. Jiang Wei attempts to restore Shu Han with the help of Zhong Hui but their plans are exposed and both of them are killed by Sima Zhao's troops. After the fall of Shu Han in 263, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan forces the last Wei ruler, Cao Huan, to abdicate his throne in 265, officially ending the Cao Wei dynasty. Sima Yan, having already been proclaimed the Prince of Jin in the previous year, then formally establishes the Jin Dynasty.
In Eastern Wu, there has been internal conflict among the nobles ever since the death of Sun Quan, with Zhuge Ke and Sun Lin making attempts to usurp state power. Although stability is restored temporarily, the last Wu ruler Sun Hao appears to be a tyrant who does not make any efforts to strengthen his kingdom. Eastern Wu, the last of the Three Kingdoms, is finally conquered by Jin after a long period of struggle in the year 280, thus marking the end of the near century-long era of civil strife known as the Three Kingdoms period.

Source : Wikipedia