Qu Yi
Encyclopedia
Qu Yi was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
.
He Hailed from a prestigious family in Liang province and was very familiar with the military strategy of the Xiongnu and Qiang nomads. During the Yellow Turbans Rebellion, he aided the famed Han General Huangfu Song
in fighting the rebels. During this time, Yuan Shao was also expanding his influence amongst the Han military elites, and it was this time that Qu Yi was recruited under Yuan's wing.
Yuan Shao's success against Gongsun Zan owed largely to Qu Yi's prowess in Battle. In the Battle of Jieqiao
, Qu took the high position of controlling the central army. During this battle, Qu slew Gongsun Zan
's general Yan Gang
and was a great asset to Yuan's army. Qu Yi was considered to be Yuan Shao's best general, even more so than Yan Liang and Wen Chou as many believed he does not only possess martial prowess but also great strategic insights. However, this would also be his downfall. It is said that Qu was arrogant and was purged by Yuan out of the later's jealously because his accomplishments exceed that of his lord's. Afterward, Qu's family escaped from Yuan, and changed their family name from Qú (麴) to Qū (曲, meaning injustice or crooked).
Qu Yi was highly regarded by many military leaders of his time. According to Sanguozhi, Cao Cao
had stated that if he had recruited Qu Yi, he would have united the land (孤不早相得，天下不足慮。).
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
, Qu Yi was killed in the Battle of Jieqiao by Zhao Yun
during the counterattack by Gongsun Zan's army. In reality, Zhao Yun and Qu Yi never had a chance to met one another as Qu had already been executed by Yuan at that time. Qu Yi's importance in history was downplayed by Luo Guanzhong to enhance the importance of other characters in the story.
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
He Hailed from a prestigious family in Liang province and was very familiar with the military strategy of the Xiongnu and Qiang nomads. During the Yellow Turbans Rebellion, he aided the famed Han General Huangfu Song
Huangfu Song
Huangfu Song , style name Yizhen , was a military general of the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known for helping to suppress the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Liang Province Rebellion. He was one of three imperial commanders when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, along...
in fighting the rebels. During this time, Yuan Shao was also expanding his influence amongst the Han military elites, and it was this time that Qu Yi was recruited under Yuan's wing.
Yuan Shao's success against Gongsun Zan owed largely to Qu Yi's prowess in Battle. In the Battle of Jieqiao
Battle of Jieqiao
The Battle of Jieqiao or the Battle of Jie Bridge 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. It was the first significant clash of arms between the rival warlords in the contest...
, Qu took the high position of controlling the central army. During this battle, Qu slew Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan , style name Bogui , a native of Liaoxi , was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
's general Yan Gang
Yan Gang
Yan Gang was a military general serving under the warlord Gongsun Zan during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Following the Battle of Jieqiao, Yan Gang led the entire army. However, Yan Gang ended up losing to Qu Yi of Yuan Shao's army and was killed throughout this event.-See...
and was a great asset to Yuan's army. Qu Yi was considered to be Yuan Shao's best general, even more so than Yan Liang and Wen Chou as many believed he does not only possess martial prowess but also great strategic insights. However, this would also be his downfall. It is said that Qu was arrogant and was purged by Yuan out of the later's jealously because his accomplishments exceed that of his lord's. Afterward, Qu's family escaped from Yuan, and changed their family name from Qú (麴) to Qū (曲, meaning injustice or crooked).
Qu Yi was highly regarded by many military leaders of his time. According to Sanguozhi, Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
had stated that if he had recruited Qu Yi, he would have united the land (孤不早相得，天下不足慮。).
In fiction
In Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
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...
, Qu Yi was killed in the Battle of Jieqiao by Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...
during the counterattack by Gongsun Zan's army. In reality, Zhao Yun and Qu Yi never had a chance to met one another as Qu had already been executed by Yuan at that time. Qu Yi's importance in history was downplayed by Luo Guanzhong to enhance the importance of other characters in the story.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms