Xu Chu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the fictional character from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", see Xu Zhu (fictional).
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese: | 许褚 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 許褚 |
| Pinyin: | Xǔ Chǔ |
| Wade-Giles: | Hsu Ch'u |
| Zi: | Zhongkang (仲康) |
| Nickname: | Tiger Fool (虎痴) |
Xu Chu was a warrior living in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. He served as a bodyguard to the powerful warlord Cao Cao. Gigantic and strong, yet simple-minded and honest, Xu Chu was referred to as "Tiger Fool" by his fellow men. He continued to serve under Cao Cao's successors, Cao Pi and Cao Rui, until his own death, upon which he was given the posthumous title of Marquis Zhuang (壮侯), literally meaning the robust marquis.
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[edit] Life
Xu Chu was born in the county of Qiao (modern day Bozhou, Anhui). According to the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, he was over 8 chi tall (approximately 8 feet or 2.4 meters) with a waist circumference of ten wei (approximately 52 inches or 132 centimeters).
Towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xu Chu rallied thousands of clan members and constructed a fortress to fend off the Yellow Turban rebels.
An army of rebels from Runan (汝南) numbering more than ten thousands once attacked Xu Chu's fortress. The defenders were outnumbered and worn out as the battle dragged on. When the arrows were used up, Xu Chu told all within the fortress to gather stones the size of chess pieces and place them in the four corners of the fortress. He then hurled the stones at the enemies, crushing the bones of all those who were hit into powder. The rebels then kept a distance away and dared not come close.
When the food stock was exhausted, Xu Chu negotiated a truce with the rebels as well as a deal to exchange ox for food. When the rebels came to collect the ox, the animal would always run back. Then Xu Chu, holding on to the ox's tail, pulled it along for more than a hundred steps. Seeing this, the startled rebels took off without the ox.
In 197, Xu Chu surrendered to Cao Cao. Seeing the strength of the man, Cao Cao exclaimed, "This is my Fan Kuai¹!" He then made Xu Chu a captain of his personal bodyguards, who were known as Tiger Guards. During Cao Cao's campaign against Zhang Xiu, Xu Chu was at the forefront of the battle. He was then promoted to a deputy commander.
In 200, Xu Chu followed Cao Cao to the Battle of Guandu, during which Xu Ta and fellow conspirators plotted to assassinate Cao Cao. Fearing Xu Chu, they waited till he went back to rest before entering Cao Cao's tent with swords hidden in their robes. Xu Chu, however, felt uneasy and returned. Xu Ta and others, not expecting to find Xu Chu there, could not hide their astonishment. Xu Chu then discovered their intent and killed the would-be assassins. Following the incident, Cao Cao trusted him even more and would go nowhere without Xu Chu by his side.
After Cao Cao conquered Ye in 203, Xu Chu was conferred the title of Marquis of Guannei (关内侯) for his valor in the battlefield.
During the campaign against Han Sui and Ma Chao in 211, Cao Cao led his troops north across the Ji River (济河) in an attempt to circle to the rear of the enemy. The bulk of Cao Cao's troops had already crossed the river, leaving Cao Cao and his Tiger Guards to bring up the rear, when Ma Chao leading ten thousand horsemen caught up with them.
As the enemies were approaching fast, Cao Cao's soldiers rushed to get onboard the ferry, which was on the verge of sinking under the weight. Holding up a saddle with his left hand to shield Cao Cao from the enemies' arrows, Xu Chu slashed those who were trying to clamber onto the vessel. By then the boatman was also shot dead. Still holding up the saddle, Xu Chu pushed the ferry away from shore and to safety with a bargepole.
Later, Cao Cao, bringing along no one but Xu Chu, met with Han Sui and Ma Chao for a negotiation. Ma Chao intended to nab Cao Cao but suspected that the man beside was Xu Chu, whose name he had heard for long. Ma Chao then asked Cao Cao, "Where is your Marquis Tiger?" Cao Cao pointed at Xu Chu, who stared at Ma Chao. Fearing the mighty man, Ma Chao then gave up his idea.
The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms describes Xu Chu as a cautious and loyal man with few words. It recorded an incident where Cao Ren, a cousin and much trusted general of Cao Cao, came from Jingzhou (荆州) to see Cao Cao. Running into Xu Chu outside the hall, Cao Ren called for him to go inside together for a talk. However, Xu Chu declined, saying, "The king will soon be out." This made Cao Ren very unhappy. When criticized for turning down the eminent man, Xu Chu replied, "Though Cao Ren is favored, he is an external official, whereas I am an internal official. We could talk among others. Why enter the hall and talk in private?" When Cao Cao heard of this, he liked Xu Chu even more and promoted him to Zhongjian General (中坚将军).
When Cao Cao died, Xu Chu was so overwhelmed with sorrow that he wailed and vomited blood. Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi also favored Xu Chu greatly and further promote him to Wuwei General and placed him in charge of the palace guards. When it came to Cao Rui's reign, Xu Chu was made the Marquis of Mouxiang. After his death, Xu Chu was conferred the posthumous title of Marquis Zhuang, literally meaning the robust marquis.
¹ Fan Kuai (樊哙) was one of the most trusted generals of Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. He was famed for his strength and bravery.
[edit] Xu Chu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms period. To further pronounce the bravery and strength of Xu Chu, Luo Guanzhong added a fictional battle between Xu Chu and Ma Chao in Chapter 59 – Xu Chu Strips for a Fight with Ma Chao.
During the confrontation between the armies of Cao Cao and Ma Chao, Xu Chu challenged the latter to a duel. Ma Chao took up the challenge and the pair rode forth to engage in a battle on horseback. Neither Xu Chu's sword nor Ma Chao's spear could get an upperhand after over a hundred bouts. By then, both of their steeds were spent, so each retired to their own lines to change a fresh mount before renewing the contest.
Hundred more bouts elapsed and still neither man could triumph over the other. Suddenly, Xu Chu galloped back to his own side, stripped off his heavy armor, and rode back to battle bare-chested. Thirty bouts later, Xu Chu plunged towards his foe with sword held high to strike. But Ma Chao evaded the strike and rode in with his spear pointing at Xu Chu's heart. Discarding his sword, Xu Chu clamped the spear firmly under his left arm.
A struggle for the spear then ensued. With his enormous strength, Xu Chu snapped the spearshaft into two such that each were holding on to one half. The duel then continued, with each man assailing the other with the splintered rod. Then Cao Cao, fearing for his champion warrior, ordered Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong (曹洪) to flank the enemy. Seeing this, Ma Chao's aides also rushed out with their troops. In the chaos Xu Chu received two arrow wounds on the arm and Cao Cao's force retreated to its temporary fortress.
[edit] Xu Chu in Dynasty Warriors
Xu Chu is one of the first characters in Koei's video game series Dynasty Warriors, whereas he's referred as Xu Zhu (And that's how he's called in the other Koei games). In Dynasty Warriors, he is depicted as a fat, chubby man who has a mind quite equal to a child and mostly acts like one, although in battle, he's a fierce warrior. Many fans of Xu Chu are angry about this, seeing that he is in general portrayed as just a simple minded man. He wields a huge mace. He also develops a great friendship bond with Dian Wei and is deeply saddened with his death in the Battle of Wancheng.
[edit] References
- Chen Shou (2002). San Guo Zhi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80665-198-5.
- Luo Guanzhong (1986). San Guo Yan Yi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0.
- Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.
[edit] See also
- Three Kingdoms
- Personages of the Three Kingdoms
- Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms
