Lady Zhurong
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- For fire deity of Chinese antiquity, see Zhu Rong (god).
| Lady Zhurong | |||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese: | 祝融 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese: | 祝融 | ||||||||
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Lady Zhurong, sometimes known as Madam Zhurong or Lady Zhu Rong was a fictional character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a semi-fictional account of the Three Kingdoms era of China. She was the wife of Meng Huo, the king of the Nanman tribes of southern China. She claimed to be descended from the fire god Zhu Rong, from whom she acquired her name. Lady Zhurong was the only woman in the novel who took part in any of the fighting, battling against the Kingdom of Shu alongside her husband.
[edit] In battle
After her husband was defeated by the Shu Han Commander, Ma Dai, Lady Zhurong took to battle herself and led a large army against a Shu unit. She wielded flying swords and managed to capture two Shu Han generals; Zhang Yi and Ma Zhong.
The following day she engaged in battle with Zhao Yun and Wei Yan, but both opponents quickly fled. Suspecting a trap, Lady Zhurong did not give chase. The following day the same events happened; with both Shu officers retreating quickly. Again Lady Zhurong did not chase them, however Wei Yan returned and hurled abuse at her. Enraged, she chased him, only to be led down a narrow valley where a trap lay waiting; entrapped in nets with her horse tripped by rope, Lady Zhurong was ensnared.
Lady Zhurong was brought to the Shu camp, and was treated well by Zhuge Liang, who offered her wine and severed her bonds. He then offered a proposal to Meng Huo; he would safely return Zhurong to the Nanman, if the two Shu generals Zhurong had recently captured would be released. Meng Huo agreed and Zhurong was returned to her husband.
Lady Zhurong was captured another two times by the Shu army. The last time she was captured, she had marched alongside her husband and their army to finish off the Shu army as they had been falsely informed that their ally King Wutugu's army had nearly obliterated the Shu forces. However much to their dismay, Shu had actually routed King Wutugu's army, and then they preceded to capture Lady Zhurong.
After finally submitting to Shu Han and pledging their allegiance, Meng Huo and Lady Zhurong were released to continue their rule over the southern jungles. They never rebelled again.
[edit] Modern references
- Lady Zhurong, alternatively named as "Zhu Rong", appears as a playable character in the Koei video game series Dynasty Warriors up to Dynasty Warriors 5, she was then removed from Dynasty Warriors 6.
- The same Zhu Rong also appears in Koei's Warriors Orochi where she and the Nanman people come under attack by Orochi.
