Character Profile: Zhu Rong 祝融
| Pinyin Name: | Zhù Róng / Zhu4 Rong2 |  |
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| Wade-Giles Name: | Chu Jung | |
| Pronunciation (Yale): | Ju Rung | |
| Hanzi/Kanji Name: |  |
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| Japanese Name: | Shukuyu | |
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| A.K.A: | none | |
| Lifespan: | unknown | |
| Allegiance: | Nanman (also Man or Mang) | |
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| First appeared in: | Dynasty Warriors 3 |
Biography based on the novel
Madame Zhu Rong of Nan Zhong was the wife of Meng Huo, king of the Nanman tribes. She was a boisterous, spirited lady, adept at throwing knives1, and claiming descent from the God of Fire, also named Zhu Rong2.
Shu attacks the Nanman
In 225 A.D. Zhuge Liang invaded Nan Zhong to subdue the Nanman. Meng Huo roused the tribes and formed an army to repel the invaders, but was captured and released five times. Dejected by recent losses, Meng Huo did not know what to do, until his wife laughed at him and volunteered to go out and fight for him, though she was only a woman. Riding out at the head of 50,000 troops, she met the Shu army outside the Silver Pit Palace. Wielding her throwing knives and a long lance, she dueled and captured generals Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong.
Zhuge Liang sent Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, and Ma Dai to stop her. Zhao Yun and Wei Yan challenged the lady to several duels, but when they retreated she refused to follow them. Finally, unable to endure the taunts of Wei Yan's army, she chased him back to his camp, and was unhorsed and captured by Ma Dai. He brought her before Zhuge Liang, who treated her with courtesy and offered to exchange her for generals Zhang Ni and Ma Zhong. Meng Huo accepted and took his wife back, angry at her losses but happy she was safe.
Next, Meng Huo hatched a plot with Zhu Rong's younger brother, Dailai Dongzhu, to infiltrate the Shu camp to assassinate Zhuge Liang. Chief Dailai sent a message to Zhuge Liang claiming he had captured his own sister and brother-in-law in order to turn them over to Shu and negotiate a surrender. However, while bringing in Meng Huo and his men, Zhuge Liang saw through the plot and found daggers hidden on the captives. He once again asked Meng Huo to submit, but Meng Huo remained defiant and slipped away.
After Wu Tugu's defeat in Winding Serpent Valley, Ma Dai captured Meng Huo, and Zhang Yi and Wang Ping captured Zhu Rong. While waiting in the Shu camp, a messenger told them that Zhuge Liang wanted to release them and give them one more shot at defeating him; Meng Huo declined, finally admitting defeat, and led his wife and clan to Zhuge Liang's tent to surrender to Shu. The Nanman were given all their lands back in return for their allegiance.
Historically
Zhu Rong does not appear in the San Guo Zhi, so it is probable that she is an entirely fictional character.
1 Zhu Rong's weapon: Brewitt-Taylor translates Zhu Rong's weapon as a "flying sword," which may be interpreted as a boomerang. Roberts translates it as throwing knives. Koei compromises by giving Zhu Rong a sharp clubbing boomerang for her normal weapon, and throwing knives in her Musou attack. Back to bio
2 God of Fire: In Chapter 11, a story is told of how Mi Zhu (later an officer under Liu Bei) encountered a beautiful lady walking along the road. She asked him for a ride, and he gave her a seat in his carriage, treating her with perfect chivalry. When she got off, she told him that she was the God of Fire, and warned him to remove his valuables from his home because she was on her way to burn it, having been ordered to by the Supreme God. Mi Zhu believed her, took everything out of his home, and sure enough his house burned down later that night. This incident inspired him to use his vast wealth to help the poor and needy. This god was supposedly Madame Zhu Rong's ancestor. Back to bio
Novel Chapters
- Zhu Rong goes to war; Meng Huo is captured for the seventh time
Last updated: 17 April 2008.