Qu Yi (general)

For the actor, see Qu Yi (actor).

In this Chinese name, the family name is Qu.

Qu Yi
Traditional Chinese	麴義
Simplified Chinese	麴义
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Qū Yì

Qu Yi (fl. 190s; died 196-199^[1]) was a military general serving under the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

Life

Qu Yi was from Liang Province and was familiar with the military strategy of the Xiongnu and Qiang nomads. Qu Yi originally served under Han Fu. During this time, Yuan Shao was also expanding his influence among the Han military elites; Han Fu was deeply jealous of this and thus reduced his troops' rations. This caused Qu Yi to rebel; he then defeated the troops sent by Han Fu. It was this time that Qu Yi was recruited under Yuan Shao's wing.^[2]

In the Battle of Jieqiao, Qu Yi took the high position of controlling the central army. During this battle, Qu Yi slew Yan Gang (嚴綱) and was a great asset to Yuan Shao's army. However, this would also be his downfall. It is said that Qu Yi was arrogant and was eventually purged by Yuan Shao.^[3]

Qu Yi's last recorded campaign was in 195, where he defeated Gongsun Zan at Baoqiu, and killed at least 20000 of Gongsun Zan's troops. After this defeat, Gongsun Zan retreated to Yijing, where he fortified his position and forced Qu Yi into a stalemate lasting more than a year. By then, Qu Yi's troops had run out of supplies; a few thousands troops deserted. Gongsun Zan seized the opportunity and counter-attacked, resulting in a great victory.^[4]

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the 14th-century 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. Historically, it was unknown if Zhao Yun and Qu Yi ever met each other, as it is unknown if Zhao Yun joined Gongsun Zan before or after the Battle of Jieqiao. Qu Yi's importance in history was downplayed in the novel to enhance the importance of other characters.

See also

• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

References

1. According to Gongsun Zan's biography in Book of the Later Han, Qu Yi defeated Gongsun Zan at Baoqiu during the 2nd year of the Xingping era of the reign of Emperor Xian of Han. This corresponds to 195 in the Julian calendar. After this battle, Gongzun Zan and Qu Yi had a stalemate lasting for over a year. While Qu Yi's year of death is not recorded, it is mostly likely that he died before 199, the year where Yuan Shao eliminated Gongsun Zan, as Qu Yi was not recorded to have taken part in the immediate battles leading up to Gongsun Zan's demise. (兴平二年，破瓒于鲍丘...。相持岁余...) Book of the Later Han, vol. 73
2. (韓馥以豪傑多歸心袁紹，忌之；陰貶節其軍糧，欲使其眾離散。會馥將麴義叛，馥與戰而敗，紹因與義相結。) Zizhi Tongjian vol. 60
3. (麹义自恃有功，骄纵不轨，绍召杀之...) Book of the Later Han, vol. 74 part 1
4. (兴平二年，破瓒于鲍丘，斩首二万余级。瓒遂保易京，开置屯田，稍得自支.相持岁余，麹义军粮尽，士卒饥困，余众数千人退走。瓒徼破之，尽得其车重。) Book of the Later Han, vol. 73

• Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
• Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).