CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Liu Feng刘封
Adopted son of Liu Bei, executed for refusing to aid Guan Yu.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 9
- RELATION RECORDS
- 15
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Liu Feng, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
3 figures · 4 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Liu Bei—Liu Fengfather-son
Liu Feng—Guan Yuuncle-nephew
Liu Feng—Zhang Feiuncle-nephew
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
2 figures · 2 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Guan Yu→Liu Fengcall aid
Huang Zhong—Liu Fengcolleague
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
7 figures · 9 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Liu Feng—Meng Dabattle
Liu Bei→Liu Fengslay
Liu Feng—Xu Huangbattle
Liu Feng→Guan Yunot rescue
Zhuge Liang→Liu Fengadvise kill
Liao Hua→Liu Fengask for help
Read the original source
化曰：“关公兵败，见困于麦城，被围至急。蜀中援兵，不能旦夕即至。特令某突围而出，来此求救。望二将军速起上庸之兵，以救此危
Xiahou Shang→Liu Fengraid
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Adopted son of Liu Bei, later executed for not rescuing Guan Yu. ; Adopted son of Liu Bei, skilled in martial arts, executed for not rescuing Guan Yu and for encroaching on Meng Da. ; Adopted son of Liu Bei, not mentioned.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Liu Feng was originally the nephew of Liu Mi, and was adopted by Liu Bei as his son. He followed Liu Bei in campaigns, participating in battles such as Bowang Slope and Quewei Slope, and often fought alongside Guan Ping. Later, he captured Shangyong and stationed there, but when Guan Yu was trapped, he refused to send troops to rescue him, and was eventually executed by Liu Bei.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend18 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
11 relations15 verified quotations- Liu Bei→ father-son →Liu Feng
- Liu Feng→ adopted son →Liu Bei
- Liu Bei→ slay →Liu Feng
- Liu Feng→ not rescue →Guan Yu
Verified original text · 15
遂使寇封拜玄德为父，改名刘封
adoptive father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 36
人报上流有刘封、关平二人领军截住水路。
father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 57
13 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history3 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
9 relations8 verified quotations- Liu Bei→ father-son →Liu Feng
- Liu Bei→ slay →Liu Feng
- Zhuge Liang→ advise kill →Liu Feng
- Liu Feng→ not rescue →Guan Yu
Verified original text · 8
遣刘封、孟达、李平等攻申耽
adopted son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·先主传
先主至荆州，以未有继嗣，养封为子。
adoptive father-son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传
6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
Details of Liu Feng's adoption and Guan Yu's attitude
- novel inventionDid Guan Yu ever object to Liu Bei adopting Liu Feng?
The official history does not record Guan Yu objecting to the adoption of Liu Feng, and it clearly states that Liu Bei had no son at the time of adoption, as recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biographies of Liu, Peng, Liao, Li, Liu, Wei, and Yang: 'When the late lord arrived in Jingzhou, because he had no heir, he adopted Feng as his son.' However, in the novel, to pave the way for the later plot of Liu Feng not rescuing Guan Yu, the adoption time is rewritten and Guan Yu's opposition is fabricated, as in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 36: 'Yunchang said: "Elder brother, since you have a son, why use an adopted one? It will surely cause chaos later."' In addition, the novel gives his maternal uncle the name Liu Mi, while the official history only records him as 'a nephew of the Liu family of Changsha.'
Relationship network
- father-son← Liu Bei → Liu Fenghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·先主传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 36Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 57Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 70Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 79
Original text (6)
遂使寇封拜玄德为父，改名刘封
Original relation: adoptive father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 36
人报上流有刘封、关平二人领军截住水路。
玄德差刘封来关上接应黄忠。
辱子有何面目复来见吾！
遣刘封、孟达、李平等攻申耽
Original relation: adopted son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·先主传
先主至荆州，以未有继嗣，养封为子。
Original relation: adoptive father-son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传
- adopted sonLiu Feng → Liu BeilitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 60Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61
Original text (2)
玄德自与刘封关平在中军
魏延目视刘封，封亦拔剑助舞
- slay← Liu Bei → Liu Fenghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 79
Original text (2)
命左右推出斩之
于是赐封死，使自裁。
Original relation: order suicide · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传
Original text (1)
诸葛亮虑封刚猛，易世之后终难制御，劝先主因此除之。
- not rescueLiu Feng → Guan Yuhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 77
Original text (2)
上庸救兵不至，乃刘封、孟达按兵不动之故。
封、达辞以山郡初附，未可动摇，不承羽命。
- uncle-nephewLiu Feng → Guan YulitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 36Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 76
Original text (2)
令拜云长、翼德为叔
封曰：“吾亦知之。奈关公是吾叔父，安忍坐视而不救乎？”
Original text (1)
自关羽围樊城、襄阳，连呼封、达，令发兵自助。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
命徐晃出马来战。刘封出迎
Original text (1)
遣征南将军夏侯尚、右将军徐晃与达共袭封。
Original text (1)
忠与封相见，问刘封曰：“小将军来助战何意？”
- battleLiu Feng → Meng Dahist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 79
Original text (2)
封大怒，拍马轮刀，直奔孟达
封寻夺达鼓吹。
Original relation: 夺鼓吹 · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传
- remonstrate← Meng Da → Liu Fenghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 76
Original text (1)
达曰：“东吴兵精将勇；且荆州九郡，俱已属彼，止有麦城，乃弹丸之地；又闻曹操亲督大军四五十万，屯于摩陂；量我等山城之众，安能敌得两家之强兵？不可轻敌。”
Original text (1)
化曰：“关公兵败，见困于麦城，被围至急。蜀中援兵，不能旦夕即至。特令某突围而出，来此求救。望二将军速起上庸之兵，以救此危
Original text (1)
遣征南将军夏侯尚、右将军徐晃与达共袭封。