马

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Ma Su马谡

Shu HanHistory × Fiction

Advisor to Liu Bei.

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DIRECT FIGURES
6
RELATION RECORDS
11
SOURCE WORKS
2

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Ma Su, and the people around them.

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01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

2 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

3 figures · 5 records
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

3 figures · 3 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

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In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms

A general of Shu Han, executed after his defeat at the Battle of Jieting.

In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Advisor to Liu Bei. Younger brother of Ma Liang, Liu Bei commented that he overstates his abilities. Sent with imperial orders to reward the troops, he proposed the strategy of winning hearts, and was appointed as a military advisor.

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.

  1. 8 profile notes
    6 relations10 verified quotations
    • Liu Bei→ evaluate →Ma Su
    • Zhuge Liang→ slay →Ma Su
    • Zhuge Liang→ employ →Ma Su
    • Zhuge Liang→ sworn brothers →Ma Su
    Verified original text · 10
    1. 朕观此人，言过其实，不可大用

      evaluate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 85

    2. 拍案大惊曰……马谡无知，坑陷吾军矣！

      scold · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 95

    8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. 7 profile notes
    6 relations8 verified quotations
    • Zhuge Liang→ slay →Ma Su
    • Ma Su→ subordinate →Zhuge Liang
    • Guo Huai→ defeat →Ma Su
    • Zhang He→ defeat →Ma Su
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 戮谡以谢众

      slay · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·诸葛亮传

    2. 亮将杀之

      slay · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·邓张宗杨传

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In official history, Ma Su was a Shu Han general known for his exceptional talent and fondness for discussing military strategy, but he lacked practical combat experience.

  • attestedAt Jieting, he disobeyed orders and camped on a hill, leading to a major defeat.

    The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of Ma Su records that Ma Su violated deployment orders by abandoning water sources and camping on a mountain, and was defeated by Wei general Zhang He who cut off his water supply, causing the Shu army to lose their position. The original text: 「谡依阻南山，不下据城。郃绝其汲道，击，大破之。」(Source: Wei Shu, Biography of Zhang Le Yu Zhang Xu.txt)

  • based on factZhuge Liang executed Ma Su with tears.

    The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of Ma Su records that Ma Su died in prison, and Zhuge Liang wept for him; the novel's beheading is artistic embellishment. Original text: 「谡下狱物故，亮为之流涕。」 (Source: Book of Shu, Biographies of Dong, Liu, Ma, Chen, Dong, and Lü.txt)

Relationship network

7 figures · 28 links
Ma SuMa SuLiu BeiLiu BeiZhuge LiangZhuge LiangGuo HuaiGuo HuaiZhang HeZhang HeWang PingWang PingMa LiangMa Liang
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·董刘马陈董吕传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 65; Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·蒋琬费祎姜维传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 85; Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·诸葛亮传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 87; Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·邓张宗杨传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 88

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.