Is “At Xinye, he set up the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, which was broken by Xu Shu.” true?

novel invention

The official histories, such as the "Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Cao Ren," contain no record of the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation or Xu Shu's breaking of it; this episode was fabricated in the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" to highlight Xu Shu's wisdom. The original text: 「单福便上高处观望毕,谓玄德曰:“此‘八门金锁阵’也。八门者:休、生、伤、杜、景、死、惊、开。」 (Source: Chapter 036.txt)

Cao Ren

In official histories, he is a strict and imposing Wei imperial clansman renowned for his great wisdom and valor, while in novels he often serves as a backdrop for Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang.

Other claims about Cao Ren

Sources cited above. Compiled with AI assistance and checked against those sources; for cultural reference.Data & method →

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