Ma Liang (Three Kingdoms)

Ma Liang was from Yicheng County (宜城縣), Xiangyang, which is present-day Yicheng, Hubei. He was the eldest of five brothers – Ma Su was one of them – and was famous for his talent. He had white strands of hair in his eyebrows. There was a saying in Ma Liang's hometown to describe him and his brothers: "Of the five changs in the Ma family, White Brows is the most liang."[lower-alpha 2][3]

Around 209, when the warlord Liu Bei took charge of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) after the death of its Inspector (刺史), Liu Qi, he recruited Ma Liang to serve as an Assistant Officer (從事) under him. Later in 211, when Liu Bei left Jing Province for an expedition in Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), Ma Liang remained behind in Jing Province. Ma Liang was a close friend of Liu Bei's strategist Zhuge Liang and they were sworn brothers.[4]

He once wrote a letter to Zhuge Liang, who was in Yi Province at the time, to praise and encourage him. The letter was written as such:

"I have heard that Luo castle (雒城) has fallen and this is Heaven's blessing. Honored elder brother, you are responding to the time by helping the wise and joining him in his great enterprise. And now bringing glory to the state. Favorable omens are appearing. Today, those matters will require your careful examination and your wise deliberation so you can bring them to clarity. You should sought the help of men of talent while helping those below. When it comes to "softening the glare", and bringing comfort to those afar, sacrificing oneself so he can lead virtue through the great realm, allowing for those of our age to be free of worries, respectful of others and behaving in the rightful way, arranging beautiful tunes and rectifying the airs of Zheng (鄭) and Wei (衛), so they became intrustments to the affairs of the state, without trowing disharmony among the people, these are the epitome of orchestration, the harmonies of a Bo Ya (伯牙) and a Shi Kuang (師矌), Thought, I may not be Zhong Qi (鍾期), dare I not strike the staves!"[5]

Statue of Ma Liang in the Emperor Guan Temple in Xuchang, Henan

Ma Liang was later promoted to the position of a Senior Clerk (掾) in the office of the General of the Left (左將軍).[lower-alpha 3][6]

Ma Liang was later appointed as an emissary to meet the warlord Sun Quan, Liu Bei's ally. Before his mission to Wu, Ma Liang spoke to Zhuge Liang: "Now that I'm sent by the state with the mission to bring harmony and friendship between our two nations. May I have the chance to be introduced by you to General Sun Quan?"[7] Zhuge Liang answered: "You ought to try writing something yourself."[8] And so Ma Liang wrote a draft that said: "Our wise lord sends his advisor Ma Liang to convey my respects, bring gifts and extend prosperity to our frienship thereby continue on the praiseworthy legacy of Kunwu (昆吾) and Shiwei (豕韋). I'm a fortunate man of some talent from Jing and Chu region. Rarely, I'm rash in action and yet I have the virtue of seeing matters through to the end. With a calm heart, I turn my head toward you hoping you deign to accept me and give me assistance so I can accomplish my mission."[9] Sun Quan received and treated Ma Liang very respectfully.[10]

In 221, after the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and established the state of Shu Han. Ma Liang was appointed as a Palace Attendant (侍中) in Shu. Later that year, Liu Bei launched a campaign against Sun Quan,[lower-alpha 4] leading to the Battle of Xiaoting. Ma Liang was tasked with persuading the tribal peoples in Wuling (武陵; around present-day Wuling District, Changde, Hunan) to join Liu Bei and he succeeded in his mission. Liu Bei was eventually defeated by Sun Quan's general Lu Xun at the Battle of Xiaoting in 222 and Ma Liang was killed in action. Later, after he managed to retreat to Baidicheng (in present-day Fengjie County, Chongqing) safely, Liu Bei appointed Ma Liang's son, Ma Bing (馬秉), as a Cavalry Commandant (騎都尉).[11]

Chen Shou, who wrote Ma Liang's biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), appraised Ma Liang as follows: "Ma Liang was incorruptible, honest and was praised as an outstanding elite. He was worthy to be called a lingshi (令士; a virtuous scholarly gentleman)... Along with Dong He, Liu Ba, Chen Zhen and Dong Yun, he was one of the best officials in Shu."[12]

Ma Liang playing Go against Guan Yu while Hua Tuo treats his poisoned arm by scraping the bone (刮骨療毒), portrait at the Long Corridor of the Summer Palace, Beijing

Ma Liang is a minor character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, He joins Liu Bei under Yi Ji's recommendation along with his younger brother Ma Su. Then, he advised Liu Bei to have Liu Qi appointed as Governor of Jing Province to satisfy the people while he conquers the Southern Commandery. During Yi conquest, he stays behind and act as Guan Yu's main civil advisor acting as a voice of reason during the negotiation with Wu and playing weiqi against Guan Yu during Hua Tuo's famous operation.

• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

• Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A biographical dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
• Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).