Liángzhōu jì 梁州記
Records of Liangzhou by 劉澂之 (Liú Chéngzhī, fl. Liu Song dynasty, 5th century CE) — zhuàn 撰
About the work
A fragmentary geographic record of Liángzhōu 梁州, the administrative zone encompassing the Hanzhong 漢中 Basin and adjacent regions of modern southern Shaanxi and northern Sichuan. The text survives in multiple named sections corresponding to specific sites. Author unknown; cited in encyclopedias suggesting a pre-Tang composition. The surviving material is rich in associations with the Three Kingdoms period, particularly with Zhūgě Liàng’s 諸葛亮 campaigns in this region.
Abstract
The surviving sections of the Liángzhōu jì cover several notable sites in and around the Hanzhong Basin:
-
Wǔhòu Lěi 武侯壘 (The Prime Minister’s Rampart): Notes that southeast of the rampart lies Dìngjūn Shān 定軍山, and eighty-lǐ further is Zhūgě Wǔhòu’s 諸葛武侯 tomb. Records that Zhōng Huì 鍾會, during his Shu campaign (263 CE), arrived at Hānchuān and paid reverence at Zhuge Liang’s tomb, ordering his troops not to cut wood near the tomb or disturb the grave — the pine trees, stele inscriptions, and stone monuments being described as still standing intact at the time of the text’s composition.
-
Báishuǐ Guān 白水關 (White Water Pass): A strategic mountain pass 180 lǐ southwest of the fortress where the seals of office were surrendered (gù jiě yìnshòu chù 固解印授處) — most likely referring to the surrender of the Shu Han administration in 263 CE.
-
Wēnquán 溫泉 (Hot Springs): Located south of the Hàn River, extending several thousand paces in circumference, boiling winter and summer, hot enough to cook an egg.
-
Méng Tán 盟壇 (Covenant Altar): The Miǎnyáng 沔陽 walled city south of the Han River was traditionally built by Xiāo Hé 蕭何; here Liú Bèi 劉備, when serving as King of Han, formed a pact with Sūn Quán 孫權 at the city’s gate — the covenant altar reportedly still visible outside the gate.
-
Zhūgě Jǐng 諸葛井 (Zhuge Liang’s Well): At Zhuge Liang’s former residence, a well four chǐ deep with a mouth only 1.5 chǐ wide, the same brickwork as when first dug.
-
Yàn Sāi 雁塞 (Wild-Goose Pass): Liangzhou county has a Yànsāi 鴈塞 Mountain with a great pool where geese flock in large numbers, giving the mountain its name.
This text is a particularly vivid record of Three-Kingdoms historical geography in the Hanzhong region, one of the main theaters of Zhuge Liang’s northern campaigns. It was apparently compiled at a time when the described landmarks were still visible (the intact tomb inscriptions suggest not long after 263 CE), though the final composition may be later.
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.
Links
- ctext.org search: https://ctext.org/search.pl?if=en&search=梁州記