Battle of Zhuolu (legend)

According to the "Basic Annals of the Five Emperors" in the Records of the Grand Historian, the Yellow Emperor gathered the armies of the feudal lords and fought Chiyou on the Plain of Zhuolu, capturing and killing him; the lords then honored the Yellow Emperor as Son of Heaven

Belligerents

Background

This is a war from the legends of ancient Chinese history, and neither its date nor its details can be verified. Legend places it around the 26th century BCE; since this site's timeline begins in 2100 BCE, it is placed at the start of the timeline. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, when the Shennong clan declined, the feudal lords attacked one another, and Chiyou was the most violent of them.

Course of the battle

1. The lords attack one anotherThe Shennong clan declined, the feudal lords attacked one another, and Chiyou was the most ferocious
2. The Yellow Emperor raises troopsThe Yellow Emperor gathered the armies of the feudal lords from all quarters to campaign against Chiyou
3. Plain of ZhuoluThe two armies clashed on the Plain of Zhuolu; later legends tell of Chiyou conjuring a great fog and the Yellow Emperor building a south-pointing chariot
4. Chiyou captured and killedThe Yellow Emperor captured and killed Chiyou, and the feudal lords honored him as Son of Heaven in place of the Shennong clan

Outcome at a glance

Impact

The Battle of Zhuolu is the defining war in the legends of the Chinese nation's origins, and the idea of the Chinese as "descendants of Yan and Huang" is closely tied to it and to the Battle of Banquan. It is told here according to the Records of the Grand Historian and belongs to legend rather than reliable history.