Eight Formation Diagram八阵图

A legendary battle formation devised by Zhuge Liang. Said to use terrain and troop positioning to confuse and trap enemy forces, though its exact nature is debated.

Contents

The Eight Formation Diagram (八阵图 bā zhèn tú) was a legendary battle formation devised by Zhuge Liang. According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang arranged stones along the Yangtze River in a pattern that trapped Lu Xun’s pursuing Wu army after the Battle of Yiling. Historical accounts suggest it was a flexible tactical system rather than a fixed stone formation, adaptable to different terrain and troop numbers.

References

  • Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志)
  • Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义)
  • Sima Guang, Zizhi Tongjian (资治通鉴)
  • de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms