The General (将军 jiāngjūn) was a high military rank for commanders of armies or major formations. Dozens of specific titles existed, indicating the general’s role, theatre, or seniority.
Title variants
Generals could be distinguished by direction—General Who Subdues the West (征西將軍), General Who Pacifies the East (安東將軍)—or by position—General of the Vanguard (前將軍), General of the Rear (後將軍). The Great General (大將軍) was the highest regular general rank, often held by the dominant figure at court (e.g. the regent He Jin before the rise of the warlords, and effectively Cao Cao later). Guan Yu was General of the Vanguard in Shu; Zhang Liao and others held various general titles in Wei and Wu.
In the Three Kingdoms
Wei, Shu, and Wu all used the general hierarchy to reward officers and to structure their armies. Promotions to general were recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms as marks of merit and trust.