Yu Gui (simplified: 于圭, traditional: 于圭, pinyin: Yú Guī) was the son of Yu Jin (于禁), one of the Five Elite Generals of Cao Wei. When Yu Jin died in 221, following his return from Wu and his humiliation at the hands of Cao Pi, Yu Gui succeeded to his father’s title as Marquis of Yishou Pavilion (益壽亭侯).
Biography
His father Yu Jin
Yu Jin was one of the most distinguished generals of Cao Wei, serving under Cao Cao for decades. He was known for his strict discipline and his loyalty. In 219, during Guan Yu’s campaign against Fancheng, Yu Jin led a relief force of seven armies to aid Cao Ren. A massive flood of the Han River destroyed his armies, and Yu Jin was forced to surrender to Guan Yu. His subordinate Pang De (龐德), by contrast, refused to surrender and was executed.
Guan Yu’s defeat and death later that year (after Sun Quan’s forces captured him) eventually led to Yu Jin being released. He was sent to Eastern Wu, where Sun Quan treated him with courtesy.
Return to Wei and death of Yu Jin
When Sun Quan submitted to Wei in 221, he sent Yu Jin back to the Wei court. Cao Pi, who had by then succeeded Cao Cao as ruler of Wei, received Yu Jin with outward respect, appointing him as General Who Pacifies the South and sending him as an envoy to Wu. However, before Yu Jin departed for Wu, Cao Pi had him first visit the tomb of Cao Cao at Ye.
At the tomb, Cao Pi had arranged for paintings to be displayed on the walls depicting the Battle of Fancheng — showing Guan Yu victorious, Pang De defiant and angry, and Yu Jin surrendering. Yu Jin was overcome with shame and grief at the sight of these paintings. He fell ill and died shortly afterwards, whether from natural causes or from the psychological shock is not clear.
Inheritance
After Yu Jin’s death in 221, Yu Gui succeeded to his father’s title as Marquis of Yishou Pavilion (益壽亭侯). This was the hereditary marquisate that had been granted to Yu Jin by Cao Cao in recognition of his military service.
Beyond the fact of his succession, the surviving sources provide no information about Yu Gui’s subsequent life, career, or fate. He does not appear in any independent biographical account.
Historical sources
Yu Gui is mentioned in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (SGZ), in the biography of his father Yu Jin (volume 17, Book of Wei). The entry records only that Yu Gui succeeded to his father’s marquisate after Yu Jin’s death: “His son Gui succeeded to the enfeoffment as Marquis of Yishou Pavilion” (子圭嗣封益壽亭侯). No further details are provided.
Family
Yu Gui was the son of Yu Jin. The identity of his mother is not recorded in the surviving sources. Whether Yu Jin had other children besides Yu Gui is not known.