Qiao Zhou

Qiao Zhou (c.199¹ – late 270), courtesy name Yunnan, was a Chinese astronomer, historian, politician, and writer of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He is particularly notable for being the teacher of many Shu Han (and later Cao Wei / Western Jin) officials. Among them are Chen Shou, Luo Xian, Du Zhen, Wen Li and Li Mi.

During his lifetime, Qiao Zhou was regarded as lacking talent and was not respected by many of his peers. Only Yang Xi regarded Qiao Zhou highly. Yang Xi even once said: "Like us, the later generations can never be as good as this great man." Because of this, Yang Xi earned praise from those individuals who also recognised Qiao Zhou for his talent.²

Qiao Zhou served in the Shu Han government during Liu Bei’s rule and continued until the fall of Shu in 263. He is remembered for persuading the Shu emperor Liu Shan to surrender to Wei in 263.

Assessments of Qiao Zhou's surrender stance

In the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), the historian Chen Shou praised Qiao's proposal to Liu Shan for preserving the Liu ex-royal family and helping Shu Han. It can be argued that Chen's views reflect his position as a subordinate of the Western Jin dynasty and also because Qiao was Chen's teacher. Historians with different viewpoints, such as Sun Sheng, heavily criticized Qiao Zhou's stance of surrender, calling Qiao a "traitor".³

Yi Zhongtian commented that Qiao's "treachery" was not due to his personality (Qiao was well known for his good moral conduct) but because of a difference in political stance. Qiao Zhou was the representative of the local Shu intelligentsia (; 士族) who had long been at odds with Shu Han's government due to: