Chinese Idiom: 三顾茅庐 (San Gu Mao Lu)
English Translation: Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage
pīn yīn: sān gù máo lú
Idiom Meaning: This idiom refers to earnestly seeking out talented individuals or asking for assistance with genuine desire and sincerity. “Gu” (顾) means to visit, and “maolu” (茅庐) means a thatched cottage.
Historical Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), Book of Shu, Biography of Zhuge Liang (蜀书·诸葛亮传).
Idiom Story: In 207 AD, Liu Bei was residing under the protection of Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou. Taking advantage of Cao Cao’s northern expedition against the Wuhuan, Liu Bei sought to strengthen his own forces by recruiting talented individuals in the Jingzhou area. The story of “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage” comes from these efforts.
Liu Bei, courtesy name Xuande, was from Zhuo County in Zhuo Commandery (present-day Zhuozhou, Hebei). He was a descendant of Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a son of the Western Han Emperor Jing. However, due to the distant lineage, his family had fallen into poverty. By Liu Bei’s generation, they made a living by weaving mats and selling shoes. As a youth, Liu Bei was not particularly interested in Confucian classics but enjoyed associating with chivalrous individuals. Despite his limited formal education, Liu Bei had strong political ambitions. In the late reign of Emperor Ling of Han, with the financial support of merchants like Zhang Shiping from Zhongshan (present-day Dingzhou, Hebei) and the backing of warriors like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei began to build his own military force, marking the start of his long journey to establish his power.
While in Jingzhou, Liu Bei sought to recruit capable individuals. After receiving recommendations from Sima Hui and Xu Shu, he learned about Zhuge Liang (courtesy name Kongming), a learned and talented scholar. Accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and bringing gifts, Liu Bei braved the snow to personally visit Zhuge Liang at Longzhong (present-day Xiangyang, Hubei) to invite him to assist in his quest for the realm. The first two visits were unsuccessful, but on the third visit, Zhuge Liang received Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei in his thatched cottage. Recognizing Liu Bei’s sincere ambition to serve the country and his earnest plea for assistance, Zhuge Liang agreed to join him.
This tale became known as “Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage.” The novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms vividly recounts this story. Historical records include Zhuge Liang’s own words in his “Memorial on the Conduct of Troops” (出师表), where he wrote: “The late emperor (referring to Liu Bei) did not consider me, a humble person, lowly and abased, but thrice visited my thatched cottage and consulted me on the affairs of the state.”
This idiom encapsulates the essence of humility, respect, and persistence in seeking talent and help, illustrating Liu Bei’s determination and Zhuge Liang’s eventual commitment to his cause.
