Three Visits To The Cottage --San Gu Mao Lu

This Chinese of Three Visits To The Cottage --San Gu Mao Lu is 三顾茅庐, and Pin Yin sān gù máo lú. 读“San Gu Mao Lu”的中文故事

Zhu Ge Liang (181-234) is one of the most famous and accomplished statesman and strategist in Chinese history.

He lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in which China was divided into tens of self-governing areas occupied by warlords.

When he was young, Zhu Ge Liang followed his uncle to live in Jing Zhou, a relatively peaceful place in troubled times, and soon became a well-known scholar. Local intellectuals called him "Crouching Dragon" to describe how knowledgeable and talented he was.

in 201,Liu Bei, a small warlord but also a benevolent humane ruler, was defeated by his main enemy. Cao Cao. He fled to Jing Zhou to seek refuge under Liu Biao(the ruler of Jing Zhou). Liu Biao welcomed Liu Bei personally, treating him as an honored guest. He also gave Liu Bei some troops and asked him to station in Xinye where liu Bei heard of the name of Zhu Ge Liang.

Zhu Ge Liang

To increase strength, Liu Bei had been trying his best to search for talents everywhere. So as soon as he found out where Zhu Ge Liang lived, he immediately decided to invite him to be his counselor to resist Cao Cao's possible attack.

In 207, Liu Bei accompanied by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, the two most loyal generals of his, rode to Long Zhong, asking Zhu Ge Liang to assist him. But Zhu Ge Liang was not at home. Thus they had to return  with discouragement.

A couple of months later, Liu Bei and his generals came again. But again they failed to see Zhu Ge Liang who had been wandering about for days and had not yet come back. This time, Liu Bei left a note expressing his meaning.

Later in the year, Liu Bei planed to visit Zhu Ge Liang for the third time. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei tried to stop him, but in vain. This time, Zhu Ge Liang was at home but he was sleeping.

Liu Bei and his generals stood outside the house, waiting quietly. When Zhu Ge Liang woke up and was told by his servant that Liu Bei had been waiting for three hours, he was moved deeply by his sincerity. He complied with Liu Bei's request and became his prime minister. With the help of Zhu Ge Liang, Liu Bei enlarged his territory and finally found his own kingdom.

Background and Writer Comment:

Now the idiom of Three Visits To The Thatched Cottage For Talent--San Gu Mao Lu is used to describe people who invite someone in all sincerity and eagerness,  and Liu Bei had became the model whom many leaders seeking for worthy persons learn from.