死孔明走生仲達
Dead Kongming Routs Living Zhongda
Meaning
The dead Kongming put the living Zhongda to flight — a great figure’s reputation overpowers others even after death.
Origin story
When Zhuge Liang died of illness at Wuzhang Plains, the Shu army began a secret withdrawal. Tipped off by local people, Sima Yi (courtesy name Zhongda) gave chase at once. But when the Shu columns suddenly wheeled their banners and beat the drums as if to counterattack, Sima Yi — convinced Kongming still lived and had baited him — hastily pulled back, and the Shu army slipped away. When the saying spread that "dead Kongming routed living Zhongda," Sima Yi laughed it off: "I can fathom the living; how am I to fathom the dead?" The novel later added the famous wooden-statue scene to the tale.
Source: Han Jin Chunqiu (a contemporary saying; dramatized in the novel)
People
Modern examples
- Years after the founder left, his principles still run the company — dead Kongming routing living Zhongda.
- The retired legend’s records still haunt today’s players — his ghost routs the living.