About the Battle of Mount Dingjun
The Battle of Mount Dingjun was fought in 219 (24th year of Jian'an (Later Han)) at Mount Dingjun, Hanzhong, Yi Province. Liu Bei and Cao Cao contend for Hanzhong. Taking the heights of Mount Dingjun on Fa Zheng's advice, Liu Bei's army sends the old general Huang Zhong charging down the slope to cut down the Wei commander Xiahou Yuan. Cao Cao mutters "chicken ribs" and abandons Hanzhong, and Liu Bei becomes King of Hanzhong.
- Year
- 21924th year of Jian'an (Later Han)
- Place
- Mount Dingjun, Hanzhong, Yi Province
- Era
- Late Han (Three Kingdoms)
The two armies
Liu Bei's army Commander-in-chiefLiu Bei 41,5004 units 
Cao Cao's army Commander-in-chiefXiahou Yuan 83,0004 units Troop strengthTotal of the units shown in 3D
Fought 41,500
Fought 83,000
Liu Bei's armyBy troop strength
- Liu Bei 劉備 Commander-in-chief 30,000
-
Huang Zhong 黄忠 8,000 -
Zhao Yun 趙雲 3,000 - Fa Zheng 法正 500
Cao Cao's armyBy troop strength
-
Cao Cao 曹操 60,000 - Xiahou Yuan 夏侯淵 Commander-in-chief 10,000
-
Zhang He 張郃 8,000 - Wei Southern Enclosure 魏軍南囲 5,000
Portraits are public-domain images from Wikimedia Commons (some are later imagined depictions).
How the battle unfoldedTimes follow the 3D clock
- Jian'an 23Ch. 1
StandoffA Year of Deadlock at Yangping Pass
In the 23rd year of Jian'an, Liu Bei, now master of Yi Province, marched north to seize Hanzhong and closed on Yangping Pass, held by Cao Cao's commander Xiahou Yuan. But the pass was strong, and Zhang He and Xu Huang held firm. The two armies glared at each other for nearly a year, and Liu Bei sent to Zhuge Liang in Chengdu for total mobilisation: "Men to fight, women to carry."
- Jian'an 24, 1st monthCh. 2
CrossingFa Zheng's Plan: To Mount Dingjun
Giving up on a frontal assault, Liu Bei took the advice of his strategist Fa Zheng, crossed the Han River under cover of night and moved his camp to Mount Dingjun on the south bank. The mountain looked down on Xiahou Yuan's headquarters. Taken by surprise, Yuan had to split his army between the southern and eastern enclosures at the foot of the mountain.
- 1st month, nightCh. 3
PalisadesFire in Zouma Valley
In the 1st month Liu Bei launched a night attack on Zhang He's eastern enclosure and at the same time burned the abatis of the southern enclosure. When Zhang He was hard pressed, Xiahou Yuan sent half his own troops to relieve him and went out himself with 400 men to repair the burnt palisades. The commander-in-chief was now standing in the front line.
- 1st month, dawnCh. 4
Huang ZhongThe Old General Charges Down the Mountain
From the heights of Mount Dingjun, Fa Zheng saw it. At the wave of his banner, Huang Zhong thundered down the mountain with drums and war cries. The general, past sixty, led the charge into the enemy camp and cut down Xiahou Yuan on the spot as he worked on the palisades. Zhao Yong, Inspector of Yi Province, was killed too, and the Wei southern enclosure collapsed.
- 1st month, middayCh. 5
Zhang HeZhang He Rallies the Army
Having lost their commander, the Wei army wavered. Guo Huai and the other officers put Zhang He in command, and he withdrew to the north bank of the Han River and dug in. Liu Bei is said to have remarked: "It was Zhang He I should have killed. What does Yuan amount to?"
- 3rd monthCh. 6
Han RiverCao Cao Arrives, Zhao Yun's Empty Camp
In the 3rd month Cao Cao came in person from Chang'an through the Xie valley into Hanzhong. Liu Bei held the strong ground and refused battle. Zhao Yun, out to seize the grain on the northern hills, was surrounded by a great Wei army, but drove it off with the stratagem of the empty camp, gates flung open and banners lowered, then pursued and won a great victory. "Zilong is all courage, through and through," Cao Cao sighed.
- 5th monthCh. 7
Chicken RibsKing of Hanzhong
Supplies ran out and deserters grew by the day. Cao Cao muttered "chicken ribs": little meat on them, yet a pity to throw away. In the 5th month he abandoned Hanzhong and withdrew to Chang'an. In the 7th month Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong at Mianyang. The shape of the Three Kingdoms was now fixed.
In Ultra detailBattle Pass
The same scene in the standard quality and in Ultra detail. Drag the line to compare, and switch between "Wide" and "Close-up". Ultra detail adds rugged mountains, forests and rocks in 3D, rippling seas and rivers, rows in the fields and soldiers as figures. Chapter 1 of every battle can be watched in Ultra detail without the Battle Pass.
FAQ
What was the Battle of Mount Dingjun?
Liu Bei and Cao Cao contend for Hanzhong. Taking the heights of Mount Dingjun on Fa Zheng's advice, Liu Bei's army sends the old general Huang Zhong charging down the slope to cut down the Wei commander Xiahou Yuan. Cao Cao mutters "chicken ribs" and abandons Hanzhong, and Liu Bei becomes King of Hanzhong.
When and where did the Battle of Mount Dingjun take place?
It took place in 219 at Mount Dingjun, Hanzhong, Yi Province (24th year of Jian'an (Later Han)).
Who fought in the Battle of Mount Dingjun?
Liu Bei of the Liu Bei's army, Xiahou Yuan of the Cao Cao's army were among the commanders.
Can I watch the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 3D?
Yes. This page plays a free three-minute 3D animated overview showing the deployments, the movements of each army and how the battle was decided.