Historical sources on Zhao Yuns life

Zhao Yun's original biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), written by Chen Shou in the third century, is only 346 Chinese characters long. In the fifth century, Pei Songzhi added annotations from the Zhao Yun Biezhuan (赵云别传; Unofficial Biography of Zhao Yun) to Zhao Yun's biography in the Sanguozhi, providing a relatively clear, though still incomplete picture of Zhao Yun's life.

Early career under Gongsun Zan

Zhao Yun was from Zhending County, Changshan Commandery. The Zhao Yun Biezhuan described his physical appearance as follows: eight chi tall (approximately 1.85 metres), with majestic and impressive looks.

After receiving a recommendation from the Administrator of Changshan Commandery to serve in the government, Zhao Yun led a small group of volunteers to join Gongsun Zan, a warlord in You Province. Around the time, the warlord Yuan Shao had experienced a surge in fame after his recent appointment as the Governor of Ji Province, so Gongsun Zan was worried that many people in You Province would choose to serve under Yuan Shao instead of him.

When Zhao Yun showed up with his volunteers, Gongsun Zan asked him mockingly: "I heard that all those in your home province wanted to serve the Yuans. Why did you have a change of heart, and decide to correct your mistake?" Zhao Yun replied: "The Empire is in a state of chaos and it is unclear who is right and who is wrong. The people are in danger. Those in my home province, after careful deliberation, decided to follow a lord who governs with benevolence. Therefore, I chose to join you, General, instead of Lord Yuan." Gongsun Zan then accepted him. Zhao Yun later fought on Gongsun Zan's side in some battles against rival forces.

Meeting Liu Bei

Around the early 190s, Zhao Yun met Liu Bei, who was taking shelter under Gongsun Zan at the time. Zhao Yun became very close to Liu Bei and desired to switch his allegiance to Liu Bei. When Gongsun Zan sent Liu Bei to assist his ally, Tian Kai, in a battle against Yuan Shao, Zhao Yun followed Liu Bei and served as a cavalry officer under Liu Bei.

When Zhao Yun received news of his elder brother's death, he asked for a temporary leave of absence from Liu Bei to mourn his brother. Liu Bei knew that Zhao Yun would not return after leaving, so he held Zhao Yun's hand while bidding him farewell. Before departing, Zhao Yun told Liu Bei: "I will never forget your favour."

Service under Liu Bei

In early 200, after Liu Bei lost his base in Xu Province to his rival Cao Cao, he fled north across the Yellow River and sought refuge under Yuan Shao, Cao Cao's rival. Around the same time, Zhao Yun also came to Ye, Yuan Shao's headquarters, where he met Liu Bei again. Zhao Yun and Liu Bei shared the same room during their stay in Ye.

Liu Bei secretly instructed Zhao Yun to help him gather hundreds of men who were willing to follow him, and claim that they served under the General of the Left (左将军). Yuan Shao was unaware of this. Zhao Yun then accompanied Liu Bei and his followers as they left Yuan Shao and headed south to join Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province.

Saving Xiahou Lan

In 202, when Cao Cao was away on campaigns in northern China against Yuan Shao's sons and their allies, Liu Bei took advantage of Cao Cao's absence to launch an attack on Cao Cao's territories in central China. Cao Cao sent his general Xiahou Dun and others to lead an army to resist Liu Bei.

During the battle, Zhao Yun captured Xiahou Lan (夏侯兰), an old friend who was from the same hometown as him. He requested that Liu Bei spare Xiahou Lan's life and recommended Xiahou Lan to serve as a military judge because he knew that Xiahou Lan was knowledgeable about law. Zhao Yun earned praise for being conscientious and careful when he maintained a professional relationship with Xiahou Lan despite their friendship.

Battle of Changban

After Liu Biao died in 208, his younger son Liu Cong succeeded him as the Governor of Jing Province. When Cao Cao launched a military campaign in the same year to eliminate opposing forces in southern China, Liu Cong surrendered and yielded Jing Province to him. Liu Bei and his followers abandoned their stronghold in Xinye County and headed further south towards Xiakou, which was guarded by Liu Biao's elder son Liu Qi and was independent of Cao Cao's control.

Cao Cao personally led a 5,000-strong elite cavalry force to pursue Liu Bei. They caught up with Liu Bei at Changban and inflicted a devastating defeat on his forces. While Liu Bei abandoned his family and fled, Zhao Yun carried Liu Bei's young son Liu Shan and protected Liu Bei's wife Lady Gan (Liu Shan's mother) during the battle and delivered them to safety. He was later promoted to the rank of General of the Standard for his efforts.

Earlier on, after his defeat at Changban, Liu Bei heard rumours that Zhao Yun had betrayed him and defected to Cao Cao' side. Refusing to believe the rumours, he threw a short ji to the ground and said: "Zilong will never abandon me." He was right as Zhao Yun returned to him a short while later.

In the winter of 208–209, Liu Bei formed an alliance with the warlord Sun Quan and they defeated Cao Cao at the decisive Battle of Red Cliffs. As Cao Cao retreated north after his defeat, Liu Bei and Sun Quan advanced and conquered Nan Commandery, which used to be under Cao Cao's control.

As the Administrator of Guiyang

Zhao Yun was later promoted to Lieutenant-General (偏将军) for his contributions towards Liu Bei's conquests of the four commanderies in southern Jing Province: Changsha, Lingling, Wuling and Guiyang. After the capture of Guiyang Commandery, Liu Bei appointed Zhao Yun as the new Administrator to replace Zhao Fan.

Zhao Fan had a widowed sister-in-law who was famous for her beauty. He wanted to arrange for her to marry Zhao Yun so as to build connections with Zhao Yun. However, Zhao Yun rejected the idea and told Zhao Fan: "We share the same family name. Your elder brother is also like an elder brother to me."

There were others who urged Zhao Yun to accept the marriage but Zhao Yun firmly refused and said: "Zhao Fan was forced to surrender because of the circumstances. His intentions are unclear and suspicious. Besides, there are many other women in this world." Not long later, Zhao Fan escaped, and Zhao Yun was able to avoid any association with him because he did not agree to the marriage.

Guarding Jing Province

Around 211, Liu Bei led an army west into Yi Province to assist the provincial governor Liu Zhang in countering a rival warlord, Zhang Lu of Hanzhong Commandery. Zhao Yun and others remained behind to guard Jing Province.

Sometime in 209, Liu Bei married Sun Quan's younger sister, Lady Sun, to strengthen the Sun–Liu alliance. Lady Sun also remained in Jing Province when Liu Bei left for Yi Province. As she saw herself as the sister of a powerful warlord, Lady Sun not only acted in an arrogant and unbridled manner, but also allowed her bodyguards and personal staff to behave lawlessly in Jing Province. For this reason, Liu Bei specially appointed Zhao Yun, whom he deemed a serious and conscientious person, to oversee domestic affairs in Jing Province and maintain law and order during his absence. When Sun Quan heard that Liu Bei had left for Yi Province, he sent a vessel to fetch his sister home. Lady Sun attempted to bring Liu Bei's son Liu Shan along with her, but Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei led their men to stop her and retrieved Liu Shan.

Conquest of Yi Province

Liu Bei and Liu Zhang were friendly towards each other in the beginning, but tensions between them gradually increased until the point of armed conflict around late 212. Liu Bei was initially stationed at Jiameng Pass (葭萌关; in present-day Zhaohua District, Guangyuan, Sichuan), where he was helping Liu Zhang defend the area from Zhang Lu. However, he turned against Liu Zhang later and attacked him. He ordered Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun and others to lead reinforcements from Jing Province into Yi Province to help him, while Guan Yu remained behind to defend Jing Province.

The reinforcements marched along the Yangtze River and conquered the commanderies and counties in the surrounding areas. When they reached Jiangzhou, Zhuge Liang ordered Zhao Yun to lead a separate force to attack Jiangyang Commandery (江阳郡; around present-day Neijiang, Sichuan) and take an alternate route, and later rendezvous with Liu Bei and the other armies outside Yi Province's capital, Chengdu. In 214, Liu Zhang gave up resistance and surrendered to Liu Bei, who gained control over Yi Province. Zhao Yun was appointed as General of the Assisting Army (翊军将军).

After taking Yi Province, Liu Bei held a discussion on how to distribute the households in Chengdu and the fields outside the city among his followers because he wanted to reward them for their efforts in the campaign. Zhao Yun objected: Liu Bei heeded Zhao Yun's advice.

Battle of Han River

In 217, Liu Bei launched the Hanzhong Campaign to seize control of Hanzhong Commandery from Cao Cao because Hanzhong was the northern gateway into Yi Province. Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong killed Cao Cao's general Xiahou Yuan at the Battle of Mount Dingjun of 218–219.

After Xiahou Yuan's defeat, Huang Zhong heard that enemy troops were transporting food supplies in the vicinity so he led a detachment of troops to attack the convoy and seize the supplies. When Huang Zhong did not return to camp in time, Zhao Yun led tens of horsemen out in search of Huang Zhong.

At the time, Cao Cao had sent his forces to attack Liu Bei's positions. Zhao Yun encountered Cao Cao's vanguard force and engaged them in battle until Cao Cao's main force showed up and surrounded him. Despite the overwhelming odds, Zhao Yun attempted to charge and break through the enemy formation and alternated between fighting back and retreating. Cao Cao's forces regrouped, got back into formation and surrounded Zhao Yun. Left with no choice, Zhao Yun had to fight his way out and head back to camp. During the battle, Zhao Yun's deputy Zhang Zhu was wounded but Zhao Yun turned back, saved him and brought him back to camp.

Cao Cao's forces pursued Zhao Yun as he retreated back to his camp. Upon seeing the enemy's approach, Zhao Yun's subordinate Zhang Yi wanted to shut the camp's gates and get the troops to hold their position. However, Zhao Yun ordered the gates to be opened, all flags and banners to be hidden, and the war drums to be silenced so as to create an illusion of an empty camp. Cao Cao's forces thought that there was an ambush inside Zhao Yun's camp so they withdrew. Just as they were retreating, Zhao Yun launched a counterattack and his men beat the war drums loudly and fired arrows at the enemy. Cao Cao's soldiers were shocked and thrown into disarray. Some of them trampled on each other as they panicked and fled, while many of them fell into the Han River and drowned.

The following day, when Liu Bei came to inspect Zhao Yun's camp and survey the battlefield, he remarked: "Zilong is full of courage." He then threw a feast to celebrate Zhao Yun's victory and they made merry until nightfall. Zhao Yun was also given the nickname "General of Tiger's Might" (虎威将军).

Battle of Xiaoting

In late 219, Sun Quan broke the Sun–Liu alliance by sending his general Lü Meng to launch a stealth invasion of Liu Bei's territories in southern Jing Province while Guan Yu was away at the Battle of Fancheng against Cao Cao's forces. Guan Yu was later captured in an ambush and executed on Sun Quan's order when he refused to surrender.

Following Cao Cao's death in March 220, his son and successor Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian later that year, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the state of Wei with himself as the new emperor. In 221, Liu Bei declared himself emperor and founded the state of Shu to challenge Wei's legitimacy. In the same year, Sun Quan pledged allegiance to Cao Pi and agreed to become a vassal under Wei; in return, Cao Pi granted him the title "King of Wu".

Liu Bei bore a grudge against Sun Quan for the loss of Jing Province and wanted to attack Sun Quan. Zhao Yun attempted to dissuade him by saying:

Liu Bei ignored Zhao Yun's advice and proceeded with his quest for vengeance by personally leading a military campaign against Sun Quan. He left Zhao Yun behind to guard Jiangzhou.

In October 222, Liu Bei suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Xiaoting against Sun Quan's forces, and was forced to retreat to Baidicheng. By the time Zhao Yun showed up with reinforcements at Yong'an, Sun Quan's forces had given up on pursuing Liu Bei and retreated back to Wu.

Service under Liu Shan

After Liu Bei died in June 223, his son Liu Shan succeeded him as the emperor of Shu, with the Imperial Chancellor Zhuge Liang serving as regent because Liu Shan was still underage at the time. Following his coronation, Liu Shan appointed Zhao Yun as Central Protector of the Army (中护军) and General Who Attacks the South (征南将军), and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Yongchang Village (永昌亭侯). He promoted Zhao Yun to the position of General Who Guards the East later.

Battle of Ji Valley

In 227, Zhao Yun moved to the staging area at Hanzhong Commandery to join Zhuge Liang, who had mobilised military forces from throughout Shu in preparation for a large-scale military campaign against Shu's rival state, Wei.

In the spring of 228, Zhuge Liang ordered Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi to lead a detachment of troops to Ji Valley (箕谷) and pretend to attack Mei County (郿县; southeast of present-day Fufeng County, Shaanxi) via Xie Valley (斜谷). Their mission was to distract and hold the Wei general Cao Zhen's attention, while Zhuge Liang led the Shu main army to attack Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu).

Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi lost to Cao Zhen at the battle in Ji Valley because Zhuge Liang had given them command of the weaker soldiers while he led the better troops to attack Mount Qi. Nevertheless, Zhao Yun managed to rally his men into putting up a firm defence as they retreated, thus minimising their losses.

After the Shu forces managed to retreat back to Hanzhong, Zhao Yun was demoted to the position of General Who Guards the Army as punishment for his defeat at Ji Valley. During this time, Zhuge Liang asked Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi: "When our troops withdrew from Jieting, they were very disorganised. However, those who retreated from Ji Valley were orderly. Why is it so?" Deng Zhi replied: "(Zhao) Yun personally led the rearguard. He ensured that our troops retreated in an orderly manner and left no equipment behind."

As Zhao Yun still had some silk left in his unit, Zhuge Liang wanted to distribute it among the troops to raise their morale. However, Zhao Yun disagreed: "The campaign was a failure, so why should rewards be given out? Please store the silk in the official treasury now and distribute it among the men later during the tenth month as a season gift for winter." Zhuge Liang heeded Zhao Yun's suggestion.

Death and posthumous honours

Zhao Yun died in 229. Zhao was posthumously honoured as "Marquis Shunping" (顺平侯 Shùnpíng hóu) by Liu Shan in April or May 261.

During Liu Bei's reign, only Fa Zheng received posthumous honours. In Liu Shan's time, only three consecutive heads of government – Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi – received posthumous titles. Later, Liu Shan also posthumously honoured Chen Zhi, whom he favoured, and Xiahou Ba, a Wei general who defected to Shu. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Pang Tong, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were also awarded posthumous titles by Liu Shan as well. At the time, it was a great honour for a person to receive a posthumous title.

Liu Shan's imperial edict for awarding Zhao Yun his posthumous title read: "Zhao Yun followed the Late Emperor and he made outstanding contributions. I was young then and experienced many difficulties, but I relied on his loyalty and faithfulness to get out of danger. I bestow this posthumous name on him to recognise him for his meritorious service and also because there were others who advised me to do so."

The name of Zhao Yun's posthumous title was suggested by Jiang Wei and others – shun (顺 shùn; literally "obey / follow") because he was virtuous and kind, ping (平 píng; literally "peace / pacify") because he performed his duties up to standard and overcame chaos, so shun and ping became "Shunping".

Family

Zhao Yun's eldest son, Zhao Tong (赵统 Zhào Tǒng), served as an officer in the huben (虎贲) division of the imperial guards.

Zhao Yun's second son, Zhao Guang (赵广 Zhào Guǎng), served as an Officer of the Standard. He accompanied the Shu general Jiang Wei in the campaigns against Wei, and was killed in action in Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu).

Appraisal

Chen Shou, who wrote Zhao Yun's biography in the Sanguozhi, commented on Zhao Yun as follows: "Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun were fierce and mighty warriors, just like claws and teeth. Were they the successors to Guan and Teng?"

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Many of Zhao Yun's actual exploits were highly dramatised in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the novel, Zhao Yun is portrayed as an almost perfect warrior – one who possesses powerful combat skills, unwavering loyalty to his lord, tremendous courage, keen intelligence, and serene charisma. These traits have often been reflected in nearly all modern materials about Zhao Yun to date.

See the following for some fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms involving Zhao Yun:

• Battle of Changban#In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

• Battle of Xiaoting#In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In popular culture

Zhao Yun has been featured prominently in Chinese and Japanese popular culture, literature, art and anecdotes. Zhao Yun was already a relatively well-known hero from the Three Kingdoms period, as folktales about his exploits have been passed down through centuries. He became a household name due to the popularity of the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Religion

Zhao Yun sometimes appears as a door god in Chinese and Taoist temples in Henan, usually in partnership with Ma Chao.

Folklore

Zhao Yun is strongly associated with the color white in several Three Kingdoms media, which is a callback to his appearance as stated in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. People can see an interpretation of him in the Summer Palace, which has a famous painting of his heroics at Changban. White is linked to several positive traits within various fictional mediums, including honesty, virtue, purity and so on. One other reason for Zhao Yun being linked with the color may be due to a myth regarding the horse the general favored. A quick steed in its own right, it is fabled to run one thousand leagues during the day and five hundred leagues at night. The horse's name is supposedly the "White Dragon Horse" (白龙驹, Bailongju).

Another strong image for Zhao Yun in various Three Kingdoms fiction is the idea of him wielding a spear, often said to be a long spear. Its name is roughly translated as "Shore Edge Spear" (涯角枪, Yajiaoqiang) in legends and it allegedly makes an unnamed appearance in the Sanguozhi Pinghua. The weapon's revered namesake means that it "has none surpassing it, even in the heavenly sea of stars". Measuring in at a length of nine chi (approximately three meters or ten feet in modern conversions), Zhao Yun is said to have wielded it with magnificent skill. If one is to believe the tales, Zhao Yun used the same spear to defeat Zhang Fei in a duel. At times, Zhao Yun is associated with one of Cao Cao's twin swords from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this tale, he killed Xiahou En while rescuing A Dou from peril.

There is a Chinese folktale about Zhao Yun's death which is not mentioned in the 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In this story, Zhao Yun had never been wounded in battle before so there were no scars on his body. One day, while he was taking a bath, his wife pricked him with a sewing needle out of mischief. Zhao Yun began to bleed profusely and eventually died of shock.

Film and television

The 2008 Hong Kong film Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon is loosely based on stories related to Zhao Yun in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was directed by Daniel Lee and starred Hong Kong actor Andy Lau as "Zhao Zilong". Mainland Chinese actor Hu Jun portrayed Zhao Yun in John Woo's Red Cliff, a two-part epic war film based on the Battle of Red Cliffs.

Notable actors who have portrayed Zhao Yun in television series include: Zhang Shan, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994); Nie Yuan, in Three Kingdoms (2010), Benji Wang in K.O.3an Guo (2010), and Lin Gengxin in God of War, Zhao Yun (2016).

Video games

Zhao Yun is one of the Five Tiger Generals that must be recruited by the player in the NES RPG Destiny of an Emperor.

Zhao Yun appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He is usually featured prominently on the cover of each title, and is most often used by the developers in screenshots and other promotional materials for upcoming releases. He also appears in all instalments of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series.

The playable champion Xin Zhao in the multiplayer online battle arena game League of Legends is based on Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun also appears as a playable character in Lost Saga, Heroes Evolved, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. He was later renamed to "Zilong" by the latter.

Zhao Yun appears as a Hero in the 2019 grand strategy game Total War: Three Kingdoms

生平

欲仁求主

初平二年（191年），诸侯互相征战，公孙越助袁术与孙坚一同攻打周昂，中流矢而死。公孙瓒以其弟被杀归罪袁绍，屯兵盘河并上书朝廷细数袁绍十项罪状，号召诸州郡共同讨伐，袁绍辖下的常山郡部将经商议后，决定反叛袁绍，并推举赵云率领该郡义军去投奔公孙瓒。

及后韩馥被迫将冀州让给袁绍，袁氏四世三公，声名远播。公孙瓒问赵云：「听说冀州的人都欲依附袁绍，为何你独与他们不同，难道是迷而知返吗?」

赵云回答说：「天下大乱，未知谁是明主，民有倒悬之危，鄙州议论，要投奔仁政之所在，因此我不投袁绍而投将军。」赵云自此随公孙瓒四处征讨。

时任高唐令的刘备被袭，依附公孙瓒。公孙瓒与袁绍交战，派遣青州刺史田楷占据山东附近的土地，袁绍亦派数万大军前来争地，公孙瓒便上表将刘备提升为别部司马，派刘备助田楷抵抗袁绍，赵云随刘备军出征，执掌著军中骑兵。两人合作互留好印象。

后来，赵云因兄长逝世，向公孙瓒请求回乡服丧。刘备知道他此去便不会再回到公孙瓒身边，因此握著赵云的手不舍分别。赵云向刘备辞别说：「终不背德也。」

建安五年（200年），刘备被曹操打败而依附袁绍。赵云在邺城和刘备相认，感情好至同床眠卧，期间密遣赵云招募数百名士兵，对外宣称左将军刘备部曲，赵云从此追随刘备。

平定荆州

建安六年（201年），刘备投靠刘表，刘表让他在新野屯兵阻止曹操进攻荆州。建安七年（202年），曹操派夏侯敦、于禁领军进攻，双方战于博望。刘备以伏兵计击破曹军，生擒敌将同乡夏侯兰，向刘备请命推荐让成为军正。

建安十三年（208年），曹操再次派遣大军南攻，刘表已经死了。他的小儿子刘琮继位，遣使者向曹操请降。刘备措手不及，率军南逃江陵，带著不愿放弃自愿跟随刘备的人，当时他们仅能行走十几里，曹操便派轻骑兵快马追赶，一天之中追袭了三百里，终于在当阳长阪附近追上了。刘备便丢下妻儿，仅带著数十骑向南逃逸。当时有人对刘备说，赵云向北投靠曹操去了。刘备闻言便用手戟打那告状的人说：「子龙不会弃我而去。」不久之后，赵云果然怀抱刘备的幼子刘禅，保护著刘备的妻子甘夫人，到刘备身边。之后，刘备便任命赵云为牙门将军。

赤壁之战后，赵云跟随刘备平定荆州江南之地。刘备任命赵云为偏将军，取代赵范，兼任桂阳（今湖南郴县）太守。赵范有寡嫂名为樊氏，有国色之貌，欲将她许配给赵云结亲。赵云说：「我们是同姓，你的嫂子就像是我的嫂子一样。」加以婉拒。有人劝赵云接受，赵云说：「赵范才刚投降，心意还未知。何况天下女子不少。」坚拒。后来赵范叛逃未受牵连。

留守荆州

建安十四年（209年），在平定荆南四郡，又得到原属刘表的部曲万人之后，刘备成为荆州牧，声势渐大，孙权乃建议双方结亲，刘备便娶了其妹孙夫人。两年之后益州牧刘璋为防备曹操势力乃向刘备求援，刘备便领兵三万入益州，留诸葛亮、关羽、张飞、赵云等人留守荆州，并任命赵云为留营司马。

刘备出征之后，孙夫人开始放纵骄傲，放任她从东吴带来的侍卫和官吏，多有不法的行为。刘备知道消息之后，认为赵云为人威严、态度慎重，一定能加以整顿，因此特别命赵云掌管内事。

孙权听说刘备西征益州之后，便派了大批舟船欲接孙夫人回去，并叫她带刘禅一起归吴。幸得赵云与张飞一起带兵在长江截住东吴船队，并成功夺回刘禅，亦即著名的「赵云截江夺阿斗」。

攻伐益州

建安十七年（212年），刘备与刘璋决裂，从葭萌进攻刘璋势力，并召诸葛亮率军入蜀。

诸葛亮率领赵云与张飞溯江西上，一路平定郡县，直到江州（今重庆），然后兵分两路，诸葛亮、张飞走北路，赵云则另领一军走南路，从外水沿长江而上进至江阳（今四川泸州）、犍为，最后在成都会合。刘备攻下成都之后，任命赵云为翊军将军。

刘备平定益州之后，有议论劝刘备将成都城中房舍及城外园地桑田分赐给诸将。赵云反驳说：「从前霍去病曾说匈奴未灭，无用家为，何况现在国贼不只像匈奴只有一个，还不到可以安定下来的时候，必须等到天下的乱贼都平定之后，才可让众人返回家乡去种植桑梓，回归故土去耕作田地，这样才是正道。益州的人民是第一次遭遇到战争，应该将田宅房产归还给百姓，先让他们安居乐业，然后才能叫他们服兵役，纳钱粮，也才能得到益州的民心。」刘备便听从赵云的建议。

汉水之战

建安二十三年（218年），刘备率军进攻汉中，次年黄忠在定军山打败夏侯渊，斩其首，于是曹操亲自率领大军来争夺汉中，并先运大量的军粮到北山下，有数千万袋，黄忠认为可趁机夺取这些军粮，便领军出击，当时赵云属下的士兵也随著黄忠一起出击。

但是黄忠的军队过了约定的时间之后仍未回来，赵云便料到黄忠中埋伏，所以他便带著数十骑的小部队出了兵营的围栅，查看黄忠等人的情况。结果，正好碰上曹操派出的大军，赵云遭到曹军先锋部队的攻击，赵云才刚和敌人交手，敌人的大军已来到面前，声势逼人。

赵云便一次又一次地的突击曹军士兵的阵列，且战且退。曹军虽然被赵云击散，但是仍凭藉数量优势将赵云包围起来，赵云便突围并退入蜀军的围栅内，此时部将张著受伤，又被曹军包围，赵云又一次驰马突击曹军，并救出张著，将他带回围栅内。此时曹军已追至蜀军的围栅，沔阳长张翼正在防守围栅，见曹操大军杀到，便欲闭门拒守。赵云进入主营之后，却下令大开栅门，然后令蜀军偃旗息鼓。

曹军见此情况，怀疑赵云设有伏兵，便向后退却。此时赵云下令打响战鼓，鼓声震天，又令蜀军以弩箭射向曹军，曹军为之惊骇，自相蹂践，坠入汉水中淹死者甚多。次日刘备亲自来到赵云兵营察看昨日战斗之处，赞叹说：「子龙一身都是胆也！」于是饮宴直到黄昏，军中号赵云为「虎威将军」

谏阻东征

章武元年（221年），刘备称帝，欲进攻东吴，以报孙权伐取荆州之仇，赵云上谏说：「国贼是曹操，并不是孙权，而且灭了魏国之后，吴国自然会臣服。虽然曹操毙命，但其子曹丕篡盗大位，引起公愤，应该利用此民气，先攻占关中，占据黄河、渭水上游以讨伐逆贼，那么关东义士必裹粮策马以迎王师。不该放置魏国，反而先打吴国。而且与吴国的战争一旦开始，就不易停止了。」但愤怒的刘备不听谏言，执意东征，并留赵云都督江州。

章武二年（222年），刘备东征大军与吴军于猇亭爆发猇亭之战，刘备大败，由秭归逃回永安（今重庆奉节），赵云乃进军至永安以保卫先主，而吴军已退却。

出军北伐

建兴元年（223年），后主刘禅继位，因赵云此时于永安防卫东吴，故将赵云为中护军，征南将军迁镇东将军，并封为永昌亭侯。建兴五年（227年），在平定南中并和东吴结盟之后，诸葛亮率领诸将进驻汉中准备北伐，赵云亦转驻汉中。

次年，诸葛亮出兵北伐，宣称将由斜谷道取郿，并令赵云、邓芝为疑军，占据箕谷，魏大将军曹真率领大军反击，诸葛亮下令赵云、邓芝在斜谷道阻挡曹军，自己率领蜀军主力进攻祁山。然而赵云、邓芝的疑军兵弱敌强，失利于箕谷，但两人仍敛拢败军固守，一戍赤崖口，一戍赤崖屯田，意在持续牵制曹真所辖大军于箕谷使其不得西顾。不料蜀军主力因督军马谡自作聪明违背诸葛亮的指示而被魏军找到破绽，遭张合大败于街亭，箕谷魏军闻讯开始全力进攻，赵云乃亲自断后，又烧毁栈道阻止曹军的追击，因此军需和人员的损失都不大。

当蜀军退兵时，诸葛亮曾惊讶地说：「街亭退兵时，我军编制皆混乱成一团，箕谷退兵，编制整齐一如出军之时，这是何故? 」邓芝回答说：「赵将军亲自断后，因此军需没有遗失，人员无乱，编制整齐。」当时赵云军中有多馀的绢布，诸葛亮下令分给将士，赵云推辞道：「我军失利，为何要赏赐呢？请将其物全入府库，在十月的时候再给众人做冬衣。」诸葛亮因此大为称赞。

此次北伐以失败告终，诸葛亮引疚上表自贬三级，赵云亦自请贬为镇军将军。

逝世追諡

建兴七年（229年），赵云逝世，刘禅于景耀四年（261年）三月追諡他为顺平侯。

蜀汉初期少给諡号，刘备在位时只有法正有諡号。刘禅时，诸葛亮、蒋琬、费禕三位宰相、宠臣陈祗以及由魏国投诚的夏侯霸等人先后得到諡号，于是关羽、张飞、马超、黄忠、庞统亦被追諡，时为景耀三年秋九月。后主刘禅念及曾受赵云保护，又于隔年追諡赵云。当时的舆论认为这是很大的荣誉。

家族

亲族

• 兄

• 据《三国志.蜀书六.关张马黄赵传》及裴松之引《云别传》注所载，兄长于赵云效力于公孙瓒期间逝世。

子嗣

• 赵统：长子，赵云死后承继爵位，官至虎贲中郎督，行领军。

• 赵广：官至牙门将，沓中追随姜维战死沙场。

另外据清朝地方志《江陵县志》记载，赵云之女赵氏为关平之妻，生子关樾。

历史评价

• 陈寿：「黄忠、赵云强挚壮猛，并作爪牙，其灌、滕之徒欤？」

• 刘备：「子龙一身是胆也。」

• 刘禅：「云昔从先帝，功积既著。朕以幼聪，涉涂艰难，赖恃忠顺，济于危险。夫諡所以叙元勋也，外议云宜諡。大将军姜维等议，以为云昔从先帝，劳绩既著，经营天下，遵奉法度，功效可书。当阳之役，义贯金石，忠以卫上，君念其赏，礼以厚下，臣忘其死。死者有知，足以不朽；生者感恩，足以忘身。谨按諡法，柔贤慈惠曰顺，执事有班曰平，克定祸乱曰平，应諡云曰顺平侯。」（《云别传》引后主诏曰）

• 姜维：「云昔从先帝，劳绩既著，经营天下，遵奉法度，功效可书。当阳之役，义贯金石。忠以卫上，君念其赏； 礼以厚下，臣忘其死。死者有知，足以不朽；生者感恩，足以殒身。谨按谥法，柔贤慈惠曰顺，执事有班曰平，克定祸乱曰平，应谥云曰顺平侯。」

• 杨戏《季汉辅臣赞》「征南厚重，征西忠克，统时选士，猛将之烈。」

• 唐朝大臣薛登上疏时引前代故事曰：「至如武艺，则赵云虽勇。资诸葛之指撝；周勃虽雄，乏陈平之计略。若使樊哙居萧何之任，必失指纵之机；使萧何入戏下之军，亦无免主之。将长于摧锋，谋将审于料事。」（《旧唐书•薛登传》）

• 贺遂亮：「标秀气于文昌，架李霍而不追，俯彭韩而高视，赵云一身之胆，勇冠三军；关羽万人之敌，声雄百代。捐躯殉国之志，冒流镝而逾坚；轻生重义之（阙四字）而难（阙一字）心悬水镜，鬼神无以蔽其形；质过松筠，风霜不能改其色。」（《大唐平百济国碑铭》）

• 宋朝萧常： 「云虽虎臣。其所建明。通达国体。如还田宅以系民心。留军资以须冬赐。赦吴而专事魏。有诸葛亮念所不到者。若其不纳赵范之兄嫂。以远同姓之嫌。律己之严如此。方时诸将。其最优乎。」」（《萧氏续后汉书》）

• 朱黼论赵云伐吴之谏：「可谓深切著明。知天下大体矣。」（《三国六朝五代纪年总辨》）

• 陈造论汉水之谋：「皆可为法矣，彼皆大不得已，所谓出死入生转败为功者。」（《江湖长翁集》）

• 程公许：「智勇绝伦，足以当一面。」

• 元朝郝经：「云忠缱绻御侮。始终不渝。为汉爪士。功烈志胆。曹樊之俦。云尤识虑经远。壮而不疏。每进忠益輙中。」

• 郑元佑：「如赵云之安民于蜀，亦岂宜以有限之屋共无穷之求。」（《郑元佑集》）

• 钟惺：「观云本末，自是大臣局量，不独名将而已。」（《史怀十七卷》）

• 范光宙：「然则云之本末，自有大臣局量也，岂名将云乎哉？」（《史评》）

• 王士骐：「光明洞达，可为滥赏之戒。观云本末，自是大臣局量，不但名将而已。」（《诸葛忠武侯全书》）

• 沈国元：「而赵云之辞田宅请灭魏，皆有古大臣识量，宁得仅以以名将律之。」（《二十一史论赞》）

• 李贤：「智勇兼全。子龙可谓有古大臣之风。」（《明一统志》）

• 万应隆：「赵云以汉贼不可不讨，故授以室而不顾，汉贼未灭一语，严于春秋，大哉即己溺天下之心也。」（《三峰史论》）

• 张溥论赵云伐吴之言：「其明大义，断大策，同于鲁肃，然度先主不能听也。」（《历代史论》）

• 李纪：「（昭烈）用赵云而取汉中，遣关羽而攻樊城。」（《详注史略补遗大成》）

• 杨时伟：「子龙心贯金石，义薄云天，不减关张。」（《狂狷裁中》）

• 叶山：「赵子龙所以艰难百战而求先主也。然则舜之于尧；禹之于舜；皋陶稷契之于禹；伊尹之于汤；太公之于武；幸之幸者也。孔明之于刘禅；陆贽之于唐德；李纲赵鼎之于宋高；其有良工之苦心乎。」

• 徐奋鹏：「子龙不特浑身是胆。殆浑身是智。为三分之完人欤。」

• 王夫之：「迨猇亭败矣，先主殂矣，国之精锐尽于夷陵，老将如赵云与公志合者亡矣；公收疲敝之馀民，承愚暗之冲主，以向北方，而事无可为矣。公故曰：鞠躬尽瘁，死而后已。唯忘身以遂志，而成败固不能自必也。向令先主以笃信羽者信公，听赵云之言，辍东征之驾，乘曹丕初篡、人心未固之时，连吴好以问中原，力尚全，气尚锐，虽汉运已衰，何至使英雄之血不洒于许、雒，而徒流于猇亭乎？」（《读通鉴论》）

• 沈一贯：「赵云遇曹瞒而开璧，李广值匈奴而反前，皆不足而虚示之有馀者也，卒以疑敌人之心，一因以破虏，一因以全师，益胆略过人哉。」（《百大家评注史记》引）

• 方孝孺：「夫昭烈至仁厚，孔明之忠顺，固可以为君臣师表；而蒋琬、费禕、董允之治国，关、张、赵、马之用兵，与夫诸葛氏之有瞻、尚，关氏之有彝，张氏、赵氏之有遵及广，推其所由来，昭烈、孔明之事，盖有出乎区区功业之外、成败之表者。」

• 张萱：「赵云，文鸯，出入万众，单枪匹马，所向无前。」（《西园闻见录》）

• 宋徵璧：「张辽、赵云出入敌垒，使敌披靡，以英风猛气自足慑敌，敌不敢害也，然非大将之道。」（《左氏兵法测要》）

• 清安溪先生李光地：「赵云、张嶷不独有将畧，其见事明决持重老成，实古重臣之选。」；「蜀汉虽小，年数不多，却有可观。人物之盛，亦不止一武侯，即如关侯对张辽言：「吾极知曹公待我厚，但吾受刘将军厚恩，誓以共死，不可悖之，吾终不留，吾要当立效以报曹公乃去。」何等磊落。赵子龙不受第宅，曰：「霍去病尚曰，匈奴未灭，何以家为。汉室未复，无所用此。」又谓「汉贼曹操，非孙权。」都中义理。张翼德释严颜，奉之上坐而受教，何等风谊，受刘子初之侮慢而不怒，何等气度，至后尚有蒋公琰、费文伟，即姜伯约亦有意思。朱子以正统归之，允当。「荧惑守心」之说，渺茫不可知，惟以人道大义为定，方是正理。」；「灌摧项羽于垓下，滕脱孝惠于彭城，比于定军当阳之事。」

• 清学者王复礼：「顺平真儒将哉。其律己也严。接人也慎。其见理也明。其去私也力。若夫当阳救主，奋不顾身。汉水立功，威还似虎。语云，胆欲大而心欲小，智欲圆而行欲方。其顺平之谓乎。」；「当阳之战、孙夫人之归，微子龙则后主将不免矣，故无论功烈才品逈出三国诸人之上。」（《季汉五志》）

• 清文史学者姜宸英：「赵关张及武侯之后。先后殉国。一时君臣相得之雅。奕世猷同。休戚千载。而下为之慨慕不已。」

• 卢弼《三国志集解》：「樊氏国色，而子龙不取，贤于关羽之乞娶秦宜禄妻去远矣。」

• 计大受《史林测义》（论赵云谏东征）：「时则不愧诸葛忠武之大节。而有古大臣之风烈已。」

• 易佩绅《通鉴触绪》：「云固武臣之有本末者，而兼有儒臣体用矣。」

• 陈允锡《史纬》（论赵云谏东征）：「此策甚高，备不从以取败，天不祚汉也。」

• 李景星《四史评议》：「关羽，张飞，马超，黄忠，赵云，皆为蜀之名将，故合传。」

• 乾隆：「使如赵云所言，居河、渭上流，以伐逆寇，汉事未必无成。」

• 魏裔介《兼济堂文集》：「倘用顺平之言，舍孙权而取关中，秦陇响应，汉室可兴矣。」

• 赵作羹《季汉记》（评分田之谏）：「观云此议，得为治之本矣。」

• 朱可亭：「云与关张及马超黄忠。号五虎将。陈寿以其强挚壮猛。比于灌滕。」；「故孙膑减灶而虞诩增灶，赵奢增垒而赵云开垒，虚实强弱之形，兵事固倏忽而异变也。」

• 林畅园：「以孙夫人之横，但任赵云、法正二人便足以制之，贤者之有益于人国如此。」

• 严如熤《三省山内边防论》：「褒中栈道栈阁，用赵云王平辈忠谨慎密，良将专司之。其意固有在也。」

• 陈淡野《相理衡真》：「人亦一器也，莫不各有其量。如天地之量，圣贤帝王之所效焉。山岳江海之量，公侯卿相之所则焉。古夷齐有容人之大量，孟夫子有浩然之气量，范文正公有济世之德量，郭子仪有福量，诸葛武侯有智量，欧阳永叔有才量，吕蒙正有度量，赵子龙有胆量，李德裕有力量，此皆远大之器。」

• 牛运震《读史纠谬》：「赵云别传载云从先主本末及辞赐田谏东征，皆卓然识大体。」

• 李澄宇《读三国志蠡述》：「赵云于长阪一役，抱后主保护甘夫人皆得免难，又孙夫人还吴，云与张飞截江夺后主，此两事至今赫赫在目，卒与关羽张飞马超庞统黄忠同获美谥，有以哉。」

• 黄彭年《选将论》：「赵云以数十骑遇敌，开军门偃旗息鼓，勇在胆也。」

• 吴云《两罍轩尺牍》：「天性勇毅，身为大帅仍复亲冒矢石，为士卒先，此赵顺平，常开平之遗风。」

• 梅公毅：「为将之道，胆欲大而心欲细；胆大则勇，心细则智，所以能战胜攻取，即有不利，亦不至一败涂地。三国时将材，可当此者，魏之张辽，汉之赵云而已。」

• 李矩：「蜀之虎臣, 世必以关张为称首, 其䧺猛气槩, 忠义节行, 果可谓古今杰然者也. 然其所短者智畧, 皆以此见败. 吾观子龙之为将, 万夫之勇, 固已负于其心, 一身之胆, 宜见称于其君, 足以上下于关张. 而况其辞第分赏及谏伐吴等事, 谦退深远, 识机明分, 又非关张之所及, 真良将也. 先主武侯与关张子龙, 戮力以图兴复, 关张亡而先主继崩, 子龙逝而武侯且卒, 蜀之君臣上下无人焉. 虽欲不亡得乎.」（『活斋集』 卷5, 看史剩语, 赵云为将）

五虎将

三国志与云别传

赵云在《三国志》卷三十六，蜀志第六卷「关张马黄赵传」有传，陈寿选择史料严谨，本传中关于赵云生平的记载仅有二百四十五字。

另外裴松之为《三国志》作注时，补注了《云别传》的大量资料，其中记载了赵云在求仁、秉公、忠君、慎行、论理、骁勇、受諡等各方面的事迹，让赵云的生平得以较完整的呈现给后人，历代的小说家、剧作家及说书人便是在此基础上，创作出了许多精彩的民间艺术作品，描绘出令后世喜爱的常山赵子龙。

但亦有史学家认为《云别传》内容以史料而论并不严谨，所记载的内容皆是与赵云相关的轶事，且与《三国志》本身有所矛盾，真实性有待商榷。清朝的何焯指出，刘备于221年准备东征吴国时，由身为将军的赵云，而非身为丞相的诸葛亮劝阻刘备不要东征，不合情理；另外，蜀汉于228年第一次北伐，赵云战败于箕谷后被贬，按常理，赵云所带领的部队不大可能得到赏赐，而诸葛亮却居然吩咐他分赐属下馀绢，令人费解。故此他认为《云别传》是根据赵家家传改编，语多溢美。然而，此类观点并不多见考，并被一些史学者指过分疑古。

历史与演义的不同

历史上，刘备于汉中称王之时，《华阳国志》描写：关羽为前将军，张飞为右将军，马超为左将军，皆假节钺。又以黄忠为后将军，赵云翊军将军。其馀各进官号。 说明在那段时期刘备的武将还是以这五人为首。这与之后陈寿的三国志蜀志六关张马黄赵相呼应，也有可能是后来《三国演义》改写为封这五人为五虎上将的原因。

有一种看法认为赵云的地位不如关马张黄四位将军，甚至不如刘备在汉中时突然拔擢为镇远将军领汉中太守的魏延，沈伯俊和易中天便支持此说法。

地位

赵云曾经担任过的一个职位是中护军，依东汉军制，前、左、右、后将军乃是负责统军镇守在外的战略要地，而中领军、中护军则掌管禁军，负责镇守京城。

依三国魏制，中护军掌禁兵、总统诸将、任主武官选举，因此赵云的职务乃是负责统率蜀汉中央的武将与禁军，并负责选拔武官，赵云实际上的权力相当大。如同时期于曹魏担任中护军之职位者，如韩浩、夏侯玄、司马望、司马炎、司马师、贾充等，皆为当朝之亲信重臣，如根据魏史的记载，曹操宁可把韩浩留在自己身边担任中护军，而不放他去都督诸军、镇守汉中，可见其地位不亚于一方之都督也。

在司马氏篡魏之前，一直长期把持魏国中央军权，即是透过掌握中护军这个职务之便，因此赵云应是受到刘备皇室相当大的信赖，才能得到这个职位。而依赵云多次救主的表现看来，刘备的这种信赖亦是相当合理的，这也能解释赵云为何能多次面对刘备提出军国方面的谏言。目前大多证据都来自魏制，是否等同于蜀汉制度仍需更多的考据。

根据杨戏的《季汉辅臣赞》「征南（赵云）厚重，征西（陈到）忠克，统时选士，猛将之烈。」，明确写出「统时选士」之叙述。

官职变化

• 《三国志》本传中，赵云是在益州平定时，「成都既定，以云为翊军将军。」汉中战后，刘备即汉中王位，封赏功臣，牙门将军魏延甚至拔为「督汉中镇远将军，领汉中太守」，赵云官职有变化。《华阳国志》记载赵云是在刘备即汉中王时才升任翊军将军。

• 长阪坡之战，曹操派曹纯领兵追击刘备时，赵云因在乱军中护送尚年幼的阿斗(日后刘禅)与甘夫人有功，刘备特晋为牙门将军；赤壁之战后，刘备藉孙刘联盟击退曹操后，初据荆南四郡，之后吴将周瑜死后，透过外交手段得到南郡后，封关羽为荡寇将军、张飞为征虏将军，赵云接替关羽叙任偏将军。

• 刘备领军入川以前，留关羽、张飞、诸葛亮等镇守荆州，赵云受任留营司马驻守公安，而公安是刘备初据荆州时军政大本营，刘备迎娶孙权之妹孙夫人后，孙夫人随行吏兵常闹事，刘备特别授权赵云以掌内事名义管治孙夫人吏兵，代理主帅刘备不在荆州时维护治所治安卫戍要务。

• 《三国志》本传中：「建兴元年，为中护军、征南将军，封永昌亭侯，迁镇东将军。」「建兴元年时，赵云由中护军、征南将军，进封为永昌亭侯，进迁为镇东将军」，也就是说，赵云在建兴元年前即已为中护军、征南将军。

由于蜀国历史事迹缺失，赵云的官位职务变化的相关记载有许多的缺漏，只该年由中护军、征南将军，进封为永昌亭侯，进迁为镇东将军。

后主刘禅即位时是以封侯为主，在《华阳国志》刘后主志中就有「建兴元年夏五月，后主即位。……（略）……中护军赵云（注）、江州都督费观，屯骑校尉、丞相长史王连，中部督襄阳向宠，及魏延、吴懿皆封都亭侯。（注：为征南将军，封永昌亭侯）」的记载。赵云在后主即位前应已为中护军、征南将军。

民间艺术

三国志平话

《三国志平话》为元代新安虞氏所刊，是目前已知最早的三国故事小说。

三国故事在中国流传甚久，在李昉《太平广记》的卷二百二十六有引用杜宝《大业拾遗记》的记载，其中就有六种三国傀儡戏的剧目；而晚唐李商隐的《骄儿诗》则有「或谑张飞胡，或笑邓艾吃。」的记载。即在隋唐时民间就已有表演与谈说三国故事的风气。根据《东京梦华录》及《东坡志林》记载，北宋时就有专门「说三分」的说书人。宋、元、金的戏曲中，也出现不少三国的相关戏剧，其中已出现明显的「尊刘贬曹」的倾向，因此属于刘备一方的武将常被视为正义的代表。

赵云在《三国志平话》中登场时为袁绍之将，当时刘备失了徐州，与关张相失，欲向袁谭借兵以讨曹操，袁谭久不能决，因此在晚上归馆之后，带酒口念短歌一首，歌曰：

• 天下大乱兮，黄巾遍地；四海皇皇兮，贼若蝼蚁。曹操无端兮，有意为君；献帝无力兮，全无靠倚。我合有志兮，复兴刘氏。袁谭无仁兮，叹息不已！

此时，西廊下有一将听得玄德此歌，应声而和曰：

• 我有长剑，则空挥叹息。朝内不正，则贼若蛟虬。壮士潜隐，则风雷未遂。欲兴干戈，则朝廷有倚。英雄相遇，则扶持刘邦。斩除曹贼，则与君一体！

此将即为常山赵子龙也。

后来赵云便以刘备为仁德之人，舍了袁绍跟随刘备。之后刘备、赵云听说古城有一「无姓大王」，使一条枪丈八蛇矛，万人难敌。刘备怀疑是张飞，赵云便出战「无姓大王」，硬战六十合，赵云气力不佳，败回马本阵里来。刘备乃认出「无姓大王」果然就是张飞，兄弟相认。

当阳长阪一役，赵云单马入曹军中，欲寻刘备家族，遇见糜夫人时，她右腹已受箭伤，深可见肠，在把阿斗托附给赵云之后，于墙下身死。赵云乃推倒墙，盖其尸。之后赵云怀抱阿斗南走，撞入曹军军阵，曰：「我于百万军中与主公救阿斗！」后有诗曰：

• 奇哉赵子龙，凛凛一心忠；先主败荆州，家族又不从。一生不顾死，再入虎狼丛；

• 忠孝保弱子，敢当百万雄。春秋有伍相，汉世有子龙；到今千载后，谁不仰高风？

赵云血战之后抱著阿斗终于见到刘备。刘备接过阿斗，掷于地上曰：「为辱子，几乎折了吾之良将赵云！」。至刘备平定益州乃恩封五虎将军，将关公封寿亭侯，张飞封西长侯，马超封定远侯，黄忠封定乱侯，赵云则封为立国侯，被世人称为「蜀国五大将」。

《三国志平话》虽然文笔粗鄙，与历史大势不符处甚多，但已可看出《三国演义》的基础。其中描写古城会时，赵云曾战败于张飞；当阳长阪一役，赵云亦只射杀一将；恩封五虎将军时，赵云居于末位，对照明代《三国演义》中的描写，可以明显看出赵云在民间传说形象的提升。

三国演义

《三国演义》为明人罗贯中所著，他将《三国志平话》大幅改写，多以历史史实为基础，增加了元宋时说书话本和戏剧中的精彩部分，大幅扩充内容，使《三国演义》成为中国小说史上影响力深远的巨著。

罗贯中在《三国演义》中为赵云塑造的形象，是一名威武雄壮、武艺高强、忠义勇敢、贤慈爱民的武将。使一条枪名曰涯角枪，又名亮银枪、龙胆亮银枪。

他一登场即和河北名将文丑大战六十回合不分胜负，救了公孙瓒，曾和多名三国将领对战，冲锋陷阵从来未尝败绩，在长阪坡救阿斗时，连续杀死曹营将领十馀员，还夺得有名宝剑曰「青釭剑」。子龙的骁勇善战，连敌人曹操都为之震撼，派曹洪问子龙之姓名，子龙曰：「吾乃常山赵子龙也！」曹操知道后，想要捉子龙并降之，于是下令军士不可放箭，但子龙还是逃回了刘备休憩处(这即是日后在祭祀赵云之庙宇时，赵云挺枪仗马、怀抱幼主刘禅之塑像来源)。智取桂阳时，更是展现了他过人的机智和出众的谋略。随诸葛亮吊祭周瑜时，因赵云带剑相随，吴将无人敢动诸葛亮。汉水救黄忠时，让魏国将领张合、徐晃心惊胆战，不敢迎敌。刘备去世之后，曹魏五路犯蜀，赵云把守阳平关，一将当关，万夫莫开。七十几岁时仍为蜀军前锋，阵前斩杀被作者称为『有万夫不当之勇』的西凉大将韩德一门五将。

《三国演义》中刘备为汉中王时封赵云与关羽、张飞、马超、黄忠等五位将军为蜀汉的「五虎上将」，五虎将之名因此成为人人朗朗上口的三国勇将代名词。而赵云又有许多机智应变、忠君为民的出色表现，因此在《三国演义》中的赵云，其形象是文武双全、近乎完美无缺的。

《三国演义》有赞赵云诗曰：

• 红光罩体困龙飞，征马冲开长阪围，四十二年真命主，将军应得显神威。

• 血染征袍透甲红，当阳谁敢与争锋，古来冲阵扶危主，只有常山赵子龙。

• 昔日战长阪，威风犹未减。突阵显英雄，被围施勇敢。鬼哭与神号，天惊并地惨。常山赵子龙，一身都是胆。

• 忆昔常山赵子龙，年登七十建奇功，独诛四将来冲阵，犹似当阳救主雄。

• 常山有虎将，智勇匹关张。汉水功勋在，当阳姓字张。两番扶幼主，一念答先皇。青史书忠烈，应留百世芳。

演义另写道赵云过世后，由赵云的两个儿子赵统、赵广向皇帝刘禅报丧。刘禅听闻赵云过世，当场痛哭(比诸葛亮过世还悲伤)，对赵云的两个儿子曰：「朕忆尚襁褓时，遭遇兵乱，因尔父所护乃全！」于是下令替赵云厚葬之，再令赵云之子袭承赵云之位。

反三国演义

《反三国演义》的作者是民国时人周大荒，他自称要「为一干英雄代造完成一统时局，为马超、赵云一时将领打抱不平，令其吐气」，而将《三国演义》从徐庶收母信而归曹操之后的情节完全翻案，改写为《反三国演义》，并于1930年出版。

如周大荒所言，马超、赵云两人成为全书主角，两人一从北路、一从南路，分别扫荡魏吴，最后一统天下。赵云成为扭转历史发展的关键人物，不但救出徐母留下徐庶，还识破吕蒙白衣渡江之计，并与关羽一起夹击许昌，会同蜀汉诸虎将击败司马、东吴联军，改变了历史走向。

也许是认为自古英雄配美人，作者还虚构一名武艺高超的西凉女将，马超之妹马云禄，让她嫁给赵云，夫妻两人一起作战。

传统戏剧

在传统戏剧方面，赵云在京剧中为著名的武生角色，特徵为扮相俊逸，身段威武稳健，嗓门洪亮。著名的京剧大师杨小楼便以扮演赵云，表演《长阪坡》的剧目著称，有「活赵云、活子龙」的外号。

以赵云为主要角色的京剧故事如下:

元杂剧中有「赵子龙胆大如斗」之说，并有「赵子龙大闹塔泥镇」一本，已失传。而赵云谨慎细心的特点亦被加以强调，出演赵云的演员都会被特别要求，必须要表现出赵云胆大而又细心的特点。

在一个早期流传的故事中就有这样的例子，有一次诸葛亮令赵云率军去攻取一座城池，诸葛亮事先策画整个军事计画，何时出发、何时用餐、何时行军、何时渡河、何时攻城都按表制定完成，赵云只要照著既定的行程表执行即可。但是在赵云出发之后，诸葛亮才发现计画中有一个严重的疏失，即按照原定的时间，那条河正值涨潮，士兵们将无法渡河，当诸葛亮正在担忧整个行动将会失败的时候，却传回赵云已按照预定的时间攻下城池的消息，原来赵云知道河水会涨潮，在出发之前就已经先准备好渡河用的舟筏，因此顺利完成计画。在这个早期故事中，赵云谨慎细心的程度甚至在诸葛亮之上。

影视

电影

• 香港电影《超时空要爱》 （1998年）：由李枫饰演的郑霜霜，在跨越时空去到三国后化身赵云。

• 中国电影《三国之见龙卸甲》（2008年）：由刘德华饰演。

• 中国电影《赤壁》（2008年）/电影《赤壁：决战天下》：由胡军饰演。

• 香港电影《越光宝盒》（2010年）：由郑中基饰演的清一色，在跨越时空去到三国后化身赵云。

• 中国电影《三国之战神无双》（2019年）：由魏宗万饰演。

• 中国网路电影《赵子龙》（2020年）：由贺军翔饰演。

• 日本电影《新解释·三国志》（2020年）：由岩田刚典饰演。

电视剧

• 丽的电视本港台电视剧集《三国春秋》（1976年）：由徐小明饰演

• 湖北电视台电视剧《诸葛亮》（1985年）：由袁新民、张大万饰演

• 香港亚洲电视剧集《诸葛亮》（1985年）：由汤镇宗饰演

• 电视剧《关公》（1992年）：由张建刚饰演

• 中国中央电视台电视剧《三国演义》（1994年）：由张山、杨凡、侯永生饰演。

• 台湾华视电视剧《三国英雄传之关公》（1996年）：由谢祖武饰演。

• 电影《诸葛孔明》（1996年）：由惠天赐饰演。

• 电视剧《武圣关公》（2004年）：由金波饰演。

• 台湾八大电视剧《终极三国》（2009年）：由班杰饰演。

• 中国电视剧《三国》（2010年）：由聂远饰演。

• 香港无綫电视翡翠台电视剧《回到三国》（2012年）：由张松枝饰演。

• 中国湖南卫视电视剧《武神赵子龙》（2016年）：由林更新饰演。

• 中国电视剧《军师联盟》（2017年）：由肖荣生饰演。

• 中国优酷网路剧《终极三国》（2017年）：由SpeXial-Evan饰演。

游戏

• 三国赵云传系列：台湾第三波公司发行，战场动作游戏以赵云为主角，虚构赵云的一生，玩家操纵著赵云在战场上斩杀敌人。采用A.RPG的游戏模式，继续体现赵云冲锋陷阵、血染征袍的军旅生涯；但是后作和前作不同的是，在战斗方面有了更大的突破，许多都是双方甚至几方士兵的大厮杀，攻坚战、救援战、突围战、夜袭战、心理战这些只能在文字和现实中存在的各种经典的战术如今都将得以一一重现在游戏进程之中，因此无论是场面上还是气势上都会比要壮大许多。

• 傲世苍龙赵云传：台湾捷生资讯发行，策略模拟游戏。由玩家操作赵云及其军队，进行模拟战略，以完成各关卡任务。

• 轩辕剑系列：台湾大宇资讯DOMO小组发行，角色扮演游戏。字子龙，汉帝国镇东将军，《轩辕剑外传 汉之云》主角：皇甫朝云的师父，并赐与「焉逢」称号。赵云以单骑救主而闻名之勇将。在诸葛亮第一次北伐时，与邓芝负责带领东路褒斜谷部队，佯装袭击长安，以掩护袭取祁山堡、街亭之西路主力部队。街亭大败时，西路军崩溃，东路幸因赵云亲自负责断后，而让汉军损失至最低，深获诸葛亮所赏识。由于断后时遭遇《轩辕剑外传 云之遥》主角：徐暮云一众，让赵云心中下了一个未来影响大汉命运主力之决定：成立大汉菁英特种部队「飞羽」与其相抗衡。贺宇杰为其配音员。

• 幻想三国志系列：台湾宇峻奥汀发行，角色扮演游戏。以三国时代为背景的虚构武侠风格游戏，赵云为少数出场的历史人物，其人物设定相当美形，为游戏中主要角色之一。

• 真三国无双系列：日本光荣特库摩发行，战场动作游戏。玩家可选择扮演三国时代的武将，投入三国时代的知名战场中进行战争，赵云除了为该系列的主人翁之外，也跟周瑜、吕布、貂蝉、夏侯敦、司马懿为各势力代表人物，小野阪昌也为其配音员。

• 吞食天地系列：日本卡普空发行，角色扮演游戏。玩家初期是刘关张，后期赵云即会依剧情加入，除了特定武将可藉由打败对方来招降。

• 神魔之塔：香港Madhead发行，益智游戏。公会讨伐战「龙甲披肩」的最终魔王，由于字号「子龙」，而被设定成唯一的「龙类」卡牌。

• 传说对决：台湾garena、天美工作室群发行，斗塔游戏。5v5对战「游戏里英雄人物」一个英雄，名字「赵云」，职业为战士，是骁勇善战的英雄人物。

• 王者荣耀：中国天美工作室群发行，多人在线战斗竞技场游戏。5v5对战「游戏里的角色」一位英雄，名字「赵云」，职业是战士和刺客。

漫画

香港漫画家陈某自2001年至今连载漫画作品《火凤燎原》以赵云、司马懿为主角。另外，在《苍天航路》（王欣太）、《超三国志霸》（池上辽一）、《天地吞食》（本宫宏志）、《龙狼传》（山原义人）等，赵云也都作为一名主要角色出场。

赵云故址

现代赵云祠墓地址：

• 四川大邑：子龙庙，顺平侯赵云墓。清朝康熙年间大邑知县李德耀重修子龙庙时立碑，著有《汉顺平侯赵将军墓祠碑记》。道光年间，知县郭志融重修时亦立碑，撰《重修汉顺平侯祠墓记》。

祠庙有：

• 河北正定：赵云庙

• 台湾云林县虎尾镇埒内里：埒内拱云宫

• 台湾台南市佳里区（子龙里）：佳里子龙庙（永昌宫）（台南佳里子龙庙网站 ）(庙旁有约四丈高的赵云骑爱驹、使著长枪怀抱刘禅的塑像，成为当地地标。)

• 台湾台中市大肚区合兴宫。

明朝和清朝记载祠庙另有：

• 河南南阳南三十里屯东赵云祠墓

• 四川黎州（今汉源）大渡河守御所安靖坝左赵云祠

• 湖广桂阳州（今湖南郴州桂阳）城外芙蓉山下赵云祠

• 雅安县，清溪县，蒲江县各有顺平侯庙

湖北当阳（长阪）有子龙阁，子龙路；赤壁有子龙滩；监利有子龙岗。湖南常德安乡有子龙庵；桂阳有蒙泉（又名万军泉，赵云八角井）及平阳戍。四川成都和平街原名为子龙塘街，和平街小学在相传是顺平侯洗马池故址；成都龙泉石经寺（历名灵音寺，天成寺）相传初为赵云祭祀家庙。四川金堂鸿都观后有洗马池，云顶山有汉将军柏；广汉有白马寺仁圣宫。重庆长寿有赵云寨；重庆市中大阳沟白龙池相传为赵云驻江州白龙马厩；奉节有子龙屯兵处卧龙岗。陕西宁强有子龙驻军处子龙山。

其他

• 南朝梁陶弘景所著的《古今刀剑录》中提到：蜀主刘备于章武元年采牛山金，铸成八剑，皆长三尺六寸，其中一剑赐给赵云。

• 北宋李昉所著的《太平广记》收录赵云汉水空营计于其《骁勇卷》之中。

• 清朝康熙六十一年，赵云成为清朝历代帝王庙的从祀功臣之一。

• 中华民国台南市佳里区子龙里，老地名为「子良庙」。此即当地设子龙庙祭赵子龙，「龙」、「良」于闽南话同音（liông）所致。

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