三國演義 第一回｜桃園結義：亂世開端，英雄初現 | Romance of the Three Kingdoms Episode 1｜Oath of the Peach Garden: The Dawn of Heroes
天東漢末年，天下大亂，朝廷腐敗，民不聊生。張角領導的黃巾起義席捲全國，揭開亂世序幕。在這樣的動盪年代，三位來自不同背景的人——劉備、關羽與張飛——因志向相投而相遇。他們在桃園中結為兄弟，誓言同心協力、匡扶漢室。這段結義，不只是友情的開始，更是三國英雄傳奇的起點。
Introduction (English
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the empire falls into chaos. Corruption spreads across the court, and the people suffer greatly. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, led by Zhang Jiao, erupts and shakes the foundation of the nation. Amid this turmoil, three men from different walks of life—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—cross paths. United by a shared sense of justice and ambition, they swear brotherhood in a peach garden. This sacred oath marks not only the beginning of their friendship, but also the rise of legendary heroes in one of China’s greatest historical epics.
東漢末年，朝政日益腐敗，宦官專權，外戚爭鬥，百姓生活困苦不堪。各地天災頻仍，饑荒四起，人民怨聲載道。在這樣的背景下，鉅鹿人張角自稱「大賢良師」，以「蒼天已死，黃天當立」為口號，發動黃巾起義。短時間內，起義軍遍布各州郡，聲勢浩大，動搖漢室根基。
朝廷震動，急召各地募兵平亂。就在這亂世之中，一位出身寒微卻胸懷大志的男子登場——劉備。他自稱中山靖王之後，雖家道中落，仍心懷匡扶漢室之志。劉備以編織草鞋為生，卻常感時局動盪，立志有所作為。
某日，劉備在涿郡街市見到官府張榜招募義勇軍，心中激盪不已。正當他長嘆時，一旁傳來洪亮聲音，一名身長八尺、豹頭環眼的壯漢自報姓名張飛，願意出資招募義士，共同討賊。劉備大喜，二人相談甚歡。
此時，又有一人走近，面如重棗，丹鳳眼，長鬚飄逸，自稱關羽。關羽原為亡命之人，因仗義殺人而流落江湖，亦有報國之志。三人志趣相投，言談之間已如故交。
張飛邀二人到自家後園桃園中設宴，三人酒酣耳熱之際，決定結為異姓兄弟。他們在桃花盛開之下焚香祭天，立下誓言：「不求同年同月同日生，但願同年同月同日死。」劉備為長兄，關羽為次，張飛為弟。
結義之後，三人開始招募鄉勇，組成義軍，準備參與平定黃巾之亂。他們的力量雖然微小，但志向遠大，誓要在這亂世中闖出一番天地。
桃園結義，成為後世傳頌千古的佳話。這不僅是三人情誼的象徵，更象徵著在動盪時代中，理想與忠義的誕生。
下一集預告
義軍初成，劉備、關羽、張飛正式踏上戰場。他們將如何在黃巾亂軍中嶄露頭角？亂世之中，真正的考驗才剛開始。
English Version
As the Eastern Han Dynasty declines, corruption spreads throughout the imperial court. Eunuchs manipulate power, factions clash, and ordinary people suffer under heavy taxation and famine. Natural disasters strike repeatedly, leaving the empire fragile and unstable.
In this desperate time, Zhang Jiao of Julu proclaims himself the “Great Teacher” and leads a massive uprising known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion. With the slogan “The Blue Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall rise,” his followers spread rapidly across the land. Within a short time, the rebellion shakes the very foundation of the Han Dynasty.
The imperial court, alarmed by the scale of the rebellion, calls upon local officials to recruit volunteer armies. It is in this moment of crisis that Liu Bei appears—a man of humble origins but great ambition. Claiming descent from the imperial lineage, Liu Bei lives a modest life weaving straw sandals, yet he harbors a deep desire to restore the Han Dynasty.
One day, Liu Bei sees a recruitment notice calling for volunteers to suppress the rebellion. He sighs at the state of the nation. At that moment, a loud and bold man nearby introduces himself as Zhang Fei, a wealthy butcher willing to fund a militia. The two quickly bond over their shared sense of duty.
Soon after, another man approaches. With a dignified appearance—red face, long beard, and calm demeanor—he introduces himself as Guan Yu. A fugitive due to past actions taken in righteousness, Guan Yu also seeks a chance to serve the country.
The three men find themselves united by shared ideals. Zhang Fei invites Liu Bei and Guan Yu to his peach garden, where they hold a feast. Under blooming peach blossoms, they swear an oath of brotherhood before heaven:
“Though not born on the same day, we wish to die on the same day.”
Liu Bei becomes the eldest brother, Guan Yu the second, and Zhang Fei the youngest.
After the oath, they begin recruiting local volunteers to form a militia. Though their force is small, their determination is immense. They set out to join the campaign against the Yellow Turban rebels, marking the beginning of their legendary journey.
The Oath of the Peach Garden becomes one of the most iconic moments in Chinese literature. It symbolizes not only loyalty and brotherhood, but also the rise of heroes in an age of chaos.
Next Episode Preview
With their militia formed, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei step onto the battlefield. How will they prove themselves against the Yellow Turban forces? The true trials of the Three Kingdoms have only just begun.
