Family background

Jiang Wei was from Ji County (冀縣/兾縣), Tianshui Commandery (天水郡), which is present-day Gangu County, Gansu. As his father died early, Jiang Wei grew up with his mother and was known for his interest in the writings of the Confucian scholar Zheng Xuan.

The Fu Zi recorded that Jiang Wei was a fame-seeking person with great ambitions. He also secretly raised a private militia.

Early career in Wei

Jiang Wei began his career in his native Tianshui Commandery, which was a territory of the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He started out as a clerk in charge of records and later became an assistant officer under the commandery administrator. After considering that his father died in service, the Wei government commissioned Jiang Wei as a zhonglang (中郎) and allowed him to participate in military affairs in Tianshui Commandery.

Defection to Shu

Sanguozhi account

In the spring of 228, Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor and regent of Wei's rival state Shu, launched the first of a series of military campaigns against Wei. He occupied Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu) and deployed his troops there in orderly formations. Three Wei-controlled commanderies – Nan'an (南安; around present-day Longxi County, Gansu), Tianshui and Anding (安定; around present-day Zhenyuan County, Gansu) – responded to the invasion by defecting to the Shu side.

Jiang Wei's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that at the time, Jiang Wei and his colleagues Liang Xu, Yin Shang and Liang Qian were out on an inspection tour with Ma Zun (馬遵), the Administrator of Tianshui Commandery. When Ma Zun learnt of the Shu invasion and heard that many counties in Tianshui Commandery had defected to the enemy, he suspected that Jiang Wei and the others were going to betray him so he fled overnight and took shelter in Shanggui County (上邽縣; within present-day Tianshui, Gansu).

By the time Jiang Wei and his colleagues realised that Ma Zun had abandoned them and fled on his own, they attempted to catch up with him but it was too late. They were denied entry when they showed up at Shanggui County, so Jiang Wei led them to his home county, Ji County (冀縣/兾縣; present-day Gangu County, Gansu). However, the official in charge of Ji County also refused to allow them to enter. Faced with no other choice, Jiang Wei and his colleagues surrendered and defected to Shu.

Alternative account in the Weilüe

The Weilüe recorded a different account of Jiang Wei's defection from Wei to Shu.

At the time of the Shu invasion, Ma Zun and his subordinates (including Jiang Wei) were on an inspection tour with the Wei general Guo Huai when they received news that Zhuge Liang and the Shu army had occupied Mount Qi. After telling Ma Zun that Zhuge Liang was "up to no good", Guo Huai wanted to quickly head back to Shanggui County in the east of Tianshui Commandery. Even though his headquarters was at Ji County in the west, Ma Zun did not want to go back because he feared that there would be unrest in Ji County in light of the Shu invasion. He decided to join Guo Huai and move to Shanggui County instead.

When Jiang Wei urged Ma Zun to return to Ji County, the latter told him and the others: "If you go back, then you will become my enemy." Jiang Wei ignored Ma Zun because he was worried about the safety of his family in Ji County, so he parted ways with Ma Zun and returned to Ji County with his colleague Shangguan Zixiu (上官子脩) and others.

When Jiang Wei returned to Ji County, the people welcomed him back and insisted that he meet Zhuge Liang. Jiang Wei and Shangguan Zixiu relented and went to see Zhuge Liang, who was delighted to meet them. By the time Jiang Wei wanted to go back to Ji County to fetch his family members (mother, wife and child(ren)), Wei forces under Zhang He and Fei Yao had defeated the Shu vanguard at the Battle of Jieting. Unable to return to Ji County and left with no other option, Jiang Wei decided to defect to Shu and follow Zhuge Liang. After Wei forces recaptured Ji County, they took Jiang Wei's family members captive but did not execute them because they knew that Jiang Wei did not originally intend to defect to the enemy. Jiang Wei's family members thus spent the rest of their lives in prison.

During Zhuge Liangs regency

After returning to Hanzhong Commandery, Zhuge Liang appointed Jiang Wei as an Assistant official in charge of food supplies (倉曹掾). Later, Jiang Wei was commissioned as General Who Upholds Righteousness (奉義將軍) and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Dangyang Village (當陽亭侯).

Jiang Wei was subsequently promoted to the rank of General Who Attacks the West (征西將軍) and given the appointment of Central Army Supervisor (中監軍).

During Jiang Wans regency

Following Zhuge Liang's death at the Battle of Wuzhang Plains in the autumn of 234, Jiang Wei returned to the Shu capital Chengdu and was reassigned to serve as Right Army Supervisor (右監軍) with the rank of General Who Assists Han (輔漢將軍). He was put in command of Chengdu's armed forces and promoted from a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Pingxiang" (平襄侯).

In 238, Jiang Wei accompanied the Shu regent Jiang Wan to Hanzhong Commandery near the Wei–Shu border. After Jiang Wan was appointed Grand Marshal (大司馬) in April or May 239, he appointed Jiang Wei as a Major (司馬) under him. He also put Jiang Wei in charge of a separate force to make incursions into Wei territory.

First Northern Expedition

In 240, Jiang Wei led Shu forces to attack the Wei-controlled Longxi Commandery but was driven back by Wei forces under Guo Huai's command.

Three years later, Jiang Wei was promoted to the rank of Senior General Who Guards the West (鎮西大將軍) and appointed as the nominal Inspector of Liang Province (涼州刺史).

During Fei Yis regency

Following Jiang Wan's death in 246, Fei Yi became the regent of Shu.

A year later, Jiang Wei was promoted to General of the Guards (衞將軍). He also shared power with Fei Yi by jointly holding the office of Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing (錄尚書事) with him.

In the same year, Jiang Wei suppressed a rebellion in Pingkang County (平康縣; southwest of present-day Songpan County, Sichuan).

Second Northern Expedition

In 247, the Qiang tribes started a rebellion against Wei in four commanderies in Yong and Liang provinces, and called for support from Shu. Baihuwen (白虎文) and Zhiwudai (治無戴), two tribal kings in Liang Province, responded by rebelling against Wei. When Jiang Wei led Shu forces into Liang Province to support the Qiang rebels, Baihuwen and Zhiwudai led their forces to join him.

In response, the Wei government sent Xiahou Ba and Guo Huai to lead troops to suppress the rebellion and repel the Shu invasion. Jiang Wei attacked Xiahou Ba's position at the west of the Tao River but retreated back to Shu when Wei reinforcements led by Guo Huai showed up.

Third Northern Expedition

In 248, Jiang Wei led Shu forces from Shiying (石營; northwest of present-day Xihe County, Gansu) to Qiangchuan (彊川; west of present-day Lintan County, Gansu) to rendezvous with the tribal king Zhiwudai (治無戴), who had recently been defeated by the Wei general Guo Huai at Longyi County (龍夷縣; west of present-day Huangyuan County, Qinghai) He left his subordinate Liao Hua behind to guard the fortress at Chengzhong Mountain (成重山; located west of present-day Lintao County, Gansu).

Guo Huai split his army into two groups with the aim of preventing Jiang Wei from meeting up and combining forces with Zhiwudai. He led one group to attack Liao Hua at Chengzhong Mountain to force Jiang Wei to turn back to save Liao Hua. At the same time, he ordered his subordinate Xiahou Ba to attack Jiang Wei and push him back towards Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu). Guo Huai's plan succeeded as Jiang Wei turned back to save Liao Hua when he learnt that Chengzhong Mountain was under attack. In doing so, he failed to meet up with Zhiwudai and eventually retreated back to Shu.

Fourth Northern Expedition

In the autumn of 249, after he was granted acting imperial authority by the Shu emperor Liu Shan, Jiang Wei led Shu forces to attack the Wei-controlled Yong Province and gained support from the Qiang tribes. He had two fortresses constructed at Qushan (麴山; southeast of present-day Min County, Gansu).

In response to the Shu invasion, the Wei general Guo Huai ordered his subordinates Chen Tai, Xu Zhi and Deng Ai to besiege the two fortresses and cut off their supply routes.

When Jiang Wei led troops from Mount Niutou (牛頭山; west of present-day Zhaohua District, Guangyuan, Sichuan) to reinforce the two fortresses, Chen Tai led a Wei army to block his path. At the same time, Chen Tai sought help from Guo Huai, who led his troops across the Tao River to attack Jiang Wei's base at Mount Niutou. Jiang Wei became fearful so he pulled back all his troops and abandoned the two fortresses.

Three days after his apparent retreat, Jiang Wei sent Liao Hua to lead a small force to distract Deng Ai at Baishui (白水; in present-day Qingchuan County, Sichuan) while he led the main army to attack Taocheng (洮城; northeast of present-day Min County, Gansu). Deng Ai saw through Jiang Wei's ruse and immediately dispatched reinforcements to Taocheng. Jiang Wei failed to capture Taocheng as Deng Ai had already strengthened its defences so he withdrew all his troops and returned to Shu.

Fifth expedition (250)

In 250, Jiang Wei led Shu forces to attack the Wei-controlled Xiping Commandery (西平郡; around present-day Xining, Qinghai). He retreated after failing to capture Xiping.

Fei Yis opposition to Jiang Weis hawkish stance

Jiang Wei believed that he was familiar with the culture of the Qiang and other non-Han Chinese tribes in western China, and had great confidence in his skills as a military leader. He often boasted that he could easily conquer the Wei-controlled lands in present-day Gansu if he had the support of the Qiang and non-Han Chinese tribes living in the region.

Fei Yi, however, disapproved of Jiang Wei's hawkish stance and warmongering behaviour towards Wei, and attempted to rein him in by limiting the number of troops he led into battle each time to no more than 10,000.

The Han Jin Chunqiu (漢晉春秋) recorded that Fei Yi once told Jiang Wei: "We aren』t as brilliant as the Imperial Chancellor. If even he can't stabilise the Empire, what makes you think we can do it? Wouldn't it be better to defend our state, govern our people well, respect and safeguard his legacy, and pass it on to future generations? Stop your wishful thinking that you can achieve victory in one fell swoop. If you fail, it will be too late for regrets."

Fei Yis assassination

On 16 February 253, Fei Yi was assassinated during a party on the first day of the Chinese New Year.

The assassin, Guo Xiu (郭脩), was a Wei civilian captured in battle by Jiang Wei. After reluctantly surrendering to Shu, he attempted to assassinate Liu Shan but failed to get close to the emperor so he switched his target to Fei Yi and succeeded.

One theory says that Jiang Wei had secretly recruited Guo Xiu as an assassin after capturing him in battle, and ordered him to find an opportunity to murder Fei Yi. Jiang Wei's motive for taking Fei Yi's life, according to the theory, was that he needed to eliminate Fei Yi as a potential threat because Fei Yi had been opposing his hawkish stance towards Wei.

Regardless of whether or not Jiang Wei plotted Fei Yi's assassination, Fei Yi's death did allow Jiang Wei to gain greater control over the Shu military and continue waging war against Wei.

Jiang Weis Northern Expeditions

Sixth Northern Expedition

In the summer of 253, Jiang Wei led tens of thousands of Shu troops from Shiying (石營; northwest of present-day Xihe County, Gansu) to besiege Didao (狄道; around present-day Lintao County, Gansu). In response to the Shu invasion, the Wei regent Sima Shi ordered his generals Guo Huai and Chen Tai to lead the Wei forces stationed in the Guanzhong region to attack the invaders and lift the siege on Didao. Chen Tai attacked the Shu forces at Luomen (洛門; in present-day Wushan County, Gansu) and defeated them. Jiang Wei eventually withdrew all his forces and retreated back to Shu when they ran out of food supplies.

Seventh Northern Expedition

In the summer of 254, after the Shu government granted him authority to oversee internal and external military affairs, Jiang Wei led Shu forces to attack the Wei-controlled Longxi Commandery again. Li Jian (李簡), the Wei official in charge of Didao (狄道; around present-day Lintao County, Gansu), surrendered to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei then pressed further to attack Xiangwu County (襄武縣; southeast of present-day Longxi County, Gansu) and engaged the Wei general Xu Zhi in battle. Xu Zhi was defeated and killed, but the Shu army also lost a general, Zhang Ni. The victorious Shu forces then occupied three counties – Didao, Heguan (河關; in the vicinity of present-day Dingxi, Gansu) and Lintao – and forced the residents to relocate to Shu-controlled territory.

Eighth Northern Expedition

In 255, despite strong objection from a fellow Shu general Zhang Yi, Jiang Wei went ahead with another campaign against Wei and even brought along Zhang Yi as his deputy. As the massive Shu army prepared to attack Didao (狄道; present-day Lintao County, Gansu), Wang Jing, the Wei governor of Yong Province, sought help from the Wei general Chen Tai.

After suffering a disastrous defeat against Shu forces at the west bank of the Tao River, Wang Jing and his remaining men retreated to Didao and took shelter inside the fortress. When Jiang Wei wanted to take advantage of the momentum to press on and besiege Didao, Zhang Yi advised him to stop advancing further because they would risk losing everything they had gained so far. Jiang Wei ignored him and ordered his forces to surround Didao.

In the meantime, Chen Tai, Deng Ai, Sima Fu and other Wei officers led reinforcements to Didao to save Wang Jing. Chen Tai led his troops to the hills southeast of Didao, where they lit more fires and beat their war drums loudly to let the Wei forces in Didao know that reinforcements were on the way. As a result, the Wei forces in Didao experienced a surge in morale, and the Shu forces were taken by surprise. At the same time, Chen Tai also spread false news that they were planning to cut off the Shu army's retreat route. When Jiang Wei heard about it, he became fearful so on 11 November 255 he withdrew all the Shu forces and retreated to Zhongti (鐘堤; south of present-day Lintao County, Gansu).

Ninth Northern Expedition

In the spring of 256, the Shu emperor Liu Shan promoted Jiang Wei to the position of General-in-Chief (大將軍). In autumn, Jiang Wei led Shu forces from Zhongti (鐘堤; south of present-day Lintao County, Gansu) to conquer Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu) but failed because the Wei general Deng Ai had anticipated the attack and already set up strong defences. Jiang Wei then attacked Deng Ai at Mount Wucheng (武城山; in present-day Chencang District, Baoji, Shaanxi) but was driven back. Later, he led his troops across the Wei River to launch a coordinated strike on Shanggui County (上邽縣; in present-day Tianshui, Gansu) with another Shu force led by Hu Ji. However, Hu Ji failed to show up in time so Jiang Wei came under attack by Deng Ai and his army sustained heavy casualties.

As the Northern Expeditions took a huge toll on Shu's population and resources, the people increasingly resented Jiang Wei for his warmongering behaviour. In order to appease public anger, Jiang Wei wrote a memorial to the Shu imperial court to take full responsibility for the failure of the ninth Northern Expedition and requested to be demoted as punishment. Liu Shan approved Jiang Wei's request and demoted him to the position of General of the Rear (後將軍) but allowed him to remain as acting General-in-Chief (大將軍).

Tenth Northern Expedition

In 257, when the Wei general Zhuge Dan started a rebellion in Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui), Jiang Wei decided to take advantage of the situation to stage another invasion of Wei. He led Shu forces to attack the Wei garrisons near the Great Wall which were well-stocked with supplies but poorly defended. The Wei forces stationed there started panicking when they heard of the Shu army's approach.

The Wei generals Sima Wang and Deng Ai led separate armies to the Great Wall to resist the Shu invaders. Jiang Wei then retreated to Mangshui (芒水; southeast of present-day Zhouzhi County, Shaanxi) and set up a camp there with its back facing a mountain. When the Wei forces encircled his position, Jiang Wei tried to taunt them to attack his camp but Sima Wang and Deng Ai ordered their troops to ignore the enemy and refrain from attacking.

In 258, after Jiang Wei received news that Wei forces had suppressed Zhuge Dan's rebellion, he withdrew his troops and returned to the Shu capital Chengdu. The Shu emperor Liu Shan restored him to the position of General-in-Chief (大將軍).

At the time, having seen year after year of battles against Wei, the people of Shu were growing tired of having to endure the costs and effects of war. The Shu official Qiao Zhou also wrote the "Chou Guo Lun" (仇國論; "Disquisition on Rivalling States"), a satirical piece criticising Jiang Wei for his warmongering behaviour.

Eleventh Northern Expedition

In the winter of 262, Jiang Wei led Shu forces to occupy Taoyang County (洮陽縣; in present-day Lintao County, Gansu) and attack Wei forces led by Deng Ai at Houhe County (侯和縣) but they lost the battle. He retreated to Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu) and garrisoned there.

Huang Haos rise to power

Jiang Wei knew that given his background as a defector from Wei, he had to prove his loyalty to Shu so he was eager to gain glory in battle. However, despite leading eleven campaigns against Wei, he had not made any significant achievements. While he was away at the frontline, the palace eunuch Huang Hao, whom the emperor Liu Shan favoured, gradually gained power in the Shu government and dominated the political scene. Huang Hao had a close partnership with the Shu general Yan Yu (閻宇) and he considered replacing Jiang Wei with Yan Yu as General-in-Chief. Jiang Wei had long suspected that Huang Hao had something against him so he remained in Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu) and did not return to Chengdu after the eleventh Northern Expedition.

The Chronicles of Huayang recorded that Jiang Wei hated Huang Hao for his power-grabbing behaviour and once advised Liu Shan to execute the eunuch. However, Liu Shan refused and said: "Huang Hao is but a servant running errands for me. In the past, I was annoyed by Dong Yun's deep hatred of him. Sir, why do you need to take this so personally?" Jiang Wei soon realised that he had a mistake in advising Liu Shan to execute Huang Hao because Huang Hao had strong influence in the Shu government, so he quickly excused himself and left. Liu Shan later instructed Huang Hao to visit Jiang Wei and apologise to him. Jiang Wei also managed to convince Huang Hao to let him remain in Tazhong to oversee agricultural production. His true intention, however, was to avoid getting caught up in a power struggle with Huang Hao in Chengdu.

Fall of Shu

Jiang Weis early warnings

In 263, Jiang Wei wrote a memorial to Liu Shan as follows:

Huang Hao believed fortune-tellers' prediction that Wei would not invade Shu, so he advised Liu Shan to ignore Jiang Wei's memorial and not put it up for discussion in the imperial court.

From Tazhong to Yinping

Around August or September 263, the Wei regent Sima Zhao ordered Zhong Hui, Deng Ai and Zhuge Xu to lead Wei forces to invade Shu from three different directions. When Zhong Hui reached Luo Valley (駱谷; southwest of present-day Zhouzhi County, Shaanxi) and Deng Ai attacked Tazhong (沓中; northwest of present-day Zhugqu County, Gansu), the Shu government ordered Liao Hua to lead reinforcements to support Jiang Wei at Tazhong. At the same time, they also sent Zhang Yi, Dong Jue and other Shu officers to lead troops to guard Yang'an Pass (陽安關; in present-day Ningqiang County, Shaanxi) and assist the Shu forces on the external perimeter.

When the Shu reinforcements reached Yinping (陰平; present-day Wen County, Gansu), they heard that Zhuge Xu was attacking Jianwei (建威; northeast of present-day Wudu District, Longnan, Gansu), so they stopped in their tracks at Yinping. After about a month, Deng Ai defeated Jiang Wei and occupied Tazhong, so Jiang Wei retreated to Yinping.

At the same time, Zhong Hui besieged Hancheng (漢城; present-day Mian County, Shaanxi) and Lecheng (樂城; present-day Chenggu County, Shaanxi) counties, and sent his subordinates to attack Yang'an Pass. The Shu officer Jiang Shu (蔣舒) opened up the pass and surrendered to the enemy, while his colleague Fu Qian died trying to defend the pass. After failing to take Lecheng County, Zhong Hui gave up and advanced towards Yang'an Pass when he learnt that his subordinates had captured the pass.

Defence of Jiange

By the time Zhang Yi and Dong Jue reached Hanshou County (漢壽縣; northeast of present-day Jiange County, Sichuan), Jiang Wei and Liao Hua had decided to abandon their position at Yinping and rendezvous with Zhang Yi and Dong Jue at the mountain pass Jiange, where they resisted attacks by Zhong Hui.

At one point, Zhong Hui wrote to Jiang Wei: "Sir, you are skilled in both civil and military affairs. You are exceptionally brilliant in strategy and your achievements are well-known throughout the Bashu region and the rest of the Empire. People from near and afar admire you. Every time I reflect on history, I hope that we can serve the same dynasty. Our relationship is like the friendship between Jizha and Zichan."

Jiang Wei did not reply Zhong Hui and he ordered his troops to strengthen their defences at Jiange. After failing to breach the mountain pass and with his army's food supplies running low, Zhong Hui considered pulling back all his troops and retreating.

Shu surrender

In the meantime, Deng Ai and his troops took a shortcut from Yinping through mountainous terrain and showed up at Mianzhu, where they defeated the Shu defenders led by Zhuge Zhan. After taking Mianzhu, Deng Ai advanced further and approached Chengdu, the Shu capital. In late November or December 263, Liu Shan decided to surrender to Deng Ai, thus bringing an end to the existence of Shu.

When Jiang Wei first heard that Mianzhu had fallen, he also received confusing information about the situation in Chengdu. Some said that Liu Shan wanted to remain in Chengdu and defend the city, while others claimed that the Shu emperor was going to abandon Chengdu and flee south to Jianning Commandery (建寧郡; covering parts of present-day Yunnan and Guizhou). Jiang Wei thus prepared to abandon Jiange and lead his troops to Qi County (郪縣; present-day Santai County, Sichuan), which was nearer to Chengdu, to verify the truth.

Just then, Jiang Wei and his troops received orders from Chengdu to lay down their arms and surrender to Zhong Hui at Fu County (涪縣; present-day Mianyang, Sichuan). Many Shu soldiers felt so shocked and angry when they heard of their emperor's surrender that they drew their swords and slashed at rocks to vent their frustration. When Zhong Hui finally met Jiang Wei, he asked him: "Why are you late?" With a solemn expression on his face and tears streaming down his cheeks, Jiang Wei replied: "Our meeting today came too early." Zhong Hui was impressed by Jiang Wei's response.

Attempt to restore Shu

Instigating Zhong Hui to rebel against Wei

Zhong Hui treated Jiang Wei well and returned him his tallies and other insignia. They travelled in the same carriage and sat at the same table during meals. Zhong Hui also told his chief clerk Du Yu: "Famous people from the Central Plains like Gongxiu and Taichu can't be compared to Boyue."

Jiang Wei sensed that Zhong Hui had the intention of rebelling against Wei and sought to exploit this opportunity to stage an uprising and restore Shu. He told Zhong Hui:

Zhong Hui replied: "What you just said is so far-off. I can't do this. Besides, given my current situation, there isn't a need for me to do this."

Jiang Wei then said:

They became even closer friends after this.

Death

Zhong Hui then framed his fellow Wei general Deng Ai for plotting a rebellion and had him arrested and sent back to the Wei capital Luoyang as a prisoner. With Deng Ai gone, Zhong Hui had control over Chengdu and the former Shu territories. In March 264, he started a revolt against the Wei regent Sima Zhao and declared himself the Governor of Yi Province (益州牧).

Zhong Hui wanted to put Jiang Wei in command of 50,000 troops and let him lead the vanguard force to attack Luoyang. However, around noon on 3 March 264, some Wei officers who were unwilling to participate in the rebellion started a mutiny against Zhong Hui. At the time, Jiang Wei was collecting his armour and weapons from Zhong Hui when they heard shouting and received news that a fire had broken out. Moments later, it was reported that many soldiers were crowding near the city gates. Zhong Hui was surprised and he asked Jiang Wei: "Those men are causing trouble. What should we do?" Jiang Wei replied: "Kill them."

Zhong Hui then ordered his men to kill the officers who refused to participate in the rebellion. A while later, there were reports of people climbing up the city gates on ladders and of people setting fire to buildings. Chaos broke out and arrows were fired in all directions. The mutinying officers regrouped with their men and attacked Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei. Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei fought the mutinying soldiers and slew about five or six of them, but were eventually overwhelmed and killed. The soldiers also killed Jiang Wei's wife and child(ren). The Shiyu (世語) recorded that the soldiers sliced open Jiang Wei's body when they killed him and saw that his gallbladder was one dou in size.

Alternative account from the Chronicles of Huayang

The Chronicles of Huayang recorded that Jiang Wei was only pretending to cooperate with Zhong Hui. He first instigated Zhong Hui to execute the Wei officers who were unwilling to join the rebellion, and then sought to find an opportunity to assassinate Zhong Hui. He would then lead the Shu people to kill all the Wei soldiers and restore their state. He also wrote a secret letter to Liu Shan as follows:

Family and descendants

Jiang Wei's father, Jiang Jiong (姜冏), served as a military officer in Tianshui Commandery and lost his life while suppressing a rebellion by the Qiang and other non-Han Chinese tribes.

Although Jiang Wei's biography in the Sanguozhi recorded that he lost contact with his mother after defecting to Shu, the Zaji (雜記) recorded that after he later received a letter from his mother asking him to return home. He wrote a reply as follows:

A genealogy book titled Da Tang Chi Xiulie Shan Siyue Tianshuijun Jiang Xing Gu Pu Zong Shixi (大唐敕修烈山四岳天水郡姜姓古譜總世系), dating from the Tang dynasty, recorded that Jiang Wei's wife was a certain Lady Liu (柳氏).

The Tang dynasty general Jiang Baoyi (姜寶誼) and chancellor Jiang Ke (姜恪) were descendants of Jiang Wei according to the table of chancellors' family trees in the New Book of Tang.

Appraisal

In his modern Chinese edition of the 11th-century historical text Zizhi Tongjian, the Taiwan-based Chinese historian Boyang mentioned that Jiang Wei was a highly controversial figure in Chinese history. He cited seven writers (Xi Zheng, Sun Sheng, Chen Shou, He Zhuo, Gan Bao, Wang Mingsheng and Pei Songzhi) who held different and discordant views of Jiang Wei.

Boyang himself, however, declined to comment but later shared in an open letter to a reader that he agreed with all seven views: Jiang Wei committed a fatal error in draining Shu's resources but he was also a loyal general who was willing to sacrifice himself in a futile attempt to restore Shu.

Zhuge Liangs views

Zhuge Liang once told Zhang Yi and Jiang Wan:

On another occasion, Zhuge Liang said:

Xi Zhengs views

Xi Zheng, a scholar from Shu who later served as an official under the Jin dynasty, commented on Jiang Wei as follows:

Sun Shengs views

The Jin dynasty historian Sun Sheng responded to Xi Zheng's comments on Jiang Wei as follows:

In his Jin Yang Qiu (晉陽秋), Sun Sheng also wrote:

Chen Shous views

Chen Shou, the Jin dynasty historian who wrote Jiang Wei's biography in the Sanguozhi, appraised Jiang Wei as follows:

He Zhuos views

The Qing dynasty writer He Zhuo (何焯) wrote:

Gan Baos views

The Jin dynasty historian Gan Bao wrote:

Wang Mingshengs views

The Qing dynasty historian Wang Mingsheng (王鳴盛) wrote:

Pei Songzhis views

The Liu Song dynasty historian Pei Songzhi, who annotated the Sanguozhi, commented on Jiang Wei as follows:

Pei Songzhi also rebutted Sun Sheng's response to Xi Zheng's comments on Jiang Wei:

Miscellaneous

The Shiyu (世語) recorded that Jiang Wei had no equal among the talented persons serving in the Shu government during his time.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Jiang Wei is a major character in the later chapters of the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical events and figures of the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China. In the novel, he is depicted as Zhuge Liang's protégé and successor who inherits the legacy of leading Shu into war against Wei with the aim of restoring the fallen Eastern Han dynasty.

Jiang Wei first appears in Chapters 92 and 93 as a Wei military officer serving in Tianshui Commandery during Zhuge Liang's first Northern Expedition. When Zhuge Liang tries to trick Ma Zun, the Administrator of Tianshui, to lead his troops out of Tianshui to save the Wei general Xiahou Mao in Nan'an Commandery, Jiang Wei sees through Zhuge Liang's ruse and advises Ma Zun to remain in Tianshui and set a trap for the enemy. When the Shu general Zhao Yun shows up to take Tianshui, he falls into the trap and briefly duels with Jiang Wei before Shu reinforcements arrive and save him. Zhao Yun tells Zhuge Liang that he is impressed that Tianshui has such a talent like Jiang Wei. When Jiang Wei successfully repels another Shu attack, Zhuge Liang is even more impressed and eager to recruit Jiang Wei to serve in Shu. He tricks Ma Zun into believing that Jiang Wei has defected to Shu in order to prevent Jiang Wei from going back to Wei, and then springs a trap for Jiang Wei. When Jiang Wei gets cornered, he attempts suicide but Zhuge Liang stops him and manages to convince him to surrender and join Shu.

Jiang Wei accompanies Zhuge Liang on his subsequent Northern Expeditions. Chapters 107 to 115 dramatise Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions and refer to them as Jiang Wei's "Nine Campaigns on the Central Plains" when historically there were actually eleven campaigns instead of nine. In Chapter 119, Jiang Wei instigates Zhong Hui to launch a rebellion against Wei, but their rebellion fails when some of Zhong Hui's officers start a mutiny against their superior. Cornered by the enemy, Jiang Wei sighs, "It is Heaven's will that my plan doesn't succeed!" He then commits suicide by slitting his throat.

A verse from the novel in Jiang Wei's honour reads:

In popular culture

Jiang Wei appears as a playable character in the video game series Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi produced by Koei Tecmo. In the games, he is portrayed as a young warrior fiercely devoted to his mentor Zhuge Liang. He also appears in Koei Tecmo's Romance of the Three Kingdoms series.

Memorials and relics

A Jiang Wei Memorial Museum (姜維紀念館) was constructed in 1999 near Jiang Wei's hometown in the east of Gangu County, Tianshui, Gansu. The museum, covering an area of 360 square metres, was funded by the locals. Among other things, it contains a four-metre-tall statue of Jiang Wei in the main hall, as well as a stone tablet inscribed with the words "Jiang Wei's hometown" in calligraphy by the general Yang Chengwu.

The Pingxiang Tower (平襄楼) in present-day Lushan County, Sichuan is a 24-metre-tall building commemorating Jiang Wei. Its name comes from Jiang Wei's peerage, the Marquis of Pingxiang (平襄侯). The tower was built during the Song dynasty, renovated in 1445 during the Ming dynasty, and designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level by China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage in 2006.

There are a number of relics related to Jiang Wei at Jianmen Pass in present-day Jiange County, Sichuan, including a Jiang Wei Well (姜維井), Jiang Wei Cave (姜維洞), Jiang Wei Fortress (姜維城), Jiang Wei Temple (姜維廟), Lord Jiang Bridge (姜公橋), Jiang Wei Armoury (姜維軍械) and Jiang Wei Tomb (姜維墓). Poets such as Lu You, Zuo Mu (左牧), Li Tiaoyuan (李調元) and Zhuang Xuehe (莊學和) have written poems at Jianmen Pass to praise Jiang Wei.

生平

涼州異才

姜維出生于202年，父親姜冏是天水郡守的佐官，曾任郡功曹，早年於羌、戎叛亂中，戰死沙場。姜維與母親相依為命，喜歡漢朝學者鄭玄學說。時常結交一些豪傑，心中有大志。初為曹魏中郎，參天水郡軍事。建興六年（228年）諸葛亮出兵祁山，姜維及功曹梁緒、主簿尹賞、主記梁虔等正與天水太守馬遵、雍州刺史郭淮外出巡視，馬遵聽到蜀軍將至，而諸縣響應，懷疑姜維等人皆有異心，遂趁夜逃到上邽。姜維等人察覺馬遵已逃走，想回去，但城門已關閉。去冀城，也被拒門外，遂投降諸葛亮，姜維母親則滯留魏國。

頤和園長廊上的「收姜維」情節

諸葛亮徵闢姜維為倉曹掾，加奉義將軍，封當陽亭侯，時年27歲。諸葛亮曾與張裔、蔣琬書稱：「姜維忠勤時事，思慮精密，考察他所擁有之才能，李邵、馬良都比不上。此人，乃涼州之上等人才。」(有一說為涼州最傑出之人）又說：「姜維在軍事上很有見解，既有膽色、明義理，深解兵法意理。此人心存漢室，才能兼備於人，須先敎他操練中虎步兵五六千人，將軍事全敎給他，當帶他進宮，覲見天子。」後來，姜維遷為中監軍、征西將軍。

軍旅生涯

234年，諸葛亮死于五丈原後，姜維返回成都，為右監軍、輔漢將軍，統率諸軍，進封平襄縣侯。238年，隨大將軍蔣琬（諸葛亮後繼者）遷往漢中。蔣琬不久升為大司馬，便以姜維為司馬，數次率偏軍西入。243年，升為鎮西大將軍，領涼州刺史。247年，升衛將軍，與大將軍費禕共同行使尚書事權。是年，汶山平康蠻人反叛，姜維率眾討伐平定。出在隴西、南安、金城郡邊界，與魏國前將軍郭淮、右將軍夏侯霸等於洮西交戰。249年，劉禪授姜維假節，姜維出兵西平。姜維每次想大舉出兵，費禕常不依從，限制給他不超過一萬名士兵，因此沒有重大斬獲。

北伐中原

253年春，費禕被降將郭脩刺殺而亡。三月，吳太傅諸葛恪再次興師攻魏，發兵20萬進攻淮南。姜維率數萬人出石營（今甘肅省西和縣西北），經董亭（今甘肅省天水市西南），包圍南安，魏雍州刺史陳泰率軍解圍，進至洛門（即洛門聚，今甘肅甘谷西），姜維糧盡退還。

254年，姜維加督國內外軍事。二月，魏中書令李豐與皇后之父光祿大夫張緝等密謀廢易大臣，欲以太常夏侯玄代替司馬師為大將軍。事洩，司馬師殺李豐、夏侯玄等，廢張皇后，魏國一時陷於混亂。魏狄道長李簡密向蜀漢請降。六月，姜維復出隴西攻魏，李簡獻城降，占據狄道（今甘肅臨洮）。十月，姜維率軍進圍襄武（魏隴西郡治，今甘肅隴西南），與魏將徐質交鋒，斬其首級，魏軍戰敗撤退。蜀漢前軍蕩寇將軍張嶷戰死。姜維乘勝進擊，拔河關（今甘肅臨夏西北）、臨洮（今甘肅岷縣狄道）三縣民回蜀漢。

蜀延熙十八年（魏正元二年，255年）七月，姜維乘魏大將軍司馬師病亡之際，再度北伐，征西大將軍張翼反對北伐，表示國家弱小，人民疲敝，不應窮兵黷武。姜維不聽。於是與車騎將軍夏侯霸、張翼等數萬人攻魏。八月初二，到達枹罕（今甘肅臨夏東北），遂向狄道進軍。魏徵西將軍陳泰命雍州刺史王經率所部進駐狄道，待他率主力自陳倉到達後，再鉗擊蜀漢軍。王經不俟陳泰軍至即擅擊蜀漢軍，姜維率軍先後故關（今甘肅臨洮北）、洮西大破王經，王經部下死者數萬人。王經退保狄道，姜維乘勝進圍。魏大將軍司馬昭命長水校尉鄧艾出任安西將軍，與陳泰進兵解圍，並遣太尉司馬孚為後援。陳泰與鄧艾軍會合後，分三路進至隴西，避開蜀軍，出其不意地繞過高城嶺（今甘肅渭源西北），進至狄道東南山上，燃火擊鼓與城內聯絡，守軍見援軍至，士氣大振。姜維即督軍沿山進攻，被魏軍擊退。這時陳泰揚言截斷蜀軍退路，姜維遂於九月廿五日（11月11日）退卻，駐鐘題（今甘肅臨洮南）。

256年正月，姜維在駐地拜為大將軍。六月，姜維與鎮西大將軍胡濟約期於上邽（今甘肅天水）會合。七月，姜維率先出兵祁山，聞鄧艾有備，乃改從董亭（今甘肅武山南）攻南安（今甘肅隴西東南）。鄧艾軍搶佔武城山（今甘肅武山西南）據險拒守。姜維見地利已失，強攻難克，乃夜渡渭水東進，沿山進取上邽。兩軍戰胡濟失期未至。蜀漢軍為鄧艾所破于段谷（今甘肅天水西南）。士卒潰散，死傷甚眾。百姓因此埋怨姜維，而隴山以西亦騷動不安。姜維謝過引疚負責，自求削貶為後將軍，行大將軍事。

257年五月，魏徵東大將軍諸葛誕聯合東吳在淮南起兵反司馬昭。司馬昭分調關中兵東下討伐諸葛誕。姜維欲乘機攻向秦川（渭水流域），於十二月率兵數萬出駱谷（今陝西周至西南），到達沈嶺（今陝西周至南）。當時，魏在長城（今陝西周至南）積存大量軍糧，且防守薄弱。聞姜維至，眾皆惶懼。魏徵西將軍司馬望和安西將軍鄧艾恐姜維襲奪長城，立即合軍據守。姜維軍進至芒水（今陝西周至黑水），依山為營。司馬望、鄧艾依傍渭水堅守築寨。姜維多次挑戰，司馬望、鄧艾不于回應。

258年三、四月間，姜維聽聞諸葛誕被破失敗，乃退還成都。復再被拜為大將軍。

景耀年間，姜維更改魏延任漢中太守期間實兵諸圍的策略，大量圍守撤兵至漢、樂二城，僅剩西安、建威、武衛、石門、武城、建昌、臨遠等設立圍守。姜維認為之前魏延的防守策略只能禦敵，不能殲敵。姜維提出不如撤圍，漢軍只駐守關隘，堅壁清野，僅派出騷擾的游擊隊，讓敵人深入漢中，敵人遠道而來，補給困難，又無法掠奪糧食，自然撤退。此時漢軍出城和游擊隊一同包夾，就可以消滅敵人。但忽視了前漢中太守魏延，王平對陽平關的防守。

262年十月，姜維起兵再度攻魏，攻入洮陽境。魏徵西將軍鄧艾率兵迎戰。鄧艾抓住姜維懸師遠征，戰線長，給養困難，難以持久的弱點。搶佔有利地勢，在洮陽以東侯和（今卓尼東北）設陣，以逸待勞，阻擊蜀軍，雙方激戰後，魏軍發起反擊，蜀軍擊破，損失嚴重。諸葛瞻、董厥等人認為姜維連年出兵，沒有立下功績，而國家又疲敝，要求罷免姜維的兵權，而姜維又厭惡宦官黃皓專權，甚至上表要劉禪殺死黃皓，劉禪拒絕。黃皓伺機報複，準備說服劉禪讓自己好友右大將軍閻宇代替姜維，姜維害怕，只得藉口屯田，退往沓中（今甘肅舟曲西北），實際上是遠離成都以避禍。

勢變潰失

景耀六年（263年），魏國將領鍾會於關中練兵，姜維上表後主：「聽聞鍾會治兵關中，欲規畫進一步拓取土地之意，宜一併派遺張翼、廖化督率各軍，分別護陽安關口、陰平橋頭，以防患於未然」。黃皓徵求鬼巫信息，謂敵人終究不會自來，稟告後主有其事，而群臣不知所以。及後魏大都督司馬昭兵分三路大舉進伐蜀漢：鎮西將軍鍾會領十餘萬大軍，將兵向駱谷，南征漢中；征西將軍鄧艾領隴右軍三萬攻入沓中，牽制姜維；雍州刺史諸葛緒領兵三萬至陰平橋頭，阻止姜維回救蜀中。姜維立刻率軍由沓中南撤，遺右車騎將軍廖化往沓中為援軍，左車騎將軍張翼、輔國大將軍董厥等往陽安關口以為諸圍外相助。姜維奮力擺脫鄧艾追擊，並且用計騙過了諸葛緒，以阻擋魏軍。而鍾會圍攻漢、樂二城，遺別將進攻陽安關口，武興督蔣舒開城出降，傅僉格鬥而死。鍾會不能攻克樂城，聽聞陽安關口已攻下，便長驅而前進。張翼、董厥甫至漢壽，姜維、廖化亦舍陰平而退，皆退保劍閣以拒鍾會，雙方殭持不下。鍾會不能攻克劍閣，糧食運送遙遠，將議還歸魏國。而鄧艾自陰平由景谷道傍入，遂破綿竹，蜀將諸葛瞻、諸葛尚、黃崇、張遵、李球等戰死。劉禪請降於鄧艾，鄧艾前往佔據成都。

謀敗身死

姜維等人起初聽聞鄧艾攻破諸葛瞻於綿竹，又聽到許多關於劉禪的傳言，有或聽聞劉禪欲固守成都，或聽聞欲往東入奔吳國，或聽聞欲往南入建寧，於是引軍棄劍閣往成都。不久接到劉禪投降命令，姜維乃投戈放甲，蜀漢將士非常憤怒，紛紛拔刀砍石來發洩。於是姜維便決定假降於鍾會，並獲取其信任，然後挑撥他和鄧艾之間的關係，慫恿其叛變，意圖趁亂殺鍾會，奪其軍權，復興蜀漢。但最後眾將沒有響應鍾會的叛亂，蜀地的魏軍發生兵變，兵士憤怒格殺鍾會、姜維及張翼。姜維時年六十二歲。司馬昭參軍衛瓘念其忠心，厚葬姜維。據《三國志·姜維傳》注引《世語》記載，姜維死時腹部被剖開，膽跟斗一樣大，所以後世有「大膽姜伯約」的說法。

西魏年間，姜維被權臣宇文泰追封為開明王。

評價

後世對於姜維的評價，頗具爭議。有史學家認為他出兵無度，導致國力疲弊，間接使蜀漢亡國；有另一些學者認為並不盡然。

成都武侯祠內的姜維塑像

• 蜀漢丞相諸葛亮：「姜伯約忠勤時事，思慮精密，考其所有，永南、季常諸人不如也。其人，涼州上士也。」又說：「姜伯約甚敏於軍事，既有膽義，深解兵意。此人心存漢室而才兼於人，畢教軍事，當遣詣宮，覲見主上。」

• 魏國司徒鍾會：「公侯以文武之德，懷邁世之略，功濟巴、漢、聲暢華夏，遠近莫不歸名。每惟疇昔，嘗同大化，吳札、鄭喬，能喻斯好。」又說：「以伯約比中土名士，公休、太初不能勝也。」。

• 魏國鄧艾：「姜維，自一時雄兒也。然與某相值，故窮耳。」（《三國志·魏書·王毌丘諸葛鄧鐘傳第二十八》）

• 蜀漢官員郤正後在西晉官至太守，著論評論姜維，稱：「姜伯約據上將之重，處群臣之右。宅舍弊薄，資財無餘，側室無妾媵之褻，後庭無聲樂之娛。衣服取供，輿馬取備，飲食節制，不奢不約，官給費用，隨手消盡；察其所以然者，非以激貪厲濁，抑情自割也。直謂如是為足，不在多求。凡人之談，常譽成毀敗，扶高抑下，咸以姜維投厝無所，身死宗滅，以是貶削，不復料擿，異乎《春秋》褒貶之義矣。如姜維之樂學不倦，清素節約，自一時之儀表也。」（「位居上將之重位，處於群臣之首。屋宅院舍簡陋，沒有多餘資財和妾室，家中沒有聲樂娛樂之物，穿衣、出行、日用及飲食上也有節制，薪水也都隨手用光；姜維之所以這樣，並非刻意表現清廉高尚，而是滿足於這樣的待遇，沒有多餘奢求。常人譽成毀敗，扶高抑下，都認為姜維投降於蜀，最後死無葬身之地和家族滅亡是失敗作為，而不復探索其他方面，這有異於春秋褒貶人物之本義。像姜維這樣好學不倦，清廉樸素，節儉簡約，可說是一時之模範。」）

• 郭頒：「時蜀官屬皆天下英俊，無出維右。」

• 曹奐：「蜀所恃賴，唯維而已。」

• 幹寶：「姜維為蜀相，國亡主辱弗之死，而死于鐘會之亂，惜哉！非死之難，處死之難也。是以古之烈士，見危授命，投節如歸，非不愛死也，固知命之不長而懼不得其所也。」

• 左思：「庭扣鐘磬，堂撫琴瑟。匪葛匪姜，疇能是恤？」

• 常璩：「姜維才非亮匹，志繼洪軌，民嫌其勞，家國亦喪矣。」

• 蜀漢將領廖化於景耀五年（262年）姜維出兵狄道時表示：「『兵不戢，必自焚』，伯約之謂也。智不出敵，而力少於寇，用之無厭，何以能立？詩云『不自我先，不自我後』，今日之事也。」點出了廖化對姜維連年用兵，耗損蜀漢國力的擔憂。

• 陳壽於《三國志》中評論：「姜維粗有文武，志立功名，而玩眾黷旅，明斷不周，終致隕斃。老子有云：『治大國者猶烹小鮮』況于區區蕞爾，而可屢擾乎哉。」

• 傅玄《傅子》：「維為人好立功名，陰養死士，不修布衣之業。」「姜維欲速立其功，勇而無決也。」

• 東晉孫盛對姜維評價很差：「異哉郤氏之論也！夫士雖百行，操業萬殊，至於忠孝義節，百行之冠冕也。姜維策名魏室，而外奔蜀朝，違君徇利，不可謂忠；捐親苟免，不可謂孝；害加舊邦，不可謂義；敗不死難，不可謂節；且德政未敷而疲民以逞，居禦侮之任而致敵喪守，於夫智勇，莫可雲也：凡斯六者，維無一焉。實有魏之逋臣，亡國之亂相，而雲人之儀表，斯亦惑矣。縱維好書而微自藻潔，豈異夫盜者分財之義，而程、鄭降階之善也？」（「士大夫雖有百種德行，做萬種不同作業，但忠孝義節是百行中最重要品德。姜維求功名於魏室，而外奔蜀漢，違背主君而徇私，不可謂『忠』；為苟且免死，捐棄母親，不可謂『孝』；加害於舊祖國，不可謂『義』；戰敗而不死於難，不可謂『節』；而且沒有德政而疲憊人民以逞強，身居抵禦外侮之責任而引致喪失國土於敵人，不可謂『智勇』。這六樣美德，姜維一項也沒有。實有魏之叛臣，亡蜀漢之亂相，而說他人之儀表。縱使姜維好讀書而自奉卑微、文藻高潔，豈不與強盜富貴，晉侯嬖程鄭降問自降下偽善之道理一樣？」）「盛以為古人云，非所困而困焉名必辱，非所據而據焉身必危，既辱且危，死其將至，其姜維之謂乎！鄧艾之入江油，士眾鮮少，維進不能奮節綿竹之下，退不能總帥五將，擁衛蜀主，思後圖之計，而乃反覆于逆順之間，希違情于難冀之會，以衰弱之國，而屢觀兵于三秦，已滅之邦，冀理外之奇舉，不亦暗哉！」

• 但裴松之為《三國志》作注則不同意孫盛之批評：「臣松之以為盛之譏維，又為不當。于時鍾會大眾既造劍閣，維與諸將列營守險，會不得進，已議還計，全蜀之功，幾乎立矣。但鄧艾詭道傍入，出於其後，諸葛瞻既敗，成都自潰。維若回軍救內，則會乘其背。當時之勢，焉得兩濟？而責維不能奮節綿竹，擁衞蜀主，非其理也。會欲盡坑魏將以舉大事，授維重兵，使為前驅。若令魏將皆死，兵事在維手，殺會復蜀，不為難矣。夫功成理外，然後為奇，不可以事有差牙，而抑謂不然。設使田單之計，邂逅不會，復可謂之愚闇哉！」（「臣裴松之以為孫盛之譏評姜維，又為不當。于時鍾會大眾既造劍閣，姜維與諸將列營守險，鍾會不得進，已相議退還之計，幾乎建立保全蜀漢之功。但鄧艾行險詭道傍入，出於其後，諸葛瞻既敗，成都自行投降。姜維若回軍救成都，必被前後夾擊，如果這就批評姜維守備綿竹不力，不能保住蜀國，並沒有道理，及後鍾會謀反，企圖盡殺魏將，並授大權與姜維，若魏將皆死，姜維殺鍾會以復國之計大有可能成功，計謀膽量可稱為奇，雖然最後失敗，但卻不能說姜維只是庸才一名，若當年田單復齊國不成，我們又要說田單只是庸人一名?」）「郤正此論，取其可稱，不謂維始終行事皆可準則也。所云『一時儀表』，止在好學與儉素耳。本傳及魏略皆雲維本無叛心，以急逼歸蜀。盛相譏貶，惟可責其背母。餘既過苦，又非所以難卻正也。」「亮有吞魏之志久矣，不始于此眾人方知也，且于時師出無成，傷缺而反者眾，三郡歸降而不能有。姜維，天水之匹夫耳，獲之則于魏何損？」

• 《世說新語》：「時蜀官屬皆天下英俊，無出維右。」

• 范縝：「比幹之心，七竅列角；伯約之膽，其大若拳，此心器之殊也。是知聖人定分，每絕常區，非惟道革群生，乃亦形超萬有。」

• 陳普：「國小民勞事已非，城狐不斬愈危機。卻屯已可擒鐘會，鄧艾無翎獨解飛。」「無德那堪力不任，重關如掌寇戎深。幽冥不系梟鐘會，猶有區區一片心。」（《陳普詩選》）

• 胡三省：「維之智固足以玩弄鐘會于股掌之上，迫于時、制于命，奈之何哉！？姜維之心，始終為漢，千載之下，炳炳如丹，陳壽、孫盛之貶，非也。」「屢敗而不止，為亡蜀張本。」

• 羅貫中：「天水誇英俊，涼州產異才。系從尚父出，術奉武侯來。大膽應無懼，雄心誓不回。成都身死日，漢將有餘哀。」

• 李贄：「又一孔明。」

• 黃宗羲：「主上以忠臣之後仗我，我所以棲棲不忍去也；今方寸亂矣，吾不能為姜伯約矣。」

• 清代史學家王鳴盛贊姜維「姜維志在複蜀，不成被殺，其赤心則千載如生，維之于蜀，猶張世傑、陸秀夫之于宋耳。」「但譏其玩眾黷旅，以致隕斃，壽豈不知不伐賊王業亦亡，惟坐而待亡，孰與伐之？」。

• 蔡東藩：「姜維才不逮諸葛，而欲與魏爭勝，連歲出師，致民勞苦，不可謂非失計。然如後主之昏愚，親小人，遠賢臣，就使維不伐魏，蜀亦寧能久存乎？況維聞魏人窺蜀，即表請遣將守險，而為一黃皓所誤，卒至魏兵三路，長驅直入；是咎在黃皓，于維無尤也。劍閣守險，鐘會屢攻不克，而鄧艾從陰平進兵，直趨涪城，諸葛瞻不依黃崇之議，讓敵深入，猝至戰死，是咎在諸葛瞻，于維亦無尤也。成都雖危，尚堪背城借一，後主寧從譙周，不從北地王諶，面縛出降，坐喪蜀土，是咎在後主，于維更無尤也。至大勢已去，維尚詐降鐘會，意圖規複，乃不幸失敗，一死謝國，維之報主，至矣盡矣！天不祚蜀，何維之足尤乎？」

• 近代史學家呂思勉在《三國史話》中分析：「……諸葛亮死後，蜀漢還有二十九年的命運。這二十九年之中，前十二年，總統國事的是蔣琬；中七年是費褘；後十年是姜維。蔣琬、費褘手裡，都不甚出兵伐魏。姜維屢次想大舉，費褘總裁制他，不肯多給他兵馬。費褘死後，姜維做事才得放手些，然而亦無大功，而自己國裡，反因此而有些疲弊。當時很有反對他的人。後來讀史的人，亦有以蜀之亡歸咎於姜維的用兵的，其實亦不盡然。」又云：「從魏齊王芳之立，至高貴鄉公的被弒，其間共計二十一年，即係入三國後之第二十一年至第四十一年，正是魏國多事之秋，蜀漢若要北伐，其機會斷在此間，而其機會又是愈早愈妙，因為愈早則魏國的政局愈不安定。然此中強半的時間，都在蔣琬、費褘秉政之日，到姜維掌握兵權，已經失之太晚了。所以把蜀國的滅亡，歸咎到姜維，實在是冤枉的。倒是蔣琬、費褘，應當負較大的責任。」

• 曾任陳布雷秘書及台灣政治大學教授的蔣君章，欽敬姜維「明辨忠奸」、「移孝作忠」、「好學不倦」，從不灰心奮鬥，「即在無可奈何中，他還是想辦法達到光復社稷」，奮鬥精神，值得佩服。

• 成海應：「孔明奇才也, 而六出無功. 孔明旣歿之後, 天時人事, 只當修好吳魏, 以安邊民, 靜以待天而已. 姜維乃九伐中原, 其心何曾以漢賊不兩立之義, 矢復高光舊物哉. 只是負才自矜, 僥倖希覬, 要多于前人者也. 孔明之六出, 行之以所當為, 便有生道殺人之義, 故國猶不瘁. 維之九伐, 期必於萬一之幸, 驅民以自逞, 數千里罷氓, 何以堪命哉. 凡人臣以此心從事者, 無守節死義之心, 維之降固其所也. 說者或以為維欲有為而降, 不知之論也.」（󰡔存齋集󰡕 卷14, 雜著, 格物說）

後人

《三國志》中記載，姜維謀複蜀漢事敗，「魏將士憤發，殺會及維，維妻子皆伏誅」。但據《新唐書·宰相世系表》中記載，姜維仍有後代留存，世代居于上邽，可能是姜維歸漢以前留下來的子嗣。

• 姜明，姜維裔孫。北魏時官員，兗州刺史、天水郡公。

　• 姜遠，姜明子。北周時官員，荊秦二州刺史、朝邑縣公。

　　• 姜寶誼，姜遠子。唐高祖時將領，右武衛大將軍、永安縣公。與宋金剛作戰被俘不屈死，追贈左衛大將軍、幽州總管。

　　　• 姜恪，姜寶誼子。唐高宗時將領，侍中、永安郡公。因戰功官至左相，與閻立本同時為相，人稱「左相宣威沙漠，右相馳譽丹青」。

　　　• 姜協，姜寶誼子。唐時官員，燕然都護、夏州都督、成紀縣侯。善篆籀。

　　　　• 姜琇，姜協子。唐時官員，夏州都督府法曹。

　　　　　• 姜昂，姜琇子。唐時官員，朝議大夫前、行尚書司勛郎中、上柱國。

　　　　　　• 姜還，姜昂孫。唐時官員，虔州刺史、將作少監。

藝術形象

動漫遊戲

• 三國殺

• 《三國演義》

• 真三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發，菅沼久義配音）

影視

• 1985年--亞洲電視（ATV）《諸葛亮》：何玉海

• 1985年--香港亞洲電視電視劇《諸葛亮》：李嘉豪、楊得時

• 1994年--中國中央電視台電視劇集《三國演義》：張天舒、樊志起

• 1996年--電影《諸葛孔明》：王曉東

• 2006年--電視劇《神鬼八陣圖》：王全有

• 2010年--中國電視劇《三國》：葉鵬

• 2017年--中國電視劇《大軍師司馬懿之軍師聯盟》：白海濤