Dong Zhuo
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Dong Zhuo | |
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董卓 | |
Chancellor of State (相國) | |
In office 189 | |
Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
General of the Vanguard (前將軍) | |
In office 188–189 | |
Monarchs | Emperor Ling of Han / Emperor Shao of Han |
Personal details | |
Born | 140s |
Dong Zhuo | |
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Tâi-lô | Táng Toh |
Middle Chinese | |
Middle Chinese | túwng ʈæwk |
Dong Zhuo (
Dong Zhuo subsequently deposed
Early life
Dong Zhuo was born in Lintao, Longxi Commandery in the early 140s and was said to be a chivalrous youth who was physically strong and excelled in horseback archery. He travelled around the Qiang and Xiongnu regions and befriended many people.[5]
Around 165, Dong Zhuo became a member of the Wulin corps (羽林郎, branch of the Imperial Guard) in the capital. Dong served under Zhang Huan's northern campaign to suppress an uprising of the
At the outbreak of the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the summer of 184, Dong Zhuo was sent to take over command from Lu Zhi in preparation of the offense on Zhang Jue in Julu. Although his efforts during the rebellion were initially unsuccessful, with the arrival of Huangfu Song, victory was achieved in the winter against the peasants.[6]
During the
Dong Zhuo was given the title "General Who Smashes the Caitiffs" in 185, and "General of the Vanguard" in 188. He was promoted to be the governor of Bing Province, but he refused to take up his new post as he was unwilling to leave his men.[4]
During the turbulent situation, the power of the
Rise to power
Following the death of Emperor Ling of Han in 189, General-in-Chief He Jin ordered Dong Zhuo to lead troops into Luoyang to aid him in eliminating the powerful eunuch faction known as the Ten Attendants. Before Dong could arrive, He Jin was assassinated by the eunuchs and the capital city fell into a state of turmoil. The eunuchs took Liu Bian (Emperor Shao) hostage and fled from Luoyang. Dong Zhuo's army intercepted the eunuchs and brought the emperor back to the palace.[4]
After He Jin's death, He Jin's step-brother, General of Chariots and Cavalry He Miao (何苗), was killed by He Jin's subordinate Wu Kuang (吳匡) and Dong Zhuo's brother Dong Min, for sympathizing with the eunuch faction who assassinated He Jin.[9]
After arriving in Luoyang, Dong Zhuo realized that his 3000 men were unequal to the numerous troops guarding the capital. Dong ordered some of his army to march out at night and re-enter the city at dawn, thus making it appear that he was receiving reinforcements. Dong then took command of the leaderless forces of He Jin and He Miao, convinced Lü Bu to join his ranks, and made himself Excellency of Works.[4][10]
In 189, Dong deposed Emperor Shao and replaced him with Liu Xie (
Coalition against Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo retreats to Chang'an
In the same year, regional officials and warlords around the country formed
Dong evacuated everyone in Luoyang and moved them to Chang'an in the west. Before the relocation, Dong ordered his troops to ransack the tombs of the late Han emperors for treasures, seize valuables from the wealthy residents in Luoyang, and burn down the palaces and anything that might be useful to the coalition.[4]: 460–461
Then the chancellor assembled his forces in the city and personally led them to ambush the approaching army. Dong's ambush failed and he was driven back by Sun Jian.[11] He ordered Lu Bu to lead a cavalry force back to the city to halt Sun's progress before he took flight for Mianchi. Sun Jian broke through one of the eastern gates and defeated Lu Bu, taking the city.[12]
Defeat of the coalition
Despite taking Luoyang, the city was so heavily damaged that Sun Jian chose to retreat rather than to try to hold it.[4]: 465
Dong Zhuo then sent his generals Li Jue,
Rule of terror
Two months after he moved the capital, Dong Zhuo revived the title of
Dong Zhuo threw lavish banquets during which he would torture captured enemies by severing limbs, removing tongues and eyeballs, or burning them alive. His audience was said to have experienced a high degree of discomfort.[16]
For Yuan Shao's role as leader of the coalition against him, Dong Zhuo had the entire Yuan clan in Luoyang wiped out. Within two years, thousands of public servants were wrongly accused and executed, and numerous commoners were kidnapped or killed. In order to purchase materials for further development of the Mei citadel, he had bells and bronze statues, among which were nine of the Twelve Metal Colossi,[17] melted and recast into coins. However, the coins did not weigh the same, resulting in all copper cash being devalued.[4]: 463
Downfall and death
Dong Zhuo kept Lü Bu as a personal bodyguard and swore an oath as father and son. However, after an argument, Dong threw a hand-axe at Lü Bu, who dodged the weapon. Lü Bu's relationship with Dong Zhuo further deteriorated when Lü had an affair with a woman in Dong's harem.[4]: 466
In 192, with encouragement from Interior Minister
Legacy
After Dong Zhuo's death, several of his loyalists, such as
Family
- Father: Dong Junya (died 181)
- Mother: Lady Dong (103–192), titled Lady of Chiyang, executed
- Younger brother: Dong Min (died 192) – After Dong Zhuo backed Emperor Xian, Dong Min was appointed to the rank of Left General. After Lü Bu killed Dong Zhuo, Dong Min was labeled an accomplice and executed, and his head was put on public display
- Nephew: Dong Huang (died 192) – born in Lintao County, Gansu, fathered by Dong Zhuó (董擢, note different character than his own) elder brother of Dong Zhuo, executed
- Sons: Dong Zhuo had some infant sons who were enfeoffed and later presumably executed, and at least one son of his was born 171 but died earlier than 190
- Granddaughter: Dong Bai (董白), born after 178, titled Lady of Weiyang. She was given her passage to adulthood ceremony and a grand title and lands at an unceremoniously young age despite a 50-year-old Zhu Jun's protests. For the grand ceremony, a platform was built to be five to six che – about 116 cm (3'10") or 139 cm (4'7") in modern conversions – and she rode in a blue-covered golden carriage as thousands of soldiers marched behind her. Dong Huang was said to have given her the seal personally. Dong Bai was presumably executed.
- Grandson: born 186, executed
- Daughter: married Niu Fu
- Foster Son: Lü Bu
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th-century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms era. Because the real-life Dong Zhuo was already much of a cruel and treacherous character, the novel probably could do little more to accentuate that treachery and cruelty. It did, however, on two occasions deviate from the history.
Dong Zhuo and the three sworn brothers
Dong Zhuo first appeared as early as late in Chapter 1. Being sent to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Dong Zhuo was defeated by the rebel leader
The three newly sworn brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, happened to be nearby. They then led their forces out to Dong Zhuo's rescue. Suddenly met with this new opposition, the rebels were swept off their feet and had to retreat.
After returning to camp, Dong Zhuo asked the three brothers what offices they currently held. And they replied that they held none. Dong Zhuo harrumphed and then ignored them. This angered Zhang Fei so much that he grabbed his sword and wanted to kill Dong Zhuo. He was however stopped by his two brothers, who suggested taking their service elsewhere. Thus was Dong Zhuo's life spared and the three brothers went their own way.
Dong Zhuo and Diaochan
Perhaps the most popular story about Dong Zhuo was the fictional love triangle involving Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu and Diaochan, which eventually led to the death of Dong Zhuo at the hands of his own adoptive son, Lü Bu.
After Dong Zhuo moved the capital to the more strategically sound Chang'an, Interior Minister Wang Yun started to contemplate a plot to assassinate the tyrant by using the petite Diaochan, a young singer who was brought up in his household but whom he had been treating like his own daughter, to plant the seed of dissension between Dong Zhuo and Lü Bu.
Inviting Lü Bu over one night, Wang Yun asked Diaochan to serve wine to the guest. Lü Bu was immediately seized by the girl's beauty. Well aware of this, Wang Yun then promised to marry Diaochan to the mighty warrior.
A few days later, however, Wang Yun laid a feast for Dong Zhuo and repeated the feat. Like Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo could not lift his eyes off Diaochan, who also displayed her prowess in song and dance. Dong Zhuo then brought Diaochan home and made her his concubine.
When Lü Bu heard about this early the next morning, he headed for Dong Zhuo's bedroom and peeped in through the window. There he saw Diaochan sitting up grooming her hair while Dong Zhuo was still asleep. Aware of Lü Bu's presence, Diaochan put up a sorrowful expression and pretended to wipe tears off her eyes with a handkerchief.
A similar incident recurred about a month later, but this time Dong Zhuo woke up in time to see Lü Bu staring fixedly at Diaochan. Lü Bu was then thrown out and forbidden from entering the house.
Then one day, while Dong Zhuo was holding a conversation with Emperor Xian, Lü Bu sneaked to his foster father's residence and met with Diaochan in the Fengyi Pavilion (鳳儀亭). Weeping, Diaochan pleaded with Lü Bu to rescue her from Dong Zhuo. Placing his halberd aside, Lü Bu held Diaochan in his arms and comforted her with words.
Right then, Dong Zhuo returned to find the duo in the pavilion. The startled Lü Bu turned to flee. Dong Zhuo grabbed the halberd and gave chase. Being too slow, Dong Zhuo could not catch up with the agile Lü Bu. He then hurled the halberd at Lü Bu but the latter fended it off and got away.
After the incident, Lü Bu became increasingly displeased with Dong Zhuo. The displeasure was further inflamed by Wang Yun, who suggested subtly that Lü Bu kill Dong Zhuo. Lü Bu was eventually persuaded.
The conspirators sent Li Su to fetch Dong Zhuo from his castle in Meiwu (郿塢) under the pretense that the emperor intended to abdicate the throne to the warlord. The overjoyed Dong Zhuo then came to the palace gate, where his troops were barred from entering. As Dong Zhuo's carriage neared the palace building, soldiers loyal to Wang Yun escorted Dong Zhuo to the trap they set. Then suddenly a general stabbed Dong Zhuo.
Injured only in the arms, Dong Zhuo then cried out for Lü Bu to save him. Lü Bu walked over and impaled Dong Zhuo's throat with his halberd, proclaiming, "I have an imperial decree to slay the rebel!"
In popular culture
Animation
- The character onyomi) of the anime short series, Ikki Tousen, is based roughly on Dong Zhuo.
Comics
- Dong Zhuo appears as a character in the Hong Kong manhua The Ravages of Time illustrated by Chan Mou.
- Dong Zhuo appears as a major antagonist in the manga series Sōten Kōro, which is loosely based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Games
- Dong Zhuo is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.
- In the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering there is a card named Dong Zhou, the Tyrant, in the Portal: Three Kingdoms set.
- Dong Zhuo is a major faction leader in the strategy game Total War: Three Kingdoms.
See also
Notes
- ^ The 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms uses Zhongjiong (仲顈) as his courtesy name.[2]
References
- ^ a b de Crespigny (2007), pp. 157–158.
- ^ (且說董卓字仲顈,隴西臨洮人也,官拜河東太守,自來驕傲。l) Sanguo Yanyi ch. 2.
- ^ de Crespigny. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms, biography of Liu Xie, pp. 555–556
- ^ ISBN 9789004324916.
- ISBN 978-90-474-1184-0.
- )
- ^ (卓大笾恨,由是忌嵩。) Houhanshu, vol. 71. Huangfu Song's biography in the same volume recorded some of these disagreements.
- ISBN 0731509013. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- ^ (吴匡等素怨苗不与进同心,而又疑其与宦官同谋,乃令军中曰:“杀大将军者即车骑也,士吏能为报仇乎?”进素有仁恩,士卒皆流涕曰:“愿致死!”匡遂引兵与董卓弟奉车都尉旻攻杀苗,弃其尸于苑中。) Houhanshu, vol. 69
- ^ Guang, Sima. Records of Han Dynasty: Zi Zhi Tong Jian 资治通鉴; or Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance; Volume 9-68. DeepLogic.
- ^ (卓自出與堅戰於諸陵墓閒,卓敗走) See Book of the Later Han, Volume 72.
- ^ (堅進洛陽宣陽城門,更擊呂布,布復破走。) See Book of the Later Han, Volume 72.
- ^ Fan Ye. Book of the Later Han, Biography of Zhu Jun.
- ^ Chen Shou. Records of Three Kingdoms, Volume 6, Biography of Dong Zhuo.
- ^ (献帝纪曰:卓获山东兵,以猪膏涂布十余匹,用缠其身,然后烧之,先从足起。) According to the Annal of Emperor Xian, Dong Zhuo would carry out his horrible and complicated punishments once he captured a soldier from the eastern warlords.
- ^ (于坐中先断其舌,或斩手足,或凿眼,或镬煮之,未死,偃转杯案闲,会者皆战栗亡失匕箸,而卓饮食自若。) Dong Zhuo had very specific treatment for those who betrayed him with punishments even more severe than the ones applied to enemy captives. The betrayers would experience prolonged suffering during the process.
- ^ 西汉五铢
- ^ (守尸吏暝以為大炷,置卓臍中以為灯,光明達旦,如是積日。) According to the Annal of Heroes, the glow from his corpse's light last into dawn, and then for days!
- ^ (卓母年九十,走至塢門曰“乞脫我死!”) See Annal of Heroes.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- ISBN 9789004156050.
- Fan, Ye (5th century). Book of the Later Han (Houhanshu).
- Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica., Xia, Z,H., Das, D. (2021). Dong Zhuo. Britannica . Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dong-Zhuo
- Evans,M. (2003). Dong Zhuo (Zhongyin). Biography (SGYY). Retrieved from: http://kongming.net/novel/sgyy/dongzhuo.php (Sanguo Yanyi)(Romance of the Three Kingdoms)