courtesy name
A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...
Youzai, was an official and minister of the state of
Shu Han
Han (; 221–263), known in historiography as Shu Han ( ) or Ji Han ( "Junior Han"), or often shortened to Shu (; pinyin: ''shŭ'' <
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms () from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the dynastic states of Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu. The Three Kingdoms period was preceded by the Han dynasty#Eastern Han, Eastern Han dynasty and wa ...
period of China. He originally served as Administrator of Yizhou under Liu Zhang, but surrendered to
Liu Bei
Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the H ...
during
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province was a military campaign by the warlord Liu Bei in taking control of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) from the provincial governor, Liu Zhang. The campaign took place between the years 2 ...
. Dong He became a military supervisor, along with Zhuge Liang and was one of Liu Bei most important civil officers. He stayed in office until his death seven years later. Although it previously costed him his position under Liu Zhang, Dong He would not renounce his fair treatment, just rule and plain living. For those qualities, Dong He was admired and trusted by Han civilians and foreigners alike. His son,
Dong Yun
Dong Yun (died December 246), courtesy name Xiuzhao, was a Chinese general and politician of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. His father, Dong He, also served as an official in Shu. Dong Yun was one of four persons ...
would inherit most of his characteristics and become one of the four heroic chancellors.
Early life
Dong He's ancestors originally hailed from Jiangzhou in Ba commandery. However by the time Dong He was born, they left for
Nan
Nan or NAN may refer to:
Places China
* Nan County, Yiyang, Hunan, China
* Nan Commandery, historical commandery in Hubei, China
Thailand
* Nan Province
** Nan, Thailand, the administrative capital of Nan Province
* Nan River
People Given name
...
End of the Han dynasty
The end of the Han dynasty was the period of Chinese history from 189 to 220 CE, roughly coinciding with the tumultuous reign of the Han dynasty's last ruler, Emperor Xian. During this period, the country was thrown into turmoil by the Yellow ...
, in 196, Dong He led his family back west in the
Yi Province
Yizhou (益州), Yi Province or Yi Prefecture, was a '' zhou'' (province) of ancient China. Its capital city was Chengdu.de Crespigny, p. 256. During the Han dynasty, it included the commanderies Hanzhong, Ba, Guanghan, Shu, Wenshan, Jianwei, ...
. Having heard of his arrival, Liu Zhang named him Chief of the counties Niubi (牛鞞) and Jiangyuan (江原). Dong He was soon promoted to prefect of
Chengdu
Chengdu (, ; Simplified Chinese characters, simplified Chinese: 成都; pinyin: ''Chéngdū''; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively Romanization of Chi ...
(成都令) making one of Liu Zhang most prominent civil advisers.
Service under Liu Zhang
During this time, the Yi province was rich and fruitful. Soon the local customs became extravagant and wasteful. Those who did well dressed in the same clothes as marquises and ate with jade utensils. The marriage ceremonies and funeral processions were a waste of the common resources and were so extravagant that they could ruin an entire family. However, while Dong He was in an important position, he made sure to respect the laws and lived as an example for others. Dong He would be wearing simple clothing and was known to be a vegetarian, in all manners he would guard himself against excess and would live a temperament and humble life. He would end the instituted regulations and improve the current customs. Awed by him, the magnates of the prefecture would not dare to break the laws.
This strict application of the laws didn't go well with the powerful and influential families of the region therefore they convinced Liu Zhang to have Dong He transferred far away as chief commandant of the Badong dependent state. When the people of Chengdu learned that Dong He would be leaving, they were distraught. And several thousands would personally beg to have Dong He stay, among them were local officials but also civilians, young and old, the elderly and the frail all assent their will to see Dong He stay.
Thanks to their perseveration, Liu Zhang listened to them and allowed Dong He to stay for two years before he was appointed as the Administrator of Yizhou (益州太守), again a far away and still unruly land. Yet Dong He did not change his ways. His integrity and restraint remained the same. He resolved the common affairs with a sincere heart and would seek to work with the non-Chineses people and tried to promote rightful attitude. Hence the people, whether they were Yi citizens or Man foreigners came to love and trust him for his equal treatment of the civilians and respected him for his frugal way of life.
Chang Qu
Chang Qu () (c. 291 – c. 361 CE) was a 4th-century Chinese historian of the Cheng Han dynasty, who wrote the ''Chronicles of Huayang'' or ''Records of the States South of Mount Hua
Mount Hua () is a mountain located near the city of Huayi ...
in the '' Huayang Guo Zhi'' stated that Yizhou (later renamed as Jinning (晉寧)) as a Commandery (郡) disposed of many natural assets. Among them were parrots, peacocks, salt ponds, agricultural fields, fishing rivers, livestock along with gold and silver. Making the region bountiful from common to expensive resources however it was also difficult to maintain control over the territory because of the rebellious locals. He praised Dong He for being one of the few officials who could restrain the locals and therefore benefit from the abundant riches of the land.
Service under Liu Bei
In 214, after
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province was a military campaign by the warlord Liu Bei in taking control of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) from the provincial governor, Liu Zhang. The campaign took place between the years 2 ...
.
Liu Bei
Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the H ...
heard good things about Dong He and summoned him as a General of the Gentlemen-of-the-Household Manager of the army (掌軍中郎將), along with
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang ( zh, t=諸葛亮 / 诸葛亮) (181 – September 234), courtesy name Kongming, was a Chinese statesman and military strategist. He was chancellor and later regent of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. He is ...
. Making him the one in charge of the affairs of the government and Liu Bei's office. Dong He previously demonstrated his talent as an administrator and quickly adapted to his new position. Zhuge Liang and Dong He were of the same mind and quickly came to be good friends. Both of them managed the most important matters of the state. They would initiate, discuss, and follow good propositions yet they had the right to stop others if they seem unfeasible, under their joint administration the state's affairs came to prosper. Since Dong He opened his office and started receiving a salary, he has been in charge of difficult regions, had to oversee important matters and managed high positions for more than twenty years yet the day he died, his family didn't have any personal wealth.
Zhuge Liang's appreciation of Dong He and others
After Dong He's death, Zhuge Liang became Chancellor and told his various officers and subordinates:
Another time, Zhuge Liang also said: Zhuge Liang always spoke highly of Dong He and had fond memories of him after his death.
Appraisal
Chen Shou
Chen Shou (; 233–297), courtesy name Chengzuo (), was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer who lived during the Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty of China. Chen Shou is most known for his most celebrated work, the '' Records of ...
, who wrote Dong He's biography in the ''
Records of the Three Kingdoms
The ''Records or History of the Three Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese name as the Sanguo Zhi, is a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220 AD) and the Three Kingdoms period (220– ...
'' (''Sanguozhi''), appraised Dong He as follows: "Dong He was a wise and honorable official. He pursued the purity of “The Sacrificial Lamb”... Along with
Liu Ba
Liu Ba (died 222), courtesy name Zichu, was an official in the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He originally served under the warlord Liu Zhang before becoming a subordinate of Liu Bei (the founding emperor of Shu) ...
Dong Yun
Dong Yun (died December 246), courtesy name Xiuzhao, was a Chinese general and politician of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. His father, Dong He, also served as an official in Shu. Dong Yun was one of four persons ...
, he was one of the best officials in Shu."
Sima Guang
Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...
in the
Zizhi Tongjian
''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...
mentioned that Dong He was honest, frugal, fair and upright. Therefore, he was even trusted and loved by the foreign tribes.(初，董和在郡，清俭公直，为民夷所爱信，) ''Zizhi Tongjian'' vol. 66.
Records of the Three Kingdoms
The ''Records or History of the Three Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese name as the Sanguo Zhi, is a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220 AD) and the Three Kingdoms period (220– ...
'' (''Sanguozhi'').
*
Chang Qu
Chang Qu () (c. 291 – c. 361 CE) was a 4th-century Chinese historian of the Cheng Han dynasty, who wrote the ''Chronicles of Huayang'' or ''Records of the States South of Mount Hua
Mount Hua () is a mountain located near the city of Huayi ...
(4th century). ''
Chronicles of Huayang
The ''Chronicles of Huayang'' or ''Huayang Guo Zhi'' () is the oldest extant gazetteer of a region of China. It was compiled by Chang Qu during the Jin Dynasty. It contains roughly 110,000 characters. Its contents comprise history, geography an ...