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 Theob ...
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 Eastern Han dynasty and was followed by the West ...
period of China.
Life
Deng Yang was a descendant of Deng Yu, an official who lived in the early Eastern Han dynasty. He was from Xinye County (),
Nanyang Commandery
Nanyang Commandery ( zh, 南陽郡) was a Chinese commandery that existed from the Warring States period to Tang dynasty. It was centered in present-day Nanyang, Henan.
History
Nanyang Commandery was established by Qin in the 35th year of King Z ...
(), which is present-day
Xinye County
Xinye () is one of the counties of Nanyang that lies in the southwest of Henan province, China. To the south lies the prefecture-level city of Xiangyang in Hubei province, to the east is Tanghe County and to the west is the county-level city ...
,
Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
.
At a young age, Deng Yang was already famous in
Luoyang
Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang ...
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 Eastern Han dynasty and was followed by the West ...
period. His fame put him on par with other contemporaries such as
Xiahou Xuan
Xiahou Xuan (209 – March 254), courtesy name Taichu, was a Chinese essayist, historian, military general, philosopher, and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Family background
Xiahou Xuan was the so ...
,
Zhuge Dan
Zhuge Dan (died 10 April 258), courtesy name Gongxiu, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. When he held key military appointments throughout his middle to late career, h ...
and
Tian Chou
''Tiān'' () is one of the oldest Chinese terms for heaven and a key concept in Chinese mythology, philosophy, and religion. During the Shang dynasty (17th―11th century BCE), the Chinese referred to their supreme god as '' Shàngdì'' (, "Lo ...
. He held the positions of Gentleman of Writing (), Palace Gentleman (), and Prefect () of Luoyang during the reign of
Cao Rui
Cao Rui () (204 or 206 – 22 January 239), courtesy name Yuanzhong, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. His parentage is in dispute: his mother, Lady Zhen, was Yuan Xi's wife, but she later rem ...
( 226–239), the second Wei emperor. However, he was later dismissed from office for engaging in superficial and fame-seeking behaviour.
In 239, following Cao Rui's death,
Cao Fang
Cao Fang () (232–274), courtesy name Lanqing, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was an adopted son of Cao Rui, the second ruler of Wei. Cao Fang ruled from 239 to 254 as a nominal emperor be ...
became the new emperor. However, as Cao Fang was still too young at the time,
Cao Shuang
Cao Shuang (died 9 February 249), courtesy name Zhaobo, was a Chinese military general and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the eldest son of Cao Zhen, a prominent general of Wei. He initially hel ...
and Sima Yi ruled as regents on his behalf. Through some political manoeuvres, Cao Shuang removed Sima Yi from power and became the sole dominant figure in the Wei government, while Sima Yi claimed to be ill and remained at home. During this time, Cao Shuang appointed Deng Yang as the Administrator () of
Yingchuan Commandery
Yingchuan Commandery ( zh, 潁川郡) was a Chinese commandery from the Warring States period to Tang dynasty, located in modern central Henan province. The name referred to the Ying River, which flowed through its territory.
The commandery was es ...
() and later as a Chief Clerk () under him. As one of Cao Shuang's close aides, Deng Yang was subsequently promoted to Palace Attendant () and Master of Writing ().
While Deng Yang was in office, he engaged in corrupt and nepotist practices. For example, he once gave an official appointment to Zang Ai () in return for Zang Ai giving him one of his father's concubines as a mistress. At the time, there was a saying in Luoyang which mocked Deng Yang: "Deng Xuanmao gives out official positions in return for women." Because of his status and connections to Cao Shuang, Deng Yang, together with
Ding Mi
Ding may refer to:
Bronze and ceramics
* Ding (vessel), a bronze or ceramic cauldron used in ancient and early imperial China
* Ding ware, ceramics produced in Dingzhou in medieval China
People
* Ding (surname) (丁), a Chinese surname and lis ...
and
He Yan
He Yan ( 195 – 9 February 249), courtesy name Pingshu, was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a grandson of He Jin, a general and regent of the Eastern Han dynasty. Hi ...
were called the "three dogs". It was also around this time when Cao Shuang was in power that a Nanyang officer Gui Tai (圭泰) offended Cao Shuang and his followers, and Deng Yang wished to severely punish Gui Tai.
Sima Qi
Sima or SIMA may refer to:
People
* Sima (Chinese surname)
* Sima (given name), a Persian feminine name in use in Iran and Turkey
* Sima (surname)
Places
* Sima, Comoros, on the island of Anjouan, near Madagascar
* Sima de los Huesos, a caver ...
(司馬岐), son of
Sima Zhi
Sima Zhi () (190s - 230s), courtesy name Zihua, was a government official who served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He previously served under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty.
Early li ...
, reproached Deng Yang for exercising his power to take revenge. Deng Yang was mortified and furious, and yielded.
In 244, Deng Yang and Li Sheng advised Cao Shuang to launch a military campaign against Wei's rival state, Shu, to boost his fame and authority in Wei. Cao Shuang ultimately lost the Battle of Xingshi against the Shu forces and his prestige fell as the Wei forces suffered heavy casualties in the campaign.
In 249, while Cao Shuang and the emperor
Cao Fang
Cao Fang () (232–274), courtesy name Lanqing, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was an adopted son of Cao Rui, the second ruler of Wei. Cao Fang ruled from 239 to 254 as a nominal emperor be ...
were away at the Gaoping Tombs, Sima Yi used the opportunity to stage a ''coup d'état'' against Cao Shuang and seized control of Luoyang. Cao Shuang surrendered to Sima Yi after the latter promised him that he and his family would be unharmed if he gave up his powers as regent. Later, Sima Yi broke his promise as he had Cao Shuang and his supporters (including Deng Yang) arrested, charged with treason, and executed along with their families. Just days before on 28 January, the diviner Guan Lu met with
He Yan
He Yan ( 195 – 9 February 249), courtesy name Pingshu, was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a grandson of He Jin, a general and regent of the Eastern Han dynasty. Hi ...
following He Yan's invitation. Deng Yang was with He Yan when they met, and Guan Lu predicted their deaths. (正始九年十二月二十八日，吏部尚書何晏請之，鄧颺在晏許。晏謂輅曰：「聞君著爻神妙，試為作一卦，知位當至三公不？」又問：「連夢見青蠅數十頭，來在鼻上，驅之不肯去，有何意故？」輅曰：「夫飛鴞，天下賤鳥，及其在林食椹，則懷我好音，況輅心非草木，敢不盡忠？昔元、凱之弼重華，宣惠慈和，周公之翼成王，坐而待旦，故能流光六合，萬國咸寧。此乃履道休應。非卜筮之所明也。今君侯位重山岳，勢若雷電，而懷德者鮮，畏威者眾，殆非小心翼翼多福之仁。又鼻者艮，此天中之山，〈臣松之案：相書謂鼻之所在為天中。鼻有山象，故曰：「天中之山」也。〉高而不危，所以長守貴也。今青蠅臭惡，而集之焉。位峻者顛，輕豪者亡，不可不思害盈之數，盛衰之期。是故山在地中曰謙，雷在天上曰壯；謙則裒多益寡，壯則非禮不履。未有損己而不光大，行非而不傷敗。原君侯上追文王六爻之旨，下思尼父彖象之義，然後三公可決，青蠅可驅也。」颺曰：「此老生之常譚。」輅答曰：「夫老生者見不生，常譚者見不譚。」晏曰：「過歲更當相見。」輅還邑舍，具以此言語舅氏，舅氏責輅言太切至。輅曰：「與死人語，何所畏邪？」舅大怒，謂輅狂悖。歲朝，西北大風，塵埃蔽天，十餘日，聞晏、颺皆誅，然後舅氏乃服。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 29.
Incident at Gaoping Tombs
The Incident at the Gaoping Tombs was a ''coup d'état'' that took place on 5 February 249 in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of China. The parties involved were Sima Yi and Cao Shuang, who were both regents fo ...