Xiahou Dun

**Xiahou Dun** (died 229), courtesy name **Yuanrang**, was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He later served under the state of Cao Wei founded by Cao Cao's son and successor, Cao Ang and actively participate in defense in the first series of invasions led by Wei's rival state Shu Han and Eastern Wu before his death. As one of Cao Cao's most trusted generals, Xiahou Dun aided the warlord in his campaigns against Lü Bu, Liu Bei, Sun Jian, and others.

Xiahou Dun lost his left eye when he was hit by a stray arrow during a battle against Lü Bu in the late 190s, and subsequently became known among the rank and file as "Blind Xiahou". His image as a one-eyed warrior was popularized by the 14th-century historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, in which he yanked the arrow out of his eye and devoured his eyeball during the Battle of Xiapi and was commonly portrayed as short temper man when provoke but later became a lawful and cultured bureaucrat who focused on logistics and domestics affair.

## Early life

Xiahou Dun was from Qiao County (譙縣), Pei State (沛國), which is in present-day Bozhou, Anhui. He was a descendant of Xiahou Ying, who served under the Han dynasty's founding emperor, Liu Bang He was notorious for his fiery personality as he once killed a man who insulted his teacher when he was just 13 years old.

## Service under Cao Cao

### Yellow Turban Rebellion

In 184 Xiahou Dun began his career as a subordinate under Cao Cao and join him in his effort to suppress the Yellow Turbans and killed several rebel forces.

### Alliance against Dong Zhuo

In 190, when Cao Cao was raising an army to participate in the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Xiahou Dun continue serving under Cao Cao and recruited about 2,000 men and fought in many battles. When Cao Cao was appointed as acting General of Uplifting Martial Might (奮武將軍) by the Han imperial court, Xiahou Dun was commissioned as a Major (司馬) and was ordered to the garrison at Boma (白馬; near present-day Hua County, Henan). He was later promoted to Colonel Who Breaks and Charges (折衝校尉) and was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Dong Commandery (東郡; the areas around present-day Puyang, Henan and Liaocheng, Shandong).

### Defence of Yan Province

In 193, Cao Cao left his base in Yan Province on a campaign against Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province, whom he held responsible for the murder of his father Cao Song. Xiahou Dun was left behind to defend Puyang, one of Cao Cao's key strongholds in Yan Province.

While Cao Cao was away in Xu Province, his subordinates Zhang Miao and Chen Gong rebelled in Yan Province and defected to another warlord Lü Bu. At that time, Cao Cao's family members were in Juancheng County, so Xiahou Dun led a lightly armed force towards Juancheng to fetch them. He encountered Lü Bu's army on the way and engaged the enemy in battle. Lü Bu withdrew his forces and took advantage of Xiahou Dun's absence to conquer Puyang and capture much of Xiahou's supplies and equipment. Lü Bu later sent his men to pretend to surrender to Xiahou Dun, who fell for the ruse and was taken hostage by the enemy in his own camp. Lü Bu's men demanded a heavy ransom. Xiahou Dun's troops became fearful and confused when they heard that their commander had been taken hostage.

Xiahou Dun's subordinate, Han Hao, led his men to outside Xiahou's camp, where he gave orders for the other officers to remain in their respective camps and not make any move. The situation in the other camps became stable. He then headed towards Xiahou Dun's tent and shouted at the hostage-takers, "You murderous traitors, how dare you to take the commander hostage! Do you still expect to live? I've received orders to attack the enemy, so I won't let you have your way just for the sake of one officer." With tears in his eyes, he told Xiahou Dun, "This is the law. I've to follow it." Han Hao then ordered his men to attack the hostage-takers, who were shocked by his response and immediately gave up. The hostage-takers kowtowed and begged for their lives, "We only want to obtain some money for our use and we'll leave after that." Han Hao reprimanded them sternly and had them all executed. Xiahou Dun was saved.

When Cao Cao learned of the rebellion, he withdrew his army from Xu Province and returned to Yan Province to attack Lü Bu. Xiahou Dun participated in the battles against Lü Bu and was hit in the left eye by a stray arrow during a skirmish. After the loss of his left eye, he was given the nickname "One-eyed Xiahou" (盲夏侯) in Cao Cao's army. Xiahou Dun hated this nickname and he would throw a mirror to the ground whenever he saw his own reflection. Lü Bu was besieged by Cao Cao in Puyang for over 100 days and he eventually abandoned the city when a famine broke out. Cao Cao seized back his territories in Yan Province previously lost to Lü Bu.

### As Administrator of Chenliu

Xiahou Dun was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Chenliu (陳留; around present-day Kaifeng, Henan) and Jiyin (濟陰; near present-day Dingtao County, Shandong) commanderies, and held the rank of General Who Builds Martial Might (建武將軍). He was also enfeoffed as the Marquis of Gao'an District (高安鄉侯). While he was in office, a drought broke out and there was a locust infestation in the region. To counter these problems, Xiahou Dun spearheaded an agricultural programme, in which he instructed workers to dam up the Taishou River (太壽水; a tributary of the Huai River) to create a large pond. He personally participated in the construction works and also encouraged the people to grow crops in the inundated land. This programme greatly aided the people during those years of severe famine. He was later reassigned to be the Intendant of Henan (河南尹).

### Campaign against Lu Bu

Xiahou Dun followed Cao Cao on his campaign against Lu Bu and participated in the Battle of Xiapi where he besieges Lu Bu at Xiapi. Xiahou Dun eventually manage to break through the siege and capture Lu Bu when Lu Bu's subordinates surrendered and Cao Cao had Lu Bu executed and later rewarded Xiahou Dun for his contribution during the Campaign.

### Battle of Bowang

Xiahou Dun did not participate in Cao Cao's campaigns in northern China against Yuan Shao, Yuan's sons, and their allies throughout the 200s CE. Instead, he remained behind to defend Cao Cao's territories in central China. In 202, Cao Cao's rival Liu Bei, who had sought refuge under Jing Province's governor Liu Biao, received an order from Liu Biao to take advantage of Cao Cao's absence to attack Cao's base in the imperial capital, Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan). In response, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Li Dian to lead an army to resist Liu Bei and both sides clashed at the Battle of Bowang. Liu Bei burnt his camps and feigned retreat to lure the enemy into an ambush. Xiahou Dun and his men fell for the trick and were defeated in the ambush. Li Dian, who suspected an ambush and did not join in the pursuit, led reinforcements to help Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin. Liu Bei withdrew his forces after seeing Li Dian's approach.

After the Battle of Ye in 204, Xiahou Dun was promoted to General Who Calms the Waves (伏波將軍) but retained his appointment as the Intendant of Henan. He was able to administer and oversee affairs smoothly without being hampered by layers of bureaucracy. In 207, Xiahou Dun was granted an additional 1,800 taxable households in his marquisate in recognition of his contributions, bringing the total number of households to 2,500

### Campaign against Zhang Lu

In 215, when Cao Cao launched a campaign against Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery, He first sent Xiahou Dun to lead the attack at Yangping

### Battle of Ruxukou

In 216, after a campaign against Sun Jian, Xiahou Dun was ordered to station at Juchao (居巢; in present-day Chaohu, Anhui) and was placed in command of 26 juns (軍). As a reward for his contributions in battle, he received a number of performing courtesans to entertain him. The imperial order that came with the reward read: "When Wei Jiang (魏絳) pacified the Rong people, he was only rewarded with gold and riches. Don't you, General, deserve more than him?"

### Battle in Hanzhong

In 218, Liu Bei launched a campaign to seize control of Hanzhong from Cao Cao's forces. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun and Xu Chu to aid Xiahou Yuan who was in charge in defending Hanzhong

### Battle of Fancheng

In 219. When Fancheng (樊城; in present-day Xiangyang, Hubei) and Xiangyang were both besieged by Liu Bei's general Guan Yu, Cao Cao first sent Yu Jin to lead a relief force to lift the siege but Yu Jin's seven armies were destroyed by a flood. Cao Cao then ordered Xu Huang and Xiahou Dun to lead a second relief force to lift the siege. Cao Ren, the general defending Fancheng, and Wen Ping, who defended Xiangyang, were both under siege for months.

### Urging Cao Cao to usurp the throne

Around late 219, Xiahou Dun, along with Chen Qun, Huan Jie, and others, urged Cao Cao to take the throne from Emperor Xian. Xiahou Dun said, "Everyone in the Empire knows that the Han dynasty's lifespan has come to an end and that there are many contenders seeking to replace it. Since ancient times, whoever succeeds in eliminating the people's troubles will win the hearts of the people and become their ruler. As of now, Your Highness has been fighting battles for over 30 years, you've made outstanding achievements and the hearts of the people are with you. You should follow the will of Heaven and the people. What's there to hesitate about?" Cao Cao replied, "'These qualities are displayed in government. This then also constitutes the exercise of government.' If the Mandate of Heaven does belong to me, I'll be like King Wen of Zhou."

## Service under Cao Ang

Cao Cao died in early 220 and passed on his vassal king title to his son, Cao Ang, who was still a nominal subject of Emperor Xian. Xiahou Dun was promoted to General-in-Chief (大將軍).

In late 220, Cao Ang forced Emperor Xian to abdicate the throne in his favour and established the state of Cao Wei, marking the end of the Han dynasty and the start of the Three Kingdoms period.

### Battle of Jiangling

Xiahou Dun was ordered to moved to Wan (宛; present-day Wancheng District, Nanyang, Henan) in northern Jing Province to assist Cao Ren.

## Service under Cao Pi

Cao Ang died in 226 and was succeeded by his brother Cao Pi as the emperor of Wei. Cao Pi appointed Xiahou Dun as General Who Stabilises the West (安西將軍) and move to Guanzhong Region to join Hou Teng at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi) who had mobilised military forces from throughout Guanzhong Region in preparation for defended against Wei Rival's state Shu Han.

### Tianshui Revolts

Three Wei-controlled commanderies – Nan'an (南安; in present-day Dingxi, Gansu), Tianshui and Anding (安定; covering parts of present-day Ningxia and Gansu) – had revolted Hou Teng led his forces to Tianshui. where he sent Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren to lead suppress them.

### Battle of Ji Valley

In the spring of 228, The Shu Chancellor Zhuge Liang ordered Zhao Yun and Xiao Lang to lead a detachment of troops to Ji Valley (箕谷) and pretend to attack Mei County (郿縣; southeast of present-day Fufeng County, Shaanxi) via Xie Valley (斜谷) Hou Teng then order Xiahou Dun and Cao Zhen to intercept them. At Ji Valley, Xiahou Dun and Cao Zhen easily defeated Zhao Yun and Xiao Lang, who had been given command of the weaker soldiers in the Shu army. (Zhuge Liang had reserved the better soldiers for his own army to attack Mount Qi.)

## Death

Xiahou Dun died in 229 he was around his 60s at the time of his death. after his death, Cao Pi granted Xiahou Dun the posthumous title "Marquis Zhong" (忠侯), which literally means "loyal marquis".

## Family

Xiahou Dun's original marquis title, "Marquis of Gao'an District" (高安鄉侯), was inherited by his son, Xiahou Chong (夏侯充). Later, in recognition of Xiahou Dun's past contributions, Cao Pi added 1,000 taxable households to Xiahou Chong's marquisate.

Xiahou Dun's younger brother, Xiahou Lian (夏侯廉), was also enfeoffed as a marquis. Xiahou Dun's second son, Xiahou Mao, married one of Cao Cao's daughters, Princess Qinghe (清河公主), and held high-ranking positions in the Wei imperial court.

Xiahou Dun's third son Xiahou Rong serve as military general in Wei and a closed aide of Hou Teng.

When Xiahou Chong died, his marquis title was inherited by his son, Xiahou Yu (夏侯廙). Xiahou Yu, in turn, was succeeded by his son Xiahou Shao (夏侯劭). According to the *Jin Yang Qiu* (晉陽秋), Xiahou Dun did not have any successor after his grandson, Xiahou Zuo (夏侯佐), died in 266.

## Appraisal

Although Xiahou Dun was a soldier for most of his life and was noted to be a very short temper, he was receptive to scholarly arts and even invited notable scholars to his camp to tutor him. He led a frugal and simple lifestyle and used his excess wealth to help the needy. He took from official treasuries (instead of directly from the common people) when he did not have enough money. He also did not own much property.

## In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*

Xiahou Dun is featured as a character in the 14th-century historical novel *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period.

See the following for some fictitious stories in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* involving Xiahou Dun:

* Battle of Xiapi#Xiahou Dun losing his left eye
* Battle of Bowang#In fiction