1. Xiahou Dun, courtesy name Yuanrang, was a Chinese military general and politician serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
43 Facts About Xiahou Dun
1. 2.
Xiahou Dun served for a few months under Cao Cao's successor, Cao Pi, before his death.
3.
Xiahou Dun lost his left eye when he was a hit by a stray arrow during a battle against Lu Bu in the late 190s, and subsequently became known among the rank and file as "One-eyed Xiahou".
4.
Xiahou Dun was from Qiao County, Pei State, which is on present-day Bozhou, Anhui.
5.
Xiahou Dun was a descendant of Xiahou Ying, who served under the Han dynasty's founding emperor, Liu Bang and though the family didn't reach national prominence in the centuries since, they were a leading family in Pei, often intermarrying down the generations with other prominent local clans the Dings and the Caos.
6.
Xiahou Dun first gained prominence when he killed a man who insulted his teacher when he was 13 years old.
7.
In 190, when Cao Cao was raising an army to participate in the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Xiahou Dun became his Major and when they were defeated by Xu Rong at Suanzao, Xiahou Dun went with Cao Cao to recruit more troops in Yang province, though they would face a mutiny among their new soldiers.
8.
Xiahou Dun was sent to garrison Boma, later promoted to Colonel Who Breaks and Charges and as Cao Cao became Governor of Yan in 192, succeeded him as the Administrator of Dong Commandery.
9.
Xiahou Dun was left behind in Dong commandery, stationed to hold its capital Puyang.
10.
Xiahou Dun led a lightly armed force towards Juancheng, but he encountered Lu Bu's army on the way and engaged the enemy in battle.
11.
Xiahou Dun's troops became fearful and confused when they heard that their commander had been taken hostage.
12.
Xiahou Dun's personally recruited subordinate Han Hao settled the troops then ordered an attack on the surprised hostage takers, who surrendered.
13.
That night, Xiahou Dun executed the plotters and settled the army.
14.
Xiahou Dun urged Xun Yu not to meet the wavering Inspector of Yu Guo Gong and his army, as Xun Yu was too important, but Xun Yu went and was able to persuade Guo Gong to withdraw.
15.
Xiahou Dun would be a core part of the Cao loyalists holding the slim remaining holdings in the eastern part of Yan, him and Xun Yu sending the local Cheng Yu to encourage Fan and Dong'e to hold out.
16.
Xiahou Dun participated in the campaign against Lu Bu and was hit in the left eye by a stray arrow during a skirmish.
17.
Xiahou Dun hated this nickname and would throw a mirror to the ground whenever he saw his own reflection.
18.
Xiahou Dun was appointed as the Administrator of Chenliu commandery, the area once under Zhang Miao's control, where had a falling out with his Reporting Officer Wei Zhen around 200.
19.
Xiahou Dun invited Wei Zhen to bring his wife out to the feast, to which Wei Zhen strongly objected to as inappropriate to the fury of Xiahou Dun who had his subordinate jailed but soon released him.
20.
Xiahou Dun was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Gao'an District.
21.
Xiahou Dun personally participated in the construction works and encouraged the people to grow crops in the inundated land.
22.
Xiahou Dun was later reassigned to be the Intendant of Henan.
23.
In 198 Xiahou Dun was dispatched to Xu to reinforce the allied Liu Bei, who was under attack from Gao Shun on the orders of Lu Bu, but Gao Shun defeated Xiahou Dun then would drive out Liu Bei.
24.
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.
25.
In 205, Gao Gan encouraged revolts in Hedong with Wei Gu holding the Shan crossing and local loyal forces unable to cross, Xiahou Dun was sent but before he could arrive, Du Ji persuaded Xiahou Dun to let him go across with a small escort and plot with the local loyalists.
26.
Xiahou Dun befriended Tian Chou and would be sent by Cao Cao to, unsuccessfully, persuade Tian Chou to take up honors for his service In 213, Xiahou Dun would be one of the signatories calling for Cao Cao to become Duke of Wei.
27.
Xiahou Dun accompanied the 215 campaign in Hanzhong against the theocratic warlord Zhang Lu but Cao Cao's forces struggled against Zhang Wei's forces.
28.
Xiahou Dun then returned soldiers to Shouchun and later garrisoned at Zhaoling.
29.
The Cao Man Zhuan and the Shiyu mentioned that Xiahou Dun once suggested to Cao Cao to eliminate Liu Bei first in order to force Sun Quan to surrender of his own accord, and then follow in the footsteps of the mythological rulers Shun and Yu by making Emperor Xian voluntarily abdicate the throne to him.
30.
When Xiahou Chong died, his marquis title was inherited by his son, Xiahou Yu.
31.
Xiahou Dun led a frugal and simple lifestyle and used his excess wealth to help the needy.
32.
Xiahou Dun took from official treasuries when he did not have enough money.
33.
Xiahou Dun first appears when Zhang Fei arrives in Cao Cao's camp, for the second time, seeking help against Lu Bu.
34.
Xiahou Dun calls out to Zhang Fei and was delighted to get a meeting, and was appointed vanguard.
35.
Xiahou then duels Lu Bu, who faked defeat and when Xiahou Dun pursued, shot Xiahou Dun in the left eye.
36.
Dismounting, Xiahou Dun pulled out the arrow with the famous line, held the eye in his mouth and returns to fighting an astonished Lu Bu, who is forced to retreat.
37.
Xiahou Dun survived longer in this work than he did historically.
38.
In Zhuge Liang's first northern campaign, Xiahou Dun held the key pass at Jieting and heard Jiang Wei had placed his camp in a dangerous position.
39.
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.
40.
In Chinese plays called zaju, Xiahou Dun is often assigned the role of the clown to be defeated by Shu heroes, be it Zhuge Liang at Bowang or being shown up by Guan Yu at Boma.
41.
Xiahou Dun is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series, as well as Warriors Orochi, a crossover between Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors.
42.
Xiahou Dun appears in all installments of Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series.
43.
Xiahou Dun appears as a playable character in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and is prominently featured in the game as a general in the service of Cao Cao.