Xiahou Dun (夏侯惇) (? - 220), or Hia-heou Touen in EFEO (Chinese traditional and simplified: zh-Hant 夏侯惇; pinyin: Xiàhóu Dūn ), had as a social nickname Yuanrang (zh-Hant 元讓) and was a general and Chinese well-read man of the end of the Dynastie Han and beginning of the period of the Three Kingdoms. He was the principal right-hand man of his cousin, the Prime Minister CAD CAD. The loss of its left eye at the time of a battle is worth a nickname to him, “Xiahou the one-eyed one”, which he hated particularly. It is known in Japan under the name of Kakōton Ganjō and in Korea under that of Hahudon Weonyang and was immortalisé in the Romance epic of the Three Kingdoms.

If historical annals depict especially its great uprightness, its modesty, its generosity and its deep disinterest for the richnesses, the popular tradition rather made of it courageous and honest general, who prefers to swallow his own eye to leave a piece of his body on the battle field.

Biography

The birth date of Xiahou Dun is unknown and one does not know his age at the date of his death. It is known just that it was born in the area from Qiao (prefecture from Pei) and that it was downward of Xiahou Ying. Moreover, no date of its actions is given before 207, date on which its contributions to the empire were officially recorded.

Teenager, it with the reputation to follow its studies conscientiously and to have a direction of justice pushed to the extreme: at 14 years, it kills one somebody day which had insulted its Master.

Xiahou Dun is placed then at the service of his/her cousin, CAD CAD before even as this one did not begin its rise with the capacity and followed it in all the battles. Once CAD CAD had received the title of “vigorous general” (zh-Hant 奮武將軍, fèn wǔ jiāngjūn ), it makes of Xiahou Dun its military adviser and sends it to Baima, then later promotes it with the rank of “colonel who pushes back the enemies” (zh-Hant 折沖校尉, zhéchōng xiàowèi ). Xiahou Dun receives the post of governor of the prefecture of Dong.

When CAD CAD leaves guerroyer against CAT Qian, it orders in Xiahou Dun to go in garrison to Puyang. Zhang Miao, one of the commanders of CAD CAD, seizes the occasion to betray this last and to join Lu Drunk. The troops of Zhang Miao were posted close to the town of Juancheng, where the family of CAD CAD lived. Xiahou Dun leaves to the rescue with a small army and crosses in way the Drunk Lu troops and the force to be beaten a retreat. Lu Drunk benefits from the absence of Xiahou Dun to take Puyang and its reserves. It sends then the commanders of the city at Xiahou Dun in order to negotiate a truce. Xiahou Dun falls into the trap and is taken as an hostage. The rebels ask for a large ransom and Han Hao, one of the commanders de Xiahou Dun, gives the order of poster its troops opposite the camping of this last and proposes a meeting with the rebellious commanders. He howls to them: “O cheap traitors! Which courage to take a general as an hostage; that will lead you to your loss! I received order to eliminate the rebels and rather to sacrifice a general to let to you escape! ”. He turns then to Xiahou Dun while crying: “I then nothing to make for you, the law of the Empire prohibit it to me! ”

It then orders with its men to attack. Indicator which the hostage seemed to have no value with the eyes of their attackers, the rebels release Xiahou Dun immediately and are sorry while saying: “We wished an only little money to spend. ”. Han Hao, after having them reprimand makes them carry out. CAD CAD speaks in praise of Han Hao in the following way: “Here is an example that ten thousand generations will be able to follow! ” and issues that from now on, if there were to be a taking of hostage, at the same time rebels and hostages would be carried out. Consequently, there were not any more problems of the same kind.

When CAD CAD returned from Xuzhou, Xiahou Dun follows it to attack Drunk Lu and receives an arrow in the left eye at the time of a battle. According to the Wei Lüe , this mishap was worth the nickname of “Xiahou to him the one-eyed one” (zh-Hant 盲夏侯), máng Xiàhóu ) which he hated particularly so that when he saw himself in a mirror, he reversed this one with ground.

It is promoted governor of Chenliu and Jinyin and receives the title of “general who establishes valiancy” (zh-Hant 建武將軍, jiàn wǔ jiāngjūn ), then is anobli under the title of marquis de Gao' year (zh-Hant 高安鄉侯, Gāoān xiāng hóu ). When he officiated at the time, it happened sometimes that there are floods and invasions of grasshoppers. It makes build a stopping on the river and use its fertile bed like agricultural land. During work, it gives itself the example while being harnessed to the task while carrying the loads on the back with the manner of the peasants. Xiahou Dun is promoted later governor of He' nan.

Following the He conquest' EIB, CAD CAD must face Yuan Shao. After having captured the town of Ye of Yuan Shao, it confers on Xiahou Dun the title of “general who subjects the waves” (zh-Hant 伏波將軍, fú bō jiāngjūn ) as well as the right on his grounds high and basic justice.

In the 12th year of Jian year (207), it is decided that its future actions should be officially recorded and one added: 1800 new hearths with: 2500 of its stronghold. In the 21e year of Jian year (216), after the CAD CAD campaign against Sun Quan, it receives the command of 26 units of army as well as the order to be established in garrison with Juchao. CAD CAD rewards it for its actions with musicians and dancers and says to him: “Wei Jiang had linked the cruel tribes and its actions were registered in metal and the stone. As for you, you merits still much more! ”

In the 24e year of Jian' year (219), CAD CAD inflicts a defeat with the troops of Liu EIB to Mopi. CAD CAD often travelled in the same carriage that Xiahou Dun and this last had even the authorization to visit CAD CAD in its districts of dwelling. Xiahou Dun was the favorite general of CAD CAD which had for him great ambitions and a particular intimacy. Xiahou Dun received its titles directly of the emperor of Han, while the other generals of CAD CAD received them in the name of the kingdom of Wei whose CAD CAD was the leading one. According to the Book of Wei , Xiahou Dun required a title coming from this state to prove its fidelity with CAD CAD. CAD CAD says to him: “The good leaders are those which learn from their advisers, but the best leaders are those which bind bonds of friendship with their advisers. The advisers are men who have great talents. A state as small as Wei is unworthy of an adviser of your hardening! ” Nevertheless Xiahou Dun insists and CAD CAD grants to him the title of “general of the avant-garde” (zh-Hant 前將軍, qián jiāngjūn ).

Xiahou Dun supervises then the return of the troops to Shouchun and is established in garrison with Zhaoling. With died of CAD CAD, CAD pi takes its succession, appoints Empereur, and confers on Xiahou Dun the title of “supreme general” (zh-Hant 大將軍, dàjiāngjūn ). A few months after its new nomination, Xiahou Dun dies. It receives on a purely posthumous basis the title of “honest marquis” (zh-Hant 忠侯, zhōng hóu ). His/her son Xiahou Chong inherits his grounds and titles. CAD pi, in the honor of the services rendered by Xiahou Dun of alive sound, anoblit all its seven wire and grandsons and offers: 1000 hearths moreover with its family. It confers the title of “marquis of the imperial field” (zh-Hant 關內侯, guān nèi hóu ) on all wire and two grandsons.

The chronicles retain mainly its great integrity, its application to the studies like its love of the people. Xiahou Dun never hesitated to work in the middle of the peasants. Moreover, in spite of its warhead, it often invited its Master with his camping to continue its studies. The chronicle depicts it like having had a very austere, but always generous life towards the others. Not very anxious to accumulate the benefit of its load, it preferred to distribute them to the people. When the taxes were not sufficient, it drew from its own pocket. Unfortunately, with died of the grandsons of Xiahou Dun, his line dies out. In 266, Sima Yan publishes an edict in which he recognizes the merits and the contributions that had brought Xiahou Dun to the Wei dynasty and request to make seek all the family close to Xiahou Dun to reward it.

The popular tradition according to the novel History of the Three Kingdoms

The most known scene of the Three Kingdoms where figure Xiahou Dun is that where it loses its eye. At the time of a battle against the Drunk Lu troops, Xiahou Dun fought in duel with Gao Shun and had the advantage. Suddenly, another general of Lu Drunk, CAD Xing, drew an arrow to him which was placed in its left eye. Xiahou Dun tore off the arrow at the end of which hung the ocular sphere. He then pronounced one of the sentences worships of the novel: “Gasoline of my father and blood of my mother, I then to throw this! ” (zh-Hant “父精母血, 不可棄也! ”, fù jīng mǔ xiě, bùkě qì yě! ). He carried the arrow to his mouth and swallowed his own eye. He charged then CAD Xing and extended it stiff dead from a blow of its lance in the face. The spectacle left the two camps stops-bée. Unfortunately, the troops of CAD CAD were to lose the battle…

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