Dong He
Dong He (died 221), courtesy name Youzai, was an official and minister of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He originally served as Administrator of Yizhou under Liu Zhang, but surrendered to Liu Bei during Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province. Dong He became a military supervisor, along with Zhuge Liang and was one of Liu Bei most important civil officers. He died seven years later in 221. Although it cost 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 would inherited most of his characteristics and become one of the "Four Heroes".[1]
Dong He | |
|---|---|
董和 | |
 A statue of Dong He in Zhijiang, Hubei | |
| Magistrate (地方法官) | |
| In office ? – ? | |
| Monarch | Liu Zhang |
| Prefect of Chengdu (成都市知府) | |
| In office ? – ? | |
| Monarch | Liu Zhang |
| Grand Administrator of Yizhou (宜州大行政區) | |
| In office ? – 214 | |
| Monarch | Liu Zhang |
| General of the Gentlemen-of-the-Household Manager of the army (陸軍紳士長官) | |
| In office 214 – 221 | |
| Monarch | Liu Bei |
| Personal details | |
| Born | unknown Zhijiang(枝江) Prefecture, Nan Commandery |
| Died | 221 |
| Children | Dong Yun |
| Occupation | Official |
| Courtesy name | Youzai (幼宰) |
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 in Jing Province. During the End of the Han dynasty, in 196. Dong He led his family back west in the Yi Province[lower-alpha 1]. Having heard of his arrival, Liu Zhang named him Chief of the counties Niubi(牛鞞) and Jiangyuan(江原). Dong He did well in his new appointment and was soon promoted to prefect of Chengdu making one of Liu Zhang most prominent civil advisers.[2]
Service under Liu Zhang
At 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 poor 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.[3]
This strict application of the laws didn't go well with the powerful and influential families of the region and so they convinced Liu Zhang to have Dong He transferred far away as chief commandant of the Badong dependent state(巴東屬國都尉). 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. However, Liu Zhang listened to them and allowed Dong He to stay for two years before he was appointed as the Administrator of Yizhou 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.[4]
Service under Liu Bei
In 214, after Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province. Liu Bei heard good things about Dong He and summoned him as a General of the Gentlemen-of-the-Household Manager of the army(陸軍紳士長官), along with Zhuge Liang. Making him the one in charge of the affairs of the government and Liu Bei's office. Dong He was a talented administrator hence he did well in 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 knew 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.[5]
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:
“Now advising and appointing in the office have the benefice of collecting everyone’s thoughts and gathering loyal benefit from other's ideas and extend loyalty. If far away there is even small resentment, that someone doesn't concur with today's agreement or disaccord isn't spoke plainly then there will be vast losses. However if opposition is reversed and unity secured then it is like relinquishing broken stilts and acquiring pearls and jade. However, the concerns of a man’s heart can not be exhausted. Only Xu Shu(Yuanzhí) could deal quickly and without doubts with also Dong He(Youzai) who managed the office for seven years, if a matter was not couldn't be completed, he would examine it as much as ten times and reach mutual understanding. If one person is able to emulate just one-tenth of Yuanzhí or Youzai’s assiduous awareness and loyalty to the state then I can have fewer mistakes.”[6]
Another time, Zhuge Liang also said:
“In the past, when I was young and first associated with Cuī Zhoupíng(崔州平). I was often informed of my strengths and failings. Later I would interact with Xu Yuanzhi and I was often met with his instruction. Earlier I would consult important matters with Dong Youcai and with every speech he was conscientious and sincere. Afterward, I managed affairs with Hu Ji (Weidu) and frequently, I was met with his admonishments. Although my temperament and nature is rustic and ignorant hence I'm unable to always accept their comments completely, however with these four talented men I was friend from the start to the end and also aware enough to not have doubts of their loyal nature and upright words” Zhuge Liang always spoke highly of Dong He and had fond memories of him after his death.[7]
Appraisal
Chen Shou, who wrote Dong He's biography in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (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, Ma Liang, Chen Zhen and Dong Yun, he was one of the best officials in Shu."[8]
Notes
- Sun Jiaben believed that the text may have been erroneous. Moving eastward would have been necessary to go from Ba commandery to Nan commandery which was unusual at this time. In his opinion, the text must originally had Dong He's birthplace as Ba commandery with his ancestors moving there from Nan commandery. Lü Bi thinks the same.
References
- de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD). Brill Publishing. pp. 150–151. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
- (董和字幼宰，南郡枝江人也，其先本巴郡江州人。漢末，和率宗族西遷，益州牧劉璋以為牛鞞、音髀。江原長、成都令。) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- (蜀土富實，時俗奢侈，貨殖之家，侯服玉食，婚姻葬送，傾家竭產。和躬率以儉，惡衣蔬食，防遏踰僭，為之軌制，所在皆移風變善，畏而不犯。) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- (然縣界豪彊憚和嚴法，說璋轉和為巴東屬國都尉。吏民老弱相攜乞留和者數千人，璋聽留二年，還遷益州太守，其清約如前。與蠻夷從事，務推誠心，南土愛而信之。) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- (先主定蜀，徵和為掌軍中郎將，與軍師將軍諸葛亮並署左將軍大司馬府事，獻可替否，共為歡交。自和居官食祿，外牧殊域，內幹機衡，二十餘年，死之日家無儋石之財。) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- (亮後為丞相，教與群下曰：「夫參署者，集眾思廣忠益也。若遠小嫌，難相違覆，曠闕損矣。違覆而得中，猶棄弊蹻而獲珠玉。然人心苦不能盡，惟徐元直處茲不惑，又董幼宰參署七年，事有不至，至于十反，來相啟告。苟能慕元直之十一，幼宰之殷勤，有忠於國，則亮可少過矣。」) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- (又曰：「昔初交州平，屢聞得失，後交元直，勤見啟誨，前參事於幼宰，每言則盡，後從事於偉度，數有諫止；雖姿性鄙暗，不能悉納，然與此四子終始好合，亦足以明其不疑於直言也。」其追思和如此。〔一〕) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- (評曰： ... 董和蹈羔羊之素， ... 皆蜀臣之良矣。) Sanguozhi vol. 39.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).