Dong Xun

Historical Record

According to the existing historical and biographical materials, the record concerning Dong Xun is a blank. In official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, no deeds of any figure named Dong Xun have been found recorded, which suggests that Dong Xun was very likely a figure not mentioned in the historical literature, or that his life and deeds were insufficient to be included by the historians. Therefore, we cannot ascertain from the historical sources Dong Xun's origins, official posts, words and deeds, or even his ultimate fate.^[1]

In the Novel

In the literary world of Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dong Xun, as a Minister over the Masses (situ), stepped forward to submit a memorial of frank remonstrance at a time when the Wei ruler Cao Rui was undertaking great construction works that wore out the people and wasted resources, displaying an image of loyal and forthright candor. The story takes place during the period of the tripartite division of the Three Kingdoms—the thirteenth year of Jianxing of Shu Han, the third year of Qinglong of the Wei ruler Cao Rui, and the fourth year of Jiahe of the Wu ruler Sun Quan. At this time, the Wei ruler Cao Rui was undertaking great construction works at Xu Chang and Luoyang, building palaces including the Zhaoyang Hall, the Taiji Hall, the Zongzhang Belvedere, the Chonghua Hall, the Qingxiao Pavilion, the Phoenix Tower, and the Nine Dragon Pool. These structures were of the utmost luxury, with carved beams and painted rafters, jade tiles and gold bricks, their splendor dazzling in the sun. To complete these works, Cao Rui conscripted more than thirty thousand skilled artisans from across the realm and more than three hundred thousand laborers, who toiled day and night without rest, exhausting the people's strength and stirring up widespread complaint.^[1]

Cao Rui even issued an edict requiring the high ministers to personally carry earth and plant trees in the Fanglin Garden. Faced with such acts that wore out the people and wasted resources, the Minister over the Masses Dong Xun resolutely submitted a memorial of remonstrance to Cao Rui. His memorial was impassioned and stirring. He first pointed out that since the Jian'an era warfare had been ceaseless, men had died on the battlefield, and many households had become desolate; even survivors were mostly orphans and the aged and weak. He held that even if the palaces were cramped and needed expansion, this should be done at the proper season, without hindering farming work, and that one should not build these useless things.^[2]

Dong Xun further pointed out that since His Majesty honored his ministers, granting them caps and embroidered garments and the riding of splendid carriages, precisely in order to distinguish them from petty men, yet now made them carry timber and bear earth, soiling their bodies and muddying their feet—this surely damaged the glory of the state and exalted a useless undertaking, which truly made no sense. He cited Confucius's words, "The ruler employs his ministers with ritual propriety; the minister serves his ruler with loyalty," emphasizing that between ruler and minister there should be propriety and loyalty—otherwise on what could the state stand? Dong Xun well knew that frank remonstrance might invite the calamity of death, but he compared himself to "a single hair on an ox," reasoning that since his life was of no benefit, his death too would be no loss. In his memorial he wrote with tears flowing, his heart bidding farewell to the world, and he mentioned that he had eight sons, so that if he should die for this, he would become a burden to His Majesty. His memorial was full of tragic solemnity and resolve, closing with the words "unable to overcome my trembling, I await my fate to the utmost," expressing a loyalty that would not repent even in death.^[2]

Key Relationships

* Cao Rui (advises_in): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, there is a marked ruler-minister relationship between Dong Xun and the Wei ruler Cao Rui. Dong Xun, as Minister over the Masses, offered frank and unsparing remonstrance against Cao Rui's behavior of undertaking great construction works that wore out the people and wasted resources, displaying his loyalty and sense of responsibility as a minister. He remonstrated at the risk of death, seeking to halt Cao Rui's extravagant acts, reflecting his deep concern for the state and the people.^[2] (unique to the novel)

Defining Scenes

* Submitting a memorial of frank remonstrance to Cao Rui: Dong Xun's best-known defining scene is his frank remonstrance, as Minister over the Masses, submitting a memorial at the risk of death when the Wei ruler Cao Rui was undertaking great construction works that wore out the people and wasted resources. He pointed out that Cao Rui's actions not only wore out the people and wasted resources but also violated the way of ruler and minister, and, comparing himself to "a single hair on an ox," expressed a loyalty that would not repent even in death. This memorial, sincere in feeling and earnest in words, fully displays Dong Xun's character of loyal and forthright candor.^[2] (unique to the novel)