Dong Min

Historical Record

Concerning Dong Min, there is no clear record in the official histories. In sources such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms and Pei Songzhi's commentary, neither his name nor any related deeds are recorded. This suggests that Dong Min may not have been an important figure in history, or that his deeds were not recorded by the historians. Therefore, we cannot obtain from the historical and biographical materials any information about Dong Min's life, official posts, achievements, or end.

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dong Min, as the younger brother of Dong Zhuo, plays an important role; his image is entirely a product of literary fashioning, with no clear historical record. He first appears in chapter three. After Dong Zhuo had successfully won over Lü Bu, his power grew daily greater, and he began to lavish rewards on his trusted followers. At this time, Dong Min was enfeoffed as General of the Left and Marquis of Hu ^c:6153. This shows Dong Zhuo's promotion of and trust in members of his family, and also foreshadows the prominent standing of the Dong clan during Dong Zhuo's domination of power.

Dong Min's second appearance comes in chapter eight. By this time Dong Zhuo's rule at Chang'an had grown ever more overbearing; he styled himself "Imperial Father" (shangfu) and usurped the imperial regalia. He not only enfeoffed Dong Min as General of the Left and Marquis of Hu but also enfeoffed his nephew Dong Huang as palace attendant, in overall command of the imperial guards. Members of the Dong clan, young and old alike, were all enfeoffed as marquises ^c:3167. This further highlights Dong Min's standing as a trusted intimate of Dong Zhuo and the power of the Dong clan at court. Dong Zhuo even spent vast sums, employing two hundred and fifty thousand laborers to build at Meiwu palaces and storehouses on a scale equal to the city of Chang'an, stockpiling great quantities of wealth and grain, and placing within it eight hundred beautiful young men and women from among the common people, settling all his kinfolk there—Dong Min, as Dong Zhuo's younger brother, was naturally one of the residents of Meiwu.

Dong Min's end is depicted in chapter nine. After Dong Zhuo was killed by the joint scheme of Lü Bu and Wang Yun, Li Jue, Guo Si, and others, hearing the news, fled to Liang Province. Lü Bu then led troops to Meiwu. After Meiwu was taken, Huangfu Song ordered the release of the daughters and sons of good families imprisoned within it. However, as for Dong Zhuo's kin, young and old alike were all put to death. Dong Zhuo's mother was killed, and Dong Min and his nephew Dong Huang were beheaded and their heads displayed to the public ^c:3168. The vast quantities of gold, fine silks, pearls and jewels, vessels, and grain plundered from Meiwu were all confiscated and reported to Wang Yun. Wang Yun thereupon held a great feast for the soldiers and a banquet of celebration. Dong Min's tragic end symbolizes the complete downfall of the Dong clan after Dong Zhuo's fall.

Key Relationships

* Dong Zhuo's Faction (serves): Dong Min was one of the core members of Dong Zhuo's Faction; as Dong Zhuo's younger brother, he was promoted by Dong Zhuo to General of the Left and Marquis of Hu, an important piece in Dong Zhuo's consolidation of his own power and control of the court. His existence reflects Dong Zhuo's reliance on and support of family power. (unique to the novel)
* Dong Zhuo (kin_of): Dong Min and Dong Zhuo were brothers, and this blood relationship was the root of all his standing and fate in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Dong Zhuo's domination of power allowed Dong Min to rank among high officials, and Dong Zhuo's downfall directly brought about Dong Min's death ^c:3168. This kinship was the sole reason for Dong Min's existence in the novel.

Defining Scenes

* Enfeoffment as General of the Left and Marquis of Hu: After Dong Zhuo had won over Lü Bu and his power grew greatly, Dong Min was enfeoffed by Dong Zhuo as General of the Left and Marquis of Hu. This scene marks not only Dong Min's high standing within Dong Zhuo's Faction but also reflects Dong Zhuo's promotion of trusted intimates and consolidation of family power ^c:6153. Thereafter, as Dong Zhuo grew ever more overbearing at Chang'an and styled himself "Imperial Father," it was again emphasized that Dong Min held the rank of General of the Left and Marquis of Hu, and his nephew Dong Huang was enfeoffed as palace attendant in overall command of the imperial guards, with the members of the Dong clan all enfeoffed as marquises—further displaying the prominent standing of the Dong clan ^c:3167. (unique to the novel)
* Meiwu taken, beheaded and exposed to the public: After Dong Zhuo was killed by Lü Bu, Lü Bu led troops to take Meiwu. As one of Dong Zhuo's kin, Dong Min could not escape. He, together with Dong Zhuo's mother and his nephew Dong Huang, was put to death, beheaded, and his head displayed to the public ^c:3168. This scene is Dong Min's final end in the novel, symbolizing the complete downfall of the Dong clan and bringing Dong Zhuo's tyranny to a close. This ending emphasizes the tragic nature of Dong Min, whose fate, as Dong Zhuo's kin, was bound tightly to Dong Zhuo's own. (unique to the novel)