CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Cai Yong蔡邕
A renowned scholar of the Eastern Han, he rose to the position of Attendant in the Palace, and was executed for mourning Dong Zhuo.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 14
- RELATION RECORDS
- 19
- SOURCE WORKS
- 1
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Cai Yong, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01MENTORSHIPMentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mentorship
Teachers, disciples and transmission
Cai Yong—Hu Guangserve as teacher
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
9 figures · 10 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cai Yong→Emperor Ling of Hanreply
Dong Zhuo→Cai Yongconscript
Cai Yong→Emperor Xian of Hanmemorialize for destruction
Cai Yong→Lu Zhico-author
Cai Yong—Yang Cicolleague
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 2 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cai Yong→Cao Jiemonitored
Cai Yong→Lu Zhimention stele
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
6 figures · 6 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Cao Cao→Cai Yonggood
Cai Yong→Dong Zhuograteful
Cai Yong→Hu Guangwrite eulogy
Zheng Xuan→Cai Yongregretted
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In fiction · Book of the Later Han
Cai Yong was a renowned scholar of the Eastern Han, once serving as a Gentleman Consultant. He was framed by Cao Jie and sent home for submitting a memorial about natural disasters. Later, he was summoned by Dong Zhuo and promoted three times in one month, eventually reaching the position of Attendant in the Palace. After Dong Zhuo was killed, Cai Yong was imprisoned by Wang Yun and strangled for mourning Dong Zhuo. He was the teacher of Gu Yong, respected Wang Can, and was the father of Cai Yan.
History vs. fiction
Houhanshu has Cai Yong merely sigh at Wang Yun's table; Yanyi turns it into public weeping over the corpse.
- novel inventionHow Cai Yong was condemned for mourning Dong Zhuo
Houhanshu (Biography of Cai Yong, part 2) says he only sighed and changed colour while seated at Wang Yun's, and died in prison rather than being strangled: 「及卓被诛，邕在司徒王允坐，殊不意言之而叹，有动于色。」「邕陈辞谢，乞黥首刖足，继成汉史。」「邕遂死狱中。允悔，欲止而不及。」 Chapter 009 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms rewrites this as Cai Yong throwing himself on the corpse exposed in the marketplace: 「董卓暴尸于市，忽有一人伏其尸而大哭。」「原来那人不是别人，乃侍中蔡邕也。」 His plea to be allowed to finish the Han history does match the history: 「愿公见原：倘得黥首刖足，使续成汉史，以赎其辜，邕之幸也。」
Relationship network
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
董卓为司空，闻邕名高，辟之
Original text (1)
怀董谓邕怀董卓之恩也。
Original text (1)
相国董卓、左中郎将蔡邕等以和帝以下
- replyCai Yong → Emperor Ling of HanlitBook of the Later Han, 五行一貌不恭淫雨服妖鸡祸青眚屋自坏讹言旱谣狼食人Book of the Later Han, 五行五射妖龙蛇孽马祸人痾人化死复生疫投蜺志Book of the Later Han, 蔡邕列传下
Original text (3)
诏以问议郎蔡邕。邕对曰
上问蔡邕，对曰
Original relation: speak up · Book of the Later Han, 五行五射妖龙蛇孽马祸人痾人化死复生疫投蜺志
邕上封事曰
Original relation: memorialize · Book of the Later Han, 蔡邕列传下
Original text (1)
- serve as teacherCai Yong → Hu GuanglitBook of the Later Han, 律历下历法Book of the Later Han, 礼仪上合朔立春五供上陵冠夕牲耕高禖养老先蚕祓禊Book of the Later Han, 蔡邕列传下
Original text (4)
臣所师事故太傅胡广
邕见太傅胡广曰
Original relation: study under · Book of the Later Han, 礼仪上合朔立春五供上陵冠夕牲耕高禖养老先蚕祓禊
师事太傅胡广
臣所事师故太傅胡广
Original relation: study under · Book of the Later Han, 蔡邕列传下
Original text (1)
诏议郎蔡邕为其颂云
Original text (1)
曹节于后窃视之，悉宣语左右
Original text (1)
北海郑玄闻而叹曰
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
邕前在东观，与卢植、韩说等撰补后汉记
Original text (1)
邕时见亲于卓，故往请植事
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
诏召邕与光禄大夫杨赐、谏议大夫马日䃅、议郎张华、太史令单扬诣金商门
Original text (1)
使中常侍曹节、王甫就问灾异
Original text (1)
邕前在东观，与卢植、韩说等撰补后汉记
Original text (2)
辟司徒桥玄府
光禄大夫桥玄，聪达方直
Original relation: recommend · Book of the Later Han, 蔡邕列传下
Original text (1)
故太尉刘宠，忠实守正