CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Dong Cheng董承
Imperial uncle of Emperor Xian of Han, received the Edict in the Jade Belt to plot against Cao Cao, but was killed when the plot was leaked.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 4
- RELATION RECORDS
- 9
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Dong Cheng, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
3 figures · 3 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Dong Cheng—Cao Caocolleague
Dong Cheng—Liu Beiaccomplice
Emperor Xian of Han→Dong Chenggrant edict
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 4 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Cao→Dong Chengimprison
Dong Cheng→Liu Beiplot against Cao
Ma Teng—Dong Chengaccomplice
03THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
2 figures · 2 records＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Dong Cheng→Cao Caodemand life
Read the original source
忽见伏皇后、董贵人、二皇子并伏完、董承等二十馀人，浑身血污，立于愁云之内，隐隐闻索命之声
Dong Cheng→Emperor Xian of Hansave emperor
Read the original source
那人来见天子，乃国戚董承也。帝哭诉前事。承曰：“陛下免忧。臣与杨将军誓斩二贼，以靖天下。”
8 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
General of the Guards, joined forces with Cao Cao and others to attack Yuan Shu. Imperial uncle of Emperor Xian of Han, received the Edict in the Jade Belt to secretly plot against Cao Cao, but was killed when the plot was leaked. Eastern Han general, held the emperor in his power.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Dong Cheng was the imperial uncle of Emperor Xian of Han. He once rescued the emperor together with Yang Feng, and was later enfeoffed as a marquis. Because Cao Cao monopolized power, he received the Edict in the Jade Belt and plotted with Liu Bei and others to remove Cao Cao. When the plot was leaked, he was imprisoned and ultimately killed by Cao Cao. After death, his spirit appeared to demand his life.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend8 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
7 relations9 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ imprison →Dong Cheng
- Dong Cheng→ plot assassination →Cao Cao
- Dong Cheng→ demand life →Cao Cao
- Dong Cheng→ plot against Cao →Liu Bei
Verified original text · 9
将董承全家良贱，尽皆监禁
imprison · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 23
只将董承等五人，并其全家老小，押送各门处斩。
slay · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 24
7 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history9 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations3 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ imprison →Dong Cheng
- Dong Cheng→ colleague →Cao Cao
- Dong Cheng→ accomplice →Liu Bei
Verified original text · 3
董承等谋泄，皆伏诛。
kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
与司空曹公、卫将军董承、益州牧刘璋等並力讨袁術
colleague · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·孙破虏讨逆传
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The scale of involvement after the Edict Incident
- based on factThe scale of involvement after Dong Cheng and others were implicated in the Edict Incident.
The novel describes that after Cao Cao discovered the edict, he executed Dong Cheng and the other five, along with their entire families, at various gates, exaggerating the extremely tragic numbers (Chapter 24 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 'Only Dong Cheng and the other five, along with their entire families, were taken to various gates and executed. The dead totaled more than seven hundred people.'). In official history, it is only briefly recorded that the plot was exposed and Dong Cheng and others were executed, without giving specific numbers of casualties, indicating the novel's exaggeration (Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of the Former Lord: 'The plot was discovered, and Cheng and others were all executed.').
Relationship network
- imprison← Cao Cao → Dong Chenghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 23Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 24
Original text (3)
将董承全家良贱，尽皆监禁
只将董承等五人，并其全家老小，押送各门处斩。
Original relation: slay · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 24
董承等谋泄，皆伏诛。
Original relation: kill · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
Original text (1)
承大喜，随即唤家奴各人收拾兵器
Original text (1)
与司空曹公、卫将军董承、益州牧刘璋等並力讨袁術
Original text (1)
忽见伏皇后、董贵人、二皇子并伏完、董承等二十馀人，浑身血污，立于愁云之内，隐隐闻索命之声
Original text (2)
曰：“公既奉诏讨贼，备敢不效犬马之劳。”
董承赶出十里长亭来送
Original relation: farewell · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 21
Original text (1)
遂与承及长水校尉种辑
Original text (1)
那人来见天子，乃国戚董承也。帝哭诉前事。承曰：“陛下免忧。臣与杨将军誓斩二贼，以靖天下。”
Original text (1)
帝乃自作一密诏，咬破指尖，以血写之，暗令伏皇后缝于玉带紫锦衬内
Original text (1)
腾读毕，毛发倒竖，咬齿嚼唇，满口流血。谓承曰