Later depiction of Dong Zhuo
Later depiction of Dong ZhuoA transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitPlastictv at English WikipediaSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Dong Zhuo董卓

Archaic / OtherHistory × Fiction

A powerful minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty, who deposed the emperor and installed Emperor Xian, monopolized power and disrupted governance, and was eventually killed by Lü Bu.

DIRECT FIGURES
47
RELATION RECORDS
74
SOURCE WORKS
8

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Dong Zhuo, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

1 figure · 2 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

12 figures · 15 records
8 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

12 figures · 16 records
8 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

7 figures · 7 records
4 more in the complete record

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · Old Book of Tang

He often led barbarian troops and plundered the palace. He was Grand Tutor and was killed by Lü Bu. He was a powerful minister at the end of the Eastern Han, arrogant and cruel, ultimately leading to the extermination of his clan.

In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · Researches into Lost Records · In Search of the Supernatural · New Book of Tang

Dong Zhuo was originally a General of the Household, replacing Lu Zhi to campaign against Zhang Jiao, but was defeated and rescued by Liu, Guan, and Zhang. Later he served as Grand Administrator of Hedong and treated Liu Bei and others with disdain. After entering the capital, he monopolized power, deposed the Young Emperor and installed the Prince of Chenliu, appointing himself as Chancellor, and was cruel and unkind. He moved the capital to Chang'an, driving the people away. Later, due to Diao Chan, he turned against Lü Bu and was killed by him, and his remains were destroyed by thunder and fire.

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.

  1. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    53 profile notes
    27 relations33 verified quotations
    • Yuan ShaoconfrontDong Zhuo
    • Lu BuslayDong Zhuo
    • Dong Zhuoadoptive father-sonLu Bu
    • Dong ZhuodispatchLu Bu
    Verified original text · 33
    1. 会董卓乘虚,所图不轨

      confront · Book of the Later Han, 袁绍刘表列传上

    2. 使中郎将吕布杀太师董卓

      slay · Book 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

    31 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  3. 11 profile notes
    12 relations16 verified quotations
    • Cao CaoattackDong Zhuo
    • Liu BeirescueDong Zhuo
    • Yuan ShaoconfrontDong Zhuo
    • Dong Zhuoappoint officialYuan Shao
    Verified original text · 16
    1. 急掣宝刀在手。恰待要刺

      assassinate · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 4

    2. 三人救了董卓回寨

      rescue · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 1

    14 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. 24 profile notes
    12 relations15 verified quotations
    • Cao CaoattackDong Zhuo
    • Yuan ShaoconfrontDong Zhuo
    • Dong Zhuoappoint officialYuan Shao
    • Lu BuslayDong Zhuo
    Verified original text · 15
    1. 将以诛卓

      attack · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪

    2. 昔者董卓初兴国难

      attack · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪

    13 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  5. Literature / legend

    Researches into Lost Records

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  6. 1 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Dong Zhuomemorialize for destructionEmperor Xian of Han
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 放废天子

      depose or install · In Search of the Supernatural, ch. 6

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  7. 4 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Dong ZhuorebelCao Cao
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 董卓乱,魏武挟令迁帝

      rebel · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 草木五

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  8. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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History vs. fiction

Dong Zhuo: Whether his remains were struck and destroyed by thunder after death

  • Both the official history and the novel record that after Dong Zhuo's death, his body was exposed in the market and his navel was used as a lamp wick. For example, Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biographies of Dong, Er, Yuan, and Liu records: 'They placed a wick in Zhuo's navel to serve as a lamp, shining brightly until dawn.' Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 9, also describes: 'They put fire in his navel to serve as a lamp.' However, the novel adds a supernatural element of heavenly punishment. In Chapter 10, it fabricates a mystical scene where, when Li Jue collects his remains for reburial, 'a thunderbolt split open his coffin, and the corpse was thrown out... all the scattered flesh and bones were reduced to ashes by the thunder fire.' This is not recorded in the official history.

Relationship network

36 figures · 169 links
Dong ZhuoDong ZhuoCao CaoCao CaoLiu BeiLiu BeiYuan ShaoYuan ShaoLu BuLu BuEmperor Cheng of HanEmperor Cheng of HanCai YongCai YongEmperor Xian of HanEmperor Xian of HanZhang LiaoZhang LiaoSun JianSun JianDeng AiDeng AiChen FanDou WuLi JueHe JinHu GuangZhang HuanZheng XuanHuangfu SongXun YouLu ZhiGuo SiHan SuiWang YunXun ShuangZhang WenZhang RangYang BiaoZhang MiaoWang KuangZhu JunZhang JiaoLiu HongHuang WanYing ShaoLiu Dai
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·刘繇太史慈士燮传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 1; Book 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; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 奢侈一; Researches into Lost Records, 卷六; In Search of the Supernatural, ch. 6; New Book of Tang, 南蛮中; Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志二

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.