Du Yu (222[c] – January or February 285[d]), courtesy name Yuankai,[3] was a Chinese classicist, military general, and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the late Three Kingdoms period and early Jin dynasty.

Du Yu
杜預
A Qing dynasty portrait of Du Yu
Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隸校尉)
In office
285
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Senior General Who Guards the South
(鎮南大將軍)
In office
278 (278)  285 (285)
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Preceded byYang Hu
General of Light Chariots (輕車將軍)
In office
270 (270)  278 (278)?
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Colonel of the Eastern Qiang (東羌校尉)
In office
270 (270)  ?
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Inspector of Qin Province (秦州刺史)[a]
In office
270 (270)  ?
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Military Judge under the General Who Stabilises the West (安西將軍軍司)
In office
270
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Intendant of Henan (河南尹)
In office
265 or after  before 271[b]
MonarchEmperor Wu of Jin
Chief Clerk under the General Who Guards the West (鎮西將軍長史)
In office
263
MonarchCao Huan
Army Adviser (參軍)
In office
259 (259)  263 (263)
MonarchCao Mao / Cao Huan
Gentleman of Writing (尚書郎)
In office
?  259 (259)
MonarchCao Mao
Personal details
Born222
Died285 (aged 63)
SpousePrincess Gaolu
Relations
Children
  • Du Xi
  • Du Ji
  • Du Dan
  • Du Yin
Parent
OccupationClassicist, military general, politician
Yuankai (元凱)
Marquis Cheng (成侯)
Peerage
Marquis of Dangyang
(當陽侯)

Life

edit

Du Yu was from Duling County (杜陵縣), Jingzhao Commandery (京兆郡), which is located northwest of present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi. He married Princess Gaolu, a sister of Sima Zhao,[4] the regent of the Cao Wei state from 255 to 265 and the father of Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), later the first emperor of the Jin dynasty (266–420).

A prolific author, Du Yu was a self-proclaimed addict of the Zuo Zhuan[e] and wrote an influential commentary to it. He was one of the most important commanders under the Wei general Zhong Hui during the conquest of Wei's rival state, Shu. After the Shu campaign, he was also involved in putting down Tufa Shujineng's rebellion.[f] Just before Yang Hu's death in December 278, he recommended that Du Yu replace him as commander for the conquest of the state of Eastern Wu.[7] About a year after Yang's death, the Jin dynasty's invasion of Wu began. Leading an army, Du Yu managed to lay waste to the Wu army with great force within a few months, and received the surrender of Sun Hao, the last Wu emperor, in May 280. His military achievements were all the more remarkable due to his physical weaknesses; it was recorded that he was unable to ride a horse or shoot an arrow with significant force.[8]

Du Yu was also an ancestor of the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu, and his grandfather Du Shenyan.[9] Unlike his predecessors, Du Yu used the Zuo Zhuan to comment on the Chunqiu Classic. He therefore combined the two books in one, which has been the common practice since.

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. Vol.79 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Du Yu was made Inspector of Qin Province after Hu Lie's death; shortly after this appointment, he was sent back to Luoyang in a prison cart. He was then no longer involved in further developments regarding Tufa Shujineng's rebellion.
  2. Vol.79 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Yu Chun (庾純; brother of Yu Liang's grandfather) was Intendant of Henan in 271-272.
  3. According to Du Yu's biography in Book of Jin, he was 63 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died.[1] Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 223.
  4. According to Sima Yan's biography in Book of Jin, Du Yu died in the leap (12th) month of the 5th year of the Taikang era of his reign. This corresponds to 23 Jan to 21 Feb 285 in the Julian calendar.[2]
  5. Du Yu's biography in Book of Jin recorded that at the time, Wang Ji (son of Wang Hun) was a good judge and lover of horses, while He Qiao (grandson of He Qia) was a hoarder of wealth. Du Yu then commented that Wang Ji was a horse addict while He Qiao was a money addict. Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), upon hearing this, asked Du Yu if he had any addiction. Du Yu then replied that he was an addict of the Zuo Zhuan.[5]
  6. With the removal of Sima Liang, Emperor Wu sent the General Who Maintains the West, Shi Jian (石鑒) and Protector-General of Vehement Might, Tian Zheng (田章) to put down the revolt. Shi Jian ordered Du Yu, who was then his subordinate, to attack Shujineng. However, Du Yu protested, stating that the enemies were still in high spirits after their recent victories, as opposed to the demoralized Jin troops. He instead suggested that they wait until the following spring to attack, building up strength and storing up grains in the meantime. Shi Jian thought that Du Yu was trying to jeopardize the campaign, so he had Du Yu sent back to Luoyang in a prison cart for him to face the Minister of Justice. Shi Jian then carried out his original plans, but he could not defeat Shujineng.[6]

References

edit
  1. (行次邓县而卒,时年六十三。) Jin Shu, vol.34.
  2. [(太康五年)闰月,镇南大将军、当阳侯杜预卒。] Jin Shu, vol.03)
  3. (杜预,字元凯,京兆杜陵人也。) Jin Shu, vol.34
  4. (预尚帝妹高陆公主) Jin Shu, vol.34
  5. (时王济解相马,又甚爱之,而和峤颇聚敛,预常称“济有马癖,峤有钱癖”。武帝闻之,谓预曰:“卿有何癖?”对曰:“臣有《左传》癖。”) Jin Shu, vol.34
  6. (屬虜兵強盛,石鑒時為安西將軍,使預出兵擊之。預以虜乘勝馬肥,而官軍懸乏,宜並力大運,須春進討,陳五不可、四不須。鑒大怒,復奏預擅飾城門官舍,稽乏軍興,遣御史檻車征詣廷尉。以預尚主,在八議,以侯贖論。其後隴右之事卒如預策。) Jin Shu, vol.34
  7. (羊祜疾笃,举杜预自代。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.80. Prior to his death, Yang was deeply involved in drafting up plans for the invasion.
  8. (预身不跨马,射不穿札...) Jin Shu, vol.34. "She bu chuan zha" was also used to describe Chen Qingzhi in Book of Liang and History of the Southern Dynasties.
  9. (杜审言,字必简,襄州襄阳人,晋征南将军预远裔。....审言生子闲,闲生甫。) Xin Tang Shu, vol.201