Dai Yuan 戴員
| Occupation | RNOfficial · Commandery Assistant | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | |
| Born | R? Unverified | Native place | |
| Died | R204 Unverified | Place of death | |
| Cause of death | RKilled NKilled Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R3 |
Profile
Dai Yuan was a man whom Sheng Xian, Administrator of Wu Commandery, had recommended as Filial and Incorrupt. When Sun Quan killed Sheng Xian, he fled with Gui Lan and hid in the mountains, and when Sun Yi became Administrator of Danyang and summoned him with courtesy, he became Commandery Assistant. He has no biography of his own in the Records and appears in the account of Sun Shao in the Biographies of the Ruling House in Records of Wu 6. Records, Wu 6 §41
In the 9th year of Jian'an (204), when Sun Yi was murdered by those around him, Dai Yuan and Gui Lan killed Sun He, who angrily rebuked them, and tried to welcome Liu Fu, Inspector of Yang Province, and respond to him with Danyang. But he and Gui Lan were killed by Sun Yi's subordinates Xu Yuan, Sun Gao, Fu Ying and others. Records, Wu 2 §8Records, Wu 6 §42
Chen Shou's main text does not record his courtesy name or origin, and the assessment in Records of Wu 6 does not discuss him. In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 38, 1 of its 120 chapters, and no chapter has his name in its title. The Romance portrays him as plotting with Gui Lan and Sun Yi's attendant Bian Hong to kill Sun Yi, and later dying when he goes to a banquet to which Sun Yi's wife Lady Xu invites him. Records, Wu 6 §41–42 · 52Romance, Ch. 38 §31 · 36
In the Records
Sun Quan's younger brother Sun Yi took up the post of Administrator of Danyang concurrently as Lieutenant General in the 8th year of Jian'an (203), when he was twenty years old. Records, Wu 6 §34
Earlier, when Sun Quan killed Sheng Xian, the Administrator of Wu Commandery, Gui Lan and Dai Yuan, whom Sheng Xian had recommended as Filial and Incorrupt, fled and hid in the mountains. When Sun Yi became Administrator of Danyang, he summoned both men with courtesy; Gui Lan became Grand Commander supervising the troops, and Dai Yuan became Commandery Assistant. Records, Wu 6 §41
Sun Yi was later murdered by his attendant Bian Hong, and Bian Hong too was soon executed. The Biography of the Lord of Wu dates this to the 9th year of Jian'an (204). When Sun Yi was harmed, Sun He galloped to Wanling and angrily rebuked Gui Lan and Dai Yuan for failing to keep proper control and allowing a treacherous outrage to take place. Records, Wu 6 §34 · 42Records, Wu 2 §8
The two conferred, saying, 'Bohai is only a distant relative of the general, yet he rebukes us like this. If the General Who Attacks Barbarians comes, not one of us will be left.' Bohai was Sun He's courtesy name, and the General Who Attacks Barbarians was Sun Quan, who had received that title on Lord Cao's memorial. In the end the two killed Sun He, and sent men north to welcome Liu Fu, Inspector of Yang Province, have him stay at Liyang, and intended to respond to him with Danyang. Records, Wu 6 §42 · 40Records, Wu 2 §5
Just then Sun Yi's subordinates Xu Yuan, Sun Gao, Fu Ying and others killed Gui Lan and Dai Yuan. Sun Quan, hearing of the upheaval, returned from Jiaoqiu and pacified Danyang on the way. Chen Shou's main text does not record Dai Yuan's courtesy name or origin, and the assessment in Records of Wu 6 only praises the members of the Sun clan and does not deal with him. Records, Wu 6 §42–43 · 52
In the Romance
Chapter 38 of the Romance says that Sun Quan's younger brother Sun Yi, Administrator of Danyang, was rough by nature and fond of wine, and when drunk would often flog his soldiers, and that the Supervising Commander of Danyang, Gui Lan, and the Commandery Assistant, Dai Yuan, constantly harbored the intention of killing him. The two become of one mind with Sun Yi's attendant Bian Hong and plot together to kill Sun Yi. Romance, Ch. 38 §31
When the generals and county Prefects gather at Danyang, Sun Yi holds a banquet, and though his wife Lady Xu, who is skilled at divination, tries to stop him because the hexagram is gravely inauspicious, he does not listen. When the banquet breaks up, Bian Hong follows him out the gate, draws his sword and cuts him down, and Gui Lan and Dai Yuan at once lay the blame on Bian Hong and behead him in the marketplace. Taking advantage of the situation, the two plunder Sun Yi's property and his concubines. Romance, Ch. 38 §31–32
Lady Xu puts off Gui Lan's demands until after the sacrifice on the last day of the month, and secretly summons Sun Yi's former generals Sun Gao and Fu Ying, telling them in tears that the two traitors Gui Lan and Dai Yuan murdered her husband and laid the blame on Bian Hong alone. The two secretly send a messenger to inform Sun Quan. Romance, Ch. 38 §32–34
On the night of the last day of the month, Lady Xu calls Gui Lan into an inner chamber and has Sun Gao and Fu Ying, hidden behind the curtains, cut him down, then sends someone to invite Dai Yuan to the banquet. Dai Yuan enters the official residence and, on reaching the middle of the hall, is likewise killed by Sun Gao and Fu Ying. Lady Xu has the families and remaining followers of the two traitors put to death, then puts on her mourning clothes again and offers the heads of Gui Lan and Dai Yuan in sacrifice before Sun Yi's spirit tablet. Sun Quan, arriving at Danyang soon after, appoints Sun Gao and Fu Ying Generals of the Gate. Romance, Ch. 38 §35–37
Where the Romance differs
How he was employed: Chapter 38 of the Romance introduces Dai Yuan only as the Commandery Assistant of Danyang. In the Records, Dai Yuan was a man whom Sheng Xian, the Administrator of Wu Commandery killed by Sun Quan, had recommended as Filial and Incorrupt; he was hiding in the mountains when Sun Yi summoned him with courtesy and he became Commandery Assistant. Romance, Ch. 38 §31Records, Wu 6 §41
The murder of Sun Yi: In Chapter 38 of the Romance, Gui Lan and Dai Yuan constantly harbor the intention of killing Sun Yi and plot it in league with Bian Hong, and when Sun Yi is dead they lay the blame on Bian Hong and behead him. Chen Shou's main text records only that Sun Yi was murdered by his attendant Bian Hong and that Bian Hong too was soon executed, and does not say that Gui Lan and Dai Yuan plotted it. In Chen Shou's main text the two, after Sun Yi's death, are rebuked by Sun He for failing to keep proper control. Romance, Ch. 38 §31–32Records, Wu 6 §34 · 42
Sun He and Liu Fu: Chapter 38 of the Romance has neither Dai Yuan's killing of Sun He nor the attempt to welcome Liu Fu. In the Records, Gui Lan and Dai Yuan killed Sun He, who rebuked them, and tried to welcome Liu Fu, Inspector of Yang Province, and respond to him with Danyang. Records, Wu 6 §42Romance, Ch. 38 §31–37
Dai Yuan's death: In Chapter 38 of the Romance, after killing Gui Lan, Lady Xu invites Dai Yuan to a banquet and has him killed by Sun Gao and Fu Ying in the hall of the official residence, then offers the heads of the two men before Sun Yi's spirit tablet. Chen Shou's main text records only that Sun Yi's subordinates Xu Yuan, Sun Gao, Fu Ying and others killed Gui Lan and Dai Yuan, and does not record Lady Xu's stratagem. Romance, Ch. 38 §35–37Records, Wu 6 §42
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
- LEA3838±0
- STR3638+2
- INT3838±0
- POL4538−7
- CHA3830−8
- VIR1810−8
- ADP2522−3
- SCH4236−6
- DIP3835−3
- DIS3533−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
No ability differs by 10 or more — the Romance portrays this person much as the Records do.
10 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordWu 6 §41
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordCh. 38 §31
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordWu 6 §41
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordCh. 38 §31
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordWu 6 §41
NLaid the blame for Sun Yi's murder on Bian Hong and beheaded himCh. 38 §32
RSummoned with courtesy by Sun Yi and made Commandery AssistantWu 6 §41
NCommandery Assistant of DanyangCh. 38 §31
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordWu 6 §41
NNo direct record — estimated from his being called a traitorCh. 38 §37
RWhen rebuked, killed Sun He and tried to respond to Liu FuWu 6 §42
NPlotted to kill his lord Sun Yi and plundered his property and concubinesCh. 38 §31Ch. 38 §32
RFearing punishment, plotted rebellion and was killed by Xu Yuan, Sun Gao and othersWu 6 §42
NAccepted Lady Xu's invitation to a banquet and was killed in the official residenceCh. 38 §36
RRecommended as Filial and Incorrupt by Sheng XianWu 6 §41
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordCh. 38 §31
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordWu 6 §41
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordCh. 38 §31
RNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordWu 6 §41
NNo direct record — estimated from his post as Commandery Assistant and his brief recordCh. 38 §31
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
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