Xiahou Ba style name

Chinese style name

A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...

 Zhongquan (仲權), was a military general of Cao Wei

Cao Wei

Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...

 during the Three Kingdoms

Three Kingdoms

The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...

 era of Chinese history

History of China

Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...

. As the second son of Xiahou Yuan

Xiahou Yuan

Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...

, he was from one of the leading military families at the time, but defected to the rival state of Shu Han

Shu Han

Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...

 (which is the regime responsible for his father's death) due to political instability at the capital Luoyang

Luoyang

Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...

.

Early career

Xiahou Ba's parents were important figures in Cao Wei; his father, Xiahou Yuan, had fought alongside his distant cousin and founder of Wei, Cao Cao

Cao Cao

Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...

, since the start of the civil wars and was one of the most trusted of Cao's generals, and Xiahou Ba's mother was a sister-in-law of Cao Cao. After Xiahou Yuan was killed at Battle of Mount Dingjun

Battle of Mount Dingjun

The Battle of Mount Dingjun was fought between the warlords Liu Bei and Cao Cao in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Liu Bei's victory in the battle marked a major milestone in his Hanzhong Campaign.-The battle:...

 in 219 at the hands of Shu general, Huang Zhong

Huang Zhong

Huang Zhong was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was most noted for his victory in the Battle of Mount Dingjun, in which his force routed that of Xiahou Yuan, who was slain during battle...

, most of his troops were placed under the command of Zhang He

Zhang He

Zhang He was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He continued serving the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period until his death....

 upon advice from Guo Huai

Guo Huai

Guo Huai , style name Boji , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his career during the late Han Dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao. During Cao Pi's reign, Guo rose up the ranks and became a grand marshal under Sima Yi...

, but his private militia and guards were succeeded by his five sons. Xiahou Ba since then displayed great hatred against Shu, and vowed to revenge for his father. In AD 220, Xiahou Yuan's eldest son Xiahou Heng was given his own fiefdom and honorific title, so Xiahou Ba succeeded to his father's hereditary title with a stipend of tax revenues from eight hundred households.

In AD 230, when the Minister of Defense, Cao Zhen

Cao Zhen

Cao Zhen was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was also a distant nephew of Cao Cao, though the latter treated him like a son. Cao Zhen participated in many...

 proposed a shift from defensive to offensive stance against Shu-Han, Lieutenant-General (偏将军) Xiahou Ba was named as the vanguard. He then led a force towards Hanzhong taking a route though the 330 km Ziwu Trail (子午道), and camped in a crooked gorge, near the Xingshi camp set up earlier by Shu general, Wei Yan

Wei Yan

Wei Yan was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He became a soldier of Liu Bei when the latter fled Jing Province and seek protection from the eastern warlord, Sun Quan, in 208. In 211, Wei had climbed up the ranks and become a general in Liu Bei's...

. There, Xiahou was identified by the local residents, who reported his presence to the Shu forces, and was under heavy attack. As the main army of Cao Zhen had not caught up with the van, Xiahou was threw into a grave situation, where he was forced to rely on personal martial skill to fight his enemies between barricades until Cao arrived. The two forces reached a stalemate and the standoff lasted for a few months, but the development favored Shu-Han side as continuous rainfall over a month had rendered narrow valleys impassable, resulting in Wei army's logistical difficulty. In addition to the disadvantageous weather, Wei Yan had pincered to Wei army's rear and successfully incited some non-Han tribes to oppose Cao-Wei, so Cao and Xiahou begrudgingly consented on the decision to retreat. Since then, Xiahou was made General-of-the-Right, and stationed in Longxi to train troops; he treated both his militia and common soldiers well, and gained their support.

As a trusted aide of Cao Shuang

In the 240s Xiahou became the Marquis of Bochangting and a known associate of Cao Shuang

Cao Shuang

Cao Shuang , style name Zhaobo , was a military general, politician and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Cao Zhen...

, who was the son of the deceased Cao Zhen and leader of the dominant faction in Wei politics. When Cao Shuang decided to wage war against Shu to enhance his personal influence and reputation, Xiahou was made Protector-of-the-Army and came under command of Xiahou Xuan

Xiahou Xuan

Xiahou Xuan , style name Taichu , was a minister of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was the son of Xiahou Shang. Xiahou Xuan's mother was Cao Shuang's aunt , and thus he was close to Cao Shuang's faction. Despite this, he survived the overthrow and execution of Cao...

, who was Xiahou Ba's son in the clan. For the ensuing campaign, however, the honor of leading the van fell into the hands of Guo Huai

Guo Huai

Guo Huai , style name Boji , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He started his career during the late Han Dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao. During Cao Pi's reign, Guo rose up the ranks and became a grand marshal under Sima Yi...

, who Xiahou Ba disliked. This time, Wei forces chose the shorter Tangluo Trail into Shu territory, but again experienced logistic problem as a long section of the trail had no water source. As a result, the Wei forces were forced to retreat, and many soldiers merely died of thirst along the way back. After the war, Guo, due to his timely withdrawal of troops, was granted a higher military authority over Xiahou Ba.

From AD 244 to 249, Xiahou Ba would play into the hands of Guo, who hold authority to temporarily command him when a military crisis arose. In AD 247, when the leaders of Qiang tribe and Hu tribe rebelled against Wei, Xiahou Ba stationed at Weixi, and was under attack from Shu commander, Jiang Wei

Jiang Wei

Jiang Wei was a military general and regent of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He originally served Shu's rival state, Cao Wei, as a middle-level military officer, but defected to the Shu strategist Zhuge Liang, leaving his mother in Wei. After that, Jiang...

, who came to support the rebellion. Together with Guo, Xiahou repelled Jiang's attack, and struck the Qiang rebels, forcing many to submission. However, E Zhesai (蛾遮塞) of Qiang, and Zhi Wudai (治无戴) of Hu still insisted on fighting, so the war was fragmented into battles that dragged on to 248, wherein Jiang Wei again led Shu forces to the aid of the rebels. At this point, it is clear that Guo, instead of Xiahou Xuan, was the actual commander on the field to give out orders; for instance, when Guo decided to attack Jiang's subordinate, Liao Hua

Liao Hua

Liao Hua , originally named Liao Chun , style name Yuanjian , was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...

, Xiahou Ba was ordered to tail Jiang's main troop to the west. Upon knowing Liao was under attack, Jiang harshly returned to Liao's assistance just as Guo predicted, and the rebels severed ties with Shu. As Jiang was worn out from the travel, so was Xiahou Ba, but the glory and merit of subjugating the rebellion went to Guo Huai, who was made a Xianghou (Marquis of a village). On the contrary, Xiahou Ba virtually received nothing for his effort in the campaign.

Journey to the west

In 249, after a coup d'état

Incident at Gaoping Tombs

The Incident at Gaoping Tombs in 249 was a coup d'etat that occurred in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The parties involved were Cao Shuang and Sima Yi. Sima Yi seized power during the coup and had Cao Shuang killed...

 by Sima Yi

Sima Yi

Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...

 against Cao Shuang, a lot of Cao's affiliates were also put to death; being a close friend and associate of Cao, Xiahou Ba was sensitive to the political development and grew suspicious of the Sima fraction. Soon, Xiahou Xuan, who had the staff of authority to command troops over Liang and Yong provinces, was called back to the capital in name of a promotion. Thus, Xiahou Ba discussed the issue with Xiahou Xuan, and persuaded the latter to flee with him to Shu-Han. But Xiahou Xuan refused and said "I won't live as a guest in a kingdom of barbarians! (吾岂苟存自客於寇虏乎)" What further perturbed Xiahou Ba was the person who succeeded Xiahou Xuan's former position was none other than Guo Huai, who Xiahou Ba had a personal feud with. Therefore, Xiahou Ba started his lone journey into Shu.

On his way to Shu, Xiahou lost his way and went into a dead end in a valley, where he ran out of food and was forced to kill his horse as a last resort. He kept walking until his leg was crippled, then he laid beneath a shadow from a large rock, and asked the travelers for direction, but his geometry still could not figure out how to get out from the dead end. When the locals reported the presence of a lame beggar who looked alike to the great general Xiahou Ba who attacked them years ago, the Shu emperor, Liu Shan

Liu Shan

Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...

, hurriedly sent a rescue team to escort his brother-in-law to his capital of Chengdu.

Years ago, one of Xiahou Ba's sisters was abducted by Liu Bei

Liu Bei

Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...

's military general, Zhang Fei, and was "made" the wife of the latter. As a consequence, the Liu clan and Xiahou clan were linked together though Liu Shan

Liu Shan

Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...

's marriage with Zhang's daughter. That was why Liu Shan called his son "Nephew of Xiahou Family". Whether it was a political reason or a family issue, the lame Xiahou was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, wherein general Xiahou no longer could ride a chariot nor a horse well.

Later life in Shu

Nevertheless, Jiang Wei apparently befriended this old countryman of his, and they went on several campaigns against their mother-country, and nearly failed all of them. The imperial court of Cao Wei, thus, pardoned Xiahou Ba's sons on account of Xiahou Yuan's role in the founding of the empire. Instead they were exiled to Lelang in present day North Korea

North Korea

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...

.

At the time Xiahou was already at his 60s (if not 70s), but he was still active in social life. A story about that was recorded in "Folklore of Yi Regions," which says Xiahou wanted to befriend Zhang Yi

Zhang Yi (Boqi)

Zhang Yi , style name Boqi, was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He was instrumental in pacifying the barbarian peoples who rebelled against Shu. He was slain by Xu Zhi during one of Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions while distracting the enemy from pursuing...

, who was famous for subjugating the southern barbarians and was one of the most celebrated generals of Shu-Han back then. When Xiahou first met Zhang Yi, he told the latter:" Although I'm not close to you, I have already entrusted wholly to you for a long time, I hope you would understand this." Zhang Yi responded: "I don't know you, and you don't know me. The rationale is on the other end, how can you say you rely on me? I hope you save your words and continue this talk three years later." This incident was circulated within Shu, and knowledgeable persons and scholars agreed on Zhang's reply and took Xiahou as a joke. As a newcomer from Wei, Xiahou must had faced discrimination and distrust from his colleagues, but due to his complicated background, he was trusted by Liu Shan, and highly valued by another defector of Wei, Jiang Wei. Once, Jiang asked Xiahou if Sima, who gained control of Wei court, would attack Shu, Xiahou replied: "they just recently established hegemony, so they will not indulge in foreign affairs. However, there is a young Zhong Hui

Zhong Hui

Zhong Hui was a military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the son of Zhong Yao, a calligrapher and politician of Wei....

, who will be a threat to both kingdoms of Wu and Shu." Believing Xiahou's views that Sima would not handle border issues for some time, Jiang revived Zhuge's strategy on constantly waging wars against Wei, and brought Xiahou with him on his expeditions

Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions

Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions refer to a series of nine military campaigns launched by Shu Han general Jiang Wei against the rival state of Cao Wei from 247 to 262 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Each expedition was aborted eventually due to inadequate food supplies or...

. Xiahou distinguished himself in Jiang's only big victory in his campaigns, which was the Battle of Didao

Battle of Didao

The Battle of Didao, also known as the Battle of Taoxi, was fought between the states of Shu Han and Cao Wei in 255 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle concluded with a Wei Pyrrhic victory.-Prelude:...

, after the battle, he was not mentioned again in historic records.

According to Records of Three Kingdoms

Records of Three Kingdoms

Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...

, Xiahou Ba succeeded Deng Zhi

Deng Zhi

Deng Zhi was a minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early career:Deng Zhi was a native of Xinye , and went to Yi Province to avoid the turmoil of central China...

 as the General of Chariots and Cavalry after his death in 251, and Zizhi Tongjian

Zizhi Tongjian

The Zizhi Tongjian was a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084, under the form of a chronicles. In 1065 CE, Emperor Yingzong of Song ordered the great historian Sima Guang to lead with other scholars such as his chief assistants Liu Shu, Liu Ban and Fan Zuyu, the...

noted he was alive in 255. Records of Three Kingdoms noted Xiahou Ba was not alive in 259, when Liao Hua

Liao Hua

Liao Hua , originally named Liao Chun , style name Yuanjian , was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...

 and Zhang Yi were described as his successors to the position, so Xiahou must had died between 255 to 259.

In fiction

In Luo Guanzhong

Luo Guanzhong

Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...

's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...

, Xiahou Ba's death was altered.

Modern references

Xiahou Ba is first introduced as a playable character in the seventh installment

Dynasty Warriors 7

is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms....

 of Koei's Dynasty Warriors

Dynasty Warriors

is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...

video game series.