Dian Wei wielding his dual halberds as depicted in Peking Opera Battle of Wan
Names
Simplified Chinese:	典韦
Traditional Chinese:	典韦
Pinyin:	Diǎn Wěi
Wade-Giles:	Tien Wei
Zi:	None/Unknown

Dian Wei (? – 197) was a warrior during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. He served as a bodyguard to the powerful warlord Cao Cao. Famed for his enormous strength, Dian Wei excelled in wielding dual halberds, each of which was said to weigh 40 jin. He died defending Cao Cao's camp against multiple enemies. Download high resolution version (800x613, 96 KB)Dian Wei as depicted in Beijing Opera – Battle of Wan This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (800x613, 96 KB)Dian Wei as depicted in Beijing Opera – Battle of Wan This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... In Beijing, September 2002 Beijing opera or Peking opera (京剧, pinyin: Jīngjù) is a kind of Chinese opera which arose in the mid-19th century and was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court. ... Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western culture. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiǎntǐzì; also called 简化字/簡化字, jiǎnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; Hanyu Pinyin: , lit. ... Wade-Giles, sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization (phonetic notation and transliteration) system for the Chinese language based on Mandarin. ... A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name, is an extra name that could be used in place of the given name. ... Events Roman Emperor Septimius Severus sacks Ctesiphon and captures an enormous number of its inhabitants as slaves. ... The Han Dynasty (Traditional Chinese characters: 漢朝, Simplified Chinese characters: 汉朝, pinyin Hàncháo 202 BC - AD 220) followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. ... The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ... Warlord is a term that refers to one who has de facto military control of a subnational area, due to a military force which is personally obedient to that warlord. ... Cao Cao (曹操; Pinyin: Cáo Cāo) (155 – 220), whose name is also often transliterated and should be correctly pronounced as Tsao Tsao, was a regional warlord and the last Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the last years of the Eastern Han... In measurement, Chinese units (市制 Pinyin: Shìzhì, city standard) are the units used in Imperial China, and are still used. ...

Life

A local of Jiwu (己吾, present day Sui, Henan), Dian Wei's birthyear is unknown. The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms describes Dian Wei as a stalwart man with superhuman strength. Henan (Chinese: 河南; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. ... The Sānguó Zhì (Chinese 三国志, or 三國誌), variously translated as Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Records of the Three States and Records of the Three Kingdoms, was the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms Period compiled by Chen Shou during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). ...

When he was young, Dian Wei once agreed to kill a rival of his fellow townsman. Disguised as a noble, Dian Wei travelled to his enemy's house in Suiyang (睢阳) and entered the gates without challenge. He then slayed his enemy's entire family. As the victim lived near the market, news of his death soon spread and hundreds of men went on pursuit of the murderer. However, none of them dared to go near Dian Wei, who headed out of town with the pursuers at his heels. After walking four or five li, Dian Wei met his companions and escaped after a fight. Li: A Chinese unit of distance, 里 (Lǐ), a li is equal to 500 metres, or about 1/3 mile. ...

In 189, regional warlord Zhang Miao (张邈) was raising an army to join the coalition against Dong Zhuo, who was holding the emperor hostage. Dian Wei heeded the call. He greatly impressed his superiors when he managed to keep a huge banner swaying in strong wind upright with just one hand, while several other men with their combined efforts could not do so. To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ... Dong Zhuo (? – 192) was a warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ...

Dian Wei later served under Xiahou Dun, a fierce general under Cao Cao. During the campaign against Lü Bu in Hanyang, Cao Cao and his troops were caught amidst an onrush by the enemy. Dian Wei gathered scores of men around himself. All of them put on two layers of armor, discarded their shields, and charged towards the enemy holding spears and halberds. Xiahou Dun (? – 220) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... Cao Cao (曹操; Pinyin: Cáo Cāo) (155 – 220), whose name is also often transliterated and should be correctly pronounced as Tsao Tsao, was a regional warlord and the last Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the last years of the Eastern Han... Lü Bu (153 – 198) was a military general and minor warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. ... Hanyang is also a former name of Seoul, South Korea. ... Statue showing a Gallic shield with a butterfly boss. ... Hunting spear and knife, from Mesa Verde National Park. ... Swedish halberds from 16th century Different sorts of halberds and halberd-like pole weapons in Switzerland A halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. ...

Another wave of enemy closing in from the west unleashed a barrage of arrows onto Dian Wei and his men. Oblivious to the missiles, Dian Wei told his comrade, "Tell me when the enemies are ten paces away." His comrade did so. Dian Wei said again, "Tell me when it's five paces." His comrade then cried with fear, "The enemies are upon us!"

Spinning around, Dian Wei flung the dozen javelins he was holding at his enemies. With each fling a man fell from his saddle and not a javelin missed its target. The enemies then retreated. Deeply impressed, Cao Cao promoted Dian Wei to Captain and made him a personal bodyguard.

Henceafter, Dian Wei was always at the forefront of every battle he participated in. He was also loyal and responsible. He stood guard outside Cao Cao's tent throughout the day and slept somewhere close during the night, and rarely returned to his own quarters. The capable warrior was also an extraodinary eater and drinker. He ate in huge mouthfuls and drank in long gulps. Because of his enormous appetite, several man were required to serve him whenever he sat down for meals.

In 197, Cao Cao waged a campaign against Jingzhou (荆州). Zhang Xiu, the governor of Wan (宛), surrendered to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was very pleased and invited Zhang Xiu and his men to a banquet. Throughout the banquet, Dian Wei stood behind Cao Cao holding a giant axe, the blade of which was one chi long. Zhang Xiu and his man dared not even look up at the pair whenever they toasted to Cao Cao. Zhang Xiu (张绣) (? - 207) was born in Zuli, Wuwei (southwest of modern day Jingyuan, Gansu province). ... The axe (Commonwealth spelling) or ax (American spelling) is an ancient and ubiquitous tool that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, harvest timber, as a weapon and a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. ... The Chinese units (Chinese: 市制; pinyin: ; literally market system) are the customary and traditional units of measure used in China. ...

More than ten days later, Zhang Xiu ate his words and led a force to attack Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao escaped on horseback. Dian Wei stood guard at the front gate of the camp ground. With a dozen men on his side, Dian Wei fought fiercely using a long halberd. One swing of the halberd saw more than ten enemy spears broken. As the battle went on, Dian Wei's companions were killed one by one, while Dian Wei was also wounded in many places.

The mighty warrior then grabbed two enemies and used them as weapons. No other enemy dared to approach him. Dian Wei rushed forward and killed a few more enemies before finally dying of his wounds. He was still staring and swearing as he took his last breath. Only then did the enemies dare to come forward and severed his head, which was passed around for all to see. When the word spread, all the enemies came to revere Dian Wei's body, not believing anyone could fight so ferociously.

When Cao Cao heard of Dian Wei's death, he broke down in tears. He then ordered his men to steal Dian Wei's corpse back so that the warrior could be buried in his hometown. Henceafter, whenever Cao Cao passed by the tomb, he would stop to mourn Dian Wei. Cao Cao also made Dian Wei's son, Dian Man (典满), a commander major (司马) and kept him at his side. The son of Dian Wei. ...

Dian Wei in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Dian Wei, standing behind Cao Cao, in the 84-episode TV serial Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred during the Three Kingdoms period. Dian Wei, behind Cao Cao, in the 84_episode TV serial Romance of the Three Kingdoms This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Dian Wei, behind Cao Cao, in the 84_episode TV serial Romance of the Three Kingdoms This is a screenshot of a copyrighted movie or television program. ... Cao Cao (曹操; Pinyin: Cáo Cāo) (155 – 220), whose name is also often transliterated and should be correctly pronounced as Tsao Tsao, was a regional warlord and the last Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the last years of the Eastern Han... Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Simplified Chinese: 三国演义; Traditional Chinese: 三國演義; Pinyin: sānguó yǎnyì), written by Luó Guànzhōng in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based upon events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty, and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). ... Luo Guanzhong (Traditional Chinese: 羅貫中, Wade Giles: Lo Kuan-chung) was a 14th century Chinese author attributed with writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms and editing Outlaws of the Marsh, two of the most revered adventure epics in Chinese literature. ... The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ...

In the book, Dian Wei was introduced to Cao Cao by Xiahou Dun sometime in 193. According to Xiahou Dun, Dian Wei used to serve in Zhang Miao's camp. After killing dozens of comrades with his bare hands following a dispute, Dian Wei escaped to the hills. Xiahou Dun, while out hunting, found Dian Wei chasing a tiger across a stream and took the man into his own camp. Cao Cao (曹操; Pinyin: Cáo Cāo) (155 – 220), whose name is also often transliterated and should be correctly pronounced as Tsao Tsao, was a regional warlord and the last Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the last years of the Eastern Han... Xiahou Dun (? – 220) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and to make a clear distinction between fact and fiction, this article may require cleanup. ...

Cao Cao then asked Dian Wei to demonstrate his martial skills. Carrying his halberds, each of which weighed 40 jin, Dian Wei vaulted himself onto a horse and galloped to and fro. Then he saw a huge banner about to topple in the strong wind. A crowd of soldiers were struggling vainly to hold it up. Dian Wei dismounted and held the banner perfectly steady with just one hand.

Seeing this, Cao Cao exclaimed, "This is E Lai¹ from the ancient times!" Thus this fictional nickname of Dian Wei stuck with him, and he was henceforth known as "E Lai" Dian Wei.

¹ According to the Records of the Grand Historian, E Lai (恶来) was a very strong man who served under Di Xin of the Shang Dynasty. The Records of the Grand Historian or the Records of the Grand Historian of China (Chinese: 史記; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Shih-chi; literally Historical Records), written from 109 BCE to 91 BCE, was the magnum opus of Sima Qian, in which he recounted Chinese history from the time of the mythical... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Shāng Dynasty (Chinese: 商朝) or YÄ«n Dynasty (殷代) (ca. ...

References

• Chen Shou (2002). San Guo Zhi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80665-198-5.
• Luo Guanzhong (1986). San Guo Yan Yi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0.
• Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.

See also

• Three Kingdoms
• Personages of the Three Kingdoms
• Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Three Kingdoms in 262, on the eve of the conquest of Shu. ... The following is a list of personages significant to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. ... The Sānguó Zhì (Chinese 三国志, or 三國誌), variously translated as Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Records of the Three States and Records of the Three Kingdoms, was the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms Period compiled by Chen Shou during the Jin Dynasty (265-420). ... Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Simplified Chinese: 三国演义; Traditional Chinese: 三國演義; Pinyin: sānguó yǎnyì), written by Luó Guànzhōng in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based upon events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty, and the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). ...