Ding Yi (Han dynasty)
Ding Yi | |
|---|---|
| 丁儀 | |
| Right Assistant Security Officer (右刺奸掾) | |
| In office ? – 220 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
| Chancellor | Cao Cao |
| Assistant Officer in the West Bureau (西曹掾) | |
| In office ?–? | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
| Chancellor | Cao Cao |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 220 |
| Relations | Ding Yì (brother) |
| Parent |
|
| Occupation | Official |
| Courtesy name | Zhengli (正禮) |
Ding Yi (died 220), courtesy name Zhengli, was an official serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Life
Ding Yi was from Pei State (沛國), which is around present-day Suixi County, Anhui. His father, Ding Chong (丁沖), was an old acquaintance of Cao Cao, the warlord who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead Emperor Xian from 196 to 220. Ding Chong served as the Colonel-Director of Retainers (司隸校尉) in Cao Cao's administration.
After Ding Chong's death, Cao Cao wanted to arrange for Ding Yi to marry one of his daughters, Princess Qinghe (清河公主). However, Cao Cao's eldest surviving son, Cao Pi, strongly opposed because Ding Yi had an eye disorder which affected his physical appearance and hence made him an unsuitable spouse for Princess Qinghe. Cao Pi then suggested to his father to let Princess Qinghe marry Xiahou Mao instead; Cao Cao agreed.
Ding Yi hated Cao Pi for spoiling his chance of becoming Cao Cao's son-in-law, so he grew determined to oppose Cao Pi. He became close to Cao Pi's younger brother Cao Zhi, who was Cao Pi's rival in a power struggle over the succession to their father's position as a vassal king under the Han Empire. Besides that, he intended some backbiting that cause the execution of Cui Yan[1], and the downfall of Mao Jie and Xu Yi. He Kui (何夔)，an officer that persisted to unbend the right under Ding Yi even advised by Fu Xun.[2]
Along with Yang Xiu and others, Ding Yi often sang praises of Cao Zhi in front of Cao Cao in the hope of helping Cao Zhi earn his father's favour. However, Cao Zhi ultimately lost to Cao Pi, whom Cao Cao officially designated as his heir apparent.
Cao Cao initially assigned Ding Yi to be an Assistant Officer in the West Bureau (西曹掾). After Cao Pi became the heir apparent, Ding Yi was reassigned to be a Right Assistant Security Officer (右刺奸掾). Cao Cao noted Ding Yi's literary talent and once regretted his decision to not have Ding Yi as a son-in-law. At a same time, Cao Pi ordered Ding Yi to suicide, but Ding Yi refused and entreated Xiahou Shang as mercy spokesperson with kowtowed, but Cao Pi refused even Xiahou Shang requested.[3]
In 220, following Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi inherited his father's position as a vassal king of Wei of the Han Empire, one of the first things he did after coming to power was to have Ding Yi and his entire family executed.[4]
Family
Ding Yi had a similarly named younger brother, Ding Yi (丁廙; Dīng Yì; note the different Chinese character for Yi), whose courtesy name was Jingli (敬禮).
See also
References
- ^ (武皇帝，至明也。崔琰、徐奕，一時清賢，皆以忠信顯於魏朝；丁儀間之，徐奕失位而崔琰被誅。) Fuzi’s annotation in Sanguozhi, vol.12.
- ^ （時丁儀兄弟方进寵，儀與夔不合。尚書傅巽謂夔曰：「儀不相好已甚，子友毛玠，玠等儀已害之矣。子宜少下之！」夔曰：「爲不義適足害其身，焉能害人？且怀奸佞之心，立於明朝，其得久乎！」）Wei Shu’s annotation in Sanguozhi, vol.12.
- ^ (及太子立，欲治儀罪，轉儀為右刺奸掾，欲儀自裁而儀不能。乃對中領軍夏侯尚叩頭求哀，尚為涕泣而不能救。後遂因職事收付獄，殺之。) Wei Lue’s annotation in Sanguozhi, vol.19.
- ^ Some records that wrote only the male member were all executed.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).