China: Portrait of Dong Zhuo (- 22 May 192 CE), from a Qing Dynasty edition of 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', released as Zengxiang quantu Sanguo yanyi

Dong Zhuo (-22 May 192 CE0), courtesy name Zhongying, was a warlord of the late Eastern Han dynasty. After the death of Emperor Ling in 189 CE and a clash between court officials and a faction of eunuchs in the palace, Dong Zhuo took advantage of the chaos to seize control of the capital Luoyang. He subsequently deposed Emperor Shao and instated the emperor's brother instead, Emperor Xian.

An excessively cruel and tyrannical ruler, Dong Zhuo rose to great power in the Han imperial court, controlling Emperor Xian for a brief period of time. A coalition of regional warlords and officials united to try and overthrow Dong Zhuo, forcing him to move the capital to Chang'an (present day Xian).

Dong Zhuo was eventually assassinated in 192 CE by his foster son Lu Bu, in a plot orchestrated by Interior Minister Wang Yun. His cruelty and treacherous behaviour was accentuated further in historical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. The book also created a fictional love triangle between Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu and the song girl Diaochan, sent by Wang Yun to foster grief between Dong Zhuo and his foster son.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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