Chen Dao, 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...

 Shuzhi (叔至), was a military general serving under the warlord 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...

 during the late Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

 and 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...

.

Biography

Chen Dao first served Liu Bei as his aide-de-camp when the latter proclaimed himself to be the Governor of Yu Province". He then followed Liu Bei and fought numerous battles across the land; after the pacification of Yi Province and Liu Bei's ascension to the throne, Chen Dao was particularly authorized to command the "white-eared (or white-feathered)" unit, which was responsible for the emperor's personal safety. Chen Dao assisted Liu Bei's escape to Baidicheng (former name of Yong'an) after the disastrous Battle of Xiaoting

Battle of Xiaoting

The Battle of Xiaoting, also known as the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Yiling and Xiaoting, was fought between the states of Eastern Wu and Shu Han in 222 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...

. When Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....

 became the regent, Chen Dao was made Protector-of-the-Army, but was placed under the co-regent Li Yan to be stationed in Yong'an in anticipation of a potential invasion from the eastern warlord, Sun Quan

Sun Quan

Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....

.

Zhuge Liang was preparing a full-scale assault on the rival state 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...

 between 223 to 226, and a human resource reallocation was carried out in order to solidify his hegemonic position within Shu Han. A few officials were demoted, but Chen Dao was one of the several officers who received a promotion - he was made the General Who Attacks the West, and replaced his supposed supervisor Li Yan as the new commander of Yong'an.

Chen Dao was reputed by Yang Xi (楊戲) to be comparable to Zhao Yun

Zhao Yun

Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...

 in loyalty in an official memorial after his death. He was also praised by the Jin Dynasty historian Chen Shou

Chen Shou

Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...

 as a brave warrior whose fame was next to Zhao Yun's.

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...

, the character of Zhao Yun

Zhao Yun

Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...

sufficiently represents both Zhao and Chen Dao's historical image, so the latter was omitted in the novel.

Appointments and titles held

• Area Commander of Yong'an (永安都督)
• General Who Attacks the West (征西將軍)
• Marquis (亭侯)
• Central Protector of the Army (中護軍)