Dou Kang
Encyclopedia
Dou Kang (died 621), courtesy name Daosheng (道生), was an official and general during the Chinese
dynasties Sui Dynasty
and Tang Dynasty
who briefly served as a chancellor early in the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang
.
. As the emperor's nephew, Dou Kang was treated well by Emperor Wen, and was a student at the imperial university in his youth. He also became a guard for Emperor Wen.
, Shaanxi
). Before his departing the capital Chang'an
to report to Liang Province, Emperor Wen personally visited Dou Kang and Princess Ancheng. Later, when Princess Ancheng died, Dou Kang was said to be in much distress in mourning that he fainted several times, and Emperor Wen sent his servants to comfort Dou Kang. Thereafter, Emperor Wen recalled him to governmental service as the governor of Qi Province (岐州, roughly modern Baoji
, Shaanxi
), and then as the commandant at You Province (幽州, roughly modern Beijing
). Dou developed a reputation for being generous and merciful, during these terms of service.
In 604, Emperor Wen died—a death that traditional historians generally believe to be a murder ordered by his son and crown prince
Yang Guang
, although they admitted a lack of direct evidence. Yang Guang took the throne as Emperor Yang. Immediately thereafter, another son of Emperor Wen, Yang Liang
the Prince of Han, rebelled against Emperor Yang at Bing Province (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
). Emperor Yang, for reasons not stated in historical accounts, suspected Dou of collaborating with Yang Liang and sent the general Li Zixiong (李子雄) rushing to You Province to arrest Dou and replace him. Li subsequently alleged that Dou had received letters from Yang Liang urging him to join the rebellion but had not reported them to Emperor Yang. However, after an investigation, Emperor Yang concluded that there was a lack of evidence that Dou collaborated with Yang Liang, but nevertheless removed him from governmental service and further stripped him of the title of Duke of Chen, bestowing that title on his younger brother Dou Qing (竇慶) instead.
Dou Kang was friendly with another general, Li Yuan
the Duke of Tang, the husband of a cousin of his. During the rebellion of the general Yang Xuangan
in 613, when Li Yuan was commissioned with an army, it was said that Dou told Li,
Li responded, "I will not be the start of a rebellion. Why do you speak in such daring terms?" Nevertheless, he kept Dou's suggestion in mind.
Toward the end of Emperor Yang's reign, Dou was commissioned with an army at Lingwu to secure the northern border. After Li Yuan rebelled against Emperor Yang in 617 and subsequently captured Chang'an, declaring Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You
the Prince of Dai emperor (as Emperor Gong), Dou submitted to him in spring 618, along with the several commanderies he controlled in the region.
, Jiangsu
) led by the general Yuwen Huaji
. When the news reached Chang'an, Li Yuan had Emperor Gong yield the throne to him, establishing Tang Dynasty
as its Emperor Gaozu. Dou Kang, who was then the minister of engineering, was given the additional title of Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau of the government and a post considered to be one for a chancellor. He often attended Emperor Gaozu in the palace. Emperor Gaozu referred to him as "brother," and within the palace, he was referred to as "uncle."
In winter 618, Dou Kang was no longer Nayan, and was made a general. He soon assisted Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin
the Prince of Qin in defeating a major enemy, Xue Rengao
the Emperor of Qin. In 621, he also assisted Li Shimin in attacking Wang Shichong
the Emperor of Zheng, and after Wang surrendered, nine officials were particularly honored at the imperial ancestors' temple, among them were Dou Kang and his cousin Dou Gui (竇軌); he was also given much material rewards. Later that year, during an imperial feast, Dou Kang died suddenly.
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...
dynasties Sui Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
and Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
who briefly served as a chancellor early in the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
.
Background
It is not known when Dou Kang was born. His father was Dou Rongding (竇榮定), who carried the Sui title of Duke of Chen. His mother was the Princess Ancheng, sister to Sui Dynasty's founder Emperor WenEmperor Wen of Sui
Emperor Wen of Sui — personal name Yang Jian , Xianbei name Puliuru Jian , nickname Naluoyan — was the founder and first emperor of China's Sui Dynasty . He was a hard-working administrator and a micromanager. As a Buddhist, he encouraged the spread of Buddhism through the state...
. As the emperor's nephew, Dou Kang was treated well by Emperor Wen, and was a student at the imperial university in his youth. He also became a guard for Emperor Wen.
During Sui Dynasty
After Dou Rongding died in 586, Dou Kang inherited the title of Duke of Chen. He was then made the governor of Liang Province (梁州, roughly modern HanzhongHanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
). Before his departing the capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to report to Liang Province, Emperor Wen personally visited Dou Kang and Princess Ancheng. Later, when Princess Ancheng died, Dou Kang was said to be in much distress in mourning that he fainted several times, and Emperor Wen sent his servants to comfort Dou Kang. Thereafter, Emperor Wen recalled him to governmental service as the governor of Qi Province (岐州, roughly modern Baoji
Baoji
Baoji is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi province, China.-Geography:The prefecture-level city of Baoji has a population of 3,716,731 according to the 2010 Chinese census, inhabiting an area of . The city itself has a population of approximately 800,000. Surrounded on three sides by hills,...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), and then as the commandant at You Province (幽州, roughly modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
). Dou developed a reputation for being generous and merciful, during these terms of service.
In 604, Emperor Wen died—a death that traditional historians generally believe to be a murder ordered by his son and crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Yang Guang
Emperor Yang of Sui
Emperor Yang of Sui , personal name Yang Guang , alternative name Ying , nickname Amo , known as Emperor Ming during the brief reign of his grandson Yang Tong), was the second son of Emperor Wen of Sui, and the second emperor of China's Sui Dynasty.Emperor Yang's original name was Yang Ying, but...
, although they admitted a lack of direct evidence. Yang Guang took the throne as Emperor Yang. Immediately thereafter, another son of Emperor Wen, Yang Liang
Yang Liang
Yang Liang -- courtesy name Dezhang , alternative name Jie , nickname Yiqian -- was an imperial prince of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. He was a son of Emperor Wen and his wife Empress Dugu Qieluo, who, during his father's reign, controlled the region north of the Yellow River...
the Prince of Han, rebelled against Emperor Yang at Bing Province (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
). Emperor Yang, for reasons not stated in historical accounts, suspected Dou of collaborating with Yang Liang and sent the general Li Zixiong (李子雄) rushing to You Province to arrest Dou and replace him. Li subsequently alleged that Dou had received letters from Yang Liang urging him to join the rebellion but had not reported them to Emperor Yang. However, after an investigation, Emperor Yang concluded that there was a lack of evidence that Dou collaborated with Yang Liang, but nevertheless removed him from governmental service and further stripped him of the title of Duke of Chen, bestowing that title on his younger brother Dou Qing (竇慶) instead.
Dou Kang was friendly with another general, Li Yuan
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
the Duke of Tang, the husband of a cousin of his. During the rebellion of the general Yang Xuangan
Yang Xuangan
Yang Xuangan was an official of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty. He was the son of the powerful official Yang Su, and, as he knew that Emperor Yang was apprehensive of his father, was never quite secure. In 613, when Emperor Yang was attacking Goguryeo, he rebelled near the eastern capital...
in 613, when Li Yuan was commissioned with an army, it was said that Dou told Li,
- Is it not that Yang Xuangan is providing you with an opportunity? The prophecies refer to the Li clan as the originator of the next emperor, and you can use this opportunity. This is a divine revelation.
Li responded, "I will not be the start of a rebellion. Why do you speak in such daring terms?" Nevertheless, he kept Dou's suggestion in mind.
Toward the end of Emperor Yang's reign, Dou was commissioned with an army at Lingwu to secure the northern border. After Li Yuan rebelled against Emperor Yang in 617 and subsequently captured Chang'an, declaring Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You
Emperor Gong of Sui
Emperor Gong of Sui , personal name Yang You , was an emperor of the Chinese Sui Dynasty. Traditionally, he was considered the last emperor of the dynasty because he was the one who formally yielded the throne to the founding emperor to the succeeding Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu of Tang ,...
the Prince of Dai emperor (as Emperor Gong), Dou submitted to him in spring 618, along with the several commanderies he controlled in the region.
During Tang Dynasty
Soon thereafter, Emperor Yang was killed in a coup at Jiangdu (江都, in modern YangzhouYangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
) led by the general Yuwen Huaji
Yuwen Huaji
Yuwen Huaji was a general of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty who, in 618, led a coup against Emperor Yang of Sui, killing him. He subsequently declared Emperor Yang's nephew Yang Hao led Emperor Yang's elite Xiaoguo Army north, but was then repeatedly defeated by Li Mi, Li Shentong , and...
. When the news reached Chang'an, Li Yuan had Emperor Gong yield the throne to him, establishing Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
as its Emperor Gaozu. Dou Kang, who was then the minister of engineering, was given the additional title of Nayan (納言), the head of the examination bureau of the government and a post considered to be one for a chancellor. He often attended Emperor Gaozu in the palace. Emperor Gaozu referred to him as "brother," and within the palace, he was referred to as "uncle."
In winter 618, Dou Kang was no longer Nayan, and was made a general. He soon assisted Emperor Gaozu's son Li Shimin
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
the Prince of Qin in defeating a major enemy, Xue Rengao
Xue Rengao
Xue Rengao , also known as Xue Renguo , was an emperor of the short-lived state of Qin, established by his father Xue Ju at the end of the Chinese dynasty Sui Dynasty...
the Emperor of Qin. In 621, he also assisted Li Shimin in attacking Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong , courtesy name Xingman , was a general of the Chinese Sui Dynasty who deposed Sui's last emperor Yang Tong and briefly ruled as the emperor of a succeeding state of Zheng...
the Emperor of Zheng, and after Wang surrendered, nine officials were particularly honored at the imperial ancestors' temple, among them were Dou Kang and his cousin Dou Gui (竇軌); he was also given much material rewards. Later that year, during an imperial feast, Dou Kang died suddenly.