Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · General

Yuan Ding 元定

Attested AD 568 - AD 572

Passages: 7
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Yuan Ding was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 568 to AD 569 及華皎來附
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 39, passages 282-283
AD 572 武帝建德初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Zhou 39, passages 314, 316

Career and standing

Changhu Duke 長湖公
Held
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passage 314
Entered
Captivity
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passages 301, 314

Places and affiliations

Polity Northern Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passage 282

Events and relationships

Captured
Military · Prisoner
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passage 301
Defeated by Chen
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passage 283
Relieved
Military · Commander · With Hua Jiao (華皎)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passage 282

Assessments and attributes

Assessment failed in command, saved himself, and did not die loyal · Mode named-person-speech Speaker Du Gao (杜杲)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 39, passage 317

References in the histories

Book of Zhou, Chapter 39Volume 39 Biographies 31: Wei Zhen; Liang Xin; Huang Fufan; Xin Qingzhi; Wang Zizhi; Du Gao · 7 passages

及華皎來附，詔令衛公直督元定等援之。 When Hua Jiao defected to Zhou, an edict ordered Duke of Wei Yuwen Zhi to lead Yuan Ding and others to his aid.

與陳人交戰，我師不利，元定等竝沒。 In fighting Chen, Zhou forces fared badly and Yuan Ding and his men were destroyed.

衛公共元定渡江，敦云非怨。 yet Duke of Wei Yuwen Zhi crossed the Yangzi with Yuan Ding — and you insist there was no ill will.

杲曰：「元定等兵敗身囚，其怨已滅。 Du Gao said, "Yuan Ding and his men had been defeated and captured, so any score against them was already settled.

陳宣帝謂杲曰：「長湖公軍人等雖築館處之，然恐不能無北風之戀。 Emperor Xuandi of Chen told Du Gao: "Though Changhu Duke's soldiers are lodged comfortably, I suppose they must still long for the north.

杲揣陳宣意，欲以元定軍將士易王褒等。 Du Gao perceived that the emperor meant to trade Yuan Ding's captured officers and men for Wang Bao and his fellow émigrés.

乃答之曰：「長湖總戎失律，臨難苟免，旣不死節，安用以為。 He answered: "Changhu failed in command and fled rather than die loyal — what use are such men?