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Dou Xian
Eastern Han consort kinsman and general, brother of Emperor Zhang's Empress Dou, who crushed the Northern Xiongnu in 89 CE and carved a victory inscription on Mount Yanran, and was later destroyed by Emperor He for his domination of the court.
At dusk on a hilltop, a large tent stands open with a table holding a map marked with small stones inside, a saddled horse tethered outside, and fire stands burning; campfires dot the river plain below, and one tiny sentry stands on the slope.
Also known as Zi Bodu
- Roles
- Commanders
Dou Xian, courtesy name Bodu, of Pingling in Fufeng, was an Eastern Han consort kinsman. His sister became Emperor Zhang's empress in 78 CE, and he rose to palace attendant and commander of the Rapid as Tigers guard. Under Emperor He, with his sister ruling as dowager, he was condemned for murdering the Marquis Liu Chang and asked to redeem himself against the Northern Xiongnu. In 89 CE, as General of Chariots and Cavalry, he routed them at Mount Jiluo and had Ban Gu compose an inscription carved on Mount Yanran, and was made Grand General. In 92 CE Emperor He and the eunuch Zheng Zhong stripped him of his seals and forced him to kill himself. His biography is appended to that of Dou Rong in the Hou Hanshu.
Life and times
Dates Birth unknown–92 CE