Ma Dai
Ma Dai | |
|---|---|
| Mã đại | |
 AQing dynastyillustration of Ma Dai | |
| General Who Pacifies the North ( bình bắc tương quân ) | |
| In office ?–? | |
| Monarch | Liu Shan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | Unknown |
| Relatives | Ma Teng(uncle) Ma Chao(cousin) |
| Occupation | Military general |
| Peerage | Marquis of Chencang ( trần thương hầu ) |
Ma Dai() (fl.222–235) was a Chinese military general of the state ofShu Handuring theThree Kingdomsperiod of China. He previously served under his uncleMa Teng,a warlord in northwestern China, during the lateEastern Han dynasty.After Ma Teng's death, he followed his cousinMa Chao(Ma Teng's eldest son) and they joined the warlordZhang LuinHanzhongfor a short period of time. Ma Chao later defected to another warlordLiu Bei,and Ma Dai accompanied him. Ma Dai served under Liu Bei and later in the state of Shu Han (founded by Liu Bei).
Not much information on Ma Dai is found in historical records. It is known that in 234, he participated in the fifthNorthern Expeditionled by Shu'schancellorZhuge Liangto attack the Shu's rival stateCao Wei.Ma Dai was also credited with slaying the Shu generalWei Yan,who was alleged to have turned against Shu after the death of Zhuge Liang.
Life
[edit]Ma Dai was a younger cousin ofMa Chao.He does not have a biography in theRecords of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguozhi), the authoritative source for the history of theThree Kingdomsperiod; he is mentioned occasionally in the biographies of other people such asMa ChaoandWei Yan.He is first mentioned in Ma Chao's biography in a letter written by Ma Chao toLiu Beibefore his death. Ma Chao wrote: "Over 200 members of my family were killed byCao Cao.I only have my cousin Ma Dai left with me. He will be the one to continue my family line. I entrust him to Your Majesty's care. That is all I have to say. "[1]Ma Dai served in the state ofShu Hanas a military general. The highest position he attained was "General Who Pacifies the North" ( bình bắc tương quân ). He was also enfeoffed as the "Marquis of Chencang" ( trần thương hầu ).[2]
Ma Dai is mentioned inWei Yan's biography. In 234, when conflict broke out betweenYang Yiand Wei Yan afterZhuge Liang's death, Yang Yi ordered Ma Dai to attack Wei Yan. Ma Dai caught up with Wei Yan while the latter was fleeing towardsHanzhong,decapitated him, brought his head back, and threw it in front of Yang Yi.[3]
Ma Dai is also briefly mentioned inSima Yi's biography in theBook of Jin.In 235, he led Shu forces to attack Shu's rival state,Cao Wei,but was defeated and driven back by the Wei generalNiu Jin.He lost about 1,000 troops in battle.[4]
InRomance of the Three Kingdoms
[edit]
Ma Dai is a character in the 14th-century historical novelRomance of the Three Kingdoms,which romanticises the historical events and figures of the lateEastern Han dynastyandThree Kingdomsperiod. In the novel, he followsMa Tengto the capital on a summon fromCao Cao,and survives when Ma Teng and his sons are killed by Cao Cao's men in a trap. He joins his cousinMa Chaoin theBattle of Tong Passagainst Cao Cao, and accompanies Ma Chao when the latter is defeated and has to seek refuge underZhang LuofHanzhong.He follows Ma Chao and comes to serveLiu Beiwhen his cousin defects to Liu Bei's side during thetakeoverofYi Province.[5]Ma Dai participates actively insouthern campaignagainst theNanmanand theNorthern Expeditionsagainst the rival state ofCao Wei.AfterZhuge Liang's death, the Shu generalWei Yanrebels, and Ma Dai pretends to support him but kills him later.[6]
In popular culture
[edit]Ma is sometimes venerated as adoor godinChineseandTaoist templesinHebei,usually in partnership withMa Chao.
Ma Dai is first introduced as a playable character in theseventh instalmentofKoei'sDynasty Warriorsvideo game series. He is characterized as Ma Chao's elder brother and keeper in the games. He, along with the rest of theXiliangwarriors of the time, appear alongside a unique cavalry unit in any level they are present, a reference to theMaclan's namesake horsemanship.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^( lâm một thượng sơ viết: “Thần môn tông nhị bách dư khẩu, vi mạnh đức sở tru lược tẫn, duy hữu tòng đệ đại, đương vi vi tông huyết thực chi kế, thâm thác bệ hạ, dư vô phục ngôn.” )Sanguozhivol. 36.
- ^( đại vị chí bình bắc tương quân, tiến tước trần thương hầu. )Sanguozhivol. 36.
- ^( diên độc dữ kỳ tử sổ nhân đào vong, bôn hán trung. Nghi khiển mã đại truy trảm chi, trí thủ ô nghi,...)Sanguozhivol. 40.
- ^( tam niên, thiên thái úy, luy tăng phong ấp. Thục tương mã đại nhập khấu, đế khiển tương quân ngưu kim kích tẩu chi, trảm thiên dư cấp. )Jin Shuvol. 1.
- ^Sanguo Yanyich. 58–59.
- ^Sanguo Yanyich. 105.
Bibliography
[edit]- Chen, Shou(3rd century).Records of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguozhi).
- Fang, Xuanling(648).Book of Jin(Jin Shu).
- Luo, Guanzhong(14th century).Romance of the Three Kingdoms(Sanguo Yanyi).