生平

早年經歷

夏侯淵為西漢太僕夏侯嬰之後，其夫人為曹操的妻妹。曹操在家鄉時曾受某案件的牽連，夏侯淵代其承擔，後得曹操營救才得以脫身。當時兗州、豫州大亂，夏侯淵因為飢荒，為撫養亡弟的孤女，拋棄了自己的幼子。

隨軍征討

曹操初起兵之時，夏侯淵便跟隨，任別部司馬、騎都尉，後又轉任陳留太守、潁川太守。

建安五年（200年），官渡之戰從征袁紹，行督軍校尉。袁紹被打敗後，被派到督運兗、豫、徐州的軍糧。當時軍中兵糧短缺，全靠夏侯淵及時周轉，軍勢才得以重振。

建安十一年（206年），昌豨反叛，曹操派于禁討伐，但沒有擊破。曹操便派夏侯淵前去相助，合力將亂事平定，降服十多屯，昌豨投降。夏侯淵回師後，被拜為典軍校尉。後來，濟南、樂安的黃巾軍徐和、司馬俱等攻城，殺死城中長吏，夏侯淵便與臧霸和呂虔率領泰山、齊、平原三郡的士兵討伐他們，大破敵軍，斬殺徐和，平定各縣，沒收食穀分與軍士。

五出平叛

建安十四年（209年），夏侯淵被任為行領軍。後曹操征伐孫權回師，夏侯淵被派去督領諸將攻擊廬江叛軍雷緒，將其擊潰。

建安十六年（211年）正月，太原商曜等據大陵叛，曹操以夏侯淵行征西護軍職，督徐晃擊之，攻落其二十餘座據點，斬其帥商曜，屠大陵城。三月，曹操命司隸校尉鐘繇討伐漢中張魯，使夏侯淵等率兵出河東，與鐘繇會合。八月，夏侯淵從曹操征討馬超、韓遂等部，雙方戰于渭南。十月，又都督徐晃、朱靈等平隃糜、汧氐，與曹操會于安定，楊秋投降。十二月，曹操自安定回軍，留夏侯淵駐守長安。

轉戰西涼

212年，曹操回到鄴城，以夏侯淵行護軍將軍，督朱靈、路招等屯兵長安，其間擊破南山賊劉雄，降服其軍。又圍韓遂、馬超的餘軍梁興於鄠，大破，斬殺梁興，被封為博昌亭侯。馬超又進圍涼州刺史韋康於冀，夏侯淵前往解救，還未到，韋康已被打敗。夏侯淵到達冀城二百餘里前，馬超來挑戰，夏侯軍不利。正值汧氐造反，夏侯淵引軍退還。213年，馬超到達漢陽，氐王千萬響應，馬軍屯兵興國。214年，趙衢、尹奉等密謀討伐馬超，姜敘便於鹵城起兵和應。趙衢等便遊說馬超出兵攻擊姜敘，馬超出城後，趙衢等便殺死馬超的妻、子。

急襲敵軍

馬超惟有投奔漢中，後又還軍圍攻祁山。姜敘等急向夏侯淵求救，諸將都認為須要曹操的指示，但夏侯淵卻認為：「公在鄴，反覆四千里，比報，敘等必敗，非救急也。（曹公在鄴城，來回有四千里路，如果一來一回地上報，姜敘必定敗陣，非救急事之理。）」遂領軍前去，並使張郃督步騎五千為前鋒，從陳倉狹道進軍，夏侯淵則親自督糧輜在後。張郃到達渭水上，馬超率氐、羌數千挑戰張郃。還未開戰，馬超已經敗走，張郃便進軍收拾馬超軍餘下的器械。夏侯淵到達時，各縣皆已投降。當時韓遂在顯親，夏侯淵想藉機襲取他，韓遂懼怕，留下糧食逃走。夏侯淵便收拾韓遂軍的糧食，一路追至略陽城，當離韓遂二十多里時，諸將都想儘快進攻，或是先攻興國的氐人。

不過，夏侯淵認為韓遂軍為精兵，興國城又堅固，就算進攻也不可拔城，不如先襲擊長離的各羌族。長離的各羌族多在韓遂軍中參軍，一定希望回軍救家。若果韓遂放棄守羌，必定孤軍作戰；但如果救長離，則必定和曹軍野戰，必定可以打敗他們。夏侯淵便留下督將駐守輜重，另派輕兵步騎進攻長離，攻擊、燒燬羌人的屯，斬獲許多人。韓遂軍中的羌人都一一回到自己部落。韓遂惟有出兵救助長離，與夏侯淵軍在陳對陣。夏侯淵軍中諸將見韓遂軍，對其十分厭惡，想要結營作塹與其作戰。但夏侯淵卻說：我展轉戰鬥千里，現今反而作營塹，士兵必定會感到疲勞睏乏，不可久戰。敵人雖多，烏合之眾而已。便鼓軍出擊，大破韓遂軍，得到其旌麾，還軍略陽，再進軍圍攻興國。氐王惟有逃奔到馬超處，其餘人都投降夏侯軍。之後再轉向攻擊高平屠各，全皆散走，逐收其糧穀牛馬。曹操更授夏侯淵假節。

虎步關右

之前，枹罕宋建乘涼州動亂，自號河首平漢王，割據涼州達三十年之久。曹操派夏侯淵統領諸將討伐宋建。夏侯淵軍至，圍攻枹罕，一個月多便成功攻克，斬殺宋建及所置丞相之下。夏侯淵又另派張郃等平定河關，渡河入小湟中，河西各羌部盡皆投降，逐平定隴右。曹操下令道：「宋建亂逆三十餘年，淵一舉滅之，虎步關右，所向無前。」216年，增封食邑三百戶，加上之前總計八百戶。

平定張魯

後還擊武都氐、羌，沒收氐族食穀十多萬斛。曹操西征張魯，夏侯淵等將涼州諸將降服，與曹操在休亭會面。曹操每次引見羌人、胡人，都帶同夏侯淵，羌、胡之人都甚懼怕夏侯淵。215年，張魯投降，漢中平定，命夏侯淵行都護將軍，督張郃、徐晃等平定巴郡。曹操還鄴城，留夏侯淵守漢中，被拜為征西將軍。

命喪漢中

218年，劉備進軍陽平關，依據地形，應當等待時機殲敵，雙方相持近一年。219年正月，劉備為打破戰局，從陽平南渡沔水沿山前進，並在定軍山依山立營。夏侯淵看見狀況，一時恃勇與張郃率兵攻打定軍山敵營，在走馬谷設營，夏侯淵命張郃守東圍，自己則率輕兵守南圍。劉備相繼使用黃權與法正的計謀，攻打守東圍的張郃軍，張郃雖然沒有丟失據點但已陷入苦戰；夏侯淵遂分一半兵前往東圍幫助張郃。劉備眼看無法攻破張郃，于是聽取黃權的計謀，夜燒夏侯淵大營15里之外的鹿角（狀似鹿角的拒馬），為此夏侯淵帶領400親兵前去修補鹿角和滅火，法正見夏侯淵孤立，立命蜀將黃忠居高臨下發動急擊，夏侯淵派軍隊前去迎擊，黃忠軍卻直接繞到夏侯淵身後襲殺夏侯淵，而夏侯淵的親兵回到大營才發現夏侯淵並沒有一同歸來。死後追諡為愍侯。

曹操事後悲嘆道：「夏侯淵本來就不善於規畫將士勤務，而被軍中稱為『白地將軍』，而今身為主帥不去前線督軍作戰，反而選擇幹修補鹿角這等小事！」

並在聽聞了法正的計策後說：「憑劉玄德定無此能耐，果然有人為他獻策。」

劉備大將張飛的妻子是夏侯淵的侄女，在她請求下，夏侯淵得到收葬。

人物

夏侯淵作戰勇猛，與其族兄夏侯惇一樣剛烈重義。其勇名號稱「虎步關右，所向無前」，尤善奇襲，曾數次力排眾議繞遠路突襲敵人後方均收奇效，但恃勇無謀，又常處理主帥不該管的小事情，故軍中呼其為「白地將軍」（不善用兵的將軍）。曹操為此常告誡他：「為將當有怯弱時，不可但恃勇也。將當以勇為本，行之以智計；但知任勇，一匹夫敵耳」，但自恃一身軍功的夏侯淵始終當耳邊風，終為劉備大將黃忠擊殺。

夏侯淵對士兵、下屬很好，當打敗敵人後，都會將軍糧分發給缺糧的軍士，令軍心重新振作。為人也極重義氣，曹操年少時在家鄉犯了案，夏侯淵為他頂罪，後來曹操把他拯救出來才免於難。又有一年饑荒，他放棄了自己親生兒子，而為了養活死去弟弟的孤女。

家庭

• 先祖

　• 夏侯嬰

• 族兄

　• 夏侯惇

• 妻

　• 或為丁氏，史書僅稱「太祖內妹」，即曹操內人之妹。

• 子女

　• 夏侯衡，夏侯淵長子，受曹家恩寵。承襲夏侯淵爵位，再轉封安寧亭侯。其妻為曹操弟海陽哀侯之女。

　• 夏侯霸，字仲權，夏侯淵次子，本為護軍右將軍，受曹爽重用，高平陵之變時曹爽被司馬懿所殺，夏侯霸怕被牽連，只好投奔蜀漢。

　• 夏侯稱，字叔權，夏侯淵三子，有軍事才能，十六歲時射殺過老虎，曹操十分喜歡他，與曹丕也有交情，但十八歲便死去。

　• 夏侯威，字季權，夏侯淵四子，歷任荊、兗二州刺史，四十九歲卒。

　• 夏侯榮，字幼權，夏侯淵五子，少而有才，七歲而能寫文章、讀經學，過目不忘，曹丕也為之驚奇。十三歲時，與父在漢中，當夏侯淵被打敗時，奮而拔劍出戰，陣亡。

　• 夏侯惠，字稚權，夏侯淵六子，少而有才，善於奏議，多次與鍾毓有辯論，歷任散騎黃門侍郎、燕相、樂安太守，三十七歲卒。

　• 夏侯和，字義權，夏侯淵七子，有辯才。歷任河南尹、太常。

　• 還有一子，時逢飢荒，夏侯淵為照顧亡弟女兒而被拋棄。

• 侄

　• 夏侯氏(夏侯涓)，夏侯淵侄女，十三四歲時，出城砍柴，被張飛所得，張飛知她是良家女子，便納為夫人。

　• 夏侯尚，夏侯淵侄子，征南大將軍，荊州牧，其女為司馬師元配夏侯徽。

　• 夏侯儒，曹魏太僕。

• 孫

　• 夏侯績，夏侯衡之子，任虎賁中郎將。

　• 夏侯駿，夏侯威長子，任并州刺史。

　• 夏侯莊，夏侯威次子，其妻為司馬師繼室羊徽瑜的堂妹，夏侯家族盛極一時。任淮南太守。

　• 夏侯玄，曹魏太常

　• 夏侯霸之子，夏侯霸投蜀漢後被流放到樂浪郡。

　• 夏侯氏，夏侯霸之女，羊祜妻。

• 曾孫

　• 夏侯褒，夏侯績之子。

　• 夏侯湛，夏侯莊之子，博於文章，歷任南陽相、散騎常侍。

　• 夏侯淳，夏侯莊之子，官至弋陽太守。

　• 夏侯光姬，夏侯莊之女，西晉琅琊王司馬覲的王妃，晉元帝司馬睿母。

　• 夏侯氏，夏侯莊之女，王覽四子王正的妻子，王曠、王廙、王彬母。

• 玄孫

　• 夏侯承，夏侯淳之子，隨晉室南渡，官至散騎常侍。

評價

陳壽之三國志評曰：「夏侯、曹氏，世為婚姻，故惇、淵、仁、洪、休、尚、真等並以親舊肺腑，貴重於時，左右勳業，咸有效勞。」

軍中士卒：「典軍校尉夏侯淵，三日五百，六日一千。」

曹操：「宋建造為亂逆三十餘年，淵一舉滅之，虎步關右，所向無前。仲尼有言：『吾于爾不如也。』」「淵本非能用兵也，軍中呼為『白地將軍』，為督帥尚不當親戰，況補鹿角乎！」「為將當有怯弱時，不可但恃勇也。將當以勇為本，行之以智計；但知任勇，一匹夫敵耳。」

劉備：「當得其魁，用此何為邪！」（要殺就該殺張郃，只殺到夏侯淵根本沒什麼用！）

羅璧：「魏夏侯淵長於設變，短於總眾爾。」

王沈：「淵為將，赴急疾，常出敵之不意。」

夏侯湛：「皇曾祖愍侯，寅亮魏祖，用康乂厥世，遂啟土宇，以大綜厥勛于家。」

范浚：「夏侯淵戰雖屢勝，魏武常戒之曰：『為將當有怯弱時，不可但恃勇也。』然則忠勇而不知怯者，又當戒以輕敵。」

王歆：「百戰漢中，終不能全，是時勢使然，非郃之過。然備『當得其魁』云云，料貶抑黃忠，而獨高張飛意，不可盡信。淵之用兵，不在郃下。」

民間藝術

影視形象

• 1994年電視劇《三國演義》：錢玉林飾演夏侯淵，日語聲優為立木文彥。

• 2002年《洛神》：李家鼎飾演夏侯淵

• 2010年《三國》：李奇龍飾演夏侯淵

• 2013年電視劇《曹操》：王釗飾演夏侯淵

• 2017年電視劇《軍師聯盟》：羅愛新飾演夏侯淵

戲劇

中國傳統戲曲中夏侯淵的角色，白底勾黑膛破臉，通天紋勾長「壽」字，顯得鼻梁突起，可使人物形象更雄壯。另有以歪碎花臉，出現於《定軍山》一劇。

動漫遊戲

• 真三國無雙

• 三國演義

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）

注釋

Early life and career

Xiahou Yuan was from Qiao County (譙縣), Pei State (沛國), which is in present-day Bozhou, Anhui. He was a younger cousin of Xiahou Dun and a descendant of Xiahou Ying, who served under the Han dynasty's founding emperor, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao). He once helped Cao Cao shoulder the blame when Cao committed a serious offence. Cao Cao later saved him. When a famine broke out in Yan and Yu provinces, Xiahou Yuan and his family were adversely affected. He decided to sacrifice his youngest son in favour of his deceased younger brother's orphaned daughter.

In 190, when Cao Cao was raising an army to join the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Xiahou Yuan joined Cao and served as a Major of Separate Command (別部司馬) and Cavalry Commandant (騎都尉) under Cao. He was subsequently appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Chenliu (陳留; around present-day Kaifeng, Henan) and Yingchuan (潁川; in present-day central Henan) commanderies.

Mid career

In 200, when Cao Cao clashed with his rival Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu, Xiahou Yuan was appointed acting Colonel Who Inspects the Army (督軍校尉). After Cao Cao's victory over Yuan Shao, Xiahou Yuan was put in charge of overseeing the transport of provisions from Yan, Yu and Xu provinces to Cao Cao's armies at the frontline in northern China. Cao Cao's forces were lacking food supplies at that time, but Xiahou Yuan was able to deliver the supplies in time and this helped to boost the army's morale.

In 206, Chang Xi (昌狶) started a rebellion, so Cao Cao sent Yu Jin to lead an army to suppress the revolt. Yu Jin was unsuccessful, so Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Yuan to join Yu Jin in a second expedition against Chang Xi. They defeated the rebels this time and captured over 10 enemy garrisons while Chang Xi surrendered to Yu Jin. Xiahou Yuan was appointed Colonel Who Arranges the Army (典軍校尉) after his success. Xiahou Yuan was known for the swift movements of his units in battle, and he often took his enemies by surprise. There was a saying in Cao Cao's army to describe this: "Xiahou Yuan, the Colonel Who Arranges the Army, travels 500 li in three days and 1,000 li in six days."

In 207, Yellow Turban rebels in Jinan (濟南; near present-day Zhangqiu, Shandong) and Le'an (樂安; in present-day Shandong), led by Xu He (徐和) and Sima Ju (司馬俱), attacked cities and killed officials. Xiahou Yuan led military forces from Taishan (泰山; near Mount Tai), Qi and Pingyuan commanderies to attack the rebels. He defeated them, killed Xu He, and pacified the various counties in the region. He also collected the enemy's food supplies and distributed them among his own troops.

In 209, after Cao Cao returned from his defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs against the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei, he ordered Xiahou Yuan to lead an assault on Lei Xu (雷緒), who had started a revolt in Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡; in present-day Hefei, Anhui). After defeating Lei Xu, Xiahou Yuan was appointed acting Protector-General Who Attacks the West (征西護軍) and ordered to lead troops together with Xu Huang to attack rebels in Taiyuan Commandery (太原郡; in present-day Shanxi). They conquered over 20 enemy camps, killed the rebel chief Shang Yao (商曜), and massacred the population in the rebel base.

Campaigns in western China

In 211, Xiahou Yuan participated in the Battle of Tong Pass on Cao Cao's side against a coalition of western warlords led by Han Sui and Ma Chao, in which Cao emerged victorious against the coalition. He and Zhu Ling later led a separate force to pacify the Di tribes in Yumi (隃糜) and Qian (汧) counties. Following that, he rendezvoused with Cao Cao's main force in Anding Commandery (安定郡; covering parts of present-day Ningxia and Gansu), where they forced Yang Qiu, an ally of Han Sui and Ma Chao, to surrender.

In 212, Cao Cao returned to Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei), leaving behind Xiahou Yuan, Zhu Ling and Lu Zhao (路招) to garrison in Chang'an. Xiahou Yuan held the appointment of acting General Who Protects the Army (護軍將軍) at the time. He defeated a group of bandits led by Liu Xiong (劉雄) in Nanshan (南山) and forced them to surrender. He also besieged Liang Xing (梁興; an ally of Han Sui and Ma Chao) in Hu County (鄠縣) and defeated and killed Liang Xing. In recognition of his contributions, the Han imperial court enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Bochang Village (博昌亭侯).

In 213, Ma Chao besieged Wei Kang, the Inspector (刺史) of Liang Province, in the provincial capital Ji (兾; or Jicheng, in present-day Gangu County, Gansu). Xiahou Yuan wanted to lead reinforcements to help Wei Kang but arrived too late as Ji had already fallen to Ma Chao. Xiahou Yuan and his army had travelled more than 200 li on their way to Ji when they fell into an ambush set up by Ma Chao. Xiahou Yuan lost the battle and decided to withdraw his troops when he heard that the Di tribes in Qian County (汧縣) had started a rebellion.

In 214, Zhao Qu (趙衢), Yin Feng (尹奉) and several others, who were forced to submit to Ma Chao after he seized control of Liang Province, secretly plotted to drive Ma Chao out of the province. Jiang Xu started a revolt in Lu (鹵; or Lucheng, in present-day Li County, Gansu) to lure Ma Chao to attack him, while Zhao Qu and the others pretended to urge Ma Chao to lead his troops to Lu to suppress the revolt. Ma Chao fell for the ruse. Soon after he left Ji, Zhao Qu and the others turned against him and killed his wife and child(ren). At the same time, Ma Chao also failed to recapture Lu from Jiang Xu, so he became stranded.

Ma Chao retreated to Hanzhong Commandery, where he borrowed troops from the warlord Zhang Lu and returned to attack Jiang Xu and his allies at Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu). Jiang Xu sent a messenger to Chang'an to request for reinforcements. Xiahou Yuan and the officers in Chang'an held a meeting on whether to help Jiang Xu and his allies or not. Many of the officers thought that they should wait for orders from Cao Cao before making any move. However, Xiahou Yuan had a different opinion and he said, "Our lord is 4,000 li away in Ye. By the time he receives our report, Jiang Xu and his allies are done for. Therefore, it is imperative that we send reinforcements to them immediately." He appointed Zhang He to lead 5,000 infantry and cavalry as the vanguard and head towards Mount Qi via a narrow pass at Chencang (陳倉; present-day Chencang District, Baoji, Shaanxi), while he supervised the supply train and followed behind with another army. When Zhang He's 5,000 strong army reached the Wei River, Ma Chao initially sent a few thousand Di and Qiang horsemen to resist the enemy, but later called for a retreat before both sides could engage in battle. Zhang He advanced further and seized the military equipment left behind by Ma Chao's forces. When Xiahou Yuan's army arrived, most of the counties in Liang Province had been pacified.

After the victory, Xiahou Yuan prepared for an offensive against Ma Chao's ally Han Sui, who retreated when he heard of Xiahou Yuan's approach. Xiahou Yuan captured Han Sui's food supplies and pursued him to Lueyang County. Han Sui had set up a base some 20 li away from Xiahou Yuan's position, so Xiahou Yuan's subordinates urged their general to attack either Han Sui or the Di tribes in Xingguo (興國; northeast of present-day Qin'an County, Gansu). Xiahou Yuan chose neither of the two options as he knew that Han Sui's troops were well-prepared for battle and that Xingguo's fortifications were strong. Instead, he planned to attack the Qiang tribes in Changli (長離; along the Hulu River, Gansu). He pointed out that many of Han Sui's soldiers were Qiang tribesmen from Changli, so they would return to save their home if they heard that Changli was under attack. If Han Sui's troops decided to hold their current position, they would be isolated; if they came to defend Changli, Xiahou Yuan's forces would be able to engage them in battle. Xiahou Yuan then ordered his subordinates to guard their supplies and heavy equipment while he led a unit of lightly armed infantry and cavalry to raid Changli, burning down many Qiang camps and killing many people. As Xiahou Yuan expected, the Qiang tribesmen in Han Sui's army returned to Changli and encountered Xiahou Yuan's army. Xiahou Yuan's men were fearful when they saw Han Sui's larger army, so they proposed setting up camps and defensive structures before fighting the enemy. However, Xiahou Yuan said, "We've travelled over a long distance. Our troops will be worn out by the time they finish erecting these defensive structures, and won't have energy left to fight the enemy. The enemy may have superiority in numbers but they are easy to deal with." He then launched an attack on Han Sui's forces and scored a major victory over the enemy, capturing their flags and banners. After that, he returned to Lueyang County and laid siege on Xingguo. The Di chieftains in Xingguo fled to join Ma Chao while the others surrendered. Xiahou Yuan also attacked some Xiongnu encampments at Gaoping (高平; in present-day Guyuan, Ningxia), drove the Xiongnu away, and captured their supplies and livestock. The Han imperial court authorised him to oversee the affairs in the region.

During the Liang Province Rebellion in the 180s, a rebel chief Song Jian (宋建) declared himself "King of the River Source Who Pacifies Han" (河首平漢王) in Fuhan County (枹罕縣; around present-day Linxia, Gansu). After Xiahou Yuan pacified Liang Province, Cao Cao ordered him to attack Song Jian. Xiahou Yuan besieged Fuhan, conquered the county within months, and captured and executed Song Jian and all his followers. He also sent Zhang He to force the other Qiang tribes in the region to surrender. By 215, most of western China had been pacified and submitted to Cao Cao's control. Cao Cao wrote an order to praise Xiahou Yuan: "Song Jian had been causing trouble for over 30 years. Xiahou Yuan eliminated him in one movement and made an unprecedented achievement. Confucius once said, 'I cannot do as well as you.'"

Battles around Hanzhong

In 216, the Han imperial court awarded Xiahou Yuan with an additional 300 taxable households in his marquisate, bringing the total number to 800. Subsequently, Xiahou Yuan led an attack on the Di and Qiang tribes of Wudu (武都; in present-day Longnan, Gansu) at Xiabian (下辯), capturing over 100,000 hu (斛; a large unit of measurement) of grain. When Cao Cao led his forces to attack the warlord Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery, Xiahou Yuan led all the military officers and nobles in Liang Province to meet Cao Cao at Xiu Village (休亭). The Qiang and tribal chieftains were fearful of Xiahou Yuan whenever they attended meetings with Cao Cao.

Zhang Lu surrendered to Cao Cao after his defeat at the Battle of Yangping. Xiahou Yuan was appointed acting Protector-General (都護將軍) and was ordered to pacify Ba Commandery (巴郡) with the aid of Zhang He and Xu Huang. Cao Cao later returned to Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei) and left Xiahou Yuan and others behind to defend the newly conquered Hanzhong Commandery. Xiahou Yuan was appointed General Who Attacks the West (征西將軍).

In 217, Cao Cao's rival Liu Bei, who had taken over Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) in 215, launched a campaign to wrestle control of Hanzhong from Cao Cao. When Liu Bei's forces reached Yangping Pass (陽平關; in present-day Ningqiang County, Shaanxi), Xiahou Yuan led his men to resist the enemy and both sides were locked in a stalemate for nearly a year.

One night in February or March 219, Liu Bei set fire to the barbed fences around Xiahou Yuan's camp, so Xiahou Yuan sent Zhang He to defend the eastern part of the camp while he personally led a lightly armed force to guard the south. Zhang He attacked Liu Bei when the latter taunted him, but he failed to overcome the enemy. Xiahou Yuan then sent a fraction of his own troops to help Zhang He. Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong launched a fierce assault on Xiahou Yuan even though his men had less battle experience than Xiahou Yuan's troops. Xiahou Yuan was killed in action.

Xiahou Yuan was granted the posthumous title "Marquis Min" (愍侯), which literally means "sympathetic marquis".

Cao Cao once gave the following piece of advice to Xiahou Yuan after he scored a series of victories: "A general should consider his weaknesses, be prepared for situations in which he cannot win, and not rely solely on sheer bravery. Courage is a base instinct he should possess, but he should also use wisdom and strategy when he makes moves. One who knows only bravery is no more than an ordinary man who can fight enemies."

Family

Xiahou Yuan's spouse was a younger sister of one of Cao Cao's wives.

Xiahou Yuan's eldest son, Xiahou Heng (夏侯衡), married the daughter of Cao Cao's younger brother, the Marquis Ai of Haiyang (海陽哀侯). Cao Cao favoured Xiahou Heng, who inherited his father's title "Marquis of Bochang Village" (博昌亭侯). His marquis title was later changed to "Marquis of Anning Village" (安寧亭侯).

Xiahou Yuan's second son, Xiahou Ba, served as a military general in the state of Cao Wei. He defected to Wei's rival state, Shu Han, after the regent Sima Yi seized power from his co-regent Cao Shuang and became the de facto ruler of Wei.

Xiahou Yuan had five other sons who were younger than Xiahou Ba: Xiahou Cheng (夏侯稱), Xiahou Wei, Xiahou Rong (夏侯榮), Xiahou Hui and Xiahou He.

Xiahou Yuan's 5th son, Xiahou Rong (夏侯榮), Was with his father during the Battle of Mount Dingjun. When he had heard of his father's death he was in such a rage he had to be restrained by his attendants, He then managed to break free and charge to the enemy with a sword in hand, He himself then being killed. He was only 13 years old.

Xiahou Yuan also had a niece, who was about 12 or 13 years old in 200 CE. She was out gathering firewood when she was taken by Zhang Fei. She became Zhang Fei's wife and bore him a daughter, who later married Liu Shan and became Empress Jing'ai of the state of Shu Han.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Xiahou Yuan is featured as a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. He made several appearances in the novel, notably one during an archery contest between Cao Cao's officers at the newly made Bronze Bird Tower where he was shown as the most talented archer. But the most significant one was his death at the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219. See Battle of Mount Dingjun#In fiction for details.

In popular culture

Xiahou Yuan is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. In the games, he is Xiahou Dun's brother, and is portrayed as being a bit hapless, but powerful and loyal nonetheless. He also appears in all instalments of the strategy game series Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the real-time wargame Kessen II, all of which were produced by Koei.

Xiahou Yuan also appears as a playable character in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and is prominently featured in the game as a general in the service of Cao Cao.