Xiahou Shang

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Names
Simplified Chinese:	夏侯尚
Traditional Chinese:	夏侯尚
Pinyin:	Xiàhóu Shàng
Wade-Giles:	Hsiahou Shang
Zi:	Boren (伯仁)

Xiahou Shang (185? - 225) was a nephew of the Wei officer Xiahou Yuan during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China.

[edit] Life

Xiahou Shang was not very active when Cao Cao was alive, only participating in suppressing Hu rebellions. Cao Cao's successor, Cao Pi, was a good friend of Xiahou Shang, so Cao Pi gave him important positions, such as General who Conquers the South (征南將軍) and Inspector of Jingzhou. Xiahou Shang generally took over commands for Wei's southern frontiers. He invaded the Shu Han outpost at Shangyong (上庸), and although Eastern Wu was allied to Wei at the time, Xiahou Shang tightened his defences against Wu. Surely enough, Sun Quan rebelled soon after. In 222, Xiahou Shang and Cao Zhen attacked the Wu fortress at Jiangling, guarded by Zhuge Jin. Xiahou Shang advanced both through land and water, burning Zhuge Jin's ships mid-river and capturing the fortress. However, he was called back because of a plague.

In 224, a favourite concubine of his drew the envy of his wife, who was the sister of Cao Zhen; in support of his clansmen, Cao Pi had the concubine strangled. Xiahou Shang became depressed after the loss of his favourite concubine and would not see anyone. A year later, Xiahou Shang fell to sickness and died, before which Cao Pi held his hand and sobbed.

[edit] In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he is only portrayed as a minor officer. It was said that when he was fighting against Shu under Xiahou Yuan, he was taken prisoner at the Battle of Mount Dingjun, but was returned to Wei after being traded for Chen Shi. During the trade, however, Huang Zhong shot him in the back, heavily injuring him.