Tomb of Duan Gong in Dali City

Duan Gong (?-c.1364 or 1366), also known as Xinjugong (信苴功), was of the Bai ethnic group and a native of Dali (大理). He was the tenth Grand Administrator of Dali during the Yuan Dynasty.

Era: Yuan Dynasty (元代)
Ethnicity: Bai ethnic group (白族)
Birthplace: Dali, Yunnan (云南大理)
Major Achievement: Driving the Red Turban Army out of the region
Official Title: Pingzhang Zhengshi (平章政事) of Yunnan
Spouse: Princess Agai (阿盖公主)

In the 4th year of Zhizheng (至正, 1344) of Emperor Huizong of Yuan (元惠宗)—some sources say the 5th year, or the 1st year of Zhizhi (至治, 1321) of Emperor Yingzong (英宗)—he succeeded to the position of Chengwulang (承务郎) and became Prefect of Menghua (蒙化). In the 6th year of Zhizheng (1346; Baiyi Zhuan records it as the 8th year, 1348), he was ordered to lead the vanguard in an expedition against the native chieftain Si Kefa (思可法) of Luchuan Route (麓川路, in present-day southwestern Ruili, 瑞丽, Yunnan).

In the 12th year of Zhizheng (1352), he was promoted to Grand Administrator of Dali, and soon after to Can Zheng (参政) of the Yunnan Branch Secretariat (云南行省). In the 23rd year of Zhizheng (1363), when Wan Sheng (万胜, also known as Ming Er 明二) led the Red Turban Army (红巾军) into Yunnan, the Liang King (梁王) and others fled to Weichu (威楚, present-day Chuxiong 楚雄). At the king’s request, Duan Gong led troops eastward, defeated the Red Turban Army at Guantan (关滩, west of Chuxiong), burned down Gutian Temple (古田寺), advanced to Huideng Pass (回蹬关, in present-day Lufeng County 禄丰县, Yunnan), and defeated the enemy again at Qixing Pass (七星关, some say in present-day Bijie County 毕节县, Guizhou) before returning. His prestige in the southwest greatly increased, and he was appointed Pingzhang (平章) of the Yunnan Branch Secretariat.

In the 24th year of Zhizheng (1364), shortly after returning to Dali, he went back to Zhongqing (中庆) because of his attachment to the princess, which aroused the suspicion of the Liang King, who feared he harbored ambitions to “swallow the Golden Horse and gulp the Jade Rooster” (吞金马,咽碧鸡—a metaphor for annexing all of Yunnan, referring to two mountains near Kunming). Finally, Duan Gong was lured to Tongji Bridge (通济桥) in Kunming (昆明) and killed on the king’s orders. Another account says he died in the 26th year of Zhizheng (1366).

Life Story

In 1363, the Red Turban Army commanders Ming Yuzhen (明玉珍) and his younger brother Ming Er (明二) led 30,000 troops to attack Zhongqing Route (中庆路). The Liang King Bazhalawarmi (巴匝拉瓦尔密) fled to Chuxiong (楚雄) and received military aid from Duan Gong. They fought Ming Yuzhen fiercely at Lüge Pass (吕阁关) and successfully defended Yunnan. Later, Duan Gong launched a night attack on Gutian Temple (古田寺), using fire to rout Ming Yuzhen, forcing his retreat. He then crushed Ming Yuzhen’s forces at Qixing Pass (七星关), ultimately recapturing Zhongqing Route and reclaiming Kunming.

After the war, the Liang King appointed Duan Gong as Pingzhang Zhengshi (平章政事) of Yunnan Province and married his daughter, Princess Agai (阿盖公主), to him. However, by 1365, the Liang King suspected Duan Gong of plotting to annex all of Yunnan and ordered Princess Agai to poison him. The princess, unwilling to harm her husband, revealed the plot to Duan Gong. Nevertheless, Duan Gong was eventually assassinated by agents of the Liang King, and Princess Agai took her own life out of devotion.

Later generations built a shrine beside the West Pagoda (西寺塔) to commemorate Princess Agai and Duan Gong, naming it the Aguni Shrine (阿姑祠).