Geng Yan
Encyclopedia
Geng Yan was a Chinese
general
of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was the son of Gen Kuang (耿況), who was the governor of Shanggu Commandery (上谷, roughly modern Zhangjiakou
, Hebei
). He initially served Emperor Guangwu of Han
as clerk; later, he became one of the Emperor's most important generals. He contributed to the restoration of the later Han Dynasty
. Emperor Ming
honored Geng among those who had served his father well by painting their portraits on a palace tower(云台二十八将, Yuntai 28 Generals
); Geng's portrait was placed in the fourth position.
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was the son of Gen Kuang (耿況), who was the governor of Shanggu Commandery (上谷, roughly modern Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou, also known also by several other names, is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hebei province of North China, adjacent to Beijing to the southeast. Its administrative area has a population of 4.35 million, and covers...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
). He initially served Emperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu , born Liu Xiu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han...
as clerk; later, he became one of the Emperor's most important generals. He contributed to the restoration of the later Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. Emperor Ming
Emperor Ming of Han
Emperor Ming of Han, , was second emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.He was the second son of Emperor Guangwu. It was during Emperor Ming's reign that Buddhism began to spread into China. One night, he is said to have dreamed of a golden man or golden men...
honored Geng among those who had served his father well by painting their portraits on a palace tower(云台二十八将, Yuntai 28 Generals
Yuntai 28 generals
In the era of Later Han Dyanasty, Emperor Ming of Han honored those who had served his father well by painting their portraits on South Palace's tower in Luoyang.-Order:# Deng Yu # Wu Han...
); Geng's portrait was placed in the fourth position.
References
- Hou Han Shu by Fan Ye, vol. 1 (Biography of Emperor Guangwu), http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/hhb01.htm.