Han Jian (Weibo)
Encyclopedia
Han Jian (died 883), formally the Prince of Changli (昌黎王) or Prince of Wei Commandery (魏郡王), was a warlord late in the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, who controlled Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
, Hebei
). When imperial authority disintegrated in the aftermaths of the Huang Chao
rebellion, Han tried to conquer several nearby circuits by force, but after his endeavors failed, his subordinates supported his officer Le Xingda
to replace him. Han then either died in distress or was killed.
(who was then named Han Junxiong) was a long-time officer at Weibo Circuit, and seized control of the circuit when the soldiers mutinied in 870
against then-military governor (Jiedushi
) He Quanhao
and killed He Quanhao due to He Quanhao's harsh discipline. Han Jian became deputy military governor after his father became military governor.
, the Weibo soldiers supported Han Jian to succeed him, and then-ruling Emperor Xizong
agreed, making Han Jian acting military governor initially, and then full military governor in 875
. He gave Han Jian the honorary chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事) in 876
, and Shizhong (侍中) in 882
. He was also either created the Prince of Changli (per the Book of Tang
) or the Prince of Wei Commandery (per the New Book of Tang
).
— who had captured the Tang imperial capital Chang'an
and claimed the throne as the emperor of a new state of Qi, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Chengdu
— and generals were freely attacking each other over territory. In fall 882, Han Jian, wanting to seize nearby Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang
, Henan
), took 30,000 soldiers and attacked Heyang's military governor Zhuge Shuang
at Xiuwu (修武, in modern Jiaozuo
, Henan
). Zhuge abandoned Xiuwu, and Han left forces to defend Xiuwu, before turning north to pillage Xing (邢州, in modern Xingtai
, Hebei
) and Ming (洺州, in modern Handan) Prefectures (both belonging to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
, Shanxi
)); he then returned to Weibo.
Later in the year, Han attacked Yun Prefecture (鄆州, in modern Tai'an
, Shandong
), the capital of Tianping Circuit (天平), and Tianping's military governor Cao Cunshi (曹存實) died in battle. Cao's officer Zhu Xuan
took over the Tianping forces and defended Yun against Han's siege, and Han was unable to capture it for some half a year. During his siege of Yun, Zhuge recaptured the Heyang territory that he had previously lost to Han. In early 883
, when Zhu sought peace, Han agreed and withdrew from Tianping, in order to attack Zhuge again at Heyang. Zhuge sent his officer Li Hanzhi
to intercept Han at Wuzhi (武陟, in modern Jiaozuo), defeating him. After the battle, Han's officer Le Xingda
headed directly back to Weibo's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州) and entered it. The soldiers supported Le's takeover. Thereafter, Han either died in anger or was killed by his own officers.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, who controlled Weibo Circuit (魏博, headquartered in modern Handan
Handan
Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwestern part of Hebei Province of China.- History :Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period , after the capital moved from Zhongmu. The city was conquered by the State of Qin after the virtual annexation of...
, 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...
). When imperial authority disintegrated in the aftermaths of the Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
rebellion, Han tried to conquer several nearby circuits by force, but after his endeavors failed, his subordinates supported his officer Le Xingda
Le Yanzhen
Le Yanzhen , né Le Xingda , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit as its military governor from 883 to 888.- Background :...
to replace him. Han then either died in distress or was killed.
Background
It is not known when Han Jian was born. His father Han YunzhongHan Yunzhong
Han Yunzhong , né Han Junxiong , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who seized control of Weibo Circuit in a mutiny and subsequently ruled it as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government.- Background :Han Junxiong was born in 814, during the reign...
(who was then named Han Junxiong) was a long-time officer at Weibo Circuit, and seized control of the circuit when the soldiers mutinied in 870
870
Year 870 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Prague Castle is founded....
against then-military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) He Quanhao
He Quanhao
He Quanhao was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government from 866 to 870 as its military governor , although he assisted the imperial government in suppressing Pang Xun's rebellion.-...
and killed He Quanhao due to He Quanhao's harsh discipline. Han Jian became deputy military governor after his father became military governor.
Initial service as military governor of Weibo
After Han Yunzhong died in 874874
Year 874 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling in Reykjavík ....
, the Weibo soldiers supported Han Jian to succeed him, and then-ruling Emperor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Tang
Emperor Xizong of Tang , né Li Yan , later name changed to Li Xuan , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 873 to 888. He was the fifth son of his predecessor Emperor Yizong and was the elder brother of his successor Emperor Zhaozong...
agreed, making Han Jian acting military governor initially, and then full military governor in 875
875
Year 875 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* December 29 – Charles the Bald, king of West Francia, is crowned emperor....
. He gave Han Jian the honorary chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事) in 876
876
Year 876 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Births :* Henry the Fowler, the duke of Saxony from 912 and king of the Germans from 919 until his death...
, and Shizhong (侍中) in 882
882
Year 882 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Carloman, King of the West Franks, becomes sole king upon the death of his brother....
. He was also either created the Prince of Changli (per the Book of Tang
Book of Tang
The Book of Tang , Jiu Tangshu or the Old Book of Tang is the first classic work about the Tang Dynasty. The book began when Gaozu of Later Jin ordered its commencement in 941...
) or the Prince of Wei Commandery (per the New Book of Tang
New Book of Tang
The New Book of Tang , is a classic work of history about the Tang Dynasty edited by Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi and other official scholars of the Song Dynasty. The emperor called for a revision of the former Book of Tang in 1044. The New Book was presented to the throne in 1060. It was given its...
).
Attempts to conquer nearby circuits, failure, and death
By that point, however, Tang imperial authority had collapsed in the aftermaths of the major agrarian rebellion led by Huang ChaoHuang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
— who had captured the Tang imperial capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
and claimed the throne as the emperor of a new state of Qi, forcing Emperor Xizong to flee to Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
— and generals were freely attacking each other over territory. In fall 882, Han Jian, wanting to seize nearby Heyang Circuit (河陽, headquartered in modern Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), took 30,000 soldiers and attacked Heyang's military governor Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang
Zhuge Shuang was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who controlled Heyang Circuit for some time and who vacillated between allegiance to Tang and to the Qi state of the agrarian rebel Huang Chao.- Background and early career :It is not known when Zhuge Shuang was born, but it is...
at Xiuwu (修武, in modern Jiaozuo
Jiaozuo
Jiaozuo is a prefecture-level city in northern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yellow River, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the south, Xinxiang to the east, Jiyuan to the west, Luoyang to the southwest, and the province of Shanxi...
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). Zhuge abandoned Xiuwu, and Han left forces to defend Xiuwu, before turning north to pillage Xing (邢州, in modern Xingtai
Xingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
, 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...
) and Ming (洺州, in modern Handan) Prefectures (both belonging to Zhaoyi Circuit (昭義, headquartered in modern Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
)); he then returned to Weibo.
Later in the year, Han attacked Yun Prefecture (鄆州, in modern Tai'an
Tai'an
Tai'an is a prefecture-level city in western Shandong province, People's Republic of China.Centered around Mount Tai, the city borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the north, Laiwu to the northeast, Zibo to the east, Linyi to the southeast, Liaocheng to the extreme west and Jining to the south...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
), the capital of Tianping Circuit (天平), and Tianping's military governor Cao Cunshi (曹存實) died in battle. Cao's officer Zhu Xuan
Zhu Xuan
Zhu Xuan was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who, from 882 to 897, controlled Tianping Circuit as its military governor...
took over the Tianping forces and defended Yun against Han's siege, and Han was unable to capture it for some half a year. During his siege of Yun, Zhuge recaptured the Heyang territory that he had previously lost to Han. In early 883
883
Year 883 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Oldest known mention of the city of Duisburg.* Monte Cassino is sacked and burned down by the Saracens....
, when Zhu sought peace, Han agreed and withdrew from Tianping, in order to attack Zhuge again at Heyang. Zhuge sent his officer Li Hanzhi
Li Hanzhi
Li Hanzhi , formally the Prince of Longxi , nickname Li Moyun , was a late-Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty warlord. He was initially a follower of the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao, and later became a Tang general, mostly known for his service under Li Keyong...
to intercept Han at Wuzhi (武陟, in modern Jiaozuo), defeating him. After the battle, Han's officer Le Xingda
Le Yanzhen
Le Yanzhen , né Le Xingda , was a warlord late in the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, who ruled Weibo Circuit as its military governor from 883 to 888.- Background :...
headed directly back to Weibo's capital Wei Prefecture (魏州) and entered it. The soldiers supported Le's takeover. Thereafter, Han either died in anger or was killed by his own officers.