Heishan bandits
Encyclopedia
The Heishan bandits or Black Mountain bandits was a bandit confederacy in the Taihang Mountain range during the later years of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China
. They played a part in the internecine feuds that followed Han Dynasty's descent into chaos, and eventually surrendered to the warlord Cao Cao
.
, bandits and rebels sprung up everywhere. One such bandit group under Zhang Niujue (張牛角, aka Oxhorn Zhang), unrelated to the Yellow Turban movement, rose to power in the hill countries of the Taihang Mountains by plundering the western areas of the North China Plain
. In 185, Zhang Niujue and fellow bandit Chu Yan (褚燕) joined forces to raid the town of Yingtao (癭陶). Zhang Niujue was killed in the skirmish, and his followers followed his last order to join Chu Yan. Chu Yan changed his surname to Zhang to honour his fallen colleague, so he became known as Zhang Yan. Soon, he became the nominal chief of all bandits east of the Taihang range, forming a confederacy of bandits known as the Heishan bandits. His ranks and files grew steadily in number until they were said to reach a million. They conducted raids in the commanderies of Changshan (常山), Zhao (趙), Zhongshan (中山), Shangdang (上黨) and Henei (河內). Unable to control the situation, the government accepted a nominal surrender and offered the bandits official positions. However, when the central government fell under Dong Zhuo
's chaotic control in 189, the Heishan bandits went back to their former activities.
In the civil wars that followed the unsuccessful campaign against Dong Zhuo
, Zhang Yan and the Heishan bandits apparently sided with Gongsun Zan
and thus attacked commanderies that were in the possession of Gongsun Zan's enemies. In 191 the Heishan bandits raided Dong commandery (東郡), under the control of Yuan Shao
's associate Cao Cao
, but were driven back. Early in 193, the bandits and a contingent of the Southern Xiongnu
under Yufuluo
aided Yuan Shu in Chenliu (陳留), who was driven out of his original territory of Nanyang (南陽) by Yuan Shao's ally Liu Biao
. As Chenliu was also within Cao Cao's territories, he swiftly defeated the allies and chased Yuan Shu away to the south. Later, the Heishan bandits under Yu Du (于毒), joined by local rebels, stormed Yuan Shao's Ye
city, capital of Wei commandery (魏郡), and killed its Grand Administrator (太守) Li Cheng (栗成). This last attack drew Yuan Shao's furious retaliation, who led a suppression campaign to crush the bandits, slaying Yu Du and many other Heishan leaders, but Yuan Shao was ultimately unable to defeat Zhang Yan, who had the backing of various Xiongnu and Wuhuan
groups. With heavy casualties on both sides, the opposing armies withdrew.
Yuan Shao's campaign might have diminished the Heishan bandits' prospects in the south, but Zhang Yan and his people continued to hold out in the northern Changshan commandery. In 199, Zhang Yan answered Gongsun Zan's call for help as he made his last stand in the Battle of Yijing
, but his bandit army could not penetrate Yuan Shao's besieging army and thus could not save Gongsun Zan from his demise. In 205, as Cao Cao drove out the Yuan family from the region, Zhang Yan led his men to submit to Cao Cao.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. They played a part in the internecine feuds that followed Han Dynasty's descent into chaos, and eventually surrendered to the warlord Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
.
History
Following the loosening of central government control due to the repercussions of the Yellow Turban RebellionYellow Turban Rebellion
The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...
, bandits and rebels sprung up everywhere. One such bandit group under Zhang Niujue (張牛角, aka Oxhorn Zhang), unrelated to the Yellow Turban movement, rose to power in the hill countries of the Taihang Mountains by plundering the western areas of the North China Plain
North China Plain
The North China Plain is based on the deposits of the Yellow River and is the largest alluvial plain of eastern Asia. The plain is bordered on the north by the Yanshan Mountains and on the west by the Taihang Mountains edge of the Shanxi plateau. To the south, it merges into the Yangtze Plain...
. In 185, Zhang Niujue and fellow bandit Chu Yan (褚燕) joined forces to raid the town of Yingtao (癭陶). Zhang Niujue was killed in the skirmish, and his followers followed his last order to join Chu Yan. Chu Yan changed his surname to Zhang to honour his fallen colleague, so he became known as Zhang Yan. Soon, he became the nominal chief of all bandits east of the Taihang range, forming a confederacy of bandits known as the Heishan bandits. His ranks and files grew steadily in number until they were said to reach a million. They conducted raids in the commanderies of Changshan (常山), Zhao (趙), Zhongshan (中山), Shangdang (上黨) and Henei (河內). Unable to control the situation, the government accepted a nominal surrender and offered the bandits official positions. However, when the central government fell under Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...
's chaotic control in 189, the Heishan bandits went back to their former activities.
In the civil wars that followed the unsuccessful campaign against Dong Zhuo
Campaign against Dong Zhuo
The Campaign against Dong Zhuo was a punitive expedition initiated by a coalition of regional officials and warlords against Dong Zhuo, Chancellor of State, in 190 during the late Han Dynasty of Chinese history...
, Zhang Yan and the Heishan bandits apparently sided with Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan , style name Bogui , a native of Liaoxi , was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
and thus attacked commanderies that were in the possession of Gongsun Zan's enemies. In 191 the Heishan bandits raided Dong commandery (東郡), under the control of Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
's associate Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
, but were driven back. Early in 193, the bandits and a contingent of the Southern Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
under Yufuluo
Yufuluo
Yufuluo was a puppet Chanyu of the southern Xiongnu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. In 188, he was appointed to the Chanyu position by the Chinese imperial court following a slaying of his father Qiangqu, also a Han puppet from ineligible succession line, and would later...
aided Yuan Shu in Chenliu (陳留), who was driven out of his original territory of Nanyang (南陽) by Yuan Shao's ally Liu Biao
Liu Biao
Liu Biao , style name Jingsheng , was a warlord and the governor of Jing Province during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a member of the extended family of the Han Dynasty emperors...
. As Chenliu was also within Cao Cao's territories, he swiftly defeated the allies and chased Yuan Shu away to the south. Later, the Heishan bandits under Yu Du (于毒), joined by local rebels, stormed Yuan Shao's Ye
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
city, capital of Wei commandery (魏郡), and killed its Grand Administrator (太守) Li Cheng (栗成). This last attack drew Yuan Shao's furious retaliation, who led a suppression campaign to crush the bandits, slaying Yu Du and many other Heishan leaders, but Yuan Shao was ultimately unable to defeat Zhang Yan, who had the backing of various Xiongnu and Wuhuan
Wuhuan
The Wuhuan were a proto-Mongolic nomadic people who inhabited northern China, in what is now the provinces of Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi, the municipality of Beijing and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia....
groups. With heavy casualties on both sides, the opposing armies withdrew.
Yuan Shao's campaign might have diminished the Heishan bandits' prospects in the south, but Zhang Yan and his people continued to hold out in the northern Changshan commandery. In 199, Zhang Yan answered Gongsun Zan's call for help as he made his last stand in the Battle of Yijing
Battle of Yijing
The Battle of Yijing was a battle that took place in northern China between 198 and 199 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, but his bandit army could not penetrate Yuan Shao's besieging army and thus could not save Gongsun Zan from his demise. In 205, as Cao Cao drove out the Yuan family from the region, Zhang Yan led his men to submit to Cao Cao.
Names of the bandits
As the members of the confederacy were outlaws, many of them used nicknames, named after their defining traits. While some of these names may be genuine names, there had been some efforts to translate the names and determine the possible logic behind them.- Boque (白雀, White Sparrow)
- Bo Rao (白繞, White Circles)
- Fuyun (浮雲, Floating Cloud)
- Guo Daxian (郭大賢, Guo Great-Virtue)
- Huanglong (黃龍, Yellow Dragon)
- Kujiu (苦蝤, Dry Grub) - possibly named for his baldness
- Li Damu (李大目, Big-Eyes Li)
- Liu Shi (劉石)
- Luoshi (羅市)
- Pinghan Daji (平漢大計, Grand Design to Pacify the Han)
- Qing Niujue (青牛角, Green Ox-horn)
- Sili Yuancheng (司隸掾城, Director of Retainers Who Scales the City Wall)
- Sui GuSui GuSui Gu , style name Baitu , was a vassal serving under the warlord Zhang Yang during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. When Zhang Yang was killed by Yang Chou out of fear for him joining Lü Bu, Sui avenged his lord by killing Yang Chou. Afterwards, Sui Gu went on to serve under Yuan...
(Fixed Gaze) - Sun Qing (孫輕)
- Tao Sheng (陶升)
- Wang Dang (王當)
- Wulu (五鹿, Five Deer) - possibly named for something he wore
- Yang Feng (楊鳳)
- Yu Digen (于羝根) - possibly named for having a hairy face or penis
- Yu Du (于毒, Poison Yu)
- Zhang Niujue (張牛角, Oxhorn Zhang)
- Zhang Leigong (張雷公, Zhang Lord of Thunder) - named for his loud voice
- Zhang YanZhang YanZhang Yan, né Chu Yan , also known as Zhang Feiyan , was the leader of the Heishan bandits during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a native of Zhending, Changshan commandery .He was born Chu Yan...
(nicknamed Flying Swallow Zhang) - named for his agility - Zuo Zizhangba (左髭丈八, Zuo with the Eighty-foot Mustache)
- Zuoxiao (左校, Enclosure on the Left) - probably took his name from the title of the officer responsible for convict labourers under the Court Architect