Qin and Han · Rebel general and King of Yan

Han Guang 韓廣

Hán Guǎng

Attested BC 209 - BC 209

Passages: 16
Chapters: 6
Histories: 2

Overview

Han Guang was a rebel general and King of Yan.

Life and dates

Attested activity

BC 209 二世元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 82
BC 209 及秦皇帝崩，天下大叛
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 183-184
BC 209 陳涉起
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 58
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 92-93
BC 209 韓廣舉燕
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Mother of Han Guang
mother 母
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 85, 89

Key source chapters

Career and standing

King of Yan 燕王
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王 · Established as
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 93
adjutant of Shanggu 上谷卒史
Formerly held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 82
Noted
Commoner origin
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 37
Rose without noble or senior office
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passages 185-186
King of Yan 燕王
Self declared
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 88
King of Yan 燕王
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 93

Show 2 more source-backed claims

King of Yan
Polity Yan · Self Proclaimed true
Directly stated · Book of Han 1, passage 89
King of Yan 燕王
Directly stated · Book of Han 41, passage 59

Places and affiliations

Polity Qin 秦 · Relation Rebelled against
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passages 35-36
Polity Yan 燕 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 93
Polity Zhao 趙 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 92
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王
At Yan 燕 · Relation Traveled to
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 93

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Topic refusing Yan’s kingship because his mother was in Zhao
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 85

Events and relationships

Dispatched to conquer
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王 · Military · Commander · At Yan 燕
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 92
Raised revolt
Military · Leader · At Yan 燕
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 36
Raised yan
Military · Leader · At Yan 燕
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 184
Subdued Yan and declared himself its king
BC 209 二世元年 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 82-88

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 92; Records of the Grand Historian 112, passage 184

References in the histories

Search passages

History

16 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 4 passages

韓廣自立為燕王。 Han Guang established himself as King of Yan.

徙燕王韓廣為遼東王。 Moved King of Yan Han Guang to King of Liaodong.

燕王韓廣亦不肯徙遼東。 King Yan Han Guang also refused to move to Liaodong.

秋八月，臧荼殺韓廣，并其地。 In the eighth month of autumn, Zang Tu killed Han Guang and took his territory.

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 2 passages

趙王以為然，因不西兵，而使韓廣略燕，李良略常山，張黶略上黨。 The King of Zhao agreed, kept troops from the western front, and sent commanders into Yan, Changshan, and Shangdang.

韓廣至燕，燕人因立廣為燕王。 When Han Guang arrived, the Yan people proclaimed him King of Yan.

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 1 passage

陳勝、吳廣舉陳，武臣、張耳舉趙，項梁舉吳，田儋舉齊，景駒舉郢，周市舉魏，韓廣舉燕，窮山通谷，豪士並起，不可勝載也。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang seized Chen, Wu Chen and Zhang Er raised Zhao, Xiang Liang rose in Wu, Tian Dan in Qi, Jing Ju in Ying, Zhou Shi in Wei, Han Guang in Yan—bold leaders sprang up in every ravine and pass, too many to list.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 6 passages

趙王以為然，因不西兵，而遣故上谷卒史韓廣將兵北徇燕地。 The King of Zhao agreed. Rather than sending his forces west, he dispatched Han Guang, formerly a minor official in Shanggu, to lead an army north and subdue the Yan territories.

燕故貴人豪傑謂韓廣曰：「楚已立王，趙又已立王。 The old aristocrats and men of influence in Yan said to Han Guang, 'Chu has already set up a king, and Zhao has done likewise.

燕雖小，亦萬乘之國也，願將軍立為燕王。」 Though Yan is small, it too was once a state of ten thousand chariots. We beg the general to declare himself King of Yan.'

韓廣曰：「廣母在趙，不可。」 Han Guang replied, 'My mother is in Zhao. I cannot accept.'

且以楚之彊，不敢害趙王將相之家，趙獨安敢害將軍之家！」 Moreover, even mighty Chu has not dared to harm the families of the King of Zhao and his ministers. How then would Zhao alone dare harm the general's family?'

韓廣以為然，乃自立為燕王。 Han Guang found their reasoning persuasive and declared himself King of Yan.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 89Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 2 passages

趙王以為然，因不西兵，而使韓廣略燕，李良略常山，張黡略上黨。 The King of Zhao agreed. He did not send his troops west, but instead dispatched Han Guang to take Yan, Li Liang to take Changshan, and Zhang Yan to take Shangdang.

韓廣至燕，燕人因立廣為燕王。 When Han Guang arrived in Yan, the people of Yan made him their king.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 1 passage

陳勝、吳廣舉陳，武臣、張耳舉趙，項梁舉吳，田儋舉齊，景駒舉郢，周市舉魏，韓廣舉燕，窮山通谷豪士并起，不可勝載也。 Chen Sheng and Wu Guang raised the banner in Chen; Wu Chen and Zhang Er in Zhao; Xiang Liang in Wu; Tian Dan in Qi; Jing Ju in Ying; Zhou Shi in Wei; Han Guang in Yan. From every remote mountain and hidden valley, men of ambition rose up simultaneously—too many to record.