Qin and Han · General, Grand Marshal, and Marquis

Han Zeng 韓增

Hán Zēng

First attested BC 91; died BC 56

Passages: 14
Chapters: 6
Histories: 1

Overview

Han Zeng was a general, Grand Marshal, and Marquis.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Marquis An	安侯	Ān hóu

Life and dates

Death

BC 56 五鳳二年薨
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 193

Attested activity

BC 57 to BC 56 五鳳中匈奴大亂
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 89, passage 87
BC 56 五鳳二年薨
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 193
BC 80 元鳳元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 8, passage 79
BC 91 to BC 49 子增封龍雒侯
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 105, passage 58
BC 73 to BC 70 本始中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 90, passages 12-13
BC 74 韓增
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 70, passage 222

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Han Cen (韓岑)
elder brother's son 兄子 · paternal line
paternal uncle 叔父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 195
Child of Han Yue (韓說)
son 子 · paternal line
Xing's younger brother 興弟
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Han 105, passage 58; Book of Han 42, passages 185, 187
Parent of Han Bao (韓寶)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 194
Sibling of Han Xing (韓興)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 187

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 42 Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) 7 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 90 Volume 79: Feng Fengshi 3 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 8 Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 70 Volume 60: Du Zhou 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 89 Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi 1 passage

Career and standing

General of Chariots and Cavalry 車騎將軍
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 58
Grand Marshal 大司馬
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 58
Marquis of Longluo 龍雒侯
Granted
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 58
Marquis of Long'e 龍額侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 187
Marquis An 安侯
Posthumous
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 193

Places and affiliations

BC 91 to BC 49 子增封龍雒侯
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 58

Works and attributed material

a separate biography 自有傳
Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 58

Events and relationships

Enthroned Emperor Xuan
BC 74 昭帝崩後 · Political · Succession settler
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 188
Led thirty thousand cavalry against Xiongnu
BC 72 本始二年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Han 42, passage 189

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 58

References in the histories

Search passages

History

14 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 8Volume 7: Annals of Emperor Zhao · 1 passage

武都氐人反，遣執金吾馬適建、龍镪侯韓增、大鴻臚廣明將三輔、太常徒，皆免刑擊之。 The Di people of Wudu rebelled. Commander of the Guards Ma Shijian, Marquis of Longqiang Han Zeng, and Grand Herald Guangming were sent to lead convict laborers from the Three Adjuncts and the office of the Grand Minister of Ceremonies—all exempted from their punishments—to attack them.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 7 passages

乃復封興弟增為龍額侯。 Han then re-enfeoffed Xing's younger brother Zeng as Marquis of Long'e.

增少為郎，諸曹侍中光祿大夫，昭帝時至前將軍，與大將軍霍光定策立宣帝，益封千戶。 Zeng entered palace service as a young man and served in the various bureaus, as Palace Attendant, and as Grandee of Splendid Light. Under Emperor Zhao he rose to Front General. Together with Grand General Huo Guang, he settled the succession and enthroned Emperor Xuan, for which his fief was increased by one thousand households.

本始二年，五將征匈奴，增將三萬騎出雲中，斬首百餘級，至期而還。 In the second year of Benshi, when the five generals campaigned against the Xiongnu, Zeng led thirty thousand cavalry out from Yunzhong, took more than a hundred heads, and returned at the appointed time.

神爵元年，代張安世為大司馬車騎將軍，領尚書事。 In the first year of Shenjue, he replaced Zhang Anshi as grand marshal and chariot-and-cavalry general, and headed the Secretariat.

增世貴，幼為忠臣，事三主，重於朝廷。 Zeng came from an illustrious family, was a loyal minister from youth, served three sovereigns, and was highly regarded at court.

五鳳二年薨，諡曰安侯。 In the second year of Wufeng he died, and was posthumously titled Marquis An.

成帝時，繼功臣後，封增兄子岑為龍額侯。 During Emperor Cheng's reign, to continue the line of meritorious officials, Han enfeoffed Zeng's elder brother's son Cen as Marquis of Long'e.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 1 passage

前將軍韓增、御史大夫蔡誼功比穎陰侯灌嬰； Former General Han Zeng and Imperial Counselor Cai Yi were ranked with Marquis of Yingyin Guan Ying;

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 1 passage

詔遣中朝大司馬車騎將軍韓增、諸吏富平侯張延壽、光祿勳楊惲、太僕戴長樂問望之計策，望之對曰：「《春秋》惡士匄帥師侵齊，聞齊侯卒，引師而還，君子大其不伐喪，以為恩足以服孝子，誼足以動諸侯。 The court sent Grand Marshal Han Zeng, Zhang Yanshou, Marquis of Fuping, Yang Yun, and Dai Changle to ask his counsel. Wangzhi answered: "The Annals censures Shi Gai for leading an army against Qi. When he learned that the Marquis of Qi had died, he withdrew. Yet the noble man praises his refusal to attack a state in mourning: kindness enough to win over filial sons, righteousness enough to move the lords.

Book of Han, Chapter 90Volume 79: Feng Fengshi · 3 passages

失官，年三十餘矣，乃學《春秋》涉大義，讀兵法明習，前將軍韓增奏以為軍司空令。 Stripped of rank past thirty, he mastered the Spring and Autumn, absorbed its large themes, and pored over strategy until the former general Han Zeng nominated him as director of the army works command.

前將軍增舉奉世以衛候使持節送大宛諸國客。 Han Zeng nominated him as guard commandant bearing the staff to convoy Ferghana's party and the rest.

宣帝召見韓增，曰：「賀將軍所舉得其人。」 Emperor Xuan called in Han Zeng and said, "Your nomination was sound."

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 1 passage

子增封龍雒侯、大司馬、車騎將軍，自有傳。 His son Han Zeng rose to marquis of Longluo, grand marshal, and chariot-and-cavalry general—he has a separate biography.