Yang Kan (羊侃) | 24 Histories

Overview

Yang Kan was a general and Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Zuxin	祖忻	Zǔxīn

Life and dates

Death

AD 548 太清二年十二月
Illness · At palace compound 臺內
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 177

Age

20
Reckoning Sui · Context when campaigning in Liangzhou with his father 弱冠隨父在梁州
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 83
54
AD 548 太清二年十二月 · Reckoning Sui · At Event death
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 177

Attested activity

AD 533 中大通五年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 115
AD 534 中大通六年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 116-118
AD 532 中大通四年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 103-114
AD 520 to AD 548 侃少而雄勇
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 39, passages 179-182, 188, 192
AD 537 大同三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 119
AD 535 to AD 546 大同中
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 189

Show 14 more source-backed claims

AD 543 大同九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 127
AD 542 大同八年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 123
AD 540 大同六年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 122
AD 529 大通三年
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 100-102
AD 548 to AD 549 太清之難
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 232-233
AD 548 太清二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 133
AD 548 太清二年十二月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 177
AD 547 太清元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 128
AD 528 to AD 529 將舉河濟以成先志
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 89-96
AD 528 建義初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 60
AD 528 to AD 529 擊葛榮及山東軍事前後
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 1, passage 81
AD 520 to AD 549 梁書卷三十九列傳目錄
Strongly inferred · Book of Liang 39, passage 2
AD 525 to AD 527 魏孝昌中
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 43, passage 114
AD 520 to AD 525 魏正光中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 84-87

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Yang Gui (羊規)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 79
Descendant of Yang Xu (羊續)
ancestor 裔 · paternal line
descendant 裔 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 78
Sibling of Yang Mo (羊默)
elder brother 兄 · Full siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Kin of Yang Lie (羊烈)
elder cousin 從兄
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 43, passage 114
Parent of Yang Dan (羊躭)
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 157
Child of Yang Zhi (羊祉)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 81
Parent of Yang Kun (羊鶤)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 2, 195
Kin of Yang Dun (羊敦)
paternal cousin 從兄 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 90
Sibling of Yang Yuan (羊元)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Sibling of Yang Chen (羊忱)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Sibling of Yang Ji (羊給)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100

Kinship Role younger brothers · Count 3
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Kinship Role concubines · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 183

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

descendant of Han Nanyang administrator Yang Xu 漢南陽太守續之裔
Line paternal
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 78

Career and standing

General of the Cloud Banner 雲麾將軍
AD 534 中大通六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 116
Grand Administrator of Jin’an 晉安太守
AD 534 中大通六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 116
Left Commandant of the Heir Apparent’s Guard 太子左衛率
AD 534 中大通六年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 118
Area Commander of Xiqiu forces 都督瑕丘諸軍事
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 103
Full Staff Bearer 使持節
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 103
General Who Pacifies the North 安北將軍
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 103

Show 42 more source-backed claims

Grand Army Marshal 大軍司馬
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 110
Inspector of Yanzhou 兗州刺史
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 103
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 532 中大通四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 114
Bearer of the Staff 持節
AD 529 其年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 102
General of the Cloud Banner 雲麾將軍
AD 529 其年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 102
Inspector of Qing and Ji provinces 青、冀二州刺史
AD 529 其年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 102
Full Staff Bearer 使持節
AD 543 大同九年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 127
General of Majestic Martiality 壯武將軍
AD 543 大同九年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 127
Inspector of Hengzhou 衡州刺史
AD 543 大同九年 · Appointed · At Hengzhou 衡州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 127
Minister of Justice (Duguan Shangshu) 都官尚書
AD 542 大同八年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 123
Left Chief Clerk of the Minister of Education 司徒左長史
AD 540 大同六年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 122
Area Commander-in-Chief of All Military Affairs for the Xiqiu Campaign 都督瑕丘征討諸軍事
AD 529 大通三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Area Commander-in-Chief of all Northern Expedition forces 都督北討諸軍事
AD 529 大通三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 101
Bearer of the Staff 使持節
AD 529 大通三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
General Who Pacifies the North 安北將軍
AD 529 大通三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Inspector of Xuzhou 徐州刺史
AD 529 大通三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Regular Attendant-in-Ordinary 散騎常侍
AD 529 大通三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Deputy commander of forces within the city walls 副宣城王都督城內諸軍事
AD 548 太清二年 · Appointed · With Prince of Xuancheng (宣城王)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 138
General of the Army Instructor 軍師將軍
AD 548 太清二年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 145
Bearer of the Staff 持節
AD 547 太清元年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 129
General of the Champion 冠軍
AD 547 太清元年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 129
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 547 太清元年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 128
separate commander 別將
AD 520 to AD 525 魏正光中 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 84
Bearer of the Staff 使持節
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 87
Eastern Expedition Commissioner 東道行臺
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 87
General Who Campaigns East 征東大將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 87
Grand Administrator of Taishan 泰山太守
Held concurrently
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 87
administrator 太守
AD 525 to AD 527 魏孝昌中 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 43, passage 114
subordinate general 偏將
Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 86
General-in-Chief of Agile Cavalry 驃騎大將軍
Offered · Negated true · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Wei Emperor (魏帝)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 94
long-term Inspector of Yanzhou 長爲兗州刺史
Offered · Negated true · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Wei Emperor (魏帝)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 94
Minister of Works 司徒
Offered · Negated true · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Wei Emperor (魏帝)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 94
General Who Protects the Army 護軍將軍
AD 548 太清二年十二月 · Posthumous appointment
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 178
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 548 太清二年十二月 · Posthumous appointment
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 178
Palace Attendant 侍中
AD 548 太清二年 · Promoted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 145
Minister of Justice (Duguan Shangshu) 都官尚書
AD 548 太清二年 · Reappointed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 133
Marquis of Gaochang 高昌縣侯
AD 533 中大通五年 · Enfeoffed · Fief Households: 1000
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 115
one set of martial pipes 鼓吹一部
AD 548 太清二年十二月 · Bestowed posthumously
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 178
posthumous grants of cloth, silk, and cash 布絹各五百匹，錢三百萬
AD 548 太清二年十二月 · Bestowed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 178
court rewards equal to Yuan Faseng 賞授一與元法僧同
Received
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 92
Marquis of Juping 鉅平侯
Advanced
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 87
Duke of Taishan 泰山郡公
Offered · Negated true · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Wei Emperor (魏帝)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 94

Places and affiliations

AD 529 大通三年
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
Polity Liang 梁 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 119, 122, 134, 188-189, 232
Polity Northern Wei 魏 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 84
At Liangfu in Taishan 泰山梁甫
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 78
AD 534 中大通六年
At Jin’an 晉安 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 116
AD 529 出頓日城
At Richeng 日城 · Relation Encamped
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 101

Show 7 more source-backed claims

AD 543 大同九年
At Hengzhou 衡州 · Relation Posted to
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 127
AD 529 大通三年
At the capital 京師 · Relation Arrived
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 100
At Hengzhou 衡州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 188
At Lian mouth 漣口 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 192
At Mount Tai 泰山 · Relation Defeated at
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 1, passage 81
At Si Bridge 泗橋 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 181
At Yanzhou Yao temple 兗州堯廟 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 180

Learning and skills

Skill literature and history 文史 · Level fond
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 82
Skill exceptional strength 膂力絕人 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 179
Skill music 音律 · Level skilled
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 182

Works and attributed material

Martial Feast Poetry 武宴詩
AD 537 大同三年 · Relation Respondent to · With Emperor Wu (高祖)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 121
Gathering Lotuses 採蓮
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 182
Oar Song 棹歌
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 182
Military Methods of Sun and Wu 孫吳兵法
Relation Studied
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 82
Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals 左氏春秋
Relation Studied
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 82
AD 537 大同三年
Poem · Author · Paraphrased
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 121

Show 6 more source-backed claims

AD 542 大同八年
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Zhang Sengyin (張僧胤)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 125
AD 548 太清二年
Counsel · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Emperor Wu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 135-136, 153-155
AD 548 太清二年
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · With Fu Shizhe (傅士哲)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 164-168, 170-172
AD 548 太清二年
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 150, 157-159
Having returned south I constantly think of serving, yet I never wished to go with Faseng; northerners call me a Wu man and southerners a captive—going with Faseng would look like birds of a feather and make the Xiongnu despise Han. 臣拔跡還朝，常思效命，然實未曾願與法僧同行。北人雖謂臣爲吳，南人已呼臣爲虜，今與法僧同行，還是羣類相逐，非止有乖素心，亦使匈奴輕漢。
Speech · Speaker · Mode quoted · With Emperor Wu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 107-108
You cherish your homeland and cannot rightly follow me; go or stay as you please—here we part. 卿等懷土，理不能見隨，幸適去留，於此別異。
Speech · Speaker · Mode quoted
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 98

Events and relationships

Attempted to raise Yellow and Ji
AD 528 to AD 529 將舉河濟 · Political · Planner
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 89
Attended imperial feast
AD 537 大同三年 · Court ritual · Participant · At Leyou Gardens 樂游苑
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 119
Beheaded soldiers to stop armory looting
AD 548 太清二年 · Legal · Authority
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 141
Beheaded Wei envoy
Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 94
Broke out south
Military · Besieged commander · At Zhakou 渣口
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 96-99
Built fire wall and inner rampart after earthwork collapse
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander · Outcome Bandits could not advance
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 176

Show 40 more source-backed claims

Built Hanshan dam in twenty days
AD 547 太清元年 · Military engineering · Supervisor · At Hanshan dam 韓山堰
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 129
Burned wooden donkey engines with pheasant tail torches
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander · Outcome Engines destroyed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 148
Climbed Yao temple wall five xun and traversed seven paces
Feat · Actor · At Yanzhou Yao temple 兗州堯廟
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 180
Continued drinking without concern after guest fire burned over seventy boats
Disaster · Host · With Zhang Rucai (張孺才) · At Lian mouth 漣口
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 192-194
Defeated at Mount Tai
Military · Defeated party
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 1, passage 81
Defended eastern side gate quenched fire shot attackers
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander · Outcome Rebels withdrew
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 144
Departed for Hengzhou on twin barges with water pavilion and female musicians
Travel · Traveler · At Fuqi 暃符
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 188
Encamped on dam and withdrew in order
AD 547 太清元年 · Military · Commander · At Hanshan dam 韓山堰 · Outcome Orderly retreat after defeat
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 131-132
Encamped with thousand horse before Wang Gate
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander · At Wang Gate 望國門
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 137
Failed to seize
Military · Attacker · With Yang Dun (羊敦) · At Yanzhou 兗州
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 91
False announcement of relief to calm panic
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 142-143
Feasted Wei envoy Yang Fei by imperial order
AD 535 to AD 546 大同中 · Banquet · Host · With Yang Fei (陽斐)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 189-190
Joined northern campaign
AD 532 中大通四年 · Military · Campaigner · With Yuan Faseng (元法僧)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 103
Killed
AD 524 正光中 · Military · Subordinate general · With Tiansheng (天生)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 84, 86
Met Taiqing disaster with loyalty
AD 548 to AD 549 太清之難 · Political military · Loyalist
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 232
Opposed sortie against long encirclement
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Advisor · Outcome Advice ignored sortie routed
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 153-156
Organized city defense sectors with imperial clansmen
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 140
Predicted assault towers would topple
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander · Outcome Towers fell as predicted
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 150-151
Privately rewarded personal following of over one thousand
AD 548 太清二年 · Administrative · Patron
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 147
Proposed Caishi and Shaoling plan against Hou Jing
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Advisor · With Hou Jing (侯景) · Outcome Plan shelved
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 134-137
Raised troops in external rebellion
AD 525 to AD 527 魏孝昌中 · Military · Rebel leader
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 43, passage 114
Refused imperial reward of gold silver silk
AD 548 太清二年 · Administrative · Actor
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 146
Refused parley demands to open gates
AD 548 太清二年 · Diplomatic · Interlocutor · With Fu Shizhe (傅士哲)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 162-174
Refused social calls to powerful colleague
AD 542 大同八年 · Social · Actor · With He Jingrong (何敬容)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 124
Refused to be moved by captured son and shot toward him
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Actor · With Yang Dan (羊躭)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 157-161
Refused to receive eunuch
AD 542 大同八年 · Social · Actor · With Zhang Sengyin (張僧胤)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 125-126
Removed helmet for Fu Shizhe
AD 548 太清二年 · Diplomatic · Actor · With Fu Shizhe (傅士哲)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 174
Smashed stone figures against each other
Feat · Actor · At Si Bridge 泗橋
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 181
Suppressed at Mount Tai
AD 528 建義初 · Military · Target
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 18, passage 60
Suppressed rebellion
AD 534 中大通六年 · Military · Administrator · At Jin’an 晉安
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 117
Tested double edged spear
AD 537 大同三年 · Military demonstration · Performer · With Emperor Wu (高祖)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passages 120-121
Tunneled to collapse enemy earthen hills
AD 548 太清二年 · Military · Commander · Outcome Hills could not stand
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 149
Urged flood attack on Pengcheng
AD 547 太清元年 · Military · Advisor · With Marquis of Zhenyang (貞陽侯) · At Pengcheng 彭城 · Outcome Advice rejected
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 130
Urged striking Wei reinforcements
AD 547 太清元年 · Military · Advisor · With Marquis of Zhenyang (貞陽侯) · Outcome Advice rejected
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 131
Won merit
Military · Officer · At Liangzhou 梁州 · With Yang Zhi (羊祉)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 83
AD 542 大同八年
Relation Colleague of · Person He Jingrong (何敬容)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 124
AD 548 太清二年
Relation Deputy to · Person Prince of Xuancheng (宣城王)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 138
AD 547 太清元年
Relation Subordinate advisor to · Person Marquis of Zhenyang (貞陽侯)
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 130
Relation Subordinate of · Person Xiao Baoyin (蕭寶寅)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 86
Relation Schoolmate of · Person Yang Fei (陽斐)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 189

Assessments and attributes

Assessment brave and benevolent; Zou-Lu worthy legacy · Mode named-person-speech Speaker Emperor Wu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 121
Assessment broad, magnanimous, and of large bearing · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 192-194
Assessment called Wu man by northerners and captive by southerners · Mode self-report Source Person Id Yang Kan (羊侃)
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 108
Assessment loyal and righteous; even rebels moved to spare his son · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 161
Assessment revered by northerners · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 175
Assessment unbent in peril; will like pine and bamboo, heart like iron and stone · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 232-233

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Assessment upright and incorruptible · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 126
extravagant by nature
Character
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passages 182-183
could not drink but loved guests and matched their toasts
Habit
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 191
seven feet eight inches tall; imposing bearing 身長七尺八寸，瑰偉
Physical description
Directly stated · Book of Liang 39, passage 82
AD 548 太清二年十二月
Item eastern-garden secret coffin 東園秘器 · Relation Bestowed posthumously
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 39, passage 178