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Ban Chao

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with his sisterBan Zhao.
In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisBan.
Ban Chao
Statue of Ban Chao inKashgar
ChineseBan siêu
Zhongsheng
(courtesy name)
ChineseTrọng thăng

Ban Chao(Chinese:Ban siêu;pinyin:Bān Chāo;Wade–Giles:Pan1Ch'ao1;32–102 CE),courtesy nameZhongsheng,was a Chinese diplomat, explorer, and military general of theEastern Han dynasty.He was born inFufeng,nowXianyang,Shaanxi.Three of his family members—fatherBan Biao,elder brotherBan Gu,younger sisterBan Zhao—were well known historians who wrote the historical textBook of Han,which recorded the history of theWestern Han dynasty.As a Han general and cavalry commander, Ban Chao was in charge of administrating the "Western Regions"(Central Asia) while he was in service. He also led Han forces for over 30 years in thewaragainst theXiongnuand re-established Han control over theTarim Basinregion. He was madeProtector General of the Western Regionsby the Han government for his efforts in protecting and governing the regions. Ban Chao is depicted in theWu Shuang Pu( vô song phổ, Table of Peerless Heroes) by Jin Guliang.

As a well-known historian, Ban Chao's family was poor and he worked as a copy-clerk for the government.Emperor Minghimself thought highly of him, and appointed him to be a clerk in the orchid terrace, but Ban Chao was too ambitious to be satisfied with a position like that, and was dismissed later. He was said to be a strong willed young adult with complete disregard for formal conduct. After his brother Ban Gu was removed from his post for his works on theFormer Han,Ban Chao argued his case. When his brother was appointed to the imperial library, Ban Chao and his mother moved to the imperial capitalLuoyangto accompany him. In 73 however, GeneralDou Guembarked on an expedition to attack the Xiongnu, and Ban Chao was appointed as an assistant major. He distinguished himself in command against a Xiongnu detachment, and was appointed by Dou Gu to accompany OfficerGuo Xunon a preliminary embassy to the remote western regions. When the group arrived at the capital of Shanshan,King Guangalso received an embassy from the Northern Xiongnu. Ban Chao and the small group of delegates slaughtered the Xiongnu envoys and sent their heads to the king. Shocked and overwhelmed by Han brutality, King Guang sent hostages to Han as a pact of non-aggression.[1]This was just the start of the many exploits Ban Chao accomplished in the western regions.

Control of the Tarim Basin[edit]

Ban Chao appoints Zhong, king of Kashgar. 73 CE

Ban Chao, like his predecessorsHuo QubingandWei Qingfrom theFormer Han dynastybefore him, was effective at expelling theXiongnufrom theTarim Basin,and brought the various people of the Western Regions under Chinese rule during the second half of the 1st century CE, helping to open and secure the trade routes to the west. He was generally outnumbered, but skillfully played on the divisions among his opponents. The kingdoms ofKhotanandKashgarcame under Chinese rule by 74 CE. "Pan Ch'ao crushed fresh rebellions in Kashgar (80, 87) and Yarkand (88), and made theWusunof theIlihis allies. "[2]

Ban Chao was recalled toLuoyang,but then sent again to the Western Region area four years later, during the reign of the new emperorHan Zhang Di.He obtained the military help of theKushan Empirein 84 in repelling theKangjuwho were trying to support the rebellion of the king of Kashgar, and the next year in his attack onTurpan,in the eastern Tarim Basin. Ban Chao ultimately brought the whole of the Tarim Basin under Chinese control.

In recognition for their support to the Chinese, the Kushans (referred to asDa Yuezhiin Chinese sources) requested, but were denied, aHanprincess, even though they had sent presents to the Chinese court. In retaliation, they marched on Ban Chao in 90 CE with a force of 70,000 but were defeated by the smaller Chinese force. The Yuezhi retreated and paid tribute to the Chinese Empire. (Later, during the Yuanchu period, 114–120 CE, the Kushans sent a military force to install Chenpan, who had been a hostage among them, as king of Kashgar).[3]

Ceramicstatues of a prancing horse (foreground) and a cavalryman on horseback (background),Eastern Han dynasty(25–220 CE)

In 91 CE, Ban Chao finally succeeded in pacifying the Western Regions and was awarded the title of Protector General and stationed at Qiuci (Kucha).[4]A Wuji Colonel was re-established and, commanding five hundred soldiers, stationed in the Kingdom of Nearer Jushi, within the walls ofGaochang,29 kilometres southeast ofTurfan.[4]In 94 CE, Chao proceeded to again attack and defeat Yanqi [Karashahr]. Subsequently, more than fifty kingdoms presented hostages, as submission to the Han dynasty.[4]

In 97 CE Ban Chao sent an envoy,Gan Ying,who reached the Persian Gulf or theBlack Seaand left the first recorded Chinese account of Europe.[5]Some modern authors have claimed that Ban Chao advanced to theCaspian Sea,however, this interpretation has been criticized as a misreading.[6]

In 102 CE Ban Chao was retired asProtector General of the Western Regionsdue to age and ill health, and returned to the capitalLuoyangat the age of 70, but the following month died there in the 9th month of the 14th Yongyuan year (30 Sept. to 28 Oct. 102). See:Hou Hanshu,chap 77 (sometimes given as chap. 107).[7]Following his death, the power of the Xiongnu in the Western Territories increased again, and subsequent Chinese emperors did not reach so far to the west again until theTang dynasty.

A family of historians[edit]

Family tree of Ban Chao.[8]

Ban Chao also belonged to a family of historians. His father wasBan Biao(3–54 CE) who started theHistory of the Western Han Dynasty(Hanshu;TheBook of Han) in 36, which was completed by his sonBan Gu(32–92)[9]and his daughterBan Zhao(Ban Chao's brother and sister). Ban Chao was probably the key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions contained in theHanshu.Ban Chao's grandmother on the paternal side wasXiongnuand was a descendant of the Xiongnu kingXiutu.[10][11]The partly Xiongnu origins of Ban Chao might help explain his skills in matters related to China's history and foreign relations.[10]

Ban Chao's youngest sonBan Yong( ban dũng Bān Yŏng) participated in military campaigns with his father and continued to have a central military role in the Tarim Basin into the 120s.

Ban Chao's family[edit]

Famous quotes[edit]

(Chengyu)

  • "Throw away yourwriting brushand join the military! "(Xếp bút nghiên theo việc binh đao) – based on his words "A brave man has no other plan but to followFu JieziandZhang Qian's footsteps and do something and become somebody in a foreign land. How can I waste my life on writing? ( đại trượng phu vô hắn chí lược, hãy còn đương hiệu phó giới tử, trương khiên lập công dị vực, lấy lấy phong hầu, an có thể lâu sự bút nghiên gian chăng? ) inBook of the Later Han.
  • "...he who does not enter the tiger's lair will never catch its cubs. "( không vào hang cọp, làm sao bắt được cọp con ) – similar to the saying" Nothing ventured, nothing gained. "
  • "To die without glory is not the act of valiant men." ( chết không chỗ nào danh, phi tráng sĩ cũng )

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^De Crespigny, Rafe (2007).A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD).Leiden: Brill. pp. 4–5.ISBN978-9047411840.OCLC238234833.
  2. ^Grousset, Rene (1970).The Empire of the Steppes.Rutgers University Press. pp.42–47.ISBN0-8135-1304-9.
  3. ^Hill (2009), p. 43.
  4. ^abcHill (2009), p. 5.
  5. ^Hill. (2009), p. 55.
  6. ^J. Oliver Thomson,A History of Ancient Geography,Cambridge 1948, p. 311. Thomson cites Richthofen,China,1877, I, 469 and some other authors in support of the claim that Ban Chao marched to the Caspian, and Yule/Cordier,Cathay and the way thither,1916 p. 40 (pp. 40ff in vol.I of the 2005 edition by Asian Educational Services), Chavannes,Seidenstrassen,p. 8, and Teggart,Rome and Chinaas references for such claims being erroneous.
  7. ^Chavannes (1906), p. 243.
  8. ^Chen, Sanping (2011)."Two Notes on the Xiongnu Ancestry of the Authors of" Han-shu "".Central Asiatic Journal.55(1): 33–36.ISSN0008-9192.JSTOR41928567.
    Clark, Anthony E. (2008).Ban Gu's history of early China.Amherst (N.Y.): Cambria press. p. 183.ISBN978-1-60497-561-1.
    Clark, Anthony E. (2008).Ban Gu's history of early China.Amherst (N.Y.): Cambria press. p. 44.ISBN978-1-60497-561-1.The "Basic Annals of Emperor Wen" is a chapter that Biao seems to have written entirely. Ban Biao appears as the commentator in the final remarks of the chapter. The passage states, tán rằng ﹕ thần ngoại tổ huynh đệ vì nguyên đế hầu trung, ngữ thần rằng nguyên đế đa tài nghệ, mỹ sách sử ．The Eulogy states: My (your minister's) maternal grandmother's older and younger brothers were made the palace retainers of Emperor Yuan. They informed me that Emperor Yuan had several talents in the arts and considered historical books attractive.
    The "minister" in this Eulogy is usually identified as Ban Biao. The Han commentator, Ying Shao, noted that "the annals of both Yuan and Cheng were written by Ban Biao; when 'chen' thần (i.e., 'minister') is used, the speaker is Biao. The distaff relative mentioned is Jin Chang" nguyên, thành đế kỷ toàn ban cố phụ bưu sở làm, thần tắc bưu tự nói cũng ． ngoại tổ, kim sưởng cũng.
  9. ^Hill (2009), p. xv.
  10. ^abChen, Sanping (2011)."Two Notes on the Xiongnu Ancestry of the Authors of" Han-shu "".Central Asiatic Journal.55(1): 33–36.ISSN0008-9192.JSTOR41928567.
  11. ^Clark, Anthony E. (2008).Ban Gu's history of early China.Amherst (N.Y.): Cambria press. p. 44.ISBN978-1-60497-561-1.The "Basic Annals of Emperor Wen" is a chapter that Biao seems to have written entirely. Ban Biao appears as the commentator in the final remarks of the chapter. The passage states, tán rằng ﹕ thần ngoại tổ huynh đệ vì nguyên đế hầu trung, ngữ thần rằng nguyên đế đa tài nghệ, mỹ sách sử ．The Eulogy states: My (your minister's) maternal grandmother's older and younger brothers were made the palace retainers of Emperor Yuan. They informed me that Emperor Yuan had several talents in the arts and considered historical books attractive.
    The "minister" in this Eulogy is usually identified as Ban Biao. The Han commentator, Ying Shao, noted that "the annals of both Yuan and Cheng were written by Ban Biao; when 'chen' thần (i.e., 'minister') is used, the speaker is Biao. The distaff relative mentioned is Jin Chang" nguyên, thành đế kỷ toàn ban cố phụ bưu sở làm, thần tắc bưu tự nói cũng ． ngoại tổ, kim sưởng cũng.

Sources[edit]

  • Chavannes, Édouard(1906). "Trois Généraux Chinois de la dynastie des Han Orientaux. Pan Tch’ao (32–102 p.C.); – son fils Pan Yong; – Leang K’in (112 p.C.). Chapitre LXXVII duHeou Han chou."T’oung pao7, pp. 210–269.
  • Hill, John E. (2009).Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, First to Second Centuries CE.BookSurge.ISBN978-1-4392-2134-1.
  • The Tarim Mummies.J.P. Mallory and Victor H. Mair (2000). Thames & Hudson.ISBN0-500-05101-1

Further reading[edit]

  • Yap, Joseph P. (2019).The Western Regions, Xiongnu and Han, from the Shiji, Hanshu and Hou Hanshu.ISBN978-1792829154
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