Qin and Han · Advisor to Xiang Yu

Fan Zeng 范增

Fàn Zēng

Attested BC 209 - BC 204

Passages: 13
Chapters: 4
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Fan Zeng as a general, official, statesman, and strategist. This record brings together 13 passages from 4 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Fan Zeng	范增	Fàn Zēng
Personal
Title
Personal name	Fan Zeng	范增	Fan Zeng
Personal	Fan Zeng	范增	Fan Zeng
Title	Sire Ya	亞父

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Value: male
Explicit · hanshu:093:s0058

Roles

General
Official
Statesman
Strategist

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 項羽與范增時 · Western Interval: Start: BC 209 · End: BC 204
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:093:s0058

Career and standing

Title: Rear Commander
Explicit · hanshu:001:s0148

Events and relationships

Kind: political intrigue · Action: Han spent gold to estrange him from Xiang Yu · Other Person Id: Xiang Yu (項羽) · Provenance: Mode: quoted-memorial · Source Person Id: He Wu (何武)
Explicit · hanshu:093:s0060
Relation: adviser-to · Person Id: Xiang Yu (項羽)
Explicit · hanshu:093:s0058

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 1Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 1 · 9 passages

趙數請救，懷王乃以宋義為上將，項羽為次將，范增為末將，北救趙。 Zhao repeatedly requested rescue, so King Huai appointed Song Yi as supreme commander, Xiang Yu as deputy commander, and Fan Zeng as rear commander, to go north and rescue Zhao.

亞父范增說羽曰：「沛公居山東時，貪財好色，今聞其入關，珍物無所取，婦女無所幸，此其志不小。 Fan Zeng, the Second Father, advised Xiang Yu: "When Pei Gong was east of the mountains, he was greedy for wealth and fond of women. Now we hear that after entering the passes, he has taken no precious objects and favored no women. His ambitions are not small.

范增數目羽擊沛公，羽不應。 Fan Zeng repeatedly signaled Xiang Yu to attack Pei Gong, but Xiang Yu did not respond.

范增起，出謂項莊曰：「 Fan Zeng rose, went out, and told Xiang Zhuang, “

又獻玉斗范增。 He also presented a jade goblet to Fan Zeng.

增怒，撞其斗，起曰：「吾屬今為沛公虜矣！」 Fan Zeng was angry and smashed his goblet. He rose and said: "We and our clans will soon be Pei Gong's captives!"

亞父勸項羽急攻滎陽，漢王患之。 Prime Minister Fan advised Xiang Yu to urgently attack Xingyang. King Han was troubled by this.

陳平反間既行，羽果疑亞父。 Chen Ping's reverse espionage having succeeded, Xiang Yu indeed suspected Prime Minister Fan.

亞父大怒而去，發病死。 Prime Minister Fan was greatly angered and left. He fell ill and died.

Book of Han, Chapter 2Volume 1: Annals of Emperor Gaozu 2 · 1 passage

項羽有一范增而不能用，此所以為我禽也。」 Xiang Yu had one Fan Zeng but could not employ him. This is why he was captured by me."

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 1 passage

羽遂屠燒咸陽，與范增謀曰：「巴蜀道險，秦之遷民皆居蜀。」 Xiang Yu then sacked and torched Xianyang. With Fan Zeng he reasoned, “The routes into Ba and Shu are treacherous, and Qin’s exiles have been settled in Shu.”

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 2 passages

忠臣，社稷之衛，魯以季友治亂，楚以子玉輕重，魏以無忌折衝，項以范增存亡。 Loyal ministers are what defend the altars of state: Lu rose or fell with Jiyou, Chu with Ziyu, Wei with Lord Xinling, and Xiang Yu with Fan Zeng.

百萬之眾，不如一賢，故秦行千金以間廉頗，漢散萬金以疏亞父。 A million soldiers count for less than one wise counselor—hence Qin spent a thousand in gold to drive a wedge beside Lian Po, and Han poured out ten thousand to estrange Fan Zeng from his lord.