Qin and Han · King of Yan

Han Guang 韓廣

Hán Guǎng

Attested BC 209 - BC 209

Passages: 13
Chapters: 4
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Han Guang as a general, official, rebel, and ruler. This record brings together 13 passages from 4 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Han Guang	韓廣	Hán Guǎng
Personal	Han Guang	韓廣	Han Guang
Title	King of Yan	燕王	Yān Wáng
Title	King of Yan	燕王	Yan Wang

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:048:s0082

Roles

General
Official
Rebel
Ruler
Warlord

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 二世元年 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0082
Source Date: Text: 陳涉起 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:041:s0058

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Child of Mother of Han Guang
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son

Career and standing

Label: adjutant of Shanggu / 上谷卒史 · Action: formerly held
Explicit · shiji:048:s0082
Title: King of Yan / 燕王 · Action: self-declared
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0088
Title: King of Yan · Polity: Yan · Self Proclaimed: true
Explicit · hanshu:001:s0089
Title: King of Yan / 燕王
Explicit · hanshu:041:s0059

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Topic: refusing Yan’s kingship because his mother was in Zhao
Explicit · shiji:048:s0085

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: subdued Yan and declared himself its king · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二世元年 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0082, shiji:048:s0083, shiji:048:s0084, shiji:048:s0085, shiji:048:s0086, shiji:048:s0087, shiji:048:s0088

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 · 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.