Five Dynasties · General and Official

Han Tong 韓通

First attested AD 956; died AD 960

Passages: 17
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Han Tong was a general and Official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Nickname	Han Stare-Eyes	韓瞠眼	Han Chengyan

Life and dates

Death

AD 960 陳橋兵變
Killed · At his residence 其第 · Authority Wang Yansheng (王彥升)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 31

Attested activity

AD 956 三年
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 26
AD 956 世宗征淮南
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 484, passage 21
AD 959 六年春
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 245
AD 959 恭帝即位
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 252
AD 960 陳橋兵變
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 29, 31

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Son of Han Tong (韓通子)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 31, 42
Spouse of Wife of Han Tong (韓通妻)
wife 妻子 · Widowed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 31

Kinship Role children · Quantity unspecified · Negated false
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 31

Career and standing

military governor of Zhongwu 忠武軍節度
AD 956 三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 26
acting inspector of the Palace Guard 權點檢侍衛司
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 24
chief inspector of the capital 京城都巡檢
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 21
deputy commander of the Palace Guard horse and foot 侍衛親軍馬步軍副都指揮使
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 251
Honorary Grand Commandant and Associate Chief Councilor 檢校太尉、同平章事
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 251
Honorary Grand Tutor 檢校太傅
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 26

Show 4 more source-backed claims

military governor of Guide 歸德軍節度
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 28
overall commander of the land route 陸路都部署
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 248
garrison commander at Yunzhou 鄆州
AD 959 恭帝即位 · Transferred
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 252
posthumous Director of the Secretariat 中書令
AD 960 宋初 · Bestowed
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 38

Places and affiliations

Polity Later Zhou 後周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 21, 251
Polity Song 宋 · Relation Subject of posthumous honor
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 35, 38

Events and relationships

Entered Khitan territory
AD 959 六年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 247
Oversaw capital expansion
Public works · Director
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passages 22-23, 25
Walled Bazhou
Public works · Supervisor
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 250
Relation Superior of · Person Shi Shouxin (石守信)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 248
Relation Colleague of · Person Emperor Taizu of Song (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 36
Relation Colleague of · Person Xue Kexin (薛可信)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 23

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Relation Subordinate of · Person Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou (世宗)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 21
Relation Victim of · Person Wang Yansheng (王彥升)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 31
Relation Colleague of · Person Gao Huaide (高懷德)
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 246

Assessments and attributes

Assessment rigid, short on counsel, intimidated others; nicknamed Han Stare-Eyes · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 41
Item wall portrait at Kaibao Temple 開寶寺畫像 · Relation Depicted in
Directly stated · History of Song 484, passage 44

References in the histories

Search passages

History

17 passages

History of Song, Chapter 484Volume 484 Biographies 243: Three Zhou Officials Han Tong, Li Yun, Li Zhongjin · 17 passages

世宗征淮南，命通為京城都巡檢。 On Emperor Shizong's Huainan campaign, Tong was made chief inspector of the capital.

命左龍武統軍薛可信、右衛上將軍史佺、右監門衛上將軍蓋萬、右羽林將軍康彥環分督四面，通總領其役。 Xue Kexin of the Left Dragon Martial Army, Shi Quan of the Right Guard, Gai Wan of the Right Gate Guard, and Kang Yanhuan of the Right Forest Guard were each assigned one quarter of the work, with Tong directing the entire undertaking.

功未就，世宗幸淮上，留通為在京內外都巡檢、權點檢侍衛司。 The project was still unfinished when Shizong went south to the Huai. Tong remained in charge of security throughout the capital and served as acting inspector of the Palace Guard.

世宗幸壽春，為京城內外都巡檢。 While Shizong was at Shouchun, Tong again held chief inspection duties for the entire capital.

六年春，詔通河北按行河堤，因發徐、宿、宋、單等州民浚汴渠數百里。 In spring of the sixth year an edict ordered Tong to inspect river dikes in Hebei and conscripted people from Xu, Su, Song, Shan, and other prefectures to dredge the Bian Canal for hundreds of li.

世宗將北征，命通與高懷德、張鐸先赴滄州，賜襲衣、金帶、鞍馬、器帛。 As Shizong prepared his northern campaign, he ordered Tong with Gao Huaide and Zhang Duo to proceed first to Cangzhou and granted them ceremonial robes, gold belts, saddles, horses, and gifts of silk and goods.

即領兵入契丹境乾寧軍之南。 Tong at once led troops into Khitan territory south of Qianning Army.

又命通巡北邊，自浮陽至淤口浦壞坊三十六，遂通瀛、莫。 Tong was again ordered to tour the northern frontier, repairing thirty-six damaged beacon stations from Fuyang to Yukou and thereby opening communications between Ying and Mo.

初克益津關，以為霸州，役濱、棣民數千城之，命通董其役。 When Yijin Pass was first taken and made Bazhou, several thousand people from Bin and Di were conscripted to wall it, and Tong was ordered to supervise the work.

恭帝即位，移領鄆州。 When Emperor Gong succeeded, Tong was transferred to garrison Yunzhou.

通在殿閣，聞有變，惶遽而歸。 Tong was at the palace when news of the coup reached him. He rushed home in panic.

軍校王彥升遇通於路，策馬逐之，通馳入其第，未及闔門，為彥升所害，妻子皆死。 The officer Wang Yansheng overtook Tong in the street and chased him home. Tong reached his gate but could not bar it in time; Yansheng killed him, and his wife and children perished as well.

太祖聞通死，怒彥升專殺，以開國初，隱忍不及罪。 The founder was furious that Yansheng had killed Tong on his own authority, yet in the turmoil of founding the dynasty he swallowed his anger and imposed no punishment.

故周天平軍節度、檢校太尉、同中書門下平章事、侍衛親軍馬步軍副指揮使韓通，振跡戎伍，委質前朝，彰灼茂功，踐更勇爵。 The late Han Tong — military governor of Ping, Honorary Grand Commandant, Grand Councilor, and deputy commander of the Palace Guard — rose from the ranks, gave his allegiance to the former dynasty, won conspicuous honors, and climbed again and again through the grades of martial distinction.

通性剛而寡謀，言多忤物，肆威虐，眾謂之“韓瞠眼”。 Tong was rigid and short on counsel; his speech often gave offense, and he ruled by intimidation. Men nicknamed him "Han Stare-Eyes."

見太祖有人望，常勸通早為之所，通不聽。 Seeing the founder's rising prestige, the son repeatedly urged Tong to deal with him while there was still time, but Tong refused to listen.

後太祖幸開寶寺，見通及其子畫像於壁，遽命去之。 Later, on a visit to Kaibao Temple, the founder came upon wall portraits of Tong and his son and ordered them taken down at once.