Qin and Han · General

Zhang Han 章邯

Zhāng Hán

Attested BC 209 - BC 205

Passages: 70
Chapters: 11
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Zhang Han as a general, official, and ruler. This record brings together 70 passages from 11 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Zhang Han	章邯	Zhāng Hán
Personal
Title
Given	Han	邯	Han
Surname	Zhang	章	Zhang
Personal	Zhang Han	章邯	Zhang Han
Personal	Zhang Han	章邯
Personal name	Zhang Han	章邯	Zhāng Hán
Personal name	Zhang Han	章邯	Zhang Han

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · shiji:048:s0066, shiji:094:s0008
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · shiji:054:s0012, shiji:057:s0013, shiji:090:s0011
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:042:s0009

Roles

General
Official
Ruler

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:s0066
Source Date: Text: 圍廢丘 · Western Year: BC 205
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:041:s0155
Source Date: Text: 圍章邯於廢丘 · Western Year: BC 205
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:054:s0043
Source Date: Text: 擊章邯 · Western Year: BC 208
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:054:s0012
Source Date: Text: 擊章邯車騎 · Western Interval: Start: BC 208 · End: BC 206
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:057:s0013
Source Date: Text: 秦將章邯圍魏王咎 · Western Interval: Start: BC 208 · End: BC 206
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:094:s0008, shiji:094:s0033
Source Date: Text: 鉅鹿 · Western Year: BC 207
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:041:s0103
Source Date: Text: 降章邯至新安 · Western Interval: Start: BC 207 · End: BC 206
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:091:s0021, shiji:091:s0024
Source Date: Text: 陳勝之起後 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:091:s0011, shiji:091:s0009
Source Date: Text: 章邯已破陳王…項羽已破秦，降章邯 · Western Interval: Start: BC 209 · End: BC 207
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:090:s0011, shiji:090:s0019

Career and standing

Status: surrendered · Action: entered
Explicit · shiji:094:s0033

Places and affiliations

Label: Qin / 秦 · Relation: associated-with
Explicit · shiji:090:s0011
Polity: Qin · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:041:s0102
Text: Qin / 秦
Explicit · hanshu:042:s0009, hanshu:042:s0036

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: besieged-King-Jiu-at-Linji · Other Person Id: King Jiu of Wei (魏王咎)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0008
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: besieged-Zhao-at-Julu
Explicit · shiji:094:s0031
Kind: military · Role: Qin commander · Action: defeated Li Gui, Deng Yue, Wu Xu, Cai Ci, and Zhang He in successive operations · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二世元年 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0104, shiji:048:s0105, shiji:048:s0106, shiji:048:s0113, shiji:048:s0114, shiji:048:s0115
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated · Other Person Id: Chen She (陳涉) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 章邯已破陳王 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit · shiji:090:s0011
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: killed-Tian-Dan · Other Person Id: Tian Dan (田儋)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0010
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: killed-Xiang-Liang · Other Person Id: Xiang Liang (項梁)
Explicit · shiji:094:s0031
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: killed · Other Person Id: Zhou Shi (周市) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 章邯遂擊破殺周市等軍 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit · shiji:090:s0014
Kind: military · Role: Qin commander · Action: raised convict troops and destroyed Zhou Wen’s army · Other Person Id: Zhou Wen (周文) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二世元年 · Western Year: BC 209
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:048:s0007, shiji:048:s0066, shiji:048:s0067, shiji:048:s0068, shiji:048:s0069

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 · 18 passages

陳涉之將周章西入關，至戲，秦將章邯距破之。 Chen She's general Zhou Zhang marched west into the pass and reached Xi, where Qin general Zhang Han opposed and defeated him.

時章邯從陳，別將司馬镛將兵北定楚地，屠相，至碭。 At this time, Zhang Han was pursuing Chen, while his deputy general Sima Yiou led troops north to pacify Chu territory, massacring Xiang and reaching Dang.

章邯破殺魏王咎、齊王田儋於臨濟。 Zhang Han defeated and killed King Jiu of Wei and King Tian Dan of Qi at Linji.

章邯圍田榮於東阿。 Zhang Han besieged Tian Rong at Dong'e.

沛公與項梁共救田榮，大破章邯東阿。 Pei Gong and Xiang Liang together went to rescue Tian Rong and greatly defeated Zhang Han at Dong'e.

軍濮陽東，復與章邯戰，又破之。 The army encamped east of Puyang and again battled Zhang Han, defeating him once more.

章邯復振，守濮陽，環水。 Zhang Han recovered his strength and defended Puyang, surrounding it with water.

秦益章邯兵。 Qin reinforced Zhang Han's army.

九月，章邯夜銜枚擊項梁定陶，大破之，殺項梁。 In the ninth month, Zhang Han bit on wooden sticks and attacked Xiang Liang at Dingtao by night, greatly defeating him and killing Xiang Liang.

章邯已破項梁，以為楚地兵不足憂，乃渡河北擊趙王歇，大破之。 Zhang Han had already defeated Xiang Liang and thought that the Chu region's troops were not worth worrying about, so he crossed north of the Yellow River to attack King Xie of Zhao, greatly defeating him.

羽大破秦軍鉅鹿下，虜王離，走章邯。 Xiang Yu greatly defeated the Qin army at Julu, captured Wang Li, and drove away Zhang Han.

是月章邯舉軍降項羽，羽以為雍王。 In this month, Zhang Han led his entire army to surrender to Xiang Yu, who enfeoffed him as King of Yong.

今聞章邯降項羽，羽號曰雍王，王關中。 Now we hear that Zhang Han has surrendered to Xiang Yu, who is titled King of Yong and rules Guanzhong.

三分關中，立秦三將：章邯為雍王，都廢丘； He divided Guanzhong into three parts, establishing the three Qin generals: Zhang Han as King of Yong, capital at Feiqiu;

雍王邯迎擊漢陳倉，雍兵敗，還走； King Yong Zhang Han met and attacked the Han army at Chencang. The Yong troops were defeated and fled back;

東如咸陽，引兵圍雍王廢丘，而遣諸將略地。 He went east to Xianyang, led troops to surround King Yong at Feiqiu, and sent various generals to seize territory.

諸將拔北地，虜雍王弟章平。 The generals took Beidi and captured Zhang Ping, the younger brother of the King of Yong.

引水灌廢丘，廢丘降，章邯自殺。 He diverted water to flood Feiqiu. Feiqiu surrendered. Zhang Han committed suicide.

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 6 passages

良走歸章邯。 Li Liang fled and went over to Zhang Han.

章邯引兵至邯鄲，皆徙其民河內，夷其城郭。 Zhang Han brought his army to Handan, moved its people to Henei, and leveled the city walls.

章邯軍鉅鹿南棘原，築甬道屬河，饟王離。 Zhang Han camped south of Julu at Jiyuan, built a supply corridor to the river, and provisioned Wang Li.

項羽兵數絕章邯甬道，王離軍乏食。 Xiang Yu repeatedly cut Zhang Han's supply corridor, and Wang Li's forces ran short of food.

項羽悉引兵渡河，破章邯軍。 Xiang Yu then led all forces across the river and broke Zhang Han's army.

漢亦還定三秦，方圍章邯廢丘。 Han had also turned back to pacify the Three Qins and was besieging Zhang Han at Feiqiu.

Book of Han, Chapter 42Volume 33: Wei Bao, Tian Dan and Hán Xin (King of Han) · 12 passages

章邯已破陳王，進兵擊魏王於臨濟。 After Zhang Han had defeated the King of Chen, he advanced and attacked the King of Wei at Linji.

章邯遂擊破殺周市等軍，圍臨濟。 Zhang Han then crushed and killed Zhou Shi's forces and surrounded Linji.

項羽己破秦兵，降章邯，豹下魏二十餘城，立為魏王。 After Xiang Yu had defeated the Qin army and accepted Zhang Han's surrender, Wei Bao brought more than twenty Wei cities under control and was established as king of Wei.

秦將章邯圍魏王咎於臨濟，急。 Zhang Han was besieging Wei Jiu at Linji, and the situation was urgent.

章邯夜銜枚擊，大破齊、楚軍，殺儋於臨濟下。 Zhang Han attacked by night in silence, crushed the Qi and Chu forces, and killed Tian Dan below Linji.

榮之走東阿，章邯追圍之。 After Tian Rong fled to Dong'a, Zhang Han pursued and besieged him.

項梁聞榮急，乃引兵擊破章邯東阿下。 Hearing Tian Rong was in danger, Xiang Liang led troops and broke Zhang Han below Dong'a.

章邯走而西，項梁因追之。 Zhang Han retreated west, and Xiang Liang pursued him.

項梁既追章邯，章邯兵益盛，項梁使使趣齊兵共擊章邯。 After Xiang Liang pursued Zhang Han, Qin forces grew stronger. Xiang Liang sent envoys to urge Qi to send troops for a joint attack.

章邯果敗殺項梁，破楚兵。 Zhang Han then did in fact defeat and kill Xiang Liang and rout Chu forces.

楚兵東走，而章邯渡河圍趙於鉅鹿。 Chu troops fled east, while Zhang Han crossed the river and besieged Zhao at Julu.

羽既存趙，降章邯，西滅秦，立諸侯王，乃徙齊王市更王膠東，治即墨。 After Xiang Yu had preserved Zhao, accepted Zhang Han's surrender, gone west and destroyed Qin, and installed the kings among the lords, he moved King Shi of Qi and made him king of Jiaodong, with his seat at Jimo.

Book of Han, Chapter 48Volume 39: Xiao He and Cao Shen · 4 passages

又攻下邑以西，至虞，擊秦將章邯車騎。 He pushed west from Xiayi to Yu and engaged the chariotry and horse of Qin’s Zhang Han.

北救東阿，擊章邯軍，陷陳，追至濮陽。 He relieved Dong’e in the north, shattered Zhang Han’s battle line, and chased him to Puyang.

章邯破殺項梁也，沛公與項羽引兵而東。 After Zhang Han destroyed Xiang Liang, the Duke of Pei and Xiang Yu led their troops eastward.

以將軍引兵圍章邯廢丘； As general he led the siege that penned Zhang Han in Feiqiu.

Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 1 passage

使邊境之民靡敝愁苦，將吏相疑而外市，故尉佗、章邯得成其私，而秦政不行，權分二子，此得失之效也。 When border folk are broken and generals sell secrets across the line, men like Zhao Tuo of the south and Zhang Han of Qin seize their chance—central command frays while power splits between traitors. That is the lesson of gain and loss.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 8 passages

秦令少府章邯免酈山徒、人奴產子生，悉發以擊楚大軍，盡敗之。 Qin ordered the Privy Treasurer Zhang Han to pardon the convict laborers at Mount Li and the sons born to slaves, arming them all and sending them against the great army of Chu. They routed it utterly.

章邯追敗之，復走次澠池十餘日。 Zhang Han pursued and defeated him again. Zhou Wen retreated to Mianchi, where he held out for just over ten days.

章邯擊，大破之。 Zhang Han struck once more and crushed his forces.

章邯進兵擊李歸等滎陽下，破之，李歸等死。 Zhang Han then advanced and attacked Li Gui and the others at Xingyang, smashing their forces. Li Gui and the rest were killed.

陽城人鄧說將兵居郯，章邯別將擊破之，鄧說軍散走陳。 Deng Yue of Yangcheng had stationed troops at Tan. One of Zhang Han's subordinate generals attacked and routed them, and the remnants of Deng Yue's army scattered and fled to Chen.

铚人伍徐將兵居許，章邯擊破之，伍徐軍皆散走陳。 Wu Xu of Zhi had stationed troops at Xu. Zhang Han attacked and defeated them as well, and Wu Xu's entire force scattered and fled back to Chen.

章邯已破伍徐，擊陳，柱國房君死。 After defeating Wu Xu, Zhang Han attacked Chen itself. The Supreme Pillar of State, the Lord of Fang, was killed.

章邯又進兵擊陳西張賀軍。 Zhang Han then advanced further and struck the forces of Zhang He to the west of Chen.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 54House of Chancellor Cao · 4 passages

又攻下邑以西，至虞，擊章邯車騎。 Advancing west from Xiayi to Yu, he engaged Zhang Han's chariot and cavalry forces.

北救阿，擊章邯軍，陷陳，追至濮陽。 Marching north to relieve E, he attacked Zhang Han's army, broke through its battle lines, and pursued the enemy as far as Puyang.

秦將章邯破殺項梁也，沛公與項羽引而東。 After the Qin general Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang, the Lord of Pei and Xiang Yu withdrew their forces eastward.

參以將軍引兵圍章邯於廢丘。 As general, Cao Shen led his troops to besiege Zhang Han at Feiqiu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 3 passages

擊章邯車騎，殿。 He engaged Zhang Han's chariots and cavalry, serving as the rearguard.

後章邯破殺項梁，沛公與項羽引兵東如碭。 Later, Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang, and the Duke of Pei and Xiang Yu led their troops east to Dang.

圍章邯廢丘。 He laid siege to Zhang Han at Feiqiu.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 90Biographies of Wei Bao and Peng Yue · 3 passages

章邯已破陳王，乃進兵擊魏王於臨濟。 After Zhang Han had defeated the King of Chen, he advanced his forces to attack the King of Wei at Linji.

章邯遂擊破殺周市等軍，圍臨濟。 Zhang Han attacked and routed Zhou Shi's forces, killing Zhou Shi among others, and laid siege to Linji.

項羽已破秦，降章邯。 After Xiang Yu had defeated Qin and accepted Zhang Han's surrender.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 91Biography of Qing Bu · 3 passages

章邯之滅陳勝，破呂臣軍，布乃引兵北擊秦左右校，破之清波，引兵而東。 After Zhang Han destroyed Chen Sheng and routed the army of Lü Chen, Bu led his forces northward to attack the Qin left and right battalions. He defeated them at Qingbo, then marched his army eastward.

項籍使布先渡河擊秦，布數有利，籍迺悉引兵涉河從之，遂破秦軍，降章邯等。 Xiang Ji sent Bu across the river first to engage the Qin forces. Bu scored several victories, after which Ji led the full army across the river to join him. Together they crushed the Qin army and accepted the surrender of Zhang Han and his officers.

項籍之引兵西至新安，又使布等夜擊阬章邯秦卒二十餘萬人。 When Xiang Ji led his army westward to Xin'an, he ordered Bu and others to carry out a nighttime massacre, burying alive over two hundred thousand of Zhang Han's surrendered Qin soldiers.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 94Biography of Tian Dan, King of Qi · 8 passages

秦將章邯圍魏王咎於臨濟，急。 The Qin general Zhang Han laid siege to King Jiu of Wei at Linji, and the situation grew desperate.

章邯夜銜枚擊，大破齊、魏軍，殺田儋於臨濟下。 Zhang Han launched a surprise night attack, his soldiers biting down on wooden gags to maintain silence, and routed the combined Qi and Wei forces, slaying Tian Dan beneath the walls of Linji.

田榮之走東阿，章邯追圍之。 When Tian Rong fell back to Dong'e, Zhang Han gave chase and laid siege to the city.

項梁聞田榮之急，乃引兵擊破章邯軍東阿下。 Xiang Liang, hearing of Tian Rong's dire straits, brought his forces to bear and shattered Zhang Han's army beneath the walls of Dong'e.

章邯走而西，項梁因追之。 Zhang Han fled westward, and Xiang Liang gave pursuit.

項梁既追章邯，章邯兵益盛，項梁使使告趙、齊，發兵共擊章邯。 As Xiang Liang continued to pursue Zhang Han, Zhang Han's forces grew ever stronger. Xiang Liang sent envoys to Zhao and Qi, urging them to commit troops for a joint attack on Zhang Han.

章邯果敗殺項梁，破楚兵，楚兵東走，而章邯渡河圍趙於鉅鹿。 Sure enough, Zhang Han defeated and killed Xiang Liang, shattering the Chu forces and sending them fleeing east. Zhang Han then crossed the Yellow River and besieged Zhao at Julu.

項羽既存趙，降章邯等，西屠咸陽，滅秦而立侯王也，乃徙齊王田市更王膠東，治即墨。 After Xiang Yu saved Zhao and accepted the surrender of Zhang Han and his forces, he marched west to sack Xianyang, destroyed Qin, and parceled out the realm among the lords. He transferred King Tian Shi of Qi to the Kingdom of Jiaodong, with his seat at Jimo.