Ban Biao (, 3–54 CE),

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theob ...

(), was a Chinese historian and politician born in what is now Xianyang, Shaanxi during the

Han Dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

. He was the nephew of

Consort Ban Consort Ban (c. 48 BCE – c. 2 BCE), or Ban Jieyu (), also known as Lady Ban (Pan), was a Chinese scholar and poet during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 23 CE). ''Jieyu'' (婕妤) was a title for a third-rank palace lady, one rank below th ...

, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng. Ban Biao began the ''

Book of Han The ''Book of Han'' or ''History of the Former Han'' (Qián Hàn Shū,《前汉书》) is a history of China finished in 111AD, covering the Western, or Former Han dynasty from the first emperor in 206 BCE to the fall of Wang Mang in 23 CE. ...

'', which was completed by his son, Ban Gu and daughter

Ban Zhao Ban Zhao (; 45 or 49 – c. 117/120 CE), courtesy name Huiban (), was a Chinese historian, philosopher, and politician. She was the first known female Chinese historian and, along with Pamphile of Epidaurus, one of the first known female h ...

while their brother Ban Chao was a famous general who contributed his stories to expand the Book of Han. Ban Biao wrote an essay titled ''Treatise on the Mandate of Kings'' (王命論), which was influential on the Chinese concept of sovereignty and is included in Wenxuan.

Ban Biao and his descendants

* Ban Biao ( 班彪; 3–54; father) ** Ban Gu ( 班固; 32–92; first son) ** Ban Chao ( 班超; 32–102; second son) *** Ban Xiong ( 班雄; ?–after 107; Ban Chao's eldest son) **** Ban Shi ( 班始; ?–130; Ban Xiong's son) ***

Ban Yong Ban Yong (, died c. 128 CE), courtesy name Yiliao (宜僚), was the youngest son of the famous Chinese General, Ban Chao, and the nephew of the illustrious historian, Ban Gu, who compiled the ''Book of Han'', the dynastic history of the Former Han ...

( 班勇; ?–after 127; Ban Chao's youngest son) **

( 班昭; 45–116; daughter)

Notes

References

* * '' Book of Later Han'', vol. 40, part 1. * ''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song (960–1127), Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959&n ...

'', vols. 33, 40, 41, 42, 44. AD 3 births 54 deaths 1st-century Chinese people 1st-century Chinese historians Han dynasty historians Han dynasty politicians from Shaanxi Historians from Shaanxi Politicians from Xianyang Writers from Xianyang {{China-historian-stub

Ban Biao and his descendants

See also

Notes

References