Zhao Fan ( 200s–210s) was a government official and minor warlord who lived during the late
Eastern 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 ...
of China.
Life
Little is recorded about Zhao Fan in history, except that he was already serving as the Administrator (太守) of Guiyang Commandery (桂陽郡; around present-day
Chenzhou,
Hunan) around 208 and 209. In 209, the warlord
Liu Bei led his forces to conquer the four commanderies in southern
Jing Province
Jingzhou or Jing Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China referenced in Chinese historical texts such as the ''Tribute of Yu'', '' Erya'' and '' Rites of Zhou''.
Jingzhou became an administrative division during the reign of Empe ...
: Wuling, Lingling, Changsha and Guiyang. The administrators of all four commanderies surrendered to him.
Liu Bei appointed his general
Zhao Yun to replace Zhao Fan as the Administrator of Guiyang Commandery. Zhao Fan had a widowed elder sister-in-law, Lady Fan (樊氏), who was known for her beauty, and he wanted to arrange for a marriage between her and Zhao Yun. However, Zhao Yun declined, "I share the same family name as you. Your elder brother is also like an elder brother to me." There were some people who urged Zhao Yun to accept the marriage, but he said, "Zhao Fan was forced to surrender, so his intentions are unclear. They're so many other women in this world." Not long later, Zhao Fan escaped, and Zhao Yun was able to avoid any association with him because he did not agree to the marriage.
[(從平江南，以為偏將軍，領桂陽太守，代趙範。範寡嫂曰樊氏，有國色，範欲以配雲。雲辭曰：「相與同姓，卿兄猶我兄。」固辭不許。時有人勸雲納之，雲曰：「範迫降耳，心未可測；天下女不少。」遂不取。範果逃走，雲無纖介。) ''Zhao Yun Biezhuan'' annotation in ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 36.]
In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''
In the 14th-century historical novel ''
Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', Zhao Fan tries to arrange for Zhao Yun to marry his widowed elder sister-in-law. In the novel, however, Zhao Yun rejects the offer because he has become sworn brothers with Zhao Fan, so it is inappropriate for him to marry his sworn brother's sister-in-law.
See also
*
Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms
The following are lists of people significant to the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of Chinese history. Their names in Mandarin pinyin are sorted in alphabetical order.
Fictional characters in the 14th-century historical novel ''Romance of ...
References
*
Chen, Shou (3rd century). ''
Records of the Three Kingdoms
The ''Records or History of the Three Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese name as the Sanguo Zhi, is a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220 AD) and the Three Kingdoms period (220– ...
'' (''Sanguozhi'').
*
Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). ''
Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' (''Sanguo Yanyi'').
*
Pei, Songzhi (5th century). ''
Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms
Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms () by Pei Songzhi (372-451) is an annotation completed in the 5th century of the 3rd century historical text ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'', compiled by Chen Shou. After leaving his native land, Pei ...
'' (''Sanguozhi zhu'').
Han dynasty warlords
{{China-politician-stub