Yan Baihu (), also known as White Tiger Yan, was a bandit leader active in the
Wu or
Jiangdong region during the late
Eastern Han dynasty
The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...
of China. While he did not have his own biography in ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'' by
Chen Shou
Chen Shou ( zh , t = 陳壽 ; 233–297), courtesy name Chengzuo (), was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer who lived during the Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty of China. Chen Shou is best known for his most celebrated work, the ...
, he was mentioned in Sun Ce's biography in the work.
Life
"Baihu" was not Yan's real name, but a nickname given to him due to his physical prowess or skin colour; thus his name should be translated as "White Tiger Yan".
According to the ''
Records of the Three Kingdoms
The ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'' is a Chinese official history written by Chen Shou in the late 3rd century CE, covering the end of the Han dynasty (220 CE) and the subsequent Three Kingdoms period (220–280 CE). It is regard ...
'', Yan Baihu was very influential with the
Shanyue tribes and even with the Han officials in the Wu area. When
Liu Yao was appointed as Governor of
Yang Province
Yangzhou, Yangchow or Yang Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China mentioned in historical texts such as the ''Yu Gong, Tribute of Yu'', ''Erya'' and ''Rites of Zhou''.
Name
There are four different theories regarding the origi ...
, he approached Yan Baihu to bribe him to get his support against the warlord
Yuan Shu
Yuan Shu () (155 – 199), courtesy name Gonglu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the Han central government in 189. He decla ...
, who had a large army in the
Huai River
The Huai River, formerly romanized as the Hwai, is a major river in East China, about long with a drainage area of . It is located about midway between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two longest rivers and largest drainage basins ...
valley.
After the warlord
Sun Ce
Sun Ce () () (175 – 5 May 200), courtesy name Bofu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was the eldest child of Sun Jian, who was killed during the Battle of Xian ...
defeated Liu Yao at the beginning of
a series of conquests in the
Jiangdong region, Yan Baihu successfully re-established and then increased his private army to tens of thousands, composed of elite Shanyue fighters, in preparation for a final showdown with Sun Ce. As head of a loose confederation of bandits and local officials, Yan Baihu formed an alliance with another warlord,
Wang Lang Wang Lang may refer to:
* Wang Lang (Xin dynasty) (died 24), warlord during the Xin-Eastern Han transition
* Wang Lang (Cao Wei) (died 228), minor warlord during the late Han period who became an official of Cao Wei
* Wang Lang Market, in Bangkok N ...
, who had enough provisions to account for all of the alliance's soldiers.
Despite Yan Baihu's preparations, Sun Ce was able to outwit Wang Lang and took his supply base through the use of superior tactics. With no supplies, Yan Baihu and Wang Lang were easily defeated by Sun Ce. Yan Baihu then fled into the hills, where he continued to encourage the Shanyue people to oppose Sun Ce's rule over the Jiangdong territories. Yan Baihu lived at least up until the time of Sun Ce's death.
In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''
In the 14th-century historical novel ''
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'' () is a 14th-century historical novel attributed to Luo Guanzhong. It is set in the turbulent years towards the end of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, starting in 184 AD and ...
'', Yan Baihu was attacked by
Sun Ce
Sun Ce () () (175 – 5 May 200), courtesy name Bofu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was the eldest child of Sun Jian, who was killed during the Battle of Xian ...
and then fled to
Wang Lang Wang Lang may refer to:
* Wang Lang (Xin dynasty) (died 24), warlord during the Xin-Eastern Han transition
* Wang Lang (Cao Wei) (died 228), minor warlord during the late Han period who became an official of Cao Wei
* Wang Lang Market, in Bangkok N ...
to seek help. While seeking the aid of Wang Lang, however, his army was defeated by
Ling Cao and his son,
Ling Tong. During Yan Baihu's retreat,
Dong Xi caught up with him and slew him. Dong Xi then sent Yan Baihu's head in a box to Sun Ce.
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 o ...
References
*
Chen, Shou (3rd century). ''
Records of the Three Kingdoms
The ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'' is a Chinese official history written by Chen Shou in the late 3rd century CE, covering the end of the Han dynasty (220 CE) and the subsequent Three Kingdoms period (220–280 CE). It is regard ...
'' (''Sanguozhi'').
*
Pei, Songzhi (5th century). ''
Annotated Records of the Three Kingdoms
''Annotated 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 the fall of the Eastern Jin ...
'' (''Sanguozhi zhu'').
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yan, Baihu
Han dynasty warlords