(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Han Ji - Wikipedia
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Han Ji

Han Ji (died 10 April 238),[a] courtesy name Gongzhi, was a Chinese politician who served in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He previously served under the warlords Liu Biao and Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty.[2]

Han Ji
韓かん曁
Minister over the Masses (司つかさ徒と)
In office
12 February (12 February) – 10 April 238 (10 April 238)
MonarchCao Rui
Palace Counsellor (太ふとし中ちゅう大夫たいふ)
In office
234 (234) – 12 February 238 (12 February 238)
MonarchCao Rui
Minister of Ceremonies (太ふとし常つね)
In office
226 (226)–234 (234)
MonarchCao Pi / Cao Rui
Commandant for Metals (司つかさ金きむ都みやこ尉じょう)
In office
? (?)–226 (226)
MonarchsEmperor Xian of Han (until 220)
/ Cao Pi (from 220)
ChancellorCao Cao (until 220)
Internuncio (謁者)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
ChancellorCao Cao
Administrator of Laoling (樂らく陵りょう太守たいしゅ)
In office
? (?)–? (?)
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
ChancellorCao Cao
Personal details
BornUnknown
Fangcheng County, Henan
Died(238-04-10)10 April 238[a]
Children
  • Han Zhao
  • Han Yao
Parent
  • Han Chun (father)
Relatives
  • Han Xin (ancestor)
  • Han Shu (grandfather)
OccupationPolitician
Courtesy nameGongzhi (公おおやけ至いたり)
Posthumous nameMarquis Gong (恭きょう侯こう)
PeerageMarquis of Nanxiang Village (南鄉なんごう亭ちん侯こう)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Han.

Early life

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Han Ji was from Duyang County (堵と陽ひ縣けん), Nanyang Commandery (南陽なんよう郡ぐん), which is present-day Fangcheng County, Henan.[3] His ancestor was Han Xin (a.k.a. King Xin of Han),[4] one of the rulers of the Eighteen Kingdoms in the transition from the Qin dynasty to the Western Han dynasty. His grandfather Han Shu (韓かん術じゅつ) and father Han Chun (韓かん純じゅん) served as the Administrators (太守たいしゅ) of Hedong Commandery (河東かとう郡ぐん; around present-day Yuncheng, Shanxi) and Nan Commandery (南みなみ郡ぐん; around present-day Jingzhou, Hubei) respectively in the Eastern Han dynasty.[5]

When Han Ji was still young, Chen Mao (陳ちん茂しげる), a wealthy and influential man also from Duyang County, framed his father and elder brother(s) for committing capital offences. Han Ji's father and brother(s) were arrested and executed as a result.[6] Han Ji remained silent over the injustice suffered by his family while secretly plotting to take revenge against Chen Mao. He found employment, saved up his earnings, and used the money to hire assassins to assist him in taking revenge. They tracked down Chen Mao, killed him, cut off his head and placed it as an offering at the tomb of Han Ji's father.[7] Han Ji became famous after this incident.[8]

Han Ji was later nominated as a xiaolian (civil service candidate) and offered a job in the office of the Minister of Works, but he rejected the offer. When chaos broke out throughout China in the 180s,[9] he adopted a fake identity and went to live in the countryside of Luyang County (魯陽縣けん; present-day Lushan County, Henan).[10] During this time, when he heard that the villagers were planning to become bandits because life was getting too hard for them, he used his personal wealth to host a feast for the village leaders and managed to convince them to abandon their plan to become bandits.[11][7]

Sometime between 189 and 192,[12] when the warlord Yuan Shu controlled Nanyang Commandery, he heard of Han Ji and summoned Han Ji to serve under him. Han Ji refused and went into hiding in the hills near Shandu County (山都やまと縣けん; northwest of present-day Xiangyang, Hubei) to avoid Yuan Shu.[13] When Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) tried to recruit him as a subordinate, Han Ji fled further south to Chanling County (孱陵縣けん; west of present-day Gong'an County, Hubei) to evade Liu Biao. He soon became a popular and respected figure among the locals; Liu Biao was very resentful when he heard about it. Han Ji, fearing that Liu Biao would retaliate against him, reluctantly agreed to serve under Liu Biao, who appointed him as the Chief (長なが) of Yicheng County (宜むべ城ぐすく縣けん; in present-day Xiangyang, Hubei).[14]

Service under Cao Cao

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Following Liu Biao's death in 208, his younger son and successor Liu Cong surrendered and relinquished his governorship of Jing Province to the warlord Cao Cao, who controlled the figurehead Emperor Xian and Han central government.[15] Cao Cao recruited Han Ji to serve in the office of the Imperial Chancellor (丞相じょうしょう), the position he held, and later promoted him to serve as the Administrator (太守たいしゅ) of Laoling Commandery (樂らく陵りょう郡ぐん; around present-day Yangxin County, Shandong).[16]

Han Ji was subsequently reassigned to be an Internuncio (謁者) in charge of the cast iron industry.[17] In older times, the bellows of every blast furnace was operated by 100 draught horses. Later, the industry switched to using manual labour. When Han Ji took charge of the industry, he saw that manual labour was too inefficient and required too much manpower. He then introduced the use of hydraulic power to operate the bellows, a method devised by Du Shi in the early Eastern Han dynasty.[2] After the changes, the amount of cast iron produced by the industry increased by three times as compared to before.[18] Han Ji supervised the cast iron industry for seven years and performed well in office as the production levels of cast iron remained high, thus ensuring that Cao Cao's army had a steady supply of weapons and equipment. The Han imperial court issued an edict to praise Han Ji for his excellent performance and promote him to the position of Commandant for Metals (司つかさ金きむ都みやこ尉じょう), placing him just below the Nine Ministers in the Han bureaucratic hierarchy.[19][20]

Service in Wei

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In late 220,[21] Cao Cao's son and successor, Cao Pi, usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the state of Cao Wei with himself as the new emperor. After his coronation, Cao Pi enfeoffed Han Ji as the Marquis of Yicheng Village (宜むべ城しろ亭てい侯こう).[22][20]

In 226, Cao Pi promoted Han Ji to the position of Minister of Ceremonies (太ふとし常つね), changed his peerage from "Marquis of Yicheng Village" to "Marquis of Nanxiang Village" (南鄉なんごう亭ちん侯こう) and awarded him a marquisate of 200 taxable households.[23]

Around the time, as Cao Pi had only recently designated Luoyang as the imperial capital of Wei, there were many imperial ceremonies, customs, rituals and protocol-related matters which had yet to be finalised. Besides, the ancestral temple of the Cao family was still in Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei), the capital of the former vassal Kingdom of Wei during the Eastern Han dynasty. After assuming office as Minister of Ceremonies, Han Ji wrote a memorial urging the central government to construct a new ancestral temple in Luoyang and relocate the ancestral tablets from Ye to Luoyang, so that the emperor and his subjects could properly pay respects to their ancestors. Throughout his eight-year-long tenure as Minister of Ceremonies, Han Ji came up with a new set of ceremonies, customs, rituals and protocol for the Cao Wei state, and abolished old practices from the Han dynasty which were no longer relevant. He retired in 234 due to poor health[24][20] and was given an honorary position as a Palace Counsellor (太ふと中なか大夫たいふ).

On 12 February 238,[b] during the reign of Cao Pi's successor Cao Rui,[26] the imperial court issued an edict which read: "Palace Counsellor Han Ji has bathed himself in virtue and conducted himself with integrity and honesty. Although he is already over 80 years old, he still commits himself firmly to upholding righteousness and moral principles. This is what it means to become more principled and more faithful as one grows older. He is hereby conferred the appointment of Minister over the Masses."[27][20]

Death

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Han Ji died on 10 April 238.[a] Before his death, he said that he wanted to have a simple funeral: to be dressed in the clothes he normally wore when he was still alive; to be a simple grave with nothing but soil covering his coffin; to be buried with simple funeral artefacts made of earthenware.[28] He also wrote a memorial to the imperial court to convey his wishes for a simple funeral, even though he knew that according to custom he would be accorded a more elaborate funeral because of his ministerial appointment.[29] After reading Han Ji's memorial, Cao Rui praised him for his humility and gave an order for Han Ji to be given the simple funeral in accordance with his final wishes.[30] He also awarded Han Ji a set of funeral artefacts, a set of court robes, and a ceremonial sword made of jade,[31] in addition to honouring him with the posthumous title "Marquis Gong" (恭きょう侯こう).[32]

Descendants

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Han Ji's first son, Han Zhao (韓かん肇はじめ), inherited his father's peerage and became the next Marquis of Nanxiang Village (南鄉なんごう亭ちん侯こう). When he died, the peerage was passed on to his son, Han Bang (韓かん邦くに),[33] whose courtesy name was Changlin (長ちょう林りん). Han Bang was known for being studious and talented since young. During the reign of Emperor Wu in the Jin dynasty, Han Bang served as the Prefect (令れい) of Yewang County (野の王おう縣けん; present-day Qinyang, Henan). After showing good performance in office, he was promoted to be the Administrator (太守たいしゅ) of Xincheng Commandery (新城しんじょう郡ぐん; around present-day Fang County, Hubei). However, he was executed by Emperor Wu after the emperor learnt that he abused his authority by illegally helping his former subordinates from Yewang County get promoted to higher positions in Xincheng Commandery.[34]

Han Ji's second son, Han Yao (韓かん繇), served as the Administrator of Gaoyang Commandery (高こう陽よう郡ぐん; around present-day Gaoyang County, Hebei). Han Yao's son, Han Hong (韓かん洪ひろし), served in the Imperial Censorate. Han Hong's son, Han Shou (韓かん壽ひさし), had the courtesy name Dezhen (德とく貞さだ).[35]

Like his great-grandfather Han Ji, Han Shou was known for conducting himself with virtue and integrity. He was appointed as a Regular Mounted Attendant (散ち騎き常つね侍さむらい) after Emperor Hui of the Jin dynasty came to the throne, and was subsequently promoted to the position of Intendant of Henan (河南かなん尹いん). After he died of illness, the Jin government posthumously awarded him the appointment of General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍しょうぐん).[36] Han Shou married one of Jia Chong's daughters and had a son, Han Mi (韓かん謐), with her. As Jia Chong died without any sons to succeed him, his peerage was passed on to Han Mi, his maternal grandson. Han Mi was appointed as a Palace Attendant (侍さむらい中ちゅう) by the Jin government as soon as he reached adulthood, and was known for being arrogant but more talented than his father Han Shou.[37]

Han Shou had another son, Han Wei (韓かん蔚), who also had quite a reputation in the Jin government. Han Wei was executed by the prince Sima Lun, probably during the War of the Eight Princes. With Han Wei's death, Han Ji's family line came to an end.[38]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c The Sanguozhi recorded that Han Ji died on the gengzi day of the 4th month of the 2nd year in the Jingchu era of Cao Rui's reign.[1] This date corresponds to 10 April 238 in the Gregorian calendar.
  2. ^ The Sanguozhi recorded that Han Ji was appointed Minister over the Masses on the guimao day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year of the Jingchu era in Cao Rui's reign.[25] This date corresponds to 12 February 238 in the Gregorian calendar.

References

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  1. ^ ([景けい初はつ二に年ねん]夏なつ四よん月がつ庚かのえ子こ，司つかさ徒と韓かん曁薨。) Sanguozhi vol. 3.
  2. ^ a b de Crespigny (2007), pp. 297–298.
  3. ^ (韓かん曁字公こう至いたり，南陽なんよう堵と陽ひ人じん也。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  4. ^ (楚すわえ國こく先賢せんけん傳でん曰：曁，韓かん王おう信之のぶゆき後ご。) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  5. ^ (祖そ術じゅつ，河東かわとう太守たいしゅ。父ちち純じゅん，南みなみ郡ぐん太守たいしゅ。) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  6. ^ (同どう縣けん豪ごう右みぎ陳ちん茂しげる，譖曁父兄ふけい，幾いく至大しだい辟。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  7. ^ a b de Crespigny (2007), p. 297.
  8. ^ (曁陽不ふ以為言ごと，庸いさお賃ちん積せき資し，陰かげ結ゆい死し士し，遂とげ追つい呼よび尋ひろ禽茂，以首祭さい父ちち墓ぼ，由ゆかり是ぜ顯あらわ名めい。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  9. ^ Sima (1084), vols. 58-59.
  10. ^ (舉孝廉れん，司つかさ空そら辟，皆みな不ふ就。乃變名へんめい姓せい，隱居いんきょ避亂魯陽山中さんちゅう。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  11. ^ (山やま民みん合ごう黨とう，欲よく行こう寇掠。曁散家財かざい以供牛うし酒しゅ，請其渠みぞ帥そち，為ため陳ひね安危あんき。山やま民みん化か之の，終おわり不為ふため害がい。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  12. ^ Sima (1084), vols. 59-60.
  13. ^ (避袁術じゅつ命いのち召，徙居山都やまと之の山やま。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  14. ^ (荊州牧まき劉りゅう表おもて禮れい辟，遂とげ遁逃，南居なご孱陵界かい，所在しょざい見み敬愛けいあい，而表深ふか恨之。曁懼，應おう命いのち，除じょ宜むべ城しろ長ちょう。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  15. ^ Sima (1084), vol. 65.
  16. ^ (太ふとし祖そ平ひら荊州，辟為丞相じょうしょう士し曹屬。後こう選せん樂らく陵りょう太守たいしゅ， ...) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  17. ^ (... 徙監冶謁者しゃ。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  18. ^ (舊時きゅうじ冶，作さく馬ば排はい，每まい一いち熟じゅく石せき用よう馬ば百ひゃく匹ひき；更さら作さく人じん排はい，又また費ひ功力くりき；曁乃因いん長流ちょうりゅう為ため水すい排はい，計けい其利益えき，三さん倍ばい於前。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  19. ^ (在職ざいしょく七なな年ねん，器用きよう充實じゅうじつ。制せい書しょ襃歎，就加司し金きん都と尉じょう，班はん亞あ九きゅう卿きょう。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  20. ^ a b c d de Crespigny (2007), p. 298.
  21. ^ Sima (1084), vol. 69.
  22. ^ (文ぶん帝みかど踐阼，封ふう宜むべ城しろ亭てい侯こう。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  23. ^ (黃き初はつ七なな年ねん，遷太常つね，進しん封ふう南鄉なんごう亭ちん侯こう，邑二に百ひゃく戶こ。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  24. ^ (時とき新都しんと洛陽らくよう，制度せいど未み備，而宗廟そうびょう主ぬし祏皆在ざい鄴都。曁奏請迎鄴四廟びょう神主かんぬし，建立こんりゅう洛陽らくよう廟びょう，四よん時じ蒸ふけ嘗，親おや奉たてまつ粢しとぎ盛もり。崇たかし明あきら正禮しょうふだ，廢はい去さ淫いん祀まつ，多た所しょ匡正きょうせい。在官ざいかん八はち年ねん，以疾遜へりくだ位くらい。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  25. ^ [景けい初はつ二に年ねん]二に月がつ癸みずのと卯う，以太中ちゅう大夫だいぶ韓かん曁為司し徒と。) Sanguozhi vol. 3.
  26. ^ Sima (1084), vol. 74.
  27. ^ (景けい初はつ二に年ねん春はる，詔みことのり曰：「太ふとし中ちゅう大夫たいふ韓かん曁，澡身浴よく德とく，志こころざし節ぶし高だか絜，年ねん踰八十じゅう，守まもり道彌みちや固かた，可か謂いい純じゅん篤あつし，老ろう而益劭者也。其以曁為司し徒と。」) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  28. ^ (楚すわえ國こく先賢せんけん傳でん曰：曁臨終りんじゅう遺言ゆいごん曰：「夫おっと俗ぞく奢おご者しゃ，示しめせ之の以儉，儉則節ぶし之の以禮。歷れき見み前代ぜんだい送おく終おわり過か制せい，失しつ之の甚矣。若わか爾なんじ曹敬聽吾言ごと，斂以時服じふく，葬そう以土藏どぞう，穿ほじ畢便葬そう，送おく以瓦器き，慎まき勿有增益ぞうえき。」) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  29. ^ (又また上うえ疏曰：「生なま有益ゆうえき於民，死し猶なお不ふ害がい於民。況きょう臣しん備位台だい司し，在職ざいしょく日淺ひあさ，未み能のう宣揚せんよう聖德せいとく以廣益えき黎はじむ庶。寢ね疾やまし彌わたる留とめ，奄即幽冥ゆうめい。方今ほうこん百姓ひゃくしょう農務のうむ，不ふ宜むべ勞役ろうえき，乞不令れい洛陽らくよう吏民供きょう設しつらえ喪具そうぐ。懼國典こくてん有ゆう常つね，使臣ししん私わたし願ねがい不ふ得とく展てん從したがえ，謹冒以聞，惟おもんみ蒙こうむ哀あい許もと。」) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  30. ^ (帝みかど得とく表ひょう嗟歎さたん，乃詔曰：「故こ司つかさ徒と韓かん曁，積せき德とく履行りこう，忠ちゅう以立朝あさ，至いたり於黃髮かみ，直ちょく亮あきら不ふ虧。旣すんで登とう三さん事こと，望もち獲え毗輔之の助じょ，如何いか奄忽，天命てんめい不ふ永ひさし！曾參臨沒，易簀えきさく以禮；晏嬰尚なお儉，遣や車くるま降くだ制せい。今こん司つかさ徒と知命ちめい，遺言ゆいごん卹民，必欲崇たかし約やく，可か謂いい善ぜん始はじめ令れい終おわり者しゃ也。其喪禮れい所しょ設しつらえ，皆みな如故事こじ，勿有所しょ闕。」) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  31. ^ (時とき賜たまもの溫ゆたか明あかり祕ひ器き，衣ころも一いち稱しょう，五ご時じ朝あさ服ふく，玉たま具ぐ劒佩。) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  32. ^ (夏なつ四よん月がつ薨，遺のこ令れい歛以時服じふく，葬そう為ため土藏どぞう。謚曰恭きょう侯こう。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  33. ^ (子こ肇はじめ嗣。肇はじめ薨，子し邦くに嗣。) Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  34. ^ (楚すわえ國こく先賢せんけん傳でん曰：邦字ほうじ長ちょう林りん。少しょう有ゆう才ざい學がく。晉すすむ武たけ帝みかど時じ為ため野の王おう令れい，有ゆう稱しょう績。為ため新城しんじょう太守たいしゅ，坐すわ舉野王おう故こ吏為新城しんじょう計けい吏，武たけ帝みかど大だい怒いか，遂とげ殺ころせ邦くに。) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  35. ^ (曁次子じし繇，高こう陽ひ太守たいしゅ。繇子洪ひろし，侍さむらい御ご史し。洪ひろし子こ壽ことぶき，字じ德とく貞さだ。) Chuguo Xianxian Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  36. ^ (晉すすむ諸公しょこう贊さん曰：自じ曁已下か，世せい治ち素もと業ぎょう，壽能じゅのう敦あつし尚なお家風かふう，性せい尤ゆう忠ちゅう厚あつ。早はや歷れき清きよし職しょく，惠めぐみ帝みかど踐阼，為ため散ち騎き常つね侍さむらい，遷守河南かなん尹いん。病やまい卒そつ，贈おく驃騎將軍しょうぐん。) Jin Zhugong Zan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  37. ^ (壽ことぶき妻つま賈充女おんな。充たかし無む後ご，以壽子こ謐為嗣，弱冠じゃっかん為ため祕書ひしょ監かん侍さむらい中ちゅう，性せい驕おご佚而才ざい出で壽ことぶき。) Jin Zhugong Zan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  38. ^ (少子しょうし蔚，亦また有ゆう器うつわ望もち，並なみ為ため趙ちょう王おう倫りん所しょ誅。韓かん氏し遂とげ滅めつ。) Jin Zhugong Zan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 24.
  • Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
  • de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23-220 AD. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004156050.
  • Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
  • Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.
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