Fan Kuai (242–189 BC) was a military general of the early Western Han dynasty. He was a prominent figure of the Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC), a power struggle for supremacy over China between the Han dynasty's founder, Liu Bang (Emperor Gao), and his rival,

Xiang Yu Xiang Yu (, –202 BC), born Xiang Ji (), was the Hegemon-King (Chinese: 霸王, ''Bà Wáng'') of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention period (206–202 BC) of China. A noble of the Chu state, Xiang Yu rebelled against the Qin dyna ...

Early life

Fan Kuai was a close friend of Liu Bang and they were from the same hometown of Pei County (present-day Feng County,

Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its ca ...

). In his early days, he was a butcher and specialised in preparing dog meat. He married Lü Xu, the younger sister of Liu Bang's wife

Lü Zhi Lu, Lü, or LU may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Lu (music), Tibetan folk music * Lu (duo), a Mexican band ** ''Lu'' (album) * Character from Mike, Lu & Og * Lupe Fiasco or Lu (born 1982), American musician * Lebor na hUidre, a manuscrip ...

Rebelling against the Qin dynasty

Once, Liu Bang released the prisoners he was escorting and became an outlaw on Mount Mangdang (in present-day Yongcheng,

Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...

). Following the Dazexiang Uprising in 209 BC, the magistrate of Pei County also wanted to rebel as well so he heeded Xiao He and

Cao Shen Cao Shen or Cao Can (died 190 BC), courtesy name Jingbo (), was a chancellor of the Western Han dynasty. He participated in the Chu–Han Contention on Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han)'s side and contributed greatly to the founding of the Han dyn ...

's advice, and sent Fan Kuai to Mount Mangdang to invite Liu Bang and his men back to help him. However, the magistrate changed his mind later and denied Liu Bang entry into the city. The citizens responded to Liu Bang's call and killed the magistrate, allowing Liu and his men to return home. Liu Bang was then known as "Duke of Pei" and Fan Kuai served as one of his close aides and bodyguards. Fan Kuai distinguished himself on the battlefield as a mighty warrior and capable general. He fought in many battles on Liu Bang's side and claimed the heads of enemies in increasing order in each battle, and was rewarded with promotions to higher ranks each time.

Chu–Han contention

Feast at Hong Gate

Fan Kuai is best known for defending Liu Bang at the Feast at Hong Gate, which was actually a trap set to kill Liu. He rushed to Liu Bang's defence when he heard that Xiang Yu's advisor Fan Zeng intended to have Liu killed. Fan Kuai chided Xiang Yu openly, making a speech about Liu Bang's accomplishments and stating that it would be unjust for Xiang to kill Liu. Xiang Yu was impressed by Fan Kuai's bravery and offered him a seat at the feast. Liu Bang escaped from the feast later on the pretext of going to the latrine, with Fan Kuai accompanying him. After the fall of the Qin dynasty, Xiang Yu divided the former Qin Empire into the

Eighteen Kingdoms The historiographical term "Eighteen Kingdoms" ( zh, t=十八國), also translated to as "Eighteen States", refers to the eighteen '' fengjian'' states in China created by military leader Xiang Yu in 206 BCE, after the collapse of the Qin dynasty. ...

, appointed Liu Bang as "King of Han" with the lands of Shu as his fiefdom. Liu Bang seized the lands of the

Three Qins The Three Qins () refer to three of the Eighteen Kingdoms, the short-lived power-sharing arrangement formed in 206 BC after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty. The three kingdoms were located in Guanzhong Plain (in present-day central Shaanxi), t ...

and engaged in a long power struggle with Xiang Yu for supremacy over China, historically known as the Chu–Han Contention. Fan Kuai participated actively in many of the battles between the two contending forces and became famous for his prowess in battle.

Service during the Han dynasty

After the establishment of the Han dynasty, Emperor Gao (Liu Bang) enfeoffed Fan Kuai as the Marquis of Wuyang () in recognition of Fan's contributions to the dynasty's founding. After Fan Kuai's death, he was posthumously conferred the title "Marquis Wu" () while his son Fan Kang inherited his title of "Marquis of Wuyang". Fan Kuai's wife Lü Xu was put to death in the aftermath of the Lü Clan Disturbance in 180 BC and Fan Kang was killed as well. Several months later, Emperor Wen conferred the title on Fan Shiren, another son of Fan Kuai who was not born to Lü Xu.

Modern references

In Chinese folk religion, Fan Kuai is sometimes regarded as a patron deity of butchers. In the action RPG ''

Prince of Qin Qin Wang (秦王, King/Prince of Qin or King/Prince Qin) may refer to: Chinese royalty Zhou dynasty * King Huiwen of Qin, ruled 338 BC – 311 BC, son of Duke Xiao of Qin * King Wu of Qin, ruled 310 BC – 307 BC *King Zhaoxiang of Qin, ruled 306 ...

'', Fan Kuai appears as a non-playable character and the player can find out Liu Bang's whereabouts from him. In real life, his direct descendants are still living in

Pei County Pei County, or Peixian (), is under the administration of Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, China, bordering the Shandong prefecture-level cities of Jining to the northwest and Zaozhuang to the northeast and sitting on the western shore of Nansi Lake. ...

(), the hometown of Fan Kuai. Honoring him by keeping the good name for the family, well known in the local for their effective traditional Chinese medical skills. Fan Lei (), performed a good role in contemporary Chinese Visual Art, and education on Gongbi, extend the good tradition of the Chinese culture.

In Popular Culture

In Romance of Three Kingdoms,

Xu Chu Xu Chu () (died 230), courtesy name Zhongkang, was a Chinese military general who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period of China. He started his career as a bodyguard to the warlord Cao Cao and later became a g ...

the general and guard of Cao Cao, who were known as the "Tiger Warriors" (). Cao Cao claimed him : "This man is my Fan Kuai!" Fan Kuai is the epitome of a brave guard.

References

* Sima Qian. ''

Records of the Grand Historian ''Records of the Grand Historian'', also known by its Chinese name ''Shiji'', is a monumental history of China that is the first of China's 24 dynastic histories. The ''Records'' was written in the early 1st century by the ancient Chinese his ...

'', Volume 95. * Ban Gu et al. ''

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. ...

'', Volume 41. {{DEFAULTSORT:Fan, Kuai Han dynasty generals from Jiangsu 240s BC births 189 BC deaths Deified Chinese people Chu–Han contention people Politicians from Xuzhou Han dynasty politicians from Jiangsu Han dynasty prime ministers