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Ban Chao (; Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles

Wade-Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language used in Beijing. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Francis Wade in the mid-19th century, and reached settled form with Herbert Giles' Chinese language-English language dictionary of 1892....
: Pan Ch'ao, 32-102 CE), born in Xianyang
Xianyang

Xianyang is a city in Shaanxi province, near Xi'an. The city site was located a few kilometers to the northwest of present-day Xi'an. It has an area of 10,213 square kilometers and a population of 4,800,000....
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi

is a north-central political divisions of China of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River as well as the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of the province....
, was a Han Dynasty general and cavalry commander in charge of the administration of the "Western Regions
Western Regions

The Western Regions or Xiyu was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to 8th century that referred to the regions west of Jade Gate, most often Central Asia ....
" (Central Asia
Central Asia

Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to northern India in the south....
) during the Eastern Han dynasty.






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Encyclopedia


 
Ban Chao's names
Chinese name

Personal names in Culture of China follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John"....
:
Given name
Chinese name

Personal names in Culture of China follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John"....
 		 Style name
Chinese style name

A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the z? is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect....
Traditional ?? ??
Simplified ?? ??
Pinyin
Pinyin

Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most commonly used Romanization system for Standard Mandarin. Hanyu is the Chinese Language, and pinyin means "phonetics", or more literally, "spelling sound" or "spelled sound"....
 		Ban Chao Zhòng Sheng
Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles

Wade-Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language used in Beijing. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Francis Wade in the mid-19th century, and reached settled form with Herbert Giles' Chinese language-English language dictionary of 1892....
 		Pan Ch'ao Chung Sheng


Ban Chao (; Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles

Wade-Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language used in Beijing. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Francis Wade in the mid-19th century, and reached settled form with Herbert Giles' Chinese language-English language dictionary of 1892....
: Pan Ch'ao, 32-102 CE), born in Xianyang
Xianyang

Xianyang is a city in Shaanxi province, near Xi'an. The city site was located a few kilometers to the northwest of present-day Xi'an. It has an area of 10,213 square kilometers and a population of 4,800,000....
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi

is a north-central political divisions of China of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River as well as the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of the province....
, was a Han Dynasty general and cavalry commander in charge of the administration of the "Western Regions
Western Regions

The Western Regions or Xiyu was a historical name specified in the Chinese chronicles between the 3rd century BC to 8th century that referred to the regions west of Jade Gate, most often Central Asia ....
" (Central Asia
Central Asia

Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to northern India in the south....
) during the Eastern Han dynasty. He repelled the Xiongnu
Xiongnu

The Xiongnu were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes. They lived on the steppes north of China, and appear in Chinese sources from the 3rd century BC as controlling an empire stretching beyond the borders of modern day Mongolia....
 and secured Chinese control on the Tarim Basin
Tarim Basin

The Tarim Basin is a large endorheic basin occupying an area of more than 400,000 km2. It is located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in PRC's far west....
 region, and led a military expedition to the heart of Central Asia
Central Asia

Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east, and from southern Russia in the north to northern India in the south....
. He fought for 31 years.

Control of the Tarim Basin

Ban Chao, like his predecessors Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing

Huo Qubing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu of Han. Being the illegitimate son of Wei Shaoer, he was the nephew of Wei Qing and Empress Wei Zifu....
 and Wei Qing
Wei Qing

W?i Qing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general during Han Dynasty of China, whose campaigns against Xiongnu earned him great acclaim. He was the younger half-brother of Empress Wei and the uncle of Huo Qubing, as well as the Emperor Wu of Han's late brother-in-law....
 from the earlier-half of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The Han Dynasty was ruled by the family known as the Liu clan who had peasant origins....
 before him, is said to have been extremely effective at expelling the Xiongnu
Xiongnu

The Xiongnu were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes. They lived on the steppes north of China, and appear in Chinese sources from the 3rd century BC as controlling an empire stretching beyond the borders of modern day Mongolia....
 from the Tarim Basin
Tarim Basin

The Tarim Basin is a large endorheic basin occupying an area of more than 400,000 km2. It is located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in PRC's far west....
, and at bringing the various people of the Western Regions under Chinese rule during the time of the Han Mingdi Emperor (57-75). This helped secure and flourish the trade routes we have come to know nowadays as the Silk Road
Silk Road

The Silk Road is an extensive interconnected network of trade routes across the Asian continent connecting East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and Europe....
. He was generally outnumbered, but skillfully played on their divisions. The kingdoms of Loulan
Loulan

Loulan or Kroran is an ancient oasis town founded in the second century on the north-eastern edge of the Lop Desert. Loulan, also known as Krorayina, was an ancient kingdom along China's Silk Road in Xinjiang....
, Khotan
Khotan

The oasis town of Hotan or Hetian . It was previously known in Chinese as ?? pinyin: Yutian.Hotan is the capital of Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China....
 and Kashgar
Kashgar

Kashgar or Kashi ...
 came under Chinese rule.

Ban Chao was recalled to Luoyang
Luoyang

Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast....
, but then sent again to the Western Region area four years later, during the reign of the new emperor Han Zhangdi. He obtained the military help of the Kushan Empire
Kushan Empire

The Kushan Empire of Ancient India originally formed in Bactria on either side of the middle course of the Oxus River or Syr Darya in what is now northern Afghanistan, Pakistan, southern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan....
 in 84 in repelling the Sogdians who were trying to support the rebellion of the king of Kashgar, and the next year in his attack on Turpan, in the eastern Tarim Basin. Ban Chao ultimately brought the whole of the Tarim Basin under Chinese control.

In recognition for their support to the Chinese, the Kushans (named Yuezhi
Yuezhi

The Yuezhi or Rouzhi , also known as the Da Yuezhi or Da Rouzhi , were an ancient Central Asian people.They are believed by most scholars to have been an Indo-European people, and may have been the same as or closely related to the Tocharians of Classical sources....
 in Chinese sources) requested, but were denied, a Han
Han Chinese

Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and, by most modern definitions, the largest single ethnic group in the Earth.Han Chinese constitute about 92 percent of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98 percent of the population of the Republic of China , 75 percent of the population of Singapore, and about 19 percent...
 princess, even after they had sent presents to the Chinese court. In retaliation, they marched on Ban Chao in 90 with a force of 70,000, but, exhausted by the expedition, were finally defeated by the smaller Chinese force. The Yuezhi retreated and paid tribute to the Chinese Empire from then on, until they managed to set their own king in Kashgar
Kashgar

Kashgar or Kashi ...
 in 116. Ban Chao returned to the capital Luoyang
Luoyang

Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of China, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast....
 at the age of 70 years old, and before long died there in 102. Following his death, the power of the Xiongnu in the Western Territories increased again, and subsequent Chinese emperors were never to reach so far to the west.

In 97, Ban Chao had sent out the envoy Gan Ying
Gan Ying

Gan Ying , was a Han Chinese military ambassador who was sent on a mission to Rome in AD 97 by the Chinese general Ban Chao.Although Gan Ying probably never reached Rome, he is, at least in the historical records, the Chinese who went the furthest west during antiquity and he gathered what information he could....
, who reached the Persian Gulf or the Black Sea and left the first recorded Chinese account of Europe.

Some authors even claim that Ban Chao advanced to the Caspian. However, this interpretation has been criticized as a misreading.

A family of historians

Ban Chao also belonged to a family of historians. His father was Ban Biao
Ban Biao

Ban Biao , courtesy name Shupi , was a China historian, and an official born in what is now Xianyang during the Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng of Han....
 (3-54 CE) who started the History of the Western Han Dynasty (Hanshu; The Book of Han
Book of Han

The Book of Han is a classic History of China historical writing completed in 111 CE, covering the history of Western Han from 206 BCE to 25 CE....
) in 36, which was completed by his son Ban Gu
Ban Gu

Ban Gu , courtesy name Mengjian , was a 1st century China historian best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han....
 (32-92) and his daughter (Ban Chao's brother and sister) Ban Zhao
Ban Zhao

Ban Zhao , courtesy name Huiban , was the first female China historian. She was married to a local resident Cao Shishu at the age of fourteen, and was called in the court by the name as Venerable Madame Cao ....
. Ban Chao was probably the key source for the cultural and socio-economic data on the Western Regions contained in the Hanshu.

Ban Chao's son Ban Yong (?? Ban Yong) participated in military campaigns with his father and continued to have a central military role in the Tarim Basin into the 120s.

Ban Chao's family:

  • Ban Biao
    Ban Biao

    Ban Biao , courtesy name Shupi , was a China historian, and an official born in what is now Xianyang during the Han Dynasty. He was the nephew of Consort Ban, a famous poet and concubine to Emperor Cheng of Han....
     (??; 3-54; father)
    • Ban Gu
      Ban Gu

      Ban Gu , courtesy name Mengjian , was a 1st century China historian best known for his part in compiling the Book of Han....
       (??; 32-92; first son)
    • Ban Chao (??; 32-102; second son)
    • Ban Zhao
      Ban Zhao

      Ban Zhao , courtesy name Huiban , was the first female China historian. She was married to a local resident Cao Shishu at the age of fourteen, and was called in the court by the name as Venerable Madame Cao ....
       (??; 35-100; daughter)


Famous Quotes

  • "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger's cub?" (????,????)
  • "Clear water can not harbor big fish, clean politics (or strict enforcement of regulations) can not foster harmony among the general public" (?????,??????)


Ban Chao in idioms

See four-character idiom
Four-character idiom

are a type of traditional Chinese idiomatic expressions, most of which consist of four Chinese character. Chengyu were widely used in Classical Chinese and are still common in Vernacular Chinese writing and Spoken Chinese today....
:


  • "Throw away your writing brush
    Ink brush

    Ink brushes are used in Chinese calligraphy. They are also used in Chinese painting and descendant brush painting styles . Together with the ink stone, ink and paper, the four writing implements form the Four Treasures of the Study....
     and join the military!" based on his words "A brave man has no other plan but to follow Fu and Zhang Qian's footsteps and do something and become somebody in a foreign land. How can I waste my life on writing? (???????,?????????????,????,?????????) in Hou Hanshu.
  • "Clear water harbors no fish."


Ban Chao of today

Pan Chao (1108) is a frigate
Frigate

A frigate is a warship. The term has been used for warships of many sizes and roles over the past few centuries.In the 18th century, the term referred to ships which were as long as a ship-of-the-line and were square rig on all three masts , but were faster and with lighter armament, used for patrolling and escort....
 built in Taiwan
Taiwan

Taiwan is an island in East Asia. "Taiwan" is also commonly used to refer to the country governed by the Republic of China and to the ROC itself, which governs the island of Taiwan, Orchid Island and Green Island, Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean off the Taiwan coast, the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait, and Kinmen and the Matsu Islands...
 based on the Oliver Hazard Perry class
Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate

The Oliver Hazard Perry class , is a class of frigates named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. The class was designed in the United States in the mid-1970s as general-purpose escort vessels, capable of most naval operations, yet cheap enough to be bought in large quantities to replace World War II-era destroyers....
-design. It is currently in service for the Republic of China Navy
Republic of China Navy

The Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Military of the Republic of China. The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China....
.

See also

  • Battle of Yiwulu
    Battle of Yiwulu

    The Battle of Yiwulu, was a battle under a major expedition against the Xiongnu launched by the Han Dynasty in the February, 73, ever since the fall of Xin Dynasty....
  • Guo Xun
    Guo Xun

    Guo Xun , was a military officer under the Han Dynasty of China. He was an associate general of Ban Chao, as he and Ban Chao were sent to the Western Regions for a diplomatic expedition by Dou Gu....
  • Zhang Qian
    Zhang Qian

    Zhang Qian was an imperial envoy to the world outside of China in the 2nd century BCE, during the time of the Han Dynasty. He was the first official diplomat to bring back reliable information about Central Asia to the Chinese imperial court, then under Emperor Wu of Han, and played an important pioneering role in the Chinese colonization an...