Huang Quan
Encyclopedia
Huang Quan style name
Gongheng (公衡), was a military general of the late Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. He first served the warlord Liu Zhang
in Yi Province. In 211, Huang Quan warned Liu Zhang that Liu Bei
was planning to seize control of Yi Province from him. He pleaded strenuously for Liu Zhang to heed his warnings, but to no avail.
When Liu Bei took over Yi Province
, he employed Huang Quan; Liu even sought him at his household. Huang Quan took part in the campaign
against Eastern Wu
and as the camps were burning he surrendered to the state of Cao Wei
. In that moment, some of Liu Bei's vassal suggested that Liu Bei kill his family but Liu Bei admitted his failure of this campaign and ordered Huang Quan's family spared. Then, his family was spared but his reputation was smeared, for many commanders fought to the end.
Afterward, when Liu Bei died due to illness, Cao Pi
's vassal celebrated, but only Huang Quan mourned in his house without visiting the palace. Cao Pi heard of this, and trusted him more than ever. After Huang Quan learned that what he did in his own house was reported to the Cao Pi, he became extremely prudent for rest of his life and was most famously known for his ability to not showing any emotions in public.
Sima Yi
did not believe Huang Quan was able to not showing any emotions so he ordered Huang Quan's cart to be sabotaged in secrecy. When Huang Quan went out next day, the axis of the cart broke and Huang Quan fell to the ground. Sima Yi's agents watching nearby were shocked to see that even Huang Quan did not say a single word and showed any emotion, just calmly got up and went back to home, even under the condition when nobody else was watching. Sima Yi was finally believing Huang Quan's self-control.
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 zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Gongheng (公衡), was a military general of the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. He first served the warlord Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
in Yi Province. In 211, Huang Quan warned Liu Zhang that Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
was planning to seize control of Yi Province from him. He pleaded strenuously for Liu Zhang to heed his warnings, but to no avail.
When Liu Bei took over Yi Province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province was a military campaign by the warlord Liu Bei in taking control of Yi Province from its Governor, Liu Zhang. The campaign took place between 212 and 215 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, he employed Huang Quan; Liu even sought him at his household. Huang Quan took part in the campaign
Battle of Xiaoting
The Battle of Xiaoting, also known as the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Yiling and Xiaoting, was fought between the states of Eastern Wu and Shu Han in 222 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
against Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
and as the camps were burning he surrendered to the state of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. In that moment, some of Liu Bei's vassal suggested that Liu Bei kill his family but Liu Bei admitted his failure of this campaign and ordered Huang Quan's family spared. Then, his family was spared but his reputation was smeared, for many commanders fought to the end.
Afterward, when Liu Bei died due to illness, Cao Pi
Cao Pi
Cao Pi , formally known as Emperor Wen of Wei, was the first emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Born in Qiao County, Pei Commandery , he was the second son of the late Han Dynasty warlord Cao Cao.Cao Pi, like his father, was a poet...
's vassal celebrated, but only Huang Quan mourned in his house without visiting the palace. Cao Pi heard of this, and trusted him more than ever. After Huang Quan learned that what he did in his own house was reported to the Cao Pi, he became extremely prudent for rest of his life and was most famously known for his ability to not showing any emotions in public.
Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...
did not believe Huang Quan was able to not showing any emotions so he ordered Huang Quan's cart to be sabotaged in secrecy. When Huang Quan went out next day, the axis of the cart broke and Huang Quan fell to the ground. Sima Yi's agents watching nearby were shocked to see that even Huang Quan did not say a single word and showed any emotion, just calmly got up and went back to home, even under the condition when nobody else was watching. Sima Yi was finally believing Huang Quan's self-control.
Appointments and titles held
- The following appointments and titles were held by Huang Quan when he served Liu Zhang
- Registrar (主簿) to Governor of Yi Province Liu ZhangLiu Zhang (warlord)Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
- Chief of Guanghan County (廣漢縣長)
- Registrar (主簿) to Governor of Yi Province Liu Zhang
- The following appointments and titles were held by Huang Quan when he served Liu Bei and the state of Shu
- Lieutenant General (偏將軍)
- Protector of the Army (護軍)
- Assistant Officer in the Headquarters Office (治中從事)
- General Who Guards the North (鎮北將軍)
- The following appointments and titles were held by Huang Quan when he served the state of Wei
- General Who Guards the South (鎮南將軍)
- Marquis of Yuyang (育陽侯)
- Palace Attendant (侍中)
- Inspector of Yi Province (益州刺史)
- General of Chariots and Cavalry (車騎將軍)
- Yitong Sansi (儀同三司)
- Marquis Jing (景侯) - granted to Huang Quan posthumously
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms