Kan Ze
Encyclopedia
Kan Ze style name
Derun (德潤), was a scholar and advisor to the warlord Sun Quan
during the late Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
.
, Zhejiang
). Although he was born in a peasant family, he was studious and had an interest in reading books. He became a well-known scholar specializing in the field of calendar systems. He was nominated as a xiaolian
(孝廉; Filial and Incorrupt) to join the civil service and was appointed as Chief of Qiantang County (錢唐縣長) and Prefect of Chen County (郴縣縣令).
When the warlord Sun Quan
was still known as General of Chariots and Cavalry (驃騎將軍), Kan Ze was recruited by him to serve as his West Assistant Officer (西曹掾). After Sun Quan declared himself emperor of Eastern Wu
in 229, Kan Ze was appointed as Imperial Secretary (尚書). During the Jiahe era of Sun Quan's reign, Kan Ze served as Chief Imperial Secretary (中書令) and Palace Attendant (侍中), and was promoted to Crown Prince's Tutor (太子太傅) in 242. Kan Ze died in the following year and Sun Quan was so grieved that he skipped meals for days.
Kan Ze was known to be polite, modest, sincere and cautious. He treated all minor officials under him with respect. Some of his notable contributions include the annotations he made to the calendar text Qian Xiang Li (乾象曆) by Liu Hong (劉洪) and his promotion of calendar science in Eastern Wu. For his achievements in Confucian studies, he was also granted the title of a minor marquis. Kan Ze strongly opposed the use of torture. Once, Lü Yi
(呂壹) committed a sexual offense and many officials supported the use of torture to punish him to serve as a warning to potential offenders. When Sun Quan asked Kan Ze for his opinion, Kan replied, "Such a punishment should not be used in a civilized age.", and Sun Quan pardoned Lü Yi.
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
during the events leading to the Battle of Red Cliffs
. He saw through the Self Torture Ruse (苦肉計) used by Huang Gai
to trick Cao Cao
into believing that his defection was genuine. Kan Ze offered to help Huang Gai deliver his surrender letter to Cao Cao. He disguised himself as a fisherman and went to Cao Cao's camp. Initially, after Cao Cao read Huang Gai's letter, he saw through the plan and ordered Kan Ze to be executed. However, Kan Ze remained calm and broke into laughter, prompting Cao Cao to question him. With his glib tongue, Kan Ze managed to convince Cao Cao that Huang Gai's defection was real. This was critical in ensuring that later Huang Gai's fire attack on Cao Cao's naval fleet would be a success.
In a later chapter, during the Battle of Xiaoting
, Liu Bei
's forces defeated Sun Huan and pressed on Sun Quan
's territory. Kan Ze recommended Lu Xun
to be the commander-in-chief of Sun Quan's military, but many officials opposed the idea because they felt that Lu Xun was young and inexperienced. Kan Ze vouched for Lu Xun with the lives of himself and his whole family, claiming that Lu Xun was the best person to lead their army, and Sun Quan agreed. Lu Xun did not disappoint Sun Quan and Kan Ze as he eventually led Eastern Wu forces to victory over Liu Bei in the battle.
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...
Derun (德潤), was a scholar and advisor to the warlord Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
during 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...
.
Biography
Kan Ze was a native of Shanyin, Kuaiji (southeast of present-day ShaoxingShaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
). Although he was born in a peasant family, he was studious and had an interest in reading books. He became a well-known scholar specializing in the field of calendar systems. He was nominated as a xiaolian
Xiaolian
Xiaolian , was the standard of nominating civil officers started by Emperor Wu of Han in 134 BC. It lasted until its replacement by the imperial examination system during the Sui Dynasty....
(孝廉; Filial and Incorrupt) to join the civil service and was appointed as Chief of Qiantang County (錢唐縣長) and Prefect of Chen County (郴縣縣令).
When the warlord Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
was still known as General of Chariots and Cavalry (驃騎將軍), Kan Ze was recruited by him to serve as his West Assistant Officer (西曹掾). After Sun Quan declared himself emperor of 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...
in 229, Kan Ze was appointed as Imperial Secretary (尚書). During the Jiahe era of Sun Quan's reign, Kan Ze served as Chief Imperial Secretary (中書令) and Palace Attendant (侍中), and was promoted to Crown Prince's Tutor (太子太傅) in 242. Kan Ze died in the following year and Sun Quan was so grieved that he skipped meals for days.
Kan Ze was known to be polite, modest, sincere and cautious. He treated all minor officials under him with respect. Some of his notable contributions include the annotations he made to the calendar text Qian Xiang Li (乾象曆) by Liu Hong (劉洪) and his promotion of calendar science in Eastern Wu. For his achievements in Confucian studies, he was also granted the title of a minor marquis. Kan Ze strongly opposed the use of torture. Once, Lü Yi
Lu Yi
Lu Yi is the name of:*Lu Xun , original name Lu Yi, general of Wu* Lu Yi , chancellor of Tang Dynasty*Lu Yi , Chinese middle-distance runner*Lu Yi , Chinese actor...
(呂壹) committed a sexual offense and many officials supported the use of torture to punish him to serve as a warning to potential offenders. When Sun Quan asked Kan Ze for his opinion, Kan replied, "Such a punishment should not be used in a civilized age.", and Sun Quan pardoned Lü Yi.
In fiction
Kan Ze appears in Luo GuanzhongLuo Guanzhong
Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...
's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
during the events leading to the Battle of Red Cliffs
Battle of Red Cliffs
The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. It was fought in the winter of 208/9 AD between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan...
. He saw through the Self Torture Ruse (苦肉計) used by Huang Gai
Huang Gai
Huang Gai was a military general who served the warlord Sun family of Eastern Wu for three generations during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
to trick Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
into believing that his defection was genuine. Kan Ze offered to help Huang Gai deliver his surrender letter to Cao Cao. He disguised himself as a fisherman and went to Cao Cao's camp. Initially, after Cao Cao read Huang Gai's letter, he saw through the plan and ordered Kan Ze to be executed. However, Kan Ze remained calm and broke into laughter, prompting Cao Cao to question him. With his glib tongue, Kan Ze managed to convince Cao Cao that Huang Gai's defection was real. This was critical in ensuring that later Huang Gai's fire attack on Cao Cao's naval fleet would be a success.
In a later chapter, during the Battle of Xiaoting
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...
, 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...
's forces defeated Sun Huan and pressed on Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
's territory. Kan Ze recommended Lu Xun
Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)
Lu Xun was a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is best known for defeating Liu Bei's forces at the Battle of Xiaoting in 222.-Early life:...
to be the commander-in-chief of Sun Quan's military, but many officials opposed the idea because they felt that Lu Xun was young and inexperienced. Kan Ze vouched for Lu Xun with the lives of himself and his whole family, claiming that Lu Xun was the best person to lead their army, and Sun Quan agreed. Lu Xun did not disappoint Sun Quan and Kan Ze as he eventually led Eastern Wu forces to victory over Liu Bei in the battle.
Appointments and titles held
- Filial and IncorruptXiaolianXiaolian , was the standard of nominating civil officers started by Emperor Wu of Han in 134 BC. It lasted until its replacement by the imperial examination system during the Sui Dynasty....
(孝廉) - nominated candidate to be a Gentleman Cadet (郎) - Chief of Qiantang County (錢唐縣長)
- Prefect of Chen County (郴縣縣令)
- West Assistant Officer (西曹掾) to General of Chariots and Cavalry Sun QuanSun QuanSun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
- Imperial Secretary (尚書)
- Chief Imperial Secretary (中書令)
- Palace Attendant (侍中)
- Crown Prince's Tutor (太子太傅)
- Marquis of Du (都鄉侯)