Zhao Fan
Zhao Fan (fl. 200s–210s) was a government official and minor warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.
Zhao Fan | |
|---|---|
趙範 | |
| Administrator of Guiyang (桂陽太守) (under Liu Biao until 208) | |
| In office ? – c. 209 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Xian of Han |
| Chancellor | Cao Cao (208-209) |
| Succeeded by | Zhao Yun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | Unknown |
| Relatives | one brother, Lady Fan (sister-in-law) |
| Occupation | Official, warlord |
Life
Little is recorded about Zhao Fan in history, except that he was already serving as the Administrator (太守) of Guiyang Commandery (桂陽郡; around present-day Chenzhou, Hunan) around 208 and 209. In 209, the warlord Liu Bei led his forces to conquer the four commanderies in southern Jing Province: Wuling, Lingling, Changsha and Guiyang. The Administrators of all four commanderies surrendered to him.
Liu Bei appointed his general Zhao Yun to replace Zhao Fan as the Administrator of Guiyang Commandery. Zhao Fan had a widowed elder sister-in-law, Lady Fan (樊氏), who was known for her beauty, and he wanted to arrange for a marriage between her and Zhao Yun. However, Zhao Yun declined, "I share the same family name as you. Your elder brother is also like an elder brother to me." There were some people who urged Zhao Yun to accept the marriage, but he said, "Zhao Fan was forced to surrender, so his intentions are unclear. There're so many other women in this world." Not long later, Zhao Fan escaped, and Zhao Yun was able to avoid any association with him because he did not agree to the marriage.[1]
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Fan tries to arrange for Zhao Yun to marry his widowed elder sister-in-law. In the novel, however, Zhao Yun rejects the offer because he has become sworn brothers with Zhao Fan, so it is inappropriate for him to marry his sworn brother's sister-in-law.
References
- (從平江南，以為偏將軍，領桂陽太守，代趙範。範寡嫂曰樊氏，有國色，範欲以配雲。雲辭曰：「相與同姓，卿兄猶我兄。」固辭不許。時有人勸雲納之，雲曰：「範迫降耳，心未可測；天下女不少。」遂不取。範果逃走，雲無纖介。) Zhao Yun Biezhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 36.
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).