Han Xuan

Historical Record

The record of Han Xuan in the official histories is extremely sparse—indeed, one might say that in authoritative sources such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms there is no clear independent biography or detailed account of his deeds. This means that, as a historical figure, Han Xuan's life, offices, and even specific actions are nearly a blank in the verifiable source materials. This stands in stark contrast to his image in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which gives him a concrete identity and a series of dramatic experiences. Therefore, from a strictly historiographical standpoint, Han Xuan's image was chiefly shaped and fleshed out in literary creation.

In the Novel

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Xuan is portrayed as the Grand Administrator of Changsha commandery, a suspicious, cruel, and inhumane governor. He first appears against the backdrop of Liu Bei's seizure of the four commanderies of southern Jing. In the novel, under Han Xuan's command was a fierce general, Huang Zhong, of superb martial skill and surpassing archery. When Guan Yu was ordered to attack Changsha, Han Xuan sent Huang Zhong out of the city to do battle. In the several clashes between Guan Yu and Huang Zhong, Han Xuan's suspicion and jealousy were displayed to the full. For instance, in one engagement, Huang Zhong's warhorse stumbled, and Guan Yu, mindful of Huang Zhong's age, did not take the chance to harm him but instead reined in his horse, signaling Huang Zhong to change mounts and fight again. After Huang Zhong returned to the city, Han Xuan grew deeply suspicious of this, believing there must be some private bond between Huang Zhong and Guan Yu ^c:15454.

Han Xuan's suspicion escalated further in the following episode. When Huang Zhong faced Guan Yu again, Huang Zhong, to repay Guan Yu's mercy in sparing his life, deliberately loosed two empty shots, then with the third arrow struck Guan Yu's helmet plume, signaling that he had returned the favor. To Han Xuan, however, this act was iron proof of Huang Zhong's collusion with the enemy. Han Xuan thereupon flew into a rage and ordered Huang Zhong seized and taken outside the city to be beheaded. He even threatened the generals that anyone who pleaded for Huang Zhong would share his crime ^c:4178. This episode fully displays Han Xuan's fatuousness and cruelty, and lays the groundwork for Wei Yan's subsequent rebellion and the change of hands at Changsha. In the end, on account of his tyrannical conduct, Han Xuan was killed by his subordinate general Wei Yan, and Changsha commandery thereby fell into Liu Bei's hands. Han Xuan's image in the Novel is that of a typical villain, his existence serving chiefly to set off Guan Yu's righteousness and Huang Zhong's loyal valor and to drive the plot forward.

Key Relationships

* Huang Zhong (betrayed_by): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Huang Zhong was a great general under Han Xuan, of superb martial skill and unwavering loyalty. Yet Han Xuan, owing to his suspicious and cruel nature, came to deeply distrust Huang Zhong. When Guan Yu attacked Changsha, Han Xuan repeatedly suspected Huang Zhong of secret collusion with Guan Yu, and even after Huang Zhong's clash with Guan Yu, sought to behead him on the grounds that he had "not fought hard" and had "drawn his bowstring in vain" ^c:4178. This suspicion ultimately led to Huang Zhong being rescued by Wei Yan and indirectly brought about Wei Yan's rebellion against Han Xuan. This relationship is the core of Han Xuan's characterization in the Novel, highlighting his fatuousness and cruelty (Novel only).

Iconic Scenes

* Suspecting Huang Zhong, Seeking to Behead Him: This is Han Xuan's most representative scene in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. When Guan Yu and Huang Zhong fought and Huang Zhong's warhorse stumbled, Guan Yu did not take the chance to kill him but let Huang Zhong change mounts and fight again. After Huang Zhong returned to the city, Han Xuan began to suspect a private bond between Huang Zhong and Guan Yu ^c:15454. Then, when Huang Zhong, to repay Guan Yu's mercy, deliberately struck Guan Yu's helmet plume rather than the man himself in their second engagement, Han Xuan grew all the more convinced that Huang Zhong was "in league with the outside," and in his fury ordered Huang Zhong taken outside the city to be beheaded. This scene displays Han Xuan's suspicion, cruelty, and fatuousness to the full, and directly brought about the change of hands at Changsha and Han Xuan's own destruction ^c:4178 (Novel only).