Han Hang

Historical Record

Han Hang, courtesy name Zipei, was a native of Dai commandery, renowned for his pure, refined, and lofty character. He lost his parents young, yet was able to serve his elder brothers and sisters with all his heart, and so was famed in the clan for his filial piety and brotherly love ^c:4179.

During Cao Cao's siege of Ye, Yuan Tan took the chance to occupy Ganling, Anping, Bohai, and Hejian, and attacked Yuan Shang at Zhongshan. Yuan Shang was forced to flee to Gu'an to take refuge with Yuan Xi, and Yuan Tan absorbed all his troops. When Cao Cao prepared to campaign against Yuan Tan, Yuan Tan withdrew from Pingyuan and entered Nanpi, encamping himself at Longcou. In the twelfth month of the tenth year of Jian'an (205 CE), Cao Cao's army came beneath the walls, but Yuan Tan shut his gates and would not come out, fleeing by night to Nanpi and encamping by the bank of the Qing River. In the first month of the next year, Cao Cao took Nanpi and slew Yuan Tan together with his partisans. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were attacked by their own generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan and forced to flee to Liaoxi to take refuge with the Wuhuan ^c:4179.

Jiao Chu styled himself Inspector of You Province and summoned the grand administrators, chiefs, and magistrates of the various commanderies to abandon the Yuan clan and submit to Cao Cao. He gathered a host of tens of thousands and held a white-horse oath, declaring, "Those who defy the command shall be beheaded." None among them dared make a sound, and one by one they smeared blood in oath. When it came to the Aide Han Hang, however, he said: "I have received the deep favor of Lord Yuan and his sons. Now that they are defeated and their house ruined, my wisdom cannot save them and my courage cannot die for them—I am already wanting in righteousness. But to face north and submit to the house of Cao—that I can by no means do." All those present blanched at Han Hang's words. Jiao Chu, however, said: "To accomplish great deeds, one must establish great righteousness. The success or failure of the matter does not rest on one man; we may grant Han Hang his resolve, and so encourage others to be loyal to their lords" ^c:4179.

Cao Cao greatly admired Han Hang's integrity and summoned him to office many times, but Han Hang would never answer, and in the end died at home ^c:4179.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Han Hang's image centers chiefly on his display of loyalty and righteousness toward the Yuan clan. The novel describes how Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, learning that the Cao troops were approaching and knowing they could not resist, abandoned their cities and led their troops, hurrying through the night to Liaoxi to take refuge with the Wuhuan ^c:6716.

At this time, the Inspector of You Province, Wu Huanchu (here the name differs from the historical Jiao Chu, and there is no clear historical record of any "Wu Huanchu"), summoned the officials of You Province to smear blood in oath and conspire together to abandon Yuan and turn to Cao. Wu Huanchu spoke first, praising Chancellor Cao as a hero of the age and declaring that he would go to surrender, and that any who would not follow the command would be beheaded. The men smeared blood one by one; but when it came to the Aide Han Hang, he flung his sword to the ground and cried aloud: "I have received the deep favor of Lord Yuan and his sons! Now that my lord is defeated and ruined, my wisdom cannot save him and my courage cannot die for him! This is already wanting in righteousness! But to face north and submit to Cao Cao—that I can by no means do!" ^c:6716 The novel's portrayal of Han Hang emphasizes his loyalty, righteousness, and refusal to bend, keeping to the core spirit of the historical record—"I have received the deep favor of Lord Yuan and his sons; now they are defeated and ruined, my wisdom cannot save them, my courage cannot die for them, I am wanting in righteousness; but to face north toward the house of Cao, that I cannot do" ^c:4179—while dramatizing and embellishing the specific details and dialogue.

Key Relationships

* Yuan Shao: Han Hang had received the deep favor of Yuan Shao and his sons and held a profound loyalty and sense of righteousness toward them. After the Yuan clan's fall, he refused to betray the Yuan and surrender to Cao Cao, reflecting his character of "valuing righteousness and refusing to bend" ^c:4179.
* Jiao Chu: Jiao Chu was Han Hang's colleague and the direct witness to his display of loyalty. After Han Hang refused to surrender to Cao Cao, Jiao Chu did not punish him but instead admired his loyalty and said, "We may grant Han Hang his resolve, and so encourage loyalty to one's lord" ^c:4179.
* Yuan Shao's Faction: Han Hang was once a member of Yuan Shao's faction, serving as an Aide under Yuan Shao and his sons ^c:4179.
* Cao Cao: Cao Cao greatly admired Han Hang's integrity and summoned him many times, but Han Hang never answered ^c:4179.
* Wu Huanchu (Novel only): In the Novel, Wu Huanchu was Han Hang's direct superior and the one to whom he expressed his loyalty and righteousness ^c:6716.

Iconic Scenes

Han Hang's most iconic scene is undoubtedly the moment he refused to surrender to Cao Cao. After the Yuan clan's fall, the Inspector of You Province Jiao Chu (Wu Huanchu in the Novel ^c:6716) gathered the men to smear blood in oath, abandoning Yuan for Cao. When it came to Han Hang, he flung his sword to the ground (Novel only) and loudly declared his stance: "I have received the deep favor of Lord Yuan and his sons; now they are defeated and ruined, my wisdom cannot save them, my courage cannot die for them, I am wanting in righteousness; but to face north toward the house of Cao, that I cannot do" ^c:4179. This scene fully displays Han Hang's character of "valuing righteousness and refusing to bend." All those present blanched, yet Jiao Chu was able to understand and respect Han Hang's loyalty, praising him: "To accomplish great deeds one must establish great righteousness; the success or failure of the matter does not rest on one man; we may grant Han Hang his resolve, and so encourage loyalty to one's lord" ^c:4179. This act not only displays Han Hang's personal integrity but also reflects, from another angle, Jiao Chu's breadth of mind as a commander. This scene is vividly depicted in Romance of the Three Kingdoms as well, with Han Hang flinging his sword to the ground and crying out his resolve, making the episode all the more dramatic and moving ^c:6716. Cao Cao later greatly admired Han Hang's integrity and summoned him many times, but Han Hang remained unmoved and in the end died at home, further cementing his image of loyalty, righteousness, and unbending resolve ^c:4179.